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| HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY - VETS I WILL REMEMBER WITH LOVE [Rachel Watkins] |
| 5/31/2010 |
This day we remember and honor all those who have given their lives for our freedom. The vets I will remember the most did not die during their service but their service forever affected their lives. Their sacrifices came not with blood but time away from their families. An honorable service indeed.
Today our family will remember Matt's Dad, George Watkins, who served honorably during the Korean War. He laid telephone lines - often going ahead even of the infantry in order to secure them the communications they needed to fight successfully. He missed the birth of his first born, finding out about it a month later. He always felt pain about that.
As a father-in-law, he was one of the best. He was a quiet, often seen as gruff man, but you put a baby in his arms and he melted. He was supportive for each of our babies and would be the go-to grandfather for haircuts, movies, trips to the zoo and the park. I remember more than one pregnancy when he came over every week to get the little ones for an afternoon so I could get a nap. He did this without Matt's Mom - alone, a grandfather. I found out that this was also his idea. He told Matt's Mom he would do this and he did.
and
Matt's Uncle - Lt. Commander Jack Fellowes. He served in the US Navy and was shot down over Viet Nam. He served in prison for over six years (at times w/ Senator John McCain).
He died just last month, weeks after burying his daughter who died from ALS.
My memories of Uncle Jack - as an in-law into the Watkins - are ones of just fun!! He always smiled, he was excited for each one of our children tho' readily admitted he would never remember all their names. He and his wife, Pat, were kind and generous people. I will be remembering Pat especially today as she is still recovering from burying both a daughter and a husband. Consider saying a prayer for her as well.
Take a moment to read about this American hero. Here's a couple of links:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/can/2010/05/06-47/Jack-Fellowes-Navy-hero-dies-at-77.html
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/f/f043.htm
Have a good day and remember to say a prayer for those who served, those who died and those who are left to remember them. |
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| RIP - CHRIS HANEY [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/1/2010 |
Don't know who that is?
If you are of a certain age you have probably spent (wasted) a good amount of time with his genius idea. You may have added alcohol, friendly wagers or out-right bloody competition to his invention. You may still enjoy it as a part of family fun nights.
What you may ask? Trivial Pursuit
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37445744/ns/today-today_people/
"Chris Haney, a co-creator of the popular Trivial Pursuit board game, died Monday at the age of 59.
Scott Abbott, who created Trivial Pursuit with Haney, said Haney died in a Toronto hospital after a long illness."
I know I was 'addicted' to it during the late 70's and 80's. I was pretty good at it, having acquired a good store of useless knowledge from years of voracious reading.
My brother made good money on it during college, placing bets on being able to answer entire cards of questions.
He'd use no board, no pie pieces just pull out the box at a party and bet anyone willing he could clear a card. He had to pick people who did not know him well as most close friends came to realize that he had read every card in the box (more than once) and had almost photographic memory.
Granted he didn't invent a cure for cancer but he sure gave most of us some great memories of our childhood playing with friends and family members. Hope his good idea plays out well for him when He meets God. I imagine God does pretty well at the game :-).
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| ARE BABIES A PROBLEM? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/1/2010 |
Over at the Register, Danielle Bean is blogging about this story:
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/05/28/2010-05-28_virginia_school_principal_suspended_after_employee_hands_out_prolife_fetus_dolls.html
A teacher gave out those very familiar (to us) preborn plastic babies often given out to teach pro-life lessons - she and the principal were then fired.
Can I be honest? I'm not liking how this is going. Danielle's take is that we shouldn't be afraid of these babies and the truth of abortion, baby development, etc.- which is all true. She is correct in that parents are having a hurricane-sized fit over these dolls but wouldn't probably raise a small dust cloud if Bratz dolls were given out. She's right.
BUT -
I am worried that when pro-life people, with the best of intentions, attempt to promote our truth in a manner than pushes those on the fence over the wrong side. This appears to have occurred at a public school. There is no information on the why of giving these out - was it a part of a science lesson, health class??
We don't know the whole story so the anger may be justified that they were being used completely out of context for the teacher's classes. Should she have been fired? Probably not, but that is for an employment board to determine (I expect there to be unlawful firing suits to come pretty quickly).
There is also the issue of age appropriate information. These dolls are the size a baby in utero approx. 3 - 4 months along (if I remember correctly). And they were given to children in 3rd and 4th grade. There is the chance - however slight - that some of these kids had no prior knowledge of babies, how they get there, etc., etc. As such, the babies might be opening several doors parents aren't ready to unlock.
I would certainly be upset with a teacher who was going to force a discussion about very sensitive subjects such as sex, baby development and, of course, abortion before I was ready or prepared to handle it with my child.
I am all for educating everyone on the truths, horrors and evils of abortion using the truth of the babies it kills but I am not sure this was the best tact to take. |
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| WHO'S FACE IS THERE ON YOUR HEART? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/1/2010 |
Today's gospel:
Mark 12:13-17 concludes with:
"....Bring me a denarius to look at." They brought one to him and he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They replied to him, "Caesarīs." So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." They were utterly amazed at him."
Think of your own heart - where your treasures are, where what you value rests and is remembered. What image would people find there if they were allowed to look?
Would they find an image of Jesus, of God, perhaps the Blessed Mother, the Trinity. Maybe it would be the faces of your family, your spouse, dear one long gone.
But maybe, just maybe it is the image of Caesar. Or rather the Caesar in your life - money, your job, or something even worse.
Take a look at your own 'coin' so to speak - whose image is on it and to whom do you give tribute? |
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| ARE YOU BUSY THIS SATURDAY?? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/2/2010 |
Join "The Pill Kills" intiative:
http://www.thepillkills.com/
Estrogen is in our drinking water as scientists will verify. The Pill causes harmful effects that can last a woman's entire life....
It is the answer to our problems as many think. |
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| AND FROM OUR "JUST WANNA MAKE YOU LAUGH" DEPT. [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/2/2010 |
Have you seen the Mentos and Coke fountains on Youtube? Those ingenious guys are back with a CAR!!!
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/01/4448567-rocket-car-runs-on-mentos-and-coke
Too funny! |
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| OKAY - SO, YOU ARE GOING TO SUE GOOGLE IF THE DIRECTIONS ARE WRONG??? [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/2/2010 |
I've had enough of frivolous lawsuits
-The woman who sued McDonald's for the damage she suffered when she put her own cup of coffee between her knees while she drove and she wanted to blame McD's for it. She won!
-Lindsay Lohan is suing E*Trade over their use of the name "Lindsay" in their recent baby ad where a baby is called a 'milk-a-holic' stating it was defaming to her.
And now we have another woman (doesn't say much for my sex) who is suing Google for walking directions!!!
I like this link in particular as it shows the exact route given to the woman:
http://searchengineland.com/woman-follows-google-maps-walking-directions-gets-hit-sues-43212
Okay - are any of you reading this and agreeing with the woman? I would love to hear from someone, anyone who thinks that her decision to utilize the route suggested is Google's fault!! |
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| FREE SPEECH ISSUES ONCE AGAIN [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/2/2010 |
Salman Rushdie and Elie Wiesel together discussing Free Speech:
http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=3094760
My concern is that of Mr. Rushdie's. Mr. Wiesel continues to prosecute Holocaust deniers while the article states:
"It also conflicts with Mr. Rushdie's view that Holocaust denial laws tend to create undeserving "free-speech martyrs," such as David Irving, the British historian prosecuted and jailed in Austria, which gave him "an attention and prominence that his largely discredited views had long since lost him."
I would also want to ensure that Mr. Wiesel is attentive to all the nuances of the Holocaust deniers such as those who want to accuse the Catholic Church and Pope Pius, in particular of not doing enough. Are all the details of the Holocaust protected or just those as affect Jews?
Free Speech is under attack here in the USA, we all know it. But how to fight it is another issue all together. |
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| SOME STATISTICS YOU SHOULD KNOW [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/3/2010 |
If you find yourself still defending the Church and its response to the scandals you need to read and print out Tom Hoopes excellent article over at the Catholic World Report.
Great statistics, background support and clarification on those who feel that all the evil in the world is being done (and covered up) by the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=188:the-elephant-in-the-room&catid=37:exclusive&Itemid=54 |
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| I'LL BE IN OMAHA NEXT WEEK AND CAN'T WAIT [Rachel Watkins] |
| 6/4/2010 |
Check this out and plan on coming -
http://www.chaoconference.com/
If you come and are a HMS listener please stop by the Ecce Homo Press table and introduce yourself. I hope meeting me won't be a disappointment and meeting you will be a joy!! |
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