Pope Has Received the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

(from LifeSiteNews.com) - With the reticence of the Vatican to be candid about the state of the Pope's health, media reports have been buzzing with reports from unconfirmed Vatican sources. The latest and most serious report comes from CNN indicating that a Vatican source has revealed that Pope John Paul II received last rights Thursday night.

AP is reporting that papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said that today "The Holy Father was struck today by a high fever caused by a confirmed infection of the urinary tract."

In an official Vatican release on the pontiff's condition Wednesday, Navarro-Valls confirmed the pope was receiving nutrition through a feeding tube. "In order to improve the caloric intake and to favor a valid recuperation of strength, enteral nutrition has been started by placing a nasal-gastric probe (tube), he said. "All public audiences remain suspended," he added.

However he also said, "The Holy Father continues his slow and progressive convalescence. The Pope spends many hours each day in an armchair, celebrates Mass in his private chapel and is in working contact with his collaborators, directly following the activity of the Holy See and the life of the Church."

Rest In Peace, Terri

Theresa Marie Schiavo entered Heaven today at 9:03AM ET. She will finally fully understand the depth of all the good that she did while here on Earth.

March Poker Winnings Update

As per the resolution that I made on my February 28th post, I have withdrawn $100 from my poker winnings today. I had a good month, despite the bad streak. So I also withdrew an extra $200 for the month of March. YTD=$500. So far so good. My next scheduled withdrawal of $100 is due on April 30th. Continue to keep me accountable.

Outrageous Gasoline Prices

I just spent over $36 to fill up my minivan today. This is by far the most that I have ever spent in my life for gas. Price per gallon was $2.459. According to some people (far radical left), the only reason that we went to war in Iraq was for the free flow of oil. Well, if that is the case we didn't do a very good job, did we?

New Commenting and Trackback

I have added a new commenting and trackback features to this blog. So, all previous comments are gone, unless I can figure out how to get them back. Sorry about that.

The Cardinal's Fan Club

One of the great things about the web is that you can find everything that you ever wanted and stuff that you would never have imagined that you needed. I just came across a site called The Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club. It made me chuckle to think about rabid fans trying to find a way to get close to their favorite Cardinal so that they could get an autograph and a photo (there actually is a picture of people getting an autograph from the Cardinal). Or, to find out where he will be speaking next and how to get good tickets and back stage passes. It is a very good site with lots of interesting articles, links and references. Check it out.

Passion of Theresa Marie Schiavo

I normally do not post entire works or articles on this blog for 3 reasons. One, to save space; I'll always refer you to another link. Two, to give proper credit. I cannot find the following homily posted anywhere else. Three, most people will 'run away' from a long post. I am making an exception in this case because it is a very powerful piece.

On the Passion of Theresa Marie Schiavo
Good Friday Homily, 2005
Rev. Francis M. de Rosa of the Diocese of Arlington

Today as we remember the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, I feel compelled to place our meditation within the context of the heart-wrenching drama that has unfolded in our nation since last Friday. In fact it has saturated my spirit and has made this Holy Week for me personally the most painful one in my entire life. I know that I am not the only one with these sentiments, as many have asked the question why in the mystery of God's plan this tragedy has happened this of all weeks.

If it is true that in Christ we live and move and have our being, and if it is true that by baptism we are made members of His Mystical Body; and if it is true that this new status enables us to make up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ; if we are to see Christ in other people, especially those who are helpless, then it is absolutely impossible to fail to contemplate what can justly be called the passion of Theresa Marie Schiavo.

The parallels with the Passion of Our Beloved Lord are striking to consider. It is as if Jesus, present in this poor sister of ours, bore again the opprobrium of the world. It is as if in the mystery of Divine Providence our nation has acted out during this Holy Week its own passion play. It is as if our nation, through its destruction of this innocent life, were crying out for her blood to be upon us and upon our children.

It is impossible in these events not to detect the spirit that drove Judas to betray Christ: Judas the thief into whose heart the Scriptures tell us Satan entered; Judas the traitor in the person of Terri's husband who handed her over to evil men to be killed. In a sense the greatest calamity in all this is the one which has befallen him, for sin resides in and possesses the sinner in a most horrible way. Jesus said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). So it is a strange irony that Terri's husband's last name - Schiavo - means in Italian "slave."

If we turn to the courts in Florida and even the US Supreme Court, they played the part of the evil judges of the Sanhedrin, Pilate and Herod quite capably. For the sake of the law they confounded the very purpose of the law which is to serve and protect us and not kill us. They preserved their law; they argued about it and discussed it. They wrung their hands and pitied the tragedy. But in the end they upheld the law of man and condemned an innocent child of God to death as the whole world watched.

They felt very satisfied that they had done the right thing. They talked about respecting her rights even as they ended her life. They followed procedure with great skill and knowledge. Professors from important universities - Harvard, Georgetown - concurred that the judges played by the rules. They murdered Terri Schiavo legally.

And just as our blessed Savior had armed guards sent out to apprehend Him, so too our sister Terri had armed policemen standing guard outside her nursing home to guarantee the decision of the judges who condemned her to death at the request of her adulterous husband.

I cannot but think also of the parents of Terri and how they have stood at the foot of her cross just as Our Lady did watching her Son die. We know that the Passion of Christ is also called the Compassion of Mary. It is as if Mary were crucified with her Divine Son. What a terrible sword of pain pierced the hearts of Terri's parents this week! The news reported yesterday that Terri's mother upon entering her dying daughter's room to visit her reeled in agony upon seeing her desiccated and tortured face and fell sick. Terri's siblings tell of how the she looks like a victim of Auschwitz.

Yet Terri's brother-in-law, Brian Schiavo (who wants to see her dead), declared on national television that she in fact looks peaceful! Opinion polls show a sizable percentage of Americans calling this mercy and not murder. This is unspeakable malice. What morally sane person would say such an outrageous thing about a starving person?

These are momentous days for America. The demon of the culture of death has bloated and swelled exponentially as it slaked its thirst with this fresh blood. The Holy Father has said that we are in fact faced with what he calls "an objective conspiracy against life." Was not Terri the subject of a conspiracy - involving elements in the legislature, the executive branch and the judiciary, not to mention her traitorous husband? They all conspired and worked together to block any help from coming to her.

The situation, my friends, is grave indeed. Pope John Paul II has written of this, and I quote: "The panorama described needs to be understood not only in terms of the phenomena of death which characterize it but also in the variety of causes which determine it. The Lord's question [to Cain after his murder of Abel]: "What have you done?" (Gen 4:10), seems almost like an invitation addressed to Cain to go beyond the material dimension of his murderous gesture, in order to recognize in it all the gravity of the motives which occasioned it and the consequences which result from it. Decisions that go against life sometimes arise from difficult or even tragic situations. But today the problem goes far beyond the necessary recognition of these personal situations. It is a problem which exists at the cultural, social and political level, where it reveals its more sinister and disturbing aspect in the tendency, ever more widely shared, to interpret the above crimes against life as legitimate expressions of individual freedom, to be acknowledged and protected as actual rights. In this way, and with tragic consequences, a long historical process is reaching a turning-point. The process which once led to discovering the idea of "human rights" - rights inherent in every person and prior to any Constitution and State legislation-is today marked by a surprising contradiction. Precisely in an age when the inviolable rights of the person are solemnly proclaimed and the value of life is publicly affirmed, the very right to life is being denied or trampled upon, especially at the more significant moments of existence: the moment of birth and the moment of death."

In the movie the Passion of the Christ there is a well-done and emotional scene depicting Veronica slipping through the hostile crowd to wipe the face of Jesus. As she holds out a cup of cool water to assuage the burning thirst of Our Lord, a Roman soldier suddenly appears and slaps away the cup from her hands just as it reaches Our Lord's lips. In a scene that will never be effaced from my imagination, I saw on television footage from outside Terri's nursing home showing police officers arresting people who tried to enter the nursing home with cups of cool water to moisten Terri's parched lips and mouth.

Three of those arrested were children. They had driven all the way from Texas with their father to stand heroically at the foot of Terri's cross. I saw children handcuffed and forced into police cars because they dared to see Christ thirsting in Terri Schiavo. These brave Christian children didn't need to ask the question posed by Our Lord's disciples, "Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give You to drink?"

Outside the nursing home where Terri is being slowly murdered there has been kept a constant vigil of people praying. These to me represent the women of Jerusalem who wept for Our Lord. But of course Jesus' words to them apply very well to us: "Weep not for Me but for your children." These words are particularly applicable, because this murder was not done in secret but in broad daylight with the complicity of our judges and legislators. The evil is now deeply infused into our system. It will haunt us and our children.

Terri Schiavo is not simply being killed, she is being mocked. Just as Jesus was challenged to come down from the Cross if He were truly the Messiah, so too was Terri challenged - by talk show hosts, newscasters, neurologists, politicians, attorneys and judges - to prove herself to be a human if indeed she were human and not a vegetable.

On Wednesday night I sat dumbstruck as a US Congressman (Jim Moran (D) Virginia), one claiming to be a Catholic, declared on national television that when one loses one's cognitive ability one is no longer a human person. Yet he said it not calmly but in almost in a fit of unprofessional rage that left me wondering why the network didn't clip him off. It was if her innocence provoked him all the more to the point of losing his own his cognitive ability.

Terri Schiavo has undergone a humiliation before the whole world and with her our entire nation has been degraded and disgraced. Her human dignity has been scourged and mocked and spat upon - not by rough and uncouth Roman soldiers - but by modern civilized people with college degrees and high paying jobs; educated people, intelligent people, but evil people.

Our Blessed Savior told His disciples that as He was despised, so they would be despised. Yet still we are Christians, and ultimately nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We know what really happened on that Hill of Golgotha 2000 years ago. We know that this was not a true victory for the devil. We know that the crucifixion of Our Lord brought about the great outpouring of grace into the sinful world. We know as only Christians can know that the gibbet of the Cross is in fact the throne of the King of Kings.

And we know also that in order to be His true disciples we must take up that Cross and follow Him. Placed in this context we understand in a way how the passion of our sister Terri Schiavo was a participation in that of Jesus' own passion and death. We must not take these events lightly. The powers of darkness are mighty, as was proved by our helplessness before the frightening onslaught of evil this past week. All of our imperial might was confounded and shown impotent to save this one innocent woman who was condemned to death by corrupt judges and lawmakers.

As Americans we must not be indifferent to what has happened, for a kingdom cannot last under such terms. But as Christians and especially as Catholics we know that our true citizenship is in another Kingdom - a Kingdom that will never crumble; a Kingdom against which the gates of Hell will not prevail: the Kingdom of God established by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who reigns victorious from the throne of the Cross whose blessed wood we will kiss today.

This & That's Second Mission!

Here is Alex's third book on the adventures of This and That. He is hard at work on another sequel in the series. Text of book:

p1-This & That said goodbye to Bighair and Blahblah. They were on their secret cloud and they were leaving so they left.
p2-They didn't get far when they heard there's another mission! So they hurried to the park.
p3-When they got there...(AUGHHH!!!) the monster was terrorizing the park! This & That had to stop him!
p4-The monster jumped into the air, it was about to squish This & That! But This & That (or at least That) wouldn't let that happen.
p5-Oh no, This is about to get squashed by the monster! That was sad, he was so sad he screamed, "This!"
p6-"Hooray!" shouted That. He still has to get the key but that can wait.
p7-"Come on This." That said. They were walking down the stairs but This didn't hear him. All she could hear was her screaming!
p8-That killed the monster (without any help from This). He managed to get the key and they got home in time for supper! And they lived happily ever after.
p9-The End (I just love these books don't you?)

previous books written by Alex:
This & That's New Cape!
This & That's First Mission!

Just War Doctrine

I found a great article, admittedly one that is in agreement with my point of view, on the Just War Doctrine of the Catholic Church. The conclusion of the article is that the current war on terrorism is a just war, so far. The article argues step by step into the doctrine and its four conditions from paragraph 2309 of the Catechism, which are:

1) The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain.
2) All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective.
3) There must be serious prospects of success.
4) The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

Here is the introduction of the article:

As America turns to God for guidance and strength in the war on terrorism, its actions must be shaped by God's rules for when and how military action may be taken -- what Catholic theology calls just war doctrine. It is important that ordinary citizens be informed about these rules so they can help inform our leaders at key junctures through the democratic process.

This guide is a primer on just war doctrine. Because it is meant to be of use to Americans evaluating conflicts in the war on terrorism, it is written with an eye towards the present conflict.

Finish reading the article here: Just War Doctrine
See also: Moral Clarity in a Time of War by George Weigel

Understanding Pot Odds

Here is an excerpt from an article on the Pacific Poker website that explains pot odds very effectively. This is a very important concept to understand in order to be a consistent winner at poker.

One of the most overlooked skills in modern poker is the ability to calculate the pot odds, particularly after the flop. Pot odds means the odds that you need to justify a call, based on the money in the pot and assuming you will win if you hit a draw.

For example, let's say you have a flush draw on the flop, in which case you will have 9 'outs' meaning you have a 19.1% chance of hitting a flush on the Turn. Therefore, to justify a call based on pot odds alone, you are forced to assume that you will win if you hit the flush, but will lose otherwise so the amount that you call must be lower than 19.1% of the pot to justify a call. Simple!

It's best to think of pot odds as if you were an entrant in a raffle. Let's say that the raffle is giving away $100 in cash to one lucky winner with 5 people in the raffle. You therefore have a 20% chance of winning. But how much would you spend to have a 20% chance of winning $100? The answer is up to, but no more than, $20 of course (.20 * $100= $20).

Easter Vigil Reflections

We all attended the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Martin de Porres Church in Yorba Linda. We were invited there to witness the baptism, confirmation, and first communion of an eight year old friend. This was the first time that I attended the Easter Vigil since the day that I received the Sacraments of Initiation in 2001. It was a very nice service. It was good to be a spectator rather than a participant. I got a completely different perspective. In 2001, it was all a blur. I do not remember hearing seven bible readings before the Gospel. I do not remember it being a three hour Mass. I vaguely remember being anointed with oil. I really must have been in a daze the whole time.

Lisa became a Catholic in 1998. My son Alex was baptized that same year. My daughter Marisa was baptized in 2000. I was actually the last in my family to receive my first church Sacrament. We named Alex after this particular St. Alexander (there are many saints named Alexander). I took the name of Alexander as my confirmation name. How many people can say that they were named after their child? I remembered this interesting fact because I was able to watch the anointing of the neophytes last night as the priest asked what their 'name' is.

Watching the baptisms last night also got me thinking about my own baptism. A birth into a new and supernatural life. I wonder how many of you remember the date of your baptism? Do you celebrate that date as much as your birth into the world anniversary? I had never really thought about the significance of this before last night. I will really think about my baptism when my four year 'birthday' comes up on April 14th.

That's Incredible

OK, this might be something that only a few people out of a thousand may find interesting. Oh well.

While channel surfing, I came across the 2005 World Darts Championship on FSN. The game was 501. One competitor (I believe his nickname was 'The Power') had 221 left. He threw his first dart for triple 20, 161 left. His next dart went into the triple 19, 104 left. His next one hit triple 18, 50 left. Then on his next turn, he hit the double bull with his first dart. Wow! Out from 221 with 4 throws of a dart: triple 20, triple 19, triple 18, double bull! Believe me, that is incredible.

1000 Hits

This blog surpassed the 1000 hit level yesterday. When I first started this site three months ago (on a whim), I honestly never thought that it would reach this number for a few years or if I would even maintain it for this long. OK, I do look at other people's web counters now and I admit that sometimes I experience 'number envy'.

I went back to my first entry and it is funny to see how this blog has taken shape since then. A bit more focused energy. Thanks for your continued support.

Doctors of Death

I found a two year old article on National Review Online with the sub-headline 'Kaiser(/Permanente) solicits its doctors to kill'. It is a very enlightening article in the light of the Terri Schiavo plight. I am glad that we are not members of Kaiser. Here is the start of the article:

When liberals ask me why they should oppose physician-assisted suicide, I always reply, "I can summarize a big reason in just three letters: HMO."

That always raises an eyebrow. Liberals hate HMOs.

Then I ask, "Do you know how much it costs for the drugs used in an assisted suicide?" They usually shake their heads, no. Answering my own question, I say, "About forty bucks," adding, "Since HMOs make money by cutting costs, and it could cost $40,000 (or more) to provide suicidal patients with proper care so that they don't want assisted suicide, the economic force of gravity is obvious." More often than not, my liberal interlocutor will say, "Gee, I never thought about that before," and agree that the HMO factor is a very serious problem confronting the assisted-suicide movement.

continue reading the article here.

The Roe v Wade of Euthanasia

I have seen it written that the Terri Schiavo case is the Roe v Wade of euthanasia. I can see the similarities. I was just a little kid in 1973 when abortion was made legal in the United States. I am beginning to feel the frustration that the pro-life people must have been going through back then. They must have been just as puzzled about the views of the other side as I am today about those who favor death. Take away all of the political maneuvering on either side. Both issues, abortion and euthanasia, are about life and death. I am very comfortable about being on the side of life.

This & That's First Mission!

Here is the long awaited sequel to Alex's first book. He just finished writing it. It is hot off the presses. As any writer would, he loved to see his first book published (in this blog). So he is anxious to see this one published, too. I decided not to edit (correct) any of the spelling (grammar). It shows that he is still six-years old. If he were 18, then I would probably be correcting mistakes for fear of embarassment. He also has drawings on each page which add tremendously to the experience. I am still looking for an easy way to post the pictures. Enjoy the new adventures of This and That.

This & That's First Mission!
p1-Not far from here there lived four supers...
p2-...that love to punch and play! They would punch and play every chance they got! They would punch and play even when its hot!
p3-Until one day after they met Bighair and Blahblah the kids went on their First Mission! They saw a cave. They went inside to explore.
p4-To their surprise it had a bear inside! That knew This was totolly scared cause her voice level cranked up to infinity! (or at least a million!)
p5-But then a rope droped from the caves celing. This wasn't scared anymore but she sure was panting!
p6-They climbed the rope. They didn't see anything. The only thing they could see was a pair of wings.
p7-They picked up the wings. They didn't know what else to do.
p8-They were surprised when the bear let them through just beacause they gave him the wings!
p9-They got to the end of the cave! This was so happy she screamed whoo! hoo!
p10-They got to the lab and they couldn't have done it without you! This & That: Thanks!
p11-The End (Oh come on I want to hear more!)

Bad Streak

I am in the middle of a horrible streak playing in single-table no limit hold 'em tournaments. Of the last twelve tourneys, I've only cashed once. I have even come in tenth place twice! I've had a lot of bad beats where I was way ahead in a hand until the river card. The excuse that I choose to use for this streak is that I have been reading some poker 'advice' columns that are telling me that the way I have been playing is wrong. So when a situation arises, I am conflicted in how I should play it. I need to get back to my natural style and stop listening to the so called experts.

Update: I won the very next tournament I played after posting this.

Impeach Judge George Greer

I think this has been around for a little while and I don't know if it will have any real effect. But it will allow you to do something rather than waiting around for the judicial system to act in favor of Terri Schiavo. Sign the petition to impeach Judge George Greer. It might make you feel better.

Alveda King Joins Priests for Life Staff

Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., has become a Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life. A pro-life advocate as well as a civil rights advocate, Dr. King will head up the Priests for Life Office of African American Outreach.

She also participates in the Silent No More Awareness Campaign (a project of Priests for Life and NOEL), through which she speaks about her own two abortions and how the Lord Jesus Christ has brought her forgiveness and healing. Alveda has stood with the Silent No More Awareness Campaign in Washington, DC and elsewhere at gatherings in which the women hold signs that say "I Regret My Abortion."

On her website, King For America, Alveda declares that like her uncle, she too has a dream about equality. But she asks, "How can the dream survive if we murder the children?"

Terri Schiavo 3/23 Morning Update

Now that the federal appeals court has denied the re-insertion of Terri's feeding tube, the options to try to keep her alive are these:

--The case can be heard by the Supreme Court and overturn the lower courts. This seems unlikely.
--The Florida Legislature can pass a law to have the feeding tube put back. They are considering a dehydration and starvation protection act that would require stronger evidence of informed consent prior to removing assisted food and fluids from an incapacitated patient. This is possible with enough public pressure.
--Governor Jeb Bush can use some kind of Executive Order to keep her alive. This might be Terri's last hope.
--Prayer.

For more information on what can be done and for immediate updates on the situation, please refer to these sites:
Pro-Life Blogs
BlogsForTerri
Terri's Fight

Alex's First Picture Book

Alex has written his first book. He took the initiative himself. I did not even know he was doing this until he was done. It is pretty good. There are eleven pages with a drawing on every page. The main characters names are: This and That. It looks like bad grammar if you don't know this fact. I only had to correct the spelling of 'their', otherwise it is exactly as written. Perhaps when I have more time I'll try to scan the drawings. They are funny. He is already hard at work on the sequel.

This & That's New Cape!
p1-While This and That had long hair, they did not have their capes.
p2-Until one day after they cut their hair Rumble and Tumble gave them each their capes! They liked it.
p3-They liked their capes so much that they even wrote their names on it!
p4-They played with their capes every day until they realized the capes weren't play capes! They were real superhero capes!
p5- They landed on a cloud. But this cloud wasn't any ordinary cloud. It had cape hangers and doors. It even had a pirate and whale next to it!
p6-Someone came out the door! It's tongue was sticking out, it's legs were coming out the door. It had hair that looked like this (picture of hair) and it even had an ant on it's tongue! Yuck!
p7-This was so scared she jumped into That's arms like Scooby Do! Ha!
p8-But it turned out he was nice. So This & That greeted him. But then...
p9-Someone else came out. This was scared a ton!!!
p10-But it turned out he was nice too. So they both greeted him too.
p11-Aren't you glad they got new capes? The End (or is it just the beginning?)

I Am Part of a Powerful Group?

It seems that 'the other side' is arguing that the Republicans in Congress and President Bush are trying to appease the religious right in their support to keep Terri Schiavo from dying. Some of the people who want Terri dead are saying that the politicians are interfering in a State issue because they are trying to strengthen their standing with the wacky religious pro-lifers.

Wow, I didn't realize that I was part of a group that had this much power! I guess that is why it looks like Terri will be forced to die. That is why there is abortion-on-demand during all terms of a pregnancy, including partial-birth. The Ten Commandments are too restrictive and need to be taken down from public places. The cross is taken off of the Los Angeles County seal. We need to have a death with dignity policy in California. 'Under God' should not be in the Pledge. Hmmm, very interesting.

The Resourceful Nun

Sister Mary, a young Nun who worked for a local home health care agency was out making her rounds when she ran out of gas. As luck would have it, there was a gas station just one block away. She walked to the station to borrow a can with enough gas to start the car and drive to the station for a fill-up. The attendant regretfully told her that the only gas can he owned had just been loaned out, but if she would care to wait he was sure it would be back shortly.

Since the nun was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. After looking through her car for something to carry to the station to fill with gas, she spotted a bedpan she had in her trunk. Always resourceful, she carried it to the station, filled it with gasoline, and carried it back to her car.

As she was pouring the gas into the tank of her car, two men watched her from across the street. One of them turned to the other and said, "If that car starts, I'm going to start going to church!"

Powers of Ten

I remember seeing something similar to this when I was in tenth grade. It was a short film that started out in space and the perspective reduced by a power of ten until it got down to the molecular level. It was one of those things that I will never forget from school. I found a website that shows something similar that begins at 10E23 meters (the vastness of the universe) and goes down to 10E-16 meters (examining quarks). This is a great teaching tool. Here is the link to Powers of Ten.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday has always been one of Lisa's and my favorite Masses to attend. Partly because it is the start of Holy Week. It was made even better this year because of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ movie. I didn't get a chance to see the movie until after Easter last year. So this was the first time I heard the Palm Sunday readings from the reference point of the movie. During the long gospel reading today that tells of Jesus' crucifixion and the hours leading up to it, I had much of the movie going through my head(I believe that I have always learned/related better visually). So hearing the story today really got to me in a way that was more intense than usual. I want to see the movie one more time before Easter. I think it will really help me to appreciate the Easter Season in a different and more positive light. Thank you, Mel.

Perspective

It is a tragedy (and a travesty) that one judge can order that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube be removed so that she will die a slow and possibly painful death. This has happened even with all of the flurry of activity from the public, legislatures, Congress, bloggers, and media. Yes, it is possible that she did in fact tell her husband that this is what she wanted. But, without a written living will, shouldn't we err on the side of life? Especially when her loving parents are willing to accept all of the responsibility of her care?

There has been a lot of media coverage for one person the past few weeks. Why isn't there this level of media attention on the one million abortions that take place in this country every year? Hopefully, because of all of the energy spent covering Terri's fate, it can carry over to the other life issues. This is a challenge to the bloggers. We all know that the regular media will not do it.

President's Statement on Terri Schiavo

The case of Terri Schiavo raises complex issues. Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life. Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern. It should be our goal as a nation to build a culture of life, where all Americans are valued, welcomed, and protected - and that culture of life must extend to individuals with disabilities.
(from the White House website)

Karate Class

I took the kids to their karate class last night. It was the first time I'd seen them in class in over a month. I was very impressed at how much they have learned in that time. Since it is a type of karate (hapkido) that originated in Korea, it was weird to hear my kids very fluently reciting the numbers from one to ten in Korean during the exercises. What I found very interesting, yet totally predictable, happened during the sparring part of the class. Alex was very good at defending himself and a little weak on offense. Marisa was all attack and practically no defense.

I received a nice compliment from one of the mothers who was there watching the class with me. She commented how very well behaved and disciplined Marisa was after I told her that she is still four years old. Another affirmation to me about our homeschooling decision.

Social Workers Harass Homeschoolers

There is a story on the Home School Legal Defense Association website that tells of three families in Michigan who have been harassed by the government. This is something that I am not worried about, but it is something that is in the back of my mind. During traditional school hours, I won't let the kids go outside to play unless I am with them. This is even if it is only right outside of our front door, because I don't want to give the opportunity for any 'neighbor' to get the wrong idea and call the authorities. It is rather sad actually. For peace of mind, we are members of the HSLDA. We would have access to lawyers just in case.

Food Etiquette Test

--Do mothers in China make their kids eat everything on their plates?
--What is the correct way to ask for ketchup in France?

Find out the interesting answers to these and many other 'food etiquette around the world' questions here.

Some Pro-Life Quotations

"All those in favor of abortion have already been born."
President Ronald Reagan

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists; I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews; I did not speak out because I was not a Jew; Then they came to fetch the workers, members of the trade unions; I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Afterwards, they came for the Catholics; I did not say anything because I was a Protestant. Eventually, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak."
Martin Niemoller

"Always put justice above the law, and when the law is unjust change it directly."
William Penn

"Those who make abortions possible by law such as legislators and those who promote, defend and elect these same legislators cannot separate themselves totally from that guilt which accompanies this horrendous crime."
Humberto Cardinal Medeiros, 1980

"It is a great poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"Abortion is a crime that kills not only the child, but the consciences of all involved."
Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"I believe, that when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos."
Saint Thomas More

"How can we respect the lives of the elderly, the handicapped and the poor, how can we draw back in horror from the prospect of nuclear destruction, while we continue to destroy human life before it emerges from the mother's womb."
Catholic Bishops of N.Y. State, 1984

"I would like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly.

If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you His forgiveness and His peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord."
Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life (No. 99)

"As believers how can we fail to see that abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide are a terrible rejection of God's gift of life and love? And as believers, how can we fail to see the duty to surround the sick and those in distress with the warmth of our affection and support that will help them always to embrace life."
Pope John Paul II, Homily at Saint Louis, Missouri on January 27, 1999

"Today the world has become the arena of the battle for life. The struggle between the civilization of life and the civilization of death continues. A civilization which rejected the defenseless would deserve to be called a barbarian civilization, even though it had great successes in the field of economics, technology, art and science. A nation which kills its own children is a nation without a future."
Pope John Paul II, Homily at Kalisz, Poland on June 4, 1997

"We urge our fellow citizens to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest."
NCCB, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

"Catholic public officials who disregard Church teaching on the inviolability of the human person indirectly collude in the taking of innocent human life."
NCCB, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

"No public official, especially on claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life."
NCCB, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

"The Gospel of Life must be proclaimed, and human life defended, in all places and all times. The arena for moral responsibility includes not only the halls of government, but the voting booth as well. Laws that permit and euthanasia and assisted suicide are profoundly unjust, and we should work peacefully and tirelessly to oppose and change them."
NCCB, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

"As Americans, as Catholics and as pastors of our people, we [bishops]...call our fellow citizens back to our country's founding principles, and most especially to renew our national respect for the rights of those who are unborn, weak, disabled and terminally ill. Real freedom rests on the inviolability of every person as a child of God."
NCCB, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

"As we tinker with the beginning, the end and even the intimate cell structure of life, we tinker with our own identity as a free nation dedicated to the dignity of the human person. When American political life becomes an experiment on people rather than for and by them, it will be no longer worth conducting. We are arguably moving closer to that day."
NCCB, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

"Procreative techniques which turn embryos into objects and mechanically substitute the loving embrace of husband and wife violate human dignity and treat life as a product. No matter how positive their intentions, these techniques advance the dangerous tendency to reduce human life to mere material which can be manipulated."
Archbishop Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Denver, On Human Life

"The National Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. is a shiny black wall that stretches 492 feet and lists the names of the 58,022 known Americans killed in that war. If such a wall listed the names of the children killed by abortion since 1973, the wall would be about 60 miles long! The casualties of all our wars put together are fewer than the casualties from abortion in a single year."
Religious Life Magazine: December 1999

I Like Wal-Mart

I admit it. I like Wal-Mart. Living here in Southern California, you will not find a Wal-Mart in every neighborhood like you do in most parts of the country. The closest one to us is in Van Nuys, about 30 miles away, which by our freeways takes about 14 hours to get to. For some reason there is a hatred towards this retailer. I honestly do not understand it. When we lived in Yuma, Arizona, I went to Wal-Mart at least once a week. Whenever we visit my parents in Sacramento, I make every effort to go shopping there. In my opinion, the employees are one of the friendliest out there. The opponents of Wal-Mart say the employees are underpaid and receive no benefits. If this is true, then obviously there must be something more important to the workers than financial benefits. Wal-Mart has obviously figured out what it is. I wish the politicians of this area would be a little bit more open to letting Wal-Mart do business here. I need my price busting fix.

Another Good Poker Run

I'm in the middle of a good single-table no-limit hold 'em tournament run ($5 and $10 entry). In the last 12 tourneys, I've come in first place 6 times, cashing in 2 others. Net +146.50. I am pretty sure that I will make my goal for this month.

The Cubs Are In First Place!

Well, every team is technically tied for first place before the season begins. My friend, 'Mr. Yankee', just loves to tell me this every single year at this time. He seems to find pleasure in relating this fact to me. Unfortunately, I have no response except, "This is the year!" It is isn't it?

Father Dennis' Blog

For those of you who may be interested, I've been reading the blog of Father Dennis. He is a priest in Dubuque, Iowa. I happened to come upon his blog by chance (or Holy Spirit), just by pushing the little 'next blog' button in the top right-hand corner. Sometimes I like to press it a few times to see other people's sites. Fr. Dennis has recently been posting his Sunday homilies. You can tell that he takes a lot of time in the preparation of them. He also has posted a summary of a workshop that he gave on the catechism. Very interesting.

UN Approves Banning All Human Cloning

(from LifeSiteNews.Com) - The UN General Assembly adopted a Declaration today calling on nations to enact legislation to "prohibit all forms of human cloning." It passed by a vote of 84 to 34. The measure sets an international standard that humans should not be created through cloning for any purpose, placing human life as a priority over scientific experimentation.

The decision ends over three years of deadlock caused by countries seeking approval for cloning research. Belgium, the United Kingdom, Singapore and other countries that hope to profit from cloning humans opposed a total ban, and declared they would defy the international moral agreement.

The topic was originally introduced at the UN by pro-cloning countries to gain implicit international approval for so-called "therapeutic cloning" (creating human clones to experiment upon and kill). In 2002, these countries requested that a treaty be drafted to ban only so-called "reproductive cloning." The countries insisted that human clones are for research only and should not be allowed to survive.

The pro-cloning countries lost support as Costa Rica took the lead, along with the U.S. and pro-life groups, to educate countries that cloning would violate the human rights of both cloned embryos and women. The embryos would be created and destroyed at the whim of scientists. Women would be treated as commodities to harvest their eggs.

Additionally, adult stem cells, the use of which is ethical, are already doing what cloning only promises by providing near-miraculous treatments for patients with a variety of illnesses, such as Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, heart failure, cancer and blindness.

Yellow Ribbon Car Magnets

You've seen those ribbon magnets on cars that say, "Support Our Troops", or "Pray For Our Troops". When I first started seeing them, I wanted to get one. But after awhile, it seemed that every car had them, so I wasn't as motivated to get one. Now I want one, again.

Recently, I heard a news story that reported how these magnets are being taken down by vandals. Sometimes they are destroyed and left for the owner to see when they return to their vehicles. It seems that the liberals who have a hatred towards President Bush and the war in Iraq are using their energies to destroy other people's property and to show their disgust with the brave men and women sacrificing themselves for our country.

I had no idea that these little magnets had this kind of effect on the left. I am ordering one today! Perhaps a few extra just in case I become a victim of this new hate crime. Bring it on.

Altar Boy

I attended the Cursillo Mass this morning at 6:30am. I went by myself since it was too early for the rest of the family. I was happy in my pew waiting for the celebration to start. They needed an altar server, and somehow I got asked to fill the position. I tried to get out of it. I said that I had never done that before(this coming Easter will be four years since I first received Sacraments), but that fact did not matter. Luckily, I know the Celebrant(Fr. Gael Sullivan) very well. So I was not really that uncomfortable. Father Gael had very good hand directions and eyeball directions. It became very apparent that he is very used to rookie altar servers. From my experience working in restaurants, I wished that I had a tray for carrying all of the stuff. At one point I was juggling the holy water that is put into the wine, the filled water bowl for washing, and the wrong towel for drying. Oh well, I'll get it right the next time. During the closing prayer, when I hold the book for the priest, I started to walk away halfway through his prayer. Well, I thought he was done! It's too bad Lisa and the kids weren't there to witness this. It would have really amused Lisa. But it would have been something the kids might see as something they would want to do in the future. "If Dad can do it, then I can, too."

Golf, You Are Now On Deck

Karate has been an extra-curricular activity that the kids are excited about and movitated in participating. They really look forward to their next lesson. They have a goal to get the next belt (yellow). Now it is time to try to find another activity. I have chosen to try out golf. I purchased an inexpensive set of junior golf clubs at Amazon. About $30 for a wood, 3 different irons, and a putter. I had been shopping around at local sports stores and the cheapest set that I could find was at Target for about $70. I should be receiving the clubs in the mail this coming week. I can't wait to take them out to the driving range. Perhaps they can motivate me to get back into the game and try to at least get back to the 18-handicap that I once carried in my prime.

Social Security 'Not Pay-As-You-Go'

(from CNSNews.com) - In Nancy Pelosi's world, the sky is not blue, the grass is not green, and Social Security is not a pay-as-you-go program," the National Republican Congressional Committee said. At a press conference broadcast on C-SPAN Thursday, House Minority Leader Pelosi (D-CA) commented, "The President has said this is 'pay-as-you-go'-well, it's not 'pay-as-you-go,' it's a trust fund."

"What?" the NRCC asked in a press release: "Has someone notified the Social Security Commissioner? The President? The Congress? All this time we've been wrong about this?" exclaimed NRCC Communications Director Carl Forti.

"Most everyone familiar with Social Security in any capacity understands that the current generation of workers finances the benefits of the current generation of retirees-making Social Security a pay-as-you-go-system," Forti said. That's why the system faces such big challenges as Baby Boomers begin to retire - because there will be fewer younger workers paying into the system that pays out benefits. Forti said Republicans knew Pelosi would be "dishonest about the details of the president's plan" and that she'd "mislead the public on the need for reform" and even "scare seniors" about "privatization schemes."

"But now we're seeing her blatantly misrepresent the basic facts on the way the system is run," Forti said. He called it a "desperate new low, even for the Democrats." (Donn's commentary: "typical")

Down 1.3 Million Dollars???

Yes, that is how much Daniel Negreanu was down playing poker the other day. You can read his explanation of this predicament here.

Also, read his latest entry about hitchhiking to Vegas. It is a great read. I can see it in a sit-com episode. See, you can use the skills of 'reading' people at the poker table in other areas of life.

Bush Unveils Abortion Counseling Plan

(from LifeSiteNews.com) - Florida Governor Jeb Bush unveiled a plan to curb abortion that would include $4 million in spending for pre-abortion counseling, to help women consider alternatives such as adoption. "I believe that women, when confronted with this very traumatic choice when they're pregnant, need to have options available to them," Bush said.

Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings unveiled the plan Monday, which is modeled after one implemented by a pro-life Pennsylvania Governor, but which has survived two successive pro-abortion leaders. "It shows that the abortion issue does not have to be a political one, that giving women counseling on such an important decision is worthy of public dollars," Bush stated.

The Pregnancy Support Services Program is modeled after Pennsylvania's Real Alternatives, a program that has operated since 1996 and served 86,000 women from 126 centers statewide.

The money will be spent to train counselors and set up a toll-free hot line, also for programs helping new parents with parenting skills for up to 1 year after the birth of a baby. The program also includes a media campaign to promote abortion alternatives such as adoption.

The Essential Guide to Women's English

Yes = No
No = Yes
Maybe = No
I'm sorry = You'll be sorry
We need = I want
It's your decision = My correct decision should be obvious by now
Do what you want = You'll pay for this later
We need to talk = I need to complain
Sure go ahead = I don't want you to
I'm not upset = Of course I'm upset, you moron
You're so manly = You need a shave and you sweat a lot
Be romantic, turn out the lights = I have flabby thighs
This kitchen is so inconvenient = I want a new house
I want new curtains = Also carpeting, furniture, and wallpaper
I heard a noise = I noticed you were almost asleep
Do you love me? = I'm going to ask for something expensive
How much do you love me? = I did something today you're going to hate
I'll be ready in a minute = Kick off your shoes and find a good game on TV
You have to learn to communicate = Just agree with me

Cursillo #639 and #640

During the next two weekends, the men's and women's Los Angeles English Cursillo Weekends will be taking place, respectively. I lived my Cursillo Weekend(#571) in July 2001, right after the Easter when I was baptized, confirmed and had first communion. This is actually the first Weekend that I am not volunteering to help. I have come to realize (through this absence) that working the Weekends have been good for me because it helps me to focus my energies toward Christ. I probably won't be able to work on the next team either because of Lisa's school schedule (she is finishing up her doctorate). I have been 'grouping' every week. But there has not been a commitment to the Team. I will need to find a good substitute for Cursillo until I am able to work a Weekend again. Pray for those who will be living their Weekends coming up.