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In this news blog you will find monthly updates and editorials concerning the issues of extreme importance and interest to the site's creator, owner and webmaster James Stabile. These issues include - Discussion of the Month; Entertainment; Health, Fitness & Lifestyle; Politics and the World; Religion & Spiritualism; Technology & Business; and Too Strange, Weird or Just Funny. Peruse the articles and if you desire, send comments, questions or join our mailing list. Feel absolutely free to email ideas and topics to be discussed in upcoming months. As always do not feel obligated to participate. For the legal issues: please read the disclaimer link at the top of this page. Also, please email the webmaster information concerning any programming errors that you may discover on this site. Thank you for this opportunity. Owner,
Webmaster: James Stabile |
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Thought for the Month "My most vivid memory of boot camp was during the induction in the large gym. I had to carry my mattress cover. At every clothing station they kept throwing articles into the cover, including P. coats, shoes, etc. After a while it got pretty heavy and everyone started dragging the full cover along the deck. It got dirtier and dirtier until we finally realized that we had to sleep on it. What a job it was washing it by hand!!! While drilling on the grinder, it was amazing how many young guys didn't know their right foot from their left! I remember going through the immunization lines with a corpsman on either side, giving you injections. Guys in front of me were passing out." James
D Stabile (Sr) |
Image of the Month |
Dates Important to the Webmaster 1. Start of
Hurricane Season (This is not an all inclusive list of noteworthy dates for the month of June. However, the dates listed above are very important to this webmaster.) |
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Topics of Discussion
Discussion of The Month Happy Summer 2006! Summery June, the month of roses, weddings and baseball is upon us. Enjoy the summer months, no matter how you choose to spend them. I must discuss the Thought of the Month and the Image of the Month. My niece emailed me the website http://www.dalebroux.com/lst/crew.asp It gives information about the crew of the LST 247. This webmaster's father was a sailor on that ship. The Thought of the Month, above, is from my father concerning his experiences at boot camp when he was in the Navy. He made that comment February 2004, a short 8 months before his death. I don't remember my dad mentioning this experience and opportunity to remember it. Of course, I bet that there is a lot of my father's life experiences that I do not know about. My father never really talked about himself much. Maybe he thought that I didn't care about it, but I did. Maybe he did talk about it, but I forgot or I wasn't listening. Either could be. Sometimes the people who are the closest to us are the very people that we do not really know. Perhaps we are so afraid of losing them that we don't take the time to listen to them. Sometimes we are so busy trying to prove our worthiness to family and those closest to us that we tend to overemphasize our own lives and the happenings in them. I suppose that these things happen to many people. I think the important thing to remember is that those family members or those who are the closest to us "get it" in death, while they may have missed it in life. In other words, our departed family members and other significant people in our lives learn all about us, our thoughts and actions in death. Perhaps that is heaven - discovering the truth about life including our relationships in life. In any case, if you are tuned in Dad, we are proud of you, we respect the job you did while serving your country and we thank you for all you did while alive and what you do now in death. We believe that the dead are physically dead, but spiritually very much alive, much more alive now than before. We must remember that fact in order to make sense of this earthly life and to accept the mistakes and make amends for them before we share in the next. I think that this is a good time to remember that each of us is part of a family and family accepts each other unconditionally. Therefore, there is no need for remorse for any of our earthly actions. The true spirit of our existence is already accepted by those who are in eternal glory. This is also an appropriate time to thank the men and women who have given their time defending America while in the military. There are a lot of people in the military who provide services to us on a continuing basis and make our freedom a reality. To all of these people we say, "Thank you for a job well done". Entertainment Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America aired on ABC in May. It was fiction, a movie about what might happen to the world if the Avian Flu became a pandemic. I found it to be like most of the other disaster movies that I have seen - a disaster movie. However, this movie was boring at times, but it did cover a timely subject in a convincing matter. The movie did bring home a recurring message concerning the spread of any flu or illness - take precautions to prevent the spread of any illness. Precautions like the frequent washing of hands, the practice of keeping hands away from nose and mouth and other common good hygienic practices. Friends With Money...a yuppyish, 30 something movie about the lives of upward mobile people. The movie delved into the lives of a group of friends and their interrelationships. The friends were all wealthy or at least in a position of impending wealth, except for Jennifer Aniston's character. The movie did an excellent job of showing the relationship between money and happiness or more succinctly, the non-relationship. All the "friends" experienced bouts of unhappiness, some extreme in spite of their resources. The monetarily less affluent character portrayed by Jennifer Aniston ended up the happiest and the most envied character by the end of the movie. Once again, happiness is not the byproduct of money or monetary wealth. Happiness is accepting reality. Poseidon...a great remake of the original, The Poseidon Adventure. I didn't think the remake would do justice to the original version, but I was wrong. The Poseidon (2006) is packed with excitement, adventure and gore. I find it hard to believe that the small group of passengers actually did survive the disaster in the movie (either movie). These people had to be super humans to have been able to deal with and survive such a disaster. The special effects and visuals were stunning. The photography was unbelievable. Co-star Richard Dreyfuss says, "In the end, it is a disaster movie meant to entertain". And it does entertain. The Da Vinci Code...what is all the ruckus about? I saw the movie. I'm still alive. I still believe that Jesus is the Son of God. What's the problem? The movie started off a little slow, downright boring at the beginning, but it did develop and become a very interesting movie. Tom Hanks did a superb job, as always. Ron Howard did a fine job in the directing of the movie. More about Code in the Religion and Spiritualism section below. I still say, what's the buzz all about? Health, Fitness and Lifestyle Skin Cancer and the Sun, a direct relationship. Summer is here. Many people will be spending a lot of time in the sun. It is a fact: the sun causes skin cancer. Many people have misconceptions of the sun and skin cancer. Here are some of those myths:
Skin cancer is becoming a major threat to the well being of any person who enjoys time in the sun. Bottom line - safer sun time (sunscreen, time of day, limited exposure, health screening) is necessary to prevent the damage that comes from the sun. Dermatological visits should be a part of one's yearly health plan. Researchers say to watch for the "ABCDE" red flags of skin cancer and to visit a dermatologist regularly for examinations. ABCDE red flags include: A - is for asymmetrical spots (usually on moles) B - irregular borders; C - irregular colors; D - diameters larger than 6 mm, about the size of a pencil eraser; E - spot with evolving size, shape, color or elevation. Bottom line: sun exposure can lead to skin cancer. Take precautions. Summer is also the time for increase use of alcohol, the use of alcohol can lead to problems and health concerns. Many people drink. Drinking is legal. However, responsible use of alcohol must be exercised and reinforced. Every once in awhile, one should evaluate his or her drinking habits and ask the question, "Am I drinking responsible or is my drinking leading to a problem?" Anytime alcohol interferes with one's life, commitments, work or family, etc. there is a problem. The reasons and circumstances for drinking also gives hints as to the level of abuse that may be going on with one's use of alcohol. If one drinks to escape, feel better or forget, a problem may exists. If one gulps his or her drinks or drinks to "get" drunk, a problem may be brewing (so to speak). If one has experienced problems when drinking, then abuse may be at risk. It is not cool to drink. It is cool to be in control of one's life. If you suspect that alcohol is becoming a problem for you or a loved one, then seek help. Alcoholics Anonymous www.alcoholics-anonymous.org and Al-ANON www.al-anon.alateen.org are good places to start. Politics and the World The Florida State Legislature concluded the 2006 Legislative Session in May. I'm just wondering why the state of the state as in money on hand for miscellaneous or "rainy day" funds is so healthy. In other words, the state of Florida has a lot of money and wealth just sitting in the bank or other such accounts. Why does the state not reinvest this wealth in it's people. So many of Florida's people are in need of so many services including relief from high insurance costs and even higher housing costs. Give the money back to the people. Invest in Florida's future - it's people. The immigration issue is coming to a head in the United States. Where will it end? The politicians, Democrats as well as Republicans are using the issue for their own political ends. This is disgusting. The President is using the issue as a wedge issue for his big business friends - cheap labor force. This is despicable. Let's do what's right, but what is the right thing to do? I believe the right thing to do is to uphold and defend the American laws governing immigration, legal and illegal. Amnesty program for illegal immigrants, fiddle de de. Hogwash. Cheap working wages are desired here by big business. Pay workers a descent wage and Americans will do those jobs. Why should we reward illegal immigrants for breaking the law? The answer - we shouldn't. The politicians will use any group of people who fulfill their needs, illegal immigrants are but one more of these groups of people. Be just and fair with illegal immigrants as well as legal immigrants, that means following the law of the land. Hillary Clinton has
started her 2006 Senate re-election campaign. See her web site: www.hillaryclinton.com Religion and Spiritualism The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction. However, it does present food for thought. First I would like to say, faith is faith. A person's religious beliefs are based on faith. There is no real authentic proof to most religious belief. A person believes as he or she believes because of the gift of faith. You either have faith or you don't. It can't be manufactured or faked. Faith is a gift from God and it provides the fundamental believes of one's religious convictions. That being said, let me say that The Da Vinci code does offer food for thought. It does present another view of Jesus and our most basic religious beliefs. A sincere and ardent Christian should welcome the discovery and exploration of any contrary beliefs which differ from his or her own. It is only through realistic dialogue and study of contrasting beliefs do we reaffirm our own beliefs. In this sense, I found the Da Vinci phenomenon very informational and inspiring. The premise of The Da Vinci Code put simply is that the painter Leonardo De Vinci put codes or hints in his work describing an alternative view of Jesus and Christianity. It questions the history and doctrine that define our present day Christian religion. In the 300's AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine, issued the Edict of Milan which fully legalized Christianity in the Empire and called for the Council of Nicaea which affirmed the Church's doctrine concerning the person of Jesus and many other doctrines of the Catholic Church. Until this time, the followers of Jesus, the Christians, held many different beliefs concerning the nature of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and other basic Christian doctrine. Many people had written accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. At the Council of Nicaea, Christian leaders decided which writings, narratives and views of the day would become the doctrine of Christianity. The Nicene Creed, stating the these doctrines, was created at the council. The Catholic Christian church has maintained the validity of Nicene Creed for nearly 2000 years. Although, changes have been made in the interpretation of Catholic Doctrine, the essential message has remained constant. Catholics make up the Church. Catholics include clergy and non-clergy. In essence you and I make up the Catholic Church. I think we, non-clergy have abandon our God given right to monitor the operation of the Catholic Church. We must become more active in the running of the Church. We cannot depend on a few men in Rome and around the globe, to accurately and universally (Catholically) interpret the doctrine of the Catholic Church. We must assume responsibility to manage what we believe on matters of faith and to have our Church reflect those beliefs. Most importantly this interpretation and practice must be representative of all of God's people and must reflect a 21st century interpretation. Differences of opinion must be maintained and respected. In our struggle to know God and enter eternal life, individual and personal journeys must be acknowledged and encouraged. I believe the Pope and the clergy of the Church are basically good, admirable and holy people, however, there are some among their ranks who have become selfish and self-serving in their leadership role. These people are the enemy, so to speak. These few people have taken the Church of Jesus Christ and have made it their church. They have forgotten the concepts of openness, truth and respect in their leadership roles. They, as well as we, must realize that God reveals Himself to us on a continuing basis. And that the interpretation of this revelation is a personal matter. In the end, the Truth will be told and realized according to God's timetable. Now for the nuts and bolts of the movie, The Da Vinci Code... The movie presents an alternate view of Jesus Christ and His ministry. What do we as a Church do about these views? I think we must approach these views with an open mind. When confronted by opposing religious beliefs, we must make an attempt to be informed, open, realistic, compassionate and most importantly, driven by truth. I don't know the status of the validity of these theories, but I do want to be open minded in my personal search for truth. A secure person, no matter the arena of his or her beliefs, welcomes contrasting opinions. A secure person is open to change. A secure person studies the troubling theories. A secure person accepts the fact that he or she may be wrong about the view that he or she has on a particular belief. A secure person trusts in God and knows that no matter what the outcome, the truth which is God will survive and flourish. In the end, the secure person knows that God and everlasting life is a personal decision. One that must be made alone in the face of God. Technology and Business The Internet is a very useful resource when looking for a job. For a list of jobs with non-profit agencies throughout the world visit www.idealist.org. This is a resource for people of all educational levels and backgrounds. The United States Department of Labor gives the latest unemployment figures at www.bls.gov/home.htm . The site lists jobs with the highest projected rate of growth. Guarding ones credit rating is your responsibility. No one is going to do it for you. You must be proactive and protect your financial health. This involves more than paying your bills on time. Proactive means that you undertake steps to prevent a negative eventuality. Assume that your credit rating is under attack and vulnerable. Then do something about protecting and defending your good financial record. An important first step to maintaining financial security is being secure with financial matters. Do not flash credit cards around. Do not expose confidential information to people around you. By all means keep that big mouth shut - don't brag or compare or try to impress others about your financial standing. Once again, talk is cheap, the results are in the actions. Act and speak responsibly. Again, proceed through life thinking that your credit standing is under attack and be proactive. Always shred paper that contains confidential information. The highest rate of identity theft is among those people who snoop in other people's thrash. Shred, always. Get rid of all old or non-important sensitive or confidential financial information. Shred those old statements or bills or policies. Why have that kind of information around the house when you don't need it. Secure a safety deposit box at your bank or financial institution (about $25.00 a year). Put confidential paperwork in that safety deposit box. Don't keep it at home, unsecured. Condense, organize and expedite all confidential information. And remember, anyone - family, friends or strangers may be identity thieves. One of the best ways to be
proactive about financial security is to monitor your credit report.
Your credit report lists your financial record. It determines the health
of your financial standing. Check your credit report a couple of time a
year, at least, for unauthorized changes, errors or any suspicious
activity. If you discover a problem, solve it at once. Remember, you
have the right to request a annual free copy of your credit report from
each of the three major national credit bureaus: Equifax,
866-238-8067; www.equifax.com You may request a copy of your credit report at: www.annualcreditreport.com Too Strange, Weird or Just Funny A Miami Beach tourist killed his two boys and himself by throwing the boys and then himself off a hotel balcony. His surviving wife is incredulous as to the possible reasons for the murder, suicide. The authorities share her misbelieve. No reasons have been discovered that would explain this monstrous act. Americans do not like to wait, for anything. Big secret? Americans expect instantaneous results concerning anything, any transaction and any situation. Women wait a little longer than men before getting upset by the waiting. Older people are even more impatient than younger people. This seems strange. I would venture to guess that younger people would be more impatient than older people, but the newspaper article that I read seems to rebuke that thought. Senior citizens are the worst. Many of them have all the time in the world to wait, but become overly impatient at the drop of the hat, so to speak. I think senior citizens are just plain rude concerning these matters. My advice to my senior citizens buddies, chill, relax, enjoy the moment. It may be your last. During my Memorial Day breakfast at my favorite IHOP I became rather offended by the cashier. From the moment the hostess greeted me and showed me to my table, I sensed a feeling of discontent in the restaurant. The server, a familiar face, was cordial, but obviously preoccupied to the point of nonexistence. The most telling moment was when I paid the bill. The cashier was talking to the server, both familiar and long time employees of that particular IHOP. Both always would speak to me in a very friendly manner whenever I saw them. But on my Memorial Day visit they hardly even noticed me. While the cashier took my money he was carrying on a conversation with the server about the "graveyard shift" and how bad it was. Neither people even spoke to me. I thought that I was caught in a time lapsed moment. Finally, the cashier gave me my change and said, "Have a good one buddy." I was getting ready to say a friendly, "Hi, how are you?", but all I could muster as a response was, "You too". I know restaurant workers are among those groups of service industry employees who must work all hours of the day and all days of the year, but it is their job and they should try to be attentive to the needs of their "customers" at all times. After all, it's their job. |
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