Instructions For Life

Merry Christmas!

Habemus Episcopum!

Father Choby Appointed Bishop of Nashville

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Reverend David R. Choby as the eleventh Bishop of Nashville. Rev. Choby will be ordained a bishop and installed as the eleventh Bishop of Nashville at the Cathedral of the Incarnation at a time to be announced later.

Father Choby, 58, is a native of Nashville and is currently serving as the Administrator of the Diocese of Nashville and pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Gallatin.

As bishop, he will lead a diocese of approximately 75,000 Catholics in 51 parishes and 3 missions. The Diocese of Nashville includes 38 counties in Middle Tennessee.

“I am truly honored and humbled by this appointment,” Rev. Choby said. “I will do my best to respond to the confidence that Pope Benedict places in me.”

He was ordained to the priesthood September 6, 1974 by Bishop Joseph A. Durick and has served a number of assignments in the Diocese of Nashville. He was associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Madison, administrator of St. Ann Parish, and spent three years in residence at Christ the King Parish while working at the diocesan tribunal. In 1989 he was appointed pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Gallatin.

Rev. Choby holds a Canon Law degree and has worked at the diocesan tribunal throughout most of his priesthood.

Rev. Choby was on the faculty of The Pontifical College Josephinum, a seminary in Columbus, Ohio between 1984 and 1989. He currently serves on the seminary’s board.

He has served two five-year terms on the diocese’s Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors. On November 2, 2004 the College of Consultors, a council of priests, elected him to serve as the Diocesan Administrator after Bishop Edward Kmiec was installed as the Bishop of Buffalo.

“I came to know Father Choby well during my tenure as bishop of Nashville, and I know him as one endowed with wonderful qualities of priestliness and pastoral zeal which he will now bring to his new office and ministry as bishop of Nashville,” Bishop Kmiec said in a written statement.

“I wish to offer my prayerful congratulations to Bishop-designate Choby. He has done an excellent job as diocesan administrator and will shepherd a great diocese of faith filled people who will continue to work with him in fulfilling the mission of the Church,” Bishop Kmiec added.

Rev. Choby is the son of Raymond and Rita Choby, both deceased. He has one sister, Diane C. Dyche, who resides in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Quotes to live by

'Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great.' -- - Orison Swett Marden

'Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.' --Stephen Covey

'Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.' - Theodore Roosevelt

'Pessimism kills the instinct that urges men to struggle against poverty, ignorance and crime, and dries up all the fountains of joy in the world.' -- Helen Keller

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.' -- Charlie Brown (Peanuts comic strip)

Quotes...

"Use your judgment, not your emotions, in deciding the time and place for your anger."
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."
"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst...a spark that creates extraordinary results."
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."
"Genius is an infinite capacity for hard work" -Caryle
"A man who has made a success has a responsibility to those who are striving to make a success."
"Persuasion is better than force."
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." ~Theodore Roosevelt
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." -Albert Schweitzer

A Great New Business Concept

Keith Ferrazzi of Never Eat Alone has a new take on doing business, instead of taking clients and prospective business partners out for dinner and drinks, take them to work out. You can read the whole story here.

Cal Thomas Speaks

Cal Thomas wrote a very interesting and thought provoking piece on Islam in the world today. You can view it here.

Other's Take On Frontline

Here is a great article from ProlifeBlogs about the Frontline series last night.
Here is another example of the inaccuracies plaguing "the Last Abortion Clinic."
You can respond to the discussion about the program here on PBS' website.

So Much For Objectivity

Before watching the PBS Frontline special on the pro-life movement in Mississippi entitled "The Last Abortion Clinic" I was expecting a documentary on the pro-life movement, just as the biographers said they were doing when I met and interviewed with them for several hours back in July. As I now know, that is just code for "we'll say whatever you want to hear in order to get the information we want from you so we can put our own spin on it and make it appear as though the pro life movement is trying to harm the poor and less fortunate of Mississippi". Well, my hopes weren't overly optimistic before hand, but after watching it I realize that no matter we those on the right say or do, be it totally harmless, the leftist media will find a way to spin it to make the right look ignorant and uninformed. Even the questions and answers by the abortion clinic owner appeared to be staged in order to make her position seem like a central right and belief. This is just one more reason why I refuse to trust anyone in the media at all!

Frontline: The Last Abortion Clinic

PBS' show Frontline is doing a documentary called "the last abortion clinic" on the pro-life movement in Mississippi. I was interviewed for the program over the summer while walking in Jackson, MS. The show is scheduled to air tonight at 8:00 pm CST. The link for the show can be seen here.

Leading to Greatness

I attended the 11th annual Worldwide Luminary Series Leading to Greatness seminar today, it was so good that I decided to post all my notes from it. The conference topic was on building true success wherever you live and work. All the speakers did a great job of conveying their own secrets of leadership and how to implement them. Enjoy!


Carly Fiorina
Anyone can choose to lead; leadership is a choice to make a positive difference
Learn as much as you can wherever you’re at, and always give your very best at it
-Focus on your job or position right now, give it your all!
There are two ways to look at every job, the limitations or the possibilities.
Leadership is creating something new, seeing a possibility and making it happen
Leadership is about taking risks, management is about minimizing risks
Information is no longer power when everyone can get it
Asking the right question can be more powerful than knowing the right answer; logic and common sense are just as important
Leaders must propose a solution, a positive alternative
Leadership is overcoming fear, risk taking, and placing uncertain bets
- Every person has more potential than they realize
- All acts of leadership take courage
Leaders cannot act alone; others will put trust in you as you put trust in them
-If you can’t trust others you can’t lead
Balance- the art of leadership
-Optimism & realism, balancing the two
-Realism is truly understanding the goal or objective
Consistency & flexibility
Confidence & humility
-Confidence is required for leadership
-Humility is required to admit you’re not perfect
Knowing what you know and what you don’t know
You must surround yourself with people different than yourself
Must know the big picture and the details
Strategy without execution is futile
You must have an internal compass
-Never sell yourself ‘cause no one will ever pay you back
-When choices are tough, refer back to your internal compass
Authenticity
-Bring all of yourself to the job, you can’t fake it
-Effective leaders are authentic
Leadership is a choice – raising people’s sights, the possibilities in themselves and in the company or organization
-Unlocking potential, making a positive difference in others

Marcus Buckingham
The one thing they need to know
“Find what is unique and capitalize on it”
“To rally people to a better future”
-Ego is not too big, ethic are too small
-You must have the ego to believe you can do it
“Find what is universal and capitalize on it”
-Fear of the unknown is a commonality amongst all people
Clarity is the solution to anxiety
Points on clarity:
-Who do we serve?
-What is our core strength?
-What is our core score?
-What actions can we take today?
If you change your mind, do it with great clarity
Be vivid on your strengths
If you can’t pause success you can’t repeat it
Pick your hero’s with great care

Fortune Panel
Bill Novelli
-Be entrepreneurial, think outside the box
J.W. Marriott, Jr.
-Do what you love
Jim Turley
-Recognize that no client is bigger than your personal integrity

Jack Welch
5 stages of crisis
Denial, containment, somebody to blame, overreaction
Crisis makes things better in the end
In bad news, a leader defines the vision, the plan to get to the next level
Punish bad behavior that goes against values of company
Reward good behavior & exaggerate success
You must be candid – every manager must let every employee know where he stands
8 rules for leaders: Always be open and candid
1. Relentlessly upgrade your team, never settle
2. Differentiate between skills and abilities
3. Must have a clear and well-defined mission statement, talk about it and get
Others to buy into it
4. Exude optimism
5. Courage to make unpopular decisions
6. Be curious & make sure your questions get answered
7. Inspire risk taking- reward those who aren’t afraid to try
Support both the risks & the failures
8. Celebrate- recognition of those who have done well, great for moral
Hiring & firing
If you make a mistake, clean it up fast
You must judge integrity & behavior
“Why did you leave your last job?” is the most important question to ask potential
Hire
Energizing others is of utmost importance
Developing talent is of vital importance; you’re only as good as those under you
Team building, hire those smarter than you!
Rules for managers
HR person sees everything, learn from him or her
Don’t avoid charged relationships
Maintain a flat organizational chart
What to do if you have a bad boss?
Wait it out, have a safety valve of another job
Make your boss look good
Learn from those smarter than you

Dr. Steven R. Covey
Begin with the end in mind
“Leadership is communicating peoples worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.” It all begins with oneself.
The 8th Habit
Find your voice and inspire other to find theirs
“Never be afraid to run in”
Leadership is a choice, not a position
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” –Albert Schweitzer

Malcolm Gladwell
Great generals/leaders can make decisions on instinct (cur Doyle)
A study found that cops make much worse decisions when in the presence of a second cop
With more info people become overwhelmed, less info makes decision process easier

Sir Richard Branson
Must be good at motivating people, helping them succeed is key to success
Know the art of delegation
Detail is crucial; the little things make the difference
To survive in business you have to strive to be the best, customer service is a huge part of this
Give your team a stake in the company
Characteristics of good people to hire
-Good with people, high ethics, can help shake up industry, fun, be themselves
It never pays to be unethical
In dealing with failure you must stay positive throughout
Protect your downside- look at all the angles
Personal obstacles to success
Just do it
Don’t listen to naysayers
Managing and leading -treating all those in the company with complete worth and dignity
Companies have a social responsibility after achieving a position of strength

Rudy Giuliani
Are leaders born or made?
Leaders are made, they are constantly learning from others
1. In order to be a leader you have to have strong beliefs and convictions
-Develop and communicate strong beliefs
-Strong leaders convey their beliefs to others and don’t sway from them
2. Be optimistic – not pie in the sky
-People will follow those with solutions and a positive attitude
-Vince Lombardi- “I didn’t lose the game, I just ran out of time!”
3. Must have courage – not the absence of fear
-All people have fear; leaders simply manage and overcome their fears to get the job done
4. Relentless Preparation – fear will help you do this
-Preparation helps you to overcome your fear
-For every one hour spent in court you must spend four hours preparing
-Being able to perform at the end is a result of preparation
5. Understand Teamwork
-Surround yourself with great people
-What are my weaknesses and how can I find someone to help compensate for them?
-Understand that you don’t know everything
6. Be a Good communicator
-You have to communicate to others to lead effectively
-If you do the first five steps you’ll be a good communicator
-Be a problem solver
7. Have a sense of humor – you must love people!
-It’s more important to be there for people when things are going wrong than when they are going right
-If you’re there for them, they’ll be there for you
-Make others feel important

Go Dan!

My Friend from school, Dan Marrone just proved by this article what a great guy he is.

Hurricane Relief

I'm helping coordinate hurricane Katrina relief efforts in the local area, here's the link to the ad on the Father's of Mercy website.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

The Road Less Traveled

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference


-Robert Frost

Reporting Live From World Youth Day!

It's been quite a while since I've last updated on the status of Crossroads and my many travels across the country, there are way to many stories and pictures to be able to put them all in one post, so I'll just comment on the fact that I am in Cologne, Germany for the 20th World Youth Day with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI!
The last month of Crossroads was amazing, very stressful and challenging but I certainly grew a lot from it. WYD is going very well, we began by doing a pro-life walk from Brussels, Belgium to Cologne, Germany, covering about 120 miles over the course of five days. Definitely a much more relaxed walk than the summer was. Since being here I have somehow been thrown into the media correspondent position for Crossroads, dealing with all the major news organizations and setting up interviews and PR work. It's been fun but stressful as well. Somehow I got international security clearance for the media as well as a press pass so I have access to all the back room media accommodations! I'm considered a "free-lance photographer", I have no idea how I get myself involved in these things! This afternoon we've got interviews with CNN and the Mayor of Cologne, its crazy!
We've passed out over 8,000 Crossroads pro-life stickers since being here, everyone loves them! Check out the official World Youth Day website here.
Here are a few of the pictures I've taken since being in Europe, enjoy and I'll try to post more often!

The Latest...

It's been a couple weeks since I've been able to update what's been going on with Crossroads, the primary reason being lack of Internet access. I have posted a few things on the Crossroads blog however.
At present we are in the Dallas/Fr. Worth, TX area, or as they like to call it here, the 'Metroplex'. I'm not really sure what that means but that's what they say. It's been a good past couple weeks, after crossing Arizona and going into New Mexico we spent the weekend in El Paso, TX and had the opportunity to cross the border into Juarez, Mexico. As this was my first time south of the border I quite enjoyed it, reminding me somewhat of Europe. It's hard to believe that things are so different just a few miles from the Texas border.
We crossed all of New Mexico and have been walking across Texas for the past week, will this state ever end?!!! I still have no clue what all the fuss is that Texans make about there state, All I've seen so far is a very large, flat area that is good for farming and not much else! Its just as hot here as it was in Arizona or New Mexico but its starting to get pretty humid as well. Plus, we're on the same road, TX 180, across the entire length of the state! So that's all I've really got to say about it, I think Texans just like to brag about it 'cause it's so big and there's nothing here, kind of like those in New Jersey, they just wish they were from New York!
There have been some new developments in the Terri Schiavo case, here's a copy of an article from the doctor who examined her. Here's an article from her parents attorney, and here's one about her autopsy.
Another interesting story I recently was made aware of is about Susan Torres, a women who is considered legally dead but is being kept alive as she is pregnant and in order for her child to have the chance to live she needs to hang on for a few more weeks. Here is the website where you can get all the info about her and this amazing story.
Until I have time to write again please keep all of us on Crossroads in your prayers as we have to walk across the rest of Texas this week and we'll be in Louisiana next weekend.

I'm in New Mexico

I'm out in the desert of New Mexico, still walking across the country. Things are going well for the most part, a few challenges here and there with attitudes, personalities, scheduling, etc, but all in all things are going well. I'm been posting to the official Crossroads Blog whenever I have time with pictures and stories so I haven't had as much time to on my own site, but you can link to it no problem. Here's a few more pics I've taken, enjoy!

Crossroads Walk 2005

As I begin to write this I am sitting in Phoenix, AZ at the Cafe Fiat after praying at a Planned Parenthood here in Phoenix with the group The Underground Project, started by the beautiful Melanie Welsch. The past week has been incredible. It started out with a long and delayed arrival into Ontario, CA after many challenges on my connecting flight into Houston. I began my journey in 29 Palms walking all night long through the desert of Southern California. Previous to beginning our night time journey we ate dinner at the O'Briens. Arriving at their house was an experience to be sure, they live in the middle of nowhere in the California desert. It was almost surreal, like something out of a movie! They were the nicest people you'll ever meet though.
The rest of the trip has consisted of walking though California and into Arizona, which is where I am now. Crossroads has a blog that will be updated all summer long here.

Here's some of the pictures I've taken thus far.

And Now, This Just In...

Scientists locate sarcasm in the brain

HAIFA, Israel, May 23 (UPI) -- Israeli psychologists say one's ability to comprehend sarcasm depends upon a sequence
of complex cognitive skills based in specific parts of the brain.

The researchers said in order for listeners to comprehend caustic remarks, they must be able to infer the speaker's
intentions in the context of the situation. That, they said, calls for sophisticated social thinking and "theory of
mind," or the knowledge that everyone thinks different thoughts.

For example, autistic children with a limited or missing "theory of mind," have trouble understanding irony, of which
sarcasm is a form.

The team -- from the University of Haifa and Rambam Medical Center in Haifa -- studied 25 participants with
prefrontal-lobe damage, 16 participants with posterior-lobe damage and 17 healthy subjects for control. All
participants listened to brief recorded stories, some sarcastic and some neutral, taped by actors reading in a
corresponding manner.

Participants with prefrontal damage were found to be impaired in comprehending sarcasm, while the other two groups had
no such problem. The prefrontal group, which involved people suffering from damage in the right ventromedial area of
their brain, had the most profound problems in comprehending sarcasm.

The study is detailed in the May issue of Neuropsychology

Copyright 2005 by United Press International.

All rights reserved

Howard Dean Is An Idiot

This article from World Net Daily is just another bit of hypocracy from the democrats.



WASHINGTON – Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean again insisted yesterday in an interview on "Meet the Press" that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should be jailed for congressional ethical violations – a comment for which he has been repudiated by several elected members of his own party.

"He hasn't been convicted yet, but ... I think there's a reasonable chance that this may end up in jail," Dean said of DeLay.

Asked by NBC host Tim Russert if his rhetoric toward DeLay wasn't hypocritical given his comments during the 2004 presidential campaign, where Dean said he didn't want to prejudge even Osama bin Laden, the top Democrat told Russert: "To be honest with you, Tim, I don't think I'm prejudging him."

"So you will not retract or apologize your comments about Tom DeLay?" asked Russert.

"Absolutely not," said Dean.

Dean was asked about his recent comments characterizing Republicans as "evil." He explained that the party has told the American people lies.

Asked to talk about those lies, Dean said: "Such as the weapons of mass destruction, which we have all known about, but the ... "

"Well, you said there were weapons of mass destruction," said Russert.

"I said I wasn't sure, but I said I thought there probably were," Dean explained. "But the thing that really bothered me the most, which the 9-11 Commission said also wasn't true, is the insinuation that the president continues to make to this day that Osama bin Laden had something to do with supporting terrorists that attacked the United States. That is false. The 9-11 Commission, chaired by a Republican, said it was false. Is it wrong to send people to war without telling them the truth. And the truth was Osama bin Laden was a very bad person who was doing terrible things, but that Iraq was never a threat to the United States. That was the truth. It was underlined by the 9-11 Commission, headed, again, by a Republican, a well-respected group of people. I don't think you send American men and women to war, first of all without properly equipping them, and secondly without telling the truth to their parents about why it is we're asking them to make that sacrifice. So those are the kinds of things that I think are very bad about the Republicans."

Russert did not ask Dean for clarification about his reference to bin Laden, whom he apparently confused with Saddam Hussein.

My Upcoming Summer

I have decided to actually do something worthwhile and productive this summer......drum roll please......I have decided to spend my summer walking across the country in support of the pro-life movement with the organization Crossroads. This decision comes after a good friend asked me to lead the southern leg of the 11 week, 3500 mile walk across America, starting in California and ending in Washington D.C. As I have never undertaken anything like this before, I anticipate a very challenging, but also a very rewarding experience. Throughout the summer I will post pictures and commentary about this excursion, my personal experiences and thoughts. Here is a map of the three routes taken by those walking this summer.

The Picture Says it All

The Picture Says It All
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
By John Gibson



Giant Among Giants
February 24, 2005
The picture Wednesday says it all, doesn't it?

This is the picture of an American soldier comforting a child — as the wires put it — a fatally wounded child after one of those insurgent bombings in Iraq.

Once again, an insurgent bombing in Iraq kills dozens of people, including women and children, all Iraqis, all innocent.

What did this kid do to the insurgents? Nothing other than having the bad luck to have a parent who brought him or her to exactly the wrong spot at the wrong moment. And what did that parent do? Nothing, just happened to be there.

This kid didn't pick up a gun against Al Qaeda (search).

Yet Al Qaeda killed him or her.

This kid didn't choose between Sunni or Shia.

But the insurgent suicide bomber decided he had to take a few kids with him when he went to heaven to hook up with his 72 virgins.

There isn't much to say about this picture except, "I wonder if al-Jazeera (search) is going to run it? Wonder if the BBC is going to run it? Wonder if French TV is going to run it?"

Think any of those people who like to blame crossfire deaths of Iraqis on the Americans will admit that maybe these sainted insurgents are on the wrong track?

Think those people who hate us for trying to help the Iraqis, who think it's OK to cut off the heads of Americans while they wail in fake pain over Abu Ghraib (search) — think they will scream about this one?

Don't turn up your hearing aid. You're not missing any screaming. They're silent. To object to this might seem to be the same thing as supporting the Americans. All kinds of kids can die before any of those people would be caught dead doing that.

I just checked al-Jazeera again before starting My Word.

Big news coverage of the bombing in Irbil that claimed the life of this child. But, in keeping with the sympathetic treatment they give bombers, no worries that the picture of the dead kid and the American soldier will bother their fellow jihadis. It's officially a secret in the Arab world.

Props to Ebay

Here's an email my friend David sent to eBay over their allowing of the Holy Eucharist to be sold online and their response to his email, quite impressive!

-----Original Message-----

From: ----- -------
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 8:30 AM
To: Burke, Brian
Subject: Selling of Catholic Host

To whom it may concern:

I have been using EBay for the last five years and if
EBay allows Eucharistic hosts to be sold I will NEVER
use it again. I am currently patronizing overstock as
a result of this atrocity!



From: CSME
To:
Subject: RE: Selling of Catholic Host
Sent: Tuesday, May 3, 2005 1:27 PM


David,

Thank you for your email regarding the sale of the Holy Eucharist by one of our community members. We respect and appreciate your comments regarding this sensitive matter.

As you may know, eBay does not sell items itself. Rather, we are a global marketplace for sellers and buyers who transact directly with one another. Each day eBay’s sellers list 5 million items on the site, and those sellers decide what items they want to list. eBay did not possess, list or approve the sale of the Eucharist. The buyer and seller completed the Eucharist transaction on April 11th, before eBay even became aware of the listing.

As a marketplace, we strive to respect the diverse perspectives of our sellers. We also work hard to promote an open environment for trade. That said, eBay has policies in place to remove listings for illegal items as well as highly offensive listings that promote hate or intolerance.

We understand that the listing of the Eucharist was highly upsetting to Catholic members of the eBay community and Catholics globally. Once this completed sale was brought to our attention, we consulted with a number of our users, including members of the Catholic Church, concerning what course we should take in the future should a similar listing appear on our site. We also consulted with members of other religions about items that might also be highly sacred and inappropriate for sale. As a result of this dialogue, we have concluded that sales of the Eucharist, and similar highly sacred items, are not appropriate on eBay. We have, therefore, broadened our policies and will remove those types of listings should they appear on the site in the future.

As always, we welcome and appreciate the assistance of the community in upholding the rules of our site. Should you see another Eucharist listed on our site, we encourage you to notify us so we can take appropriate action. Further, we encourage you to directly communicate with the seller. Members are often unaware that a particular item is offensive to others. A respectful e-mail to the seller is often all that is needed for the seller to voluntarily remove the item. We believe this modification strikes the appropriate balance between respect for our community’s values and our goal of providing an open marketplace offering practically anything on earth.

Again, we sincerely appreciate your concern and thank you for communicating your views with us. Your input has helped us frame a policy that will enable us to better serve our diverse community of users around the world.

Regards,

On behalf of Bill Cobb, President of eBay, Inc., North America

Suza Capps

eBay, Inc.
Office of the President
Support Team

50 Million downloads!

Firefox has reached their 50 millionth download! In my opinion, Firefox is the best web browser around, no spyware, no adware, no popups, no trojans. I've been using them almost exclusively for about 8 months and I totally believe they are the best browser on the market, bar none. And the best part about it? It's free! Get yours today!


Here's a cool little survey to see what type accent you have, pretty interesting.

Your Linguistic Profile:

75% General American English

20% Yankee

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Dixie

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

I've Arrived

A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida to thaw out during one particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack The widow decided to check her e-mail expecting messages of condolence from relatives and friends.

After reading the first message, she fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer
screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife

Subject: I've Arrived
Date: 16 January 2004
I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then!

Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

P. S. Sure is hot down here

Black Crabs

If you go down to the beach early in the morning you can find black crabs. You can put them in your bucket and continue walking on the beach. Now those crabs start thinking, 'we are bumping around in this little bucket making a lot of noise but going nowhere.' Eventually, one crab looks up and thinks, 'There's a whole new world up there. If I could just get my foot up over the edge, I could get out, get my freedom and see the world in my own way.' So he stretches up, pushes a little, and sure enough, gets one foot over the edge. But just as he is about to tip the balance and go over the edge --- a crab from the bottom of the bucket reaches up and pulls him back down. Instead of encouraging him and seeing how they could help each other get to freedom one by one, they pull anyone attempting to get out back down into that confining bucket where death will come quickly.

Unfortunately, many of us live around a bunch of black crabs, ready to ridicule any new idea we have and just as eager to pull us back down to their level of performance. I have found that one of the key characteristics of successful people is that they hang around people who are performing at the level at which they want to perform. There will always be naysayers and whiners; avoid them. Find winners and spend time with them!

On Benedict XVI

Michael Novak wrote a great piece on the new pope Benedict XVI for the New York Times today, even though it is entitled "Rome's Radical Conservative" it is a very fair portrayal of the man chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church's one billion members. Here it is.

Habemus Papam!

We have a pope! In one of the shortest conclaves in years, the college of cardinals has elected Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as the new Pope Benedict XVI. Here is a short video clip on the announcement from the Vatican. Myway News has a good article on the election, and The Pope Blog has a ton of info on Cardinal Ratzinger and his election to the highest office in the Church.
The sense of elation knowing that we now have a pope, that the Church is no longer without a Shepard, and that this pope is very similar to John Paul II in his views is very comforting.
Cardinal Ratzinger was thought to be a top candidate by most, as he has plenty of experience in the Vatican, residing there since 1981 and heading up the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as being elected dean of the college of cardinals in 2002. He is very well read and versed as was JPII, speaking 10 languages. His critics say he if far to strict and will alienate those who disagree with those Church teachings which he upholds. His supporters say he will continue to keep the Churches teachings of today streamlined with that of the past in matters of pastoral care.
Here is his greeting and blessing to the whole Church:

"Dear brothers and sisters, after our great pope, John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God's vineyard. I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers.
"In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help. And Mary, his most beloved mother, stands on our side."

He then delivered his first "Urbi at Orbi" ("for the city and for the world") papal blessing, after which the crowd in St. Peter's Square chanted, "Viva il papa," or "Long live the pope."

The Papal Bracket

With the start of the conclave to elect the next pope just hours away, a very good friend emailed me this very funny interpretation of how the process of elimination might work out.

We've Reached A New Low

This Makes me sick, I can't believe the Holy Eucharist could be so desacrated like this, just one more sign that the apocolypse is coming soon! Here is an online petition to ebay to stop this type of attrocity.

Funeral For The Pope

I've just returned home from Rome for the Holy Father's funeral and I must say that it was absolutely amazing! It certainly was not an easy trip, between the airlines losing my bag for 5 days and being forced to wear the same clothes for the duration, waiting in line for un-Godly hours just to catch a glimpse of JPII lying in state, or standing in line for even more hours to get into the piazza for the funeral. But even amidst it all it was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had.

The faith of the people I met was simply awe inspiring. There was Margret Young from Texas who I had the privilege of sharing a seat next to on my flight over. Margret is a nurse from Houston who just hopped on a plane when she heard the news even though she had no idea where she was going to stay when getting there. She insisted that I take her copy of the the Pieta prayer book as I had forgotten mine.
There was the lady who worked in the tavola caldo where I ate the morning after the viewing who wanted to know all about my experience seeing him as she didn't have the opportunity to go because of work. She was as excited as I've ever seen anyone when I showed her the pictures of the Pope that I had taken with my camera phone.
There was the woman from Spain who had come with her 3 young sons just to be part of this monumental occurrence. There were students from Australia, a businessman from Ireland, a couple from France, and hundreds of thousands of Polish who came to pay their last respects to their fellow countryman.

Amidst the signs of 'Subito Santo', the chants of 'Giovanni Paolo', and the outpouring of emotion and support for our beloved Pope I came to realize that this really is what Catholicism is all about, unity. Language and cultural barriers were broken all because of this one man who had done so much for so many.

Through out it all I learned a great deal of patience and trust in God. The most personal and heartfelt experience happened to me while coming out of one of the many churches I visited. There was a young boy, no more than 11 years old who was begging for money for his mother whom he said could not work as she had no eye. I of course was suspicious of the story as there are beggars on every corner and next to every church. So I went inside and said a few quick prayers then began to walk out. The boy was still there begging. I began to feel sorry for him so I told him I couldn't give him any money but I would take him to get something to eat. We proceeded to walk to the closest shop for a slice of pizza and drink. After purchasing the food for him I went on my way. About an hour later I myself began to feel the pangs of hunger so I walked into the nearest store front for a slice of pizza. Well, as it turned out they were just about to close so instead of the lady forcing me to give up my last euros for a slice of pizza, she gave me a whole pizza pie for free! I was overcome by emotion as I thought about how close I was to walking away from the boy, on turning my back on someone in need, and how through my unselfish act God had turned around and given me five times what I had given that child.

That one experience alone made the whole trip worthwhile. Of course all the sightseeing, the great food, attending a live soccer game was just icing on the cake. The pictures I took are not nearly what they should be as I was relegated to using a disposable camera and my cell phone for pictures since my digital was still under repair. But you take what you can get and deal with the rest and that's what makes life exciting!

An Irish Joke

A good Irishman, John O"Reilly, met regularly with his toastmasters club. One evening they were hitting the Guinness Stout & Jameson and having a contest about who could make the best toast for their wife. John O"Reilly hoisted his Guiness and said, " Here 's to spending the rest of my life between the legs of me wife!" That won him the top prize for the best toast of the night. John went home and told his wife, Mary," I won the prize for the best toast of the night." Mary said," Aye, and tell me what was your winnin' toast me darlin?" John replied," Here's to spending the rest of me life, sitting in church beside me wife." "Oh, that is very nice indeed, John, I can see why you won!" Mary said. The next day Mary ran into one of John's toasting buddies on the street corner. The man chuckled leeringly and said, "So Mary... John won the prize the other night with a toast about you." Mary said: "Aye and I was a bit surprised meself! You know, he's only been there twice!!! Once he fell asleep, and the other time I had to pull him by the ears to make him come..."

To Rome I Go!

I am off to the Eternal City this afternoon for the funeral Mass of the Holy Father, John Paul II, which will be held on Friday at 10:00 AM local time, 3:00 AM EST. Unfortunately my digital camera is under repair right now so I'm forced to take along a couple of the faithful disposable ones, so needless to say it will be awhile before I am able to put the pictures from the funeral online.

On another note, the Personal Democracy Forum has reported that San Francisco may try to regulate blogs by forcing all bloggers in the area to register and report costs incurred that exceed $1000. This sounds like just another form of censorship to me.

It Is Finished.....

Apr 2, 3:01 PM (ET)

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century and became history's most-traveled pope, has died at 84, the Vatican announced in an e-mail Saturday.

His Holiness

Please pray for the pope in his failing condition. The Vatican has reported that the Supreme Pontiff's condition has worsened, as thousands of Catholics hold vigil outside St. Peter's.

John Paul II

As many know the Holy Father is not doing so well, his failing health is a cause for concern within the Church. While reading Michelle Malkin's blog today she had a great article posted by Mark Thiessen titled "The Blessed Sounds of Silence". It is one of the best pieces I've read on JPII in a very long time. Another blog of note is Capital Region People. There is always something interesting posted there.

Life or Death...

As the courts have ruled that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube cannot be reinserted it is very apparent that she will soon die. The media has had a field day with this story, hailing it as a battle of a woman's right to die, of a family's business and not the courts, etc, etc. Of course the one argument in this whole issue is that since she is in a persist ant vegetative state there is no chance for her to have any type of recovery. But, I ask you, what constitutes a 'vegetative' state? Is it the lack of ability to see, recognize, and respond to your surroundings? If that is the case then I offer these video's of Terri, pre-feeding tube removal. here is her family's site.

Here is a testimony of a former nurse of Terri's, it's quite interesting and if its true then the whole case makes quite a bit of sense.

AFFIDAVIT: STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF PINELLAS


BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER
IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:

1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.

2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.

3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.

4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as extremely odd.

5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an
overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as "This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.

6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.

7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n" sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would
indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.

8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a "hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.

9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?," "Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include "Can't you do anything to accelerate her death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.

10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!," and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.

11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.

12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as "They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact that it didn't
seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced
it was because of my "rocking the boat."

13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.

14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael's constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.

15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.

CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.


The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver's license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath.

The Double Life...

How very simple life would be, if only there were two of me,
A restless me to drift and roam, a quiet me to stay at home.
A searching one to find his fill, of varied skies and newfound thrill,
While same and homely things are done, by the domestic other one.

And that’s just where the trouble lies; there is a restless me that cries,
For chancy risks and changing scene, for artic blue and tropic green,
For deserts with their mystic spell, for lusty fun and raising hell.

But shackled to that restless me, my other self rebelliously,
Resists the frantic urge to move, it seeks the old familiar groove
That habits make. It finds content—with hearth and home—dear prisonment,
With candlelight and well-loved books, and treasured loot in dusty nooks.

With puttering and garden things, and dreaming while a cricket sings
And all the while the restless one, insists on more exciting fun,
It wants to go with every tide, no matter where…just for the ride.
Like yowling cats the two selves brawl, until I have no peace at all.

One eye turns to the forward track; the other eye looks sadly back.
I’m getting wall-eyed from the strain, (it’s tough to have an idle brain)
But one says “stay” and one says “go,” and one says “yes” and one says “no”
And one self wants a home and wife, and self craves the drifter’s life.

The restless fellow always wins; I wish my folks had made me twins!


~Don Blanding

St. Patrick's Day

In celebration of St. Paddy's day I raise my glass of Guinness to the Emerald Isle. Of course on this day of all things Irish we want to listen to some good Celtic music and I have just the band, some very good friends of mine as well as one of the hottest bands in the D.C., Baltimore area, Scythian!

Think It Over...

Think it over here.

That's The Brand I Use!

An Ode to College

College students are truly a rare breed. Week after week we put ourselves through the gauntlet of flip-cup tournaments, keg stands, ice luges, and power hours only to pass out briefly and wake up at obscene hours of the morning to re-fuel our still-intoxicated bodies with a few more beers all in the name of tailgate. We also lack any legitimate sense of time. We "pre-drink" until eleven. 12:40 classes are "early." We know 2:00 a.m. as "last call" because we have been going to the bars since we were 17 with fake I.D.s. There is a day of the week referred to as "Boozeday." We college kids undoubtedly have a subculture unto ourselves. Some people play basketball, we play beer pong. Some people wait all year for Christmas or Thanksgiving, we wait all year for St. Patty’s Day, New Years Eve, and Superbowl Sunday. Some drink orange juice for breakfast, we throw back a Busch Light because we hear its a good cure for that hangover. We can turn anything into a drinking game. We live in our own world, a world where jungle juice seems like a good idea, being awake at 4 a.m. is normal, “wanna do a body shot” is a sufficient pick-up line, and 21st birthdays are an entity unto themselves. We have become aware that alchohol makes us say, do, and wear things that would, in a sober state, be out of the question. Watching our friend make out with a stranger in front of cheering spectators is raw comedy, kegerators become the greatest invention the world has ever seen, and we "discover" things that seem utterly amazing…like malt liquor...and Beerios... We nickname beers. If we're at the bar and we ask for a "Reeb" or a "Natty," the bartender knows what we're talking about because he's probably in college too. We have drunken alter-egos and we name them. A few shots down the hatch and we suddenly turn into "Rico Suave" the tequila-chugging wonder...We are experts at Kings, never running out of tricky categories or a clever rule. We draw on the faces of passed out friends, we know that empty fifths make great decorations in our apartments (also note: empty kegs can be sweet coffee tables), and we have done a "shotski". We make friends while we are drunk and we assign them an adjective that will forever precede their name in order to distinguish them from the rest of the "friends" we make while drunk (also because we do not know their last names.) "Sloppy Tom," "Chicago Sarah," and "Creepy Steve" will always be near and dear to our hearts. We have no money because we spent it all on beer. This, unfortunately, is also why we drink Povov and Mickeys, and trust us, that takes heart. It grows on us after awhile...or after we've taken too many shots to remember that what we're drinking tastes like gasoline. The lack of money situation is also why if we see someone sipping a Corona, they are a baller, and we will make friends with them. After a long night of bonging beers at a house party, bravely resisting the urge to drunk dial (and/or drunk IM) all of our ex-boyfriends, then going shot-for-shot with a frat boy at the bar, we wake up hugging an empty box of wine in our underwear on our best friend's kitchen floor with a million questions running through our pounding heads. We wake up with random incoherent numbers in our cell phones ("Who the hell is 'grEenshirtb4oy'?"), random pictures on our cameras ("Look, here’s one of so-and-so humping that Corona guy on the dance floor..."), a mere 73 cents left in our wallets ("I didn't know Hold 'em was a drinking game?"), and a desperate desire to lay in bed for the rest of our lives...it is then that we swear off drinking forever...for real....we really mean it this time.... Yet, after shotgunning a brewski or two and kickin back with a 40, we head to the shower, beer in hand, and get ready to begin our evening once again. It takes balls, simply put. We know how to party. We have honed and perfected our art. We are lushes, bar stars, and boozehounds. Why do we act this way you ask? Because we can. Because in 4 short, blurry years we will have to enter the “real world”. So for the time being we will live it up…As long as there are beers to be drank and shots to be taken, we will be there...as long as there are case races to be won and frat houses to pass out in, we will be there...as long as there are tables to be danced on and annoying eighties songs to sing loudly along to, WE WILL BE THERE!...but we're not gonna lie, we probably won't remember it.

One More Reason To Stand Up For Life

This is one of the craziest stories I've read in a long time, a mother tried to abort her child 3 times and the baby still lived! You've got to read this article! So my question is, why is this story not making national news? One more reason to be ashamed of the "diversified and fair" coverage of the general news media.

You Found WHAT In Your Drink????

This is definitely not what I'd expect to find in a a bottle of fruit punch!

Lightyear VoIP

Smash the Tones

I think I've found one of the coolest websites on the net. While browsing my friend Dave's site, Honestdave.com, I came across a link to a blog that told about this awesome new service called Smash the Tones. It's a new service that converts music you have from your computer and sends it directly to your mobile phone. Paying money for ring tones and phone graphics should go the way of the dinosaur. They accept MP3's, WAV's, and a few other file types. They support every (US) phone carrier and it's all free! Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes to have the tone delivered, but for a small donation of $1.25 they move you to the front of the line.
The guy who's site this is, Ben Guild, has a pretty interesting blog as well, lots of cool computer and electronic info and the like. He mentions about how to get a free ipod from gratis Internet in one of his posts, well, I researched the whole dealie, and it's supposed to be completely legit, you actually can get a free ipod! Read the whole article here. If anyone is interested in giving it a try, (and helping me get mine is well) then click here to sign up.

25,000,000 downloads!

They've done it! Firefox, the free web browser without spyware, adware, trojons, or pop-ups, has finally reached 25,000,000 downloads, exactly 99 days after it was released. If you've never used Firefox before, then now is the time to give it a try.

Smoking

So I just read on The Economist.com that Cuba has banned smoking in public places. Initial reports said that Cubans continue to puff away regardless. I wonder what these nice young ladies will do if the law is actually enforced?

Apparently Europe is passing the same type legislation as well, here's an article from the Economist about Milan.

Milan's 250,000 smokers seem reconciled with a new nation-wide ban on smoking in public spaces, which went into effect on January 10th. They now dutifully tramp outside to shiver as they puff. Italy now joins Norway and Ireland in imposing no-smoking measures for all bars, restaurants and offices. Smoking is now allowed only in private homes, special ventilated smoking rooms and outside. The fine for illicit smoking is 275 euros, double if committed near a pregnant woman or a child. Restaurant and bar managers also face fines if they do not enforce the law. Milan's hospital San Paolo has unveiled plans for a new service to help smokers kick the habit.

Meanwhile, some of Italy's roughly 13 million smokers are fuming. A new association, Io Fumo (I Smoke), is seeking a referendum to appeal the law, which it decries as a threat to civil liberties. Some bar and restaurant owners say the new law may hurt business, but this has not materialised in other cities, such as New York, which have enacted similar bans.

The Pictures The Media doesn't Want You To See

With all the negative publicity the corrupt media keeps throwing at us about the war in Iraq, its nice to see that what our troops are doing over there is actually appreciated by the Iraqis, and that we are making a positive contribution and not just destroying their culture as we've been so led to believe. Over the weekend a friend sent me these great pictures, I think they sum up nicely what we'd all like to believe should be happening over there but we're never told about.

A Son's Letter To His Father...

As I was blog surfing I ran across this funny story, it's from a really cool Canadian blog called dust my broom. Check it out, lots of conservetive, Canadian political insights.


A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope propped up prominently on the center of the bed. It was addressed to "Dad". With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:

Dear Dad,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with mom and you. I've been finding real passion with Joan and she is so nice-even with all her piercing, tattoos, and her tight Motorcycle clothes. But it's not only the passion dad, she's pregnant and Joan said that we will be very happy. Even though you don't care for her as she is so much older than I, she already owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. She wants to have many more children with me and that's now one of my dreams too. Joan taught me that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone and we'll be growing it for us and trading it with her friends for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Joan can get better; she sure deserves it! Don't worry Dad, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your grandchildren.

Your son, John

PS: Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at the neighbor's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than my report card that's in my desk center drawer. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.

Blogs In General

Are blogs not the most fascinating pieces of information on the Internet right? Everyday in the news you see and hear more and more people talking about web logs and how they are changing the way people get their information about every subject imaginable, from the war in Iraq to instructions on programing your VCR. The blog community at large is probably the fastest growing online community. Of course the problem with all this new information that is being spread throughout the blogsphere is tracking down the right information that you may be searching for. Well, there is a website designed specifically for searching through the vast array of blogs. This website is called Technorati. I first found out about this sweet little blog search engine while reading Forbes Magazine last month. Since then, whenever I'm trying to find something online, not only do I automatically punch in Google or Ice Rocket, but I now have a more efficient way to search through the ever growing throngs of information among the vast assortment of blogs that previously was not readily available through the more conventional search engines. Of course while on the subject of blogs we all have to talk about our favorites, the one or two that we just keep going back to because there is always something new or interesting that always captivates our attention. I would have to say that for me that one blog would be blog maverick, written my Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, star of the TV show The Benefactor, and the founder of HDNet amongst other things. This is one that I find myself surfing to at least once a week because there is always something interesting to read, whether Mark is commenting on how the team is doing, the business and technological environment, politics, or just life in general. I would definitely recommend checking out his site, I don't think you'll leave disappointed.

Prelude To The Ultimate

A good friend recently authored an incredible book titled "Prelude To The Ultimate." I found it to be one of the most fascinating books I've read in a long time. It is part action/adventure, romance, spiritual, and comedy all rolled into one. Click on the link to see for yourself.

Ann Coulter and the Pro-Life movement

Best selling author and syndicated columnist Ann Coulter has a great article on her website about the state of the pro-life movement in the US, it pretty much nails it on the head. Check it out, its a great article.

March For Life Weekend

The annual March For Life weekend craziness that somehow seems to surround all of us former Franciscan University students was no different this year as all the stops were pulled out, everything from roaming around the barren streets of D.C. all night long, crazy car crashes, the Dubliner (of course), a random bar called 'Madem's Organ in the heart of Adam's Morgan', 6 inches of snow, lots of football watched and beer drank, and of course the coldest pro-life march in recent memory! No matter how you look at it though, the 90 or so pictures I took definitely will be enjoyed by all who were there (and those who weren't).

Thought for the Day

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

~Alan Kay

Can a Pig Fly?

Once upon a time, all the animals in a special advanced animal kingdom became very excited about the new school that was being formed for all the animal children. Modern administrators organized the school and adopted a curriculum of activities consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying.

All the animal parents flocked to the school, eager to enroll their children in this new progressive school. After all, they wanted the very best for their offspring. Mr. and Mrs. Duck enrolled their son, Donald Duck, and expected great things from him because he was an excellent swimmer. In fact, he was better than the instructor. However, Donald had been in school only one week when the administrators discovered that he was quite poor in running, jumping and climbing trees. So they made him stay after school and practice those skills. Finally, Donald's webbed feet became so badly worn from climbing trees that he then was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in this school, so no one worried about this except Donald Duck who really loved swimming.

Now, Ronnie Rabbit was at the top of the class in running but ended up having a nervous breakdown because of having to do so much makeup work in swimming. And Sammy Squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed cramps from overexertion and got a "C" in climbing and a "D" in running.

Ernie Eagle was a problem child and was frequently disciplined. In the climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the trees, but he did not follow the procedures for climbing and insisted on getting to the top of the tree using his own method. He was not a good team player and often went off on his own. His teachers could not understand his desire to see new things and reprimanded him for daydreaming in the classroom. Ultimately he was put on Ritalin to try to make him a better student.

At the end of the year, Freddie the Goldfish could swim exceedingly well and could also run, climb and fly a little. Freddie had the highest overall score and was voted valedictorian of the class.

The neighborhood dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and fetching to the curriculum. They had noticed the emotional strain on the other students and were considering starting a school of their own.

How sad that we often diminish our best gifts by struggling valiantly to develop in someone else's area of ability. It is better to focus on your uniqueness and do that with excellence than to end up with mediocrity in several areas. Use this rule of thumb for organizing your work strategy:

~Work where you are the strongest 80 percent of the time.
~Work where you are learning 15 percent of the time.
~Work where you are weak 5 percent of the time.

O Captain My Captain!

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
~Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Alpha Phi Delta Crest

Alpha Phi Delta Crest

Here lies the crest of the greatest of all fraternites, of which I am a proud alumnus, Alpha Phi Delta National Fraternity, and more specifically, the Beta Theta Chapter. Founded in 1914 at Syracuse University by a group of undergraduate Italian American students, this fine organization has played a pivotal role in the formation of many a young student's life. Click on the crest to view the website.