Who is the greatest athlete of all time? Think about speed, endurance, strength, balance and coordination. Think about all-around athletic ability. My vote goes to Boyanka Angelova. See the "undoctored" video below.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Issues in Iraq
I have gotten the biggest kick out of the journalist that threw both of his shoes at President Bush during a press conference in Iraq. This marks the proudest I have been of our President. Not only did he deftly duck the first shoe, but he seemed to chuckle just before he ducked to avoid the second shoe.
The video raises questions? Where was the Secret Service? Not only did the journalist have the opportunity to throw one shoe - he then bent down, took off his other shoe and threw it at the President. Had the President not ducked, the shoes would have hit him squarely in the face. The thud of the shoes on the wall behind the podium leads me to believe that they were fairly heavy and were thrown with pretty good force.
Which leads me to my second question...Given that the Milwaukee Brewers lost pitching ace C.C. Sabathia to the money-flaunting New York Yankees, might this journalist be welcome in the Brew City? If he can throw a baseball like he threw the shoes, there might be hope for the Brewers.
The video raises questions? Where was the Secret Service? Not only did the journalist have the opportunity to throw one shoe - he then bent down, took off his other shoe and threw it at the President. Had the President not ducked, the shoes would have hit him squarely in the face. The thud of the shoes on the wall behind the podium leads me to believe that they were fairly heavy and were thrown with pretty good force.
Which leads me to my second question...Given that the Milwaukee Brewers lost pitching ace C.C. Sabathia to the money-flaunting New York Yankees, might this journalist be welcome in the Brew City? If he can throw a baseball like he threw the shoes, there might be hope for the Brewers.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Greatest Christmas Gift Of All
Much to my surprise and joy, Sirius XM satellite radio is once again hosting a 24 station dedicated to ABBA. Unfortunately, the station will only be operating this week in conjunction with the U.S. release of the "Mamma Mia" DVD. Had I known this earlier, I would have taken the week off!
Jerusalem, My Destiny?
The Vatican remains silent about a report in an Italian newspaper that the Pope will visit Israel in May. For the past couple of months, there have been rumors that the visit was in the works. Such a trip would have major significance. After years of improving relations between the Vatican and Jewish leaders, there have been recent tensions related to the possible canonization of Pope Pius XII, the Pope during the war years. Some Jewish leaders condemn Pius for not actively and publicly denouncing Nazi policies and actions related to Jews. Other Jewish leaders claim Pius did more than nearly any leader to assist Jews and that public statements from Pius might have done more harm than good.
Benedict's visit could prove to be a pivot that leads to either improved or deteriorating relations between the Vatican and Jewish leaders.
To see a related article from Catholic News Service, go to: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0806290.htm.
Benedict's visit could prove to be a pivot that leads to either improved or deteriorating relations between the Vatican and Jewish leaders.
To see a related article from Catholic News Service, go to: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0806290.htm.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Throwing Stones
The last time Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez of Chile said anything that people cared about, it included "Habemus Papam". He was the Cardinal that came onto the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica to announce that Cardinal Josef Raqtzinger had been elected Pope.
Last week, Cardinal Medina was complaining about Madonna. Not THE Madonna. He was compaining about the pop star Madonna and the effect that she has - rousing impure thoughts, etc. Madonna is making a concert appearance in Chile and people are lining up to buy tickets.
This is another example of Church leaders not quite getting it. I really don't have a problem with His Eminence's comment about Madonna. However, now that she is over 50, about the only thing Madonna can arouse is nostalgia. My gripe is with the environment in which Cardinal Medina made his comments. His comment about Madonna came during his homily at a Mass being celebrated to honor former Chilean dictator Pinochet - a leader that killed thousands of dissidents during his 17 year rule. Apparently, impure thoughts about a pop star trump thousands of murders, rapes and tortures.
To see a related article from the Guardian, go to:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8157026.
Last week, Cardinal Medina was complaining about Madonna. Not THE Madonna. He was compaining about the pop star Madonna and the effect that she has - rousing impure thoughts, etc. Madonna is making a concert appearance in Chile and people are lining up to buy tickets.
This is another example of Church leaders not quite getting it. I really don't have a problem with His Eminence's comment about Madonna. However, now that she is over 50, about the only thing Madonna can arouse is nostalgia. My gripe is with the environment in which Cardinal Medina made his comments. His comment about Madonna came during his homily at a Mass being celebrated to honor former Chilean dictator Pinochet - a leader that killed thousands of dissidents during his 17 year rule. Apparently, impure thoughts about a pop star trump thousands of murders, rapes and tortures.
To see a related article from the Guardian, go to:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8157026.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Kremlin's Pope
Patriarch Alexy II of the Holy Russian Orthodox Church passed away on Friday. The Russian Patriarch is usually seen as the #2 man in all of the Orthodox Church - Patriarch Barthomew of Constantinople is seen by most to be the prime leader of Orthodoxy. However, there has always been significant tension between Russia and Constantinople. Constantinople feels that the Russian Orthodox Church has become too cozy with the Putin regime.
Alexy became Patriarch as the Soviet Union was crumbling. He had the difficult task of resurrecting a Church that had been dominated and decimated by the Communist regime. As the Soviet Union fell, many other churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, began to make inroads in membership in many regions of the former Soviet Union. Alexy refused to allow any Pope to visit until the Roman Catholic Church got rid of the dioceses that had been established in the former Soviet Union after the fall of Communism. The dioceses are still there and no pope has made a visit. During Alexy's tenure, an increasing number of Russian citizens have claimed to be Russian Orthodox.
Archbishop Kirill has been named temporary administrator of the Holy Russian Orthodox Church until a permanent successor is named. For the past several years, Kirill has been the primary Russian Orthodox communicator to the Vatican. He has made several visits to the Vatican and numerous Vatican officials have visited him. He has helped build stronger relations between the East and the West. Should he become Patriarch, Kirill will likely work to build better relations between the Holy Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican (and Constantinople, as well).
Alexy became Patriarch as the Soviet Union was crumbling. He had the difficult task of resurrecting a Church that had been dominated and decimated by the Communist regime. As the Soviet Union fell, many other churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, began to make inroads in membership in many regions of the former Soviet Union. Alexy refused to allow any Pope to visit until the Roman Catholic Church got rid of the dioceses that had been established in the former Soviet Union after the fall of Communism. The dioceses are still there and no pope has made a visit. During Alexy's tenure, an increasing number of Russian citizens have claimed to be Russian Orthodox.
Archbishop Kirill has been named temporary administrator of the Holy Russian Orthodox Church until a permanent successor is named. For the past several years, Kirill has been the primary Russian Orthodox communicator to the Vatican. He has made several visits to the Vatican and numerous Vatican officials have visited him. He has helped build stronger relations between the East and the West. Should he become Patriarch, Kirill will likely work to build better relations between the Holy Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican (and Constantinople, as well).
Saturday, December 6, 2008
An Army Of One
A Salvation Army Captain in the midwest is being "drummed out of the corps" for conduct that is unbecoming for an officer. His misstep: he fell in love with a woman that is not an officer in the Salvation Army.
Salvation Army Capt. Johnny Harsh's first wife, also a Savlation Army captain, died of a heart attack this past summer. Capt. Harsh met a woman, whom he identifies only as Cia, through an online dating service. He fell in love with her and plans to marry her. Because she is not a Salvation Army officer, he will not be able to serve in the Salvation Army if he marries Cia. To see a related article from FOXNews, go to: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,462684,00.html.
This is a tough situation. I never knew that Salvation Army officers can only marry other Slavation Army officers. I wonder if people that are already married to non-officers can become an officer. Even if one disagrees with this marriage rule, Harsh made an oath to live by the rules of the Salvation Army. Still, this restriction seems pretty harsh.
My first instinct on hearing about this was to decide to not put any of my money into a Salvation Army kettle this year. However, to Harsh's credit, he is urging people that are upset about his situation to continue to support the Salvation Army. Given that he seems like a sensible person, I will follow his suggestion.
It is somewhat refreshing to hear about something like this that is not related to the Roman Catholic Church!
Salvation Army Capt. Johnny Harsh's first wife, also a Savlation Army captain, died of a heart attack this past summer. Capt. Harsh met a woman, whom he identifies only as Cia, through an online dating service. He fell in love with her and plans to marry her. Because she is not a Salvation Army officer, he will not be able to serve in the Salvation Army if he marries Cia. To see a related article from FOXNews, go to: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,462684,00.html.
This is a tough situation. I never knew that Salvation Army officers can only marry other Slavation Army officers. I wonder if people that are already married to non-officers can become an officer. Even if one disagrees with this marriage rule, Harsh made an oath to live by the rules of the Salvation Army. Still, this restriction seems pretty harsh.
My first instinct on hearing about this was to decide to not put any of my money into a Salvation Army kettle this year. However, to Harsh's credit, he is urging people that are upset about his situation to continue to support the Salvation Army. Given that he seems like a sensible person, I will follow his suggestion.
It is somewhat refreshing to hear about something like this that is not related to the Roman Catholic Church!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Systemic Abuse
Earlier today, I drove two hours to pick up Michael and bring him to a court hearing to contest his guardianship and protective placement. Michael is a 45 year old man with developmental disabilities resulting from a brain injury from a farm accident when he was a boy. He also suffers from mental illness.
For most of his adult life, Michael was able to get by on his own. He would clean taverns in exchange for room and board (often a cot in the storage area). Patrons thought he was cute and would buy him drinks. Michael became an alcoholic. Still, he had a circle of friends that loosely looked after him.
About 10 years ago, Michael found some new friends. They were drunk and had the idea that they should drive to another state. The catch: they did not have a car. Michael was the only sober one of the group. The others found a car with keys in it. They talked Michael into driving the car. They didn't get too far. The police pulled them over and Michael was arrested. He was brought back to the jail of his home county. Law enforcement officials insisted that Michael was incompetent and needed a guardian. The organization for which I work was appointed guardian and I have worked with Michael for nearly 8 years.
While his life prior to the arrest might not have been the greatest in the eyes of outsiders, Michael did enjoy independence at had a loose support network that kept things from really getting bad. While under guardianship and protective placement, Michael has done OK. However, he has always struggled with wanting the independence he previously enjoyed. In the 8 years of the court order for guardianship and protective placement, Michael has had no run-ins with the law or major health crises. Those looking at Michael's life from the outside see this as a success. Unfortunately, Michael no longer knows how to plan for and prepare a meal for himself. He no longer sees the need to keep himself or his environment clean. He no longer has the desire to work. In previous years, he actively made it known that he wanted to contest his guardianship and protective placement. Michael seems to have given up. Knowing him as well as I do, I had to contest his guardianship and protective placement for him this year (somewhat strange, since as his guardian, I had to petition the court to consider termination of guardianship).
The worst thing that happened to Michael was being ordered to be protected by "the system". Those of us that comprise "the system" have turned Michael into a dependent zombie. In our quest to ensure what we think is best for him, we have taken away his ability to live a life that he wants.
For most of his adult life, Michael was able to get by on his own. He would clean taverns in exchange for room and board (often a cot in the storage area). Patrons thought he was cute and would buy him drinks. Michael became an alcoholic. Still, he had a circle of friends that loosely looked after him.
About 10 years ago, Michael found some new friends. They were drunk and had the idea that they should drive to another state. The catch: they did not have a car. Michael was the only sober one of the group. The others found a car with keys in it. They talked Michael into driving the car. They didn't get too far. The police pulled them over and Michael was arrested. He was brought back to the jail of his home county. Law enforcement officials insisted that Michael was incompetent and needed a guardian. The organization for which I work was appointed guardian and I have worked with Michael for nearly 8 years.
While his life prior to the arrest might not have been the greatest in the eyes of outsiders, Michael did enjoy independence at had a loose support network that kept things from really getting bad. While under guardianship and protective placement, Michael has done OK. However, he has always struggled with wanting the independence he previously enjoyed. In the 8 years of the court order for guardianship and protective placement, Michael has had no run-ins with the law or major health crises. Those looking at Michael's life from the outside see this as a success. Unfortunately, Michael no longer knows how to plan for and prepare a meal for himself. He no longer sees the need to keep himself or his environment clean. He no longer has the desire to work. In previous years, he actively made it known that he wanted to contest his guardianship and protective placement. Michael seems to have given up. Knowing him as well as I do, I had to contest his guardianship and protective placement for him this year (somewhat strange, since as his guardian, I had to petition the court to consider termination of guardianship).
The worst thing that happened to Michael was being ordered to be protected by "the system". Those of us that comprise "the system" have turned Michael into a dependent zombie. In our quest to ensure what we think is best for him, we have taken away his ability to live a life that he wants.
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