James Stabile Informational Newsletter

 August 2004

Discussion of the Month

August, already. School bells across the nation will be ringing this month. I imagine many, if not most, schools will be commencing in August. The remainder will open shortly after Labor Day. As I've said before, my school district will start earlier this year and the next. Finally in the 2005-2006 school year and thereafter we will be starting the first week of August and ending before Memorial Day. That's fine with me. In the end, it's the same number of days as always, just different starting and ending dates.

My summer visit to Sharon may be earlier next year. I may visit at the end of June, or I may wait for the 4th of July. This December my Christmas visit will be Friday, December 24 though Monday, December 27. Our Winter Break is a little off this year due to the change in the school year. To end the first semester at the start of the Winter Break, the winter break must begin December 24. By the next school year the Winter break will be back to normal, the week of Christmas and the week of New Years. This year our Winter Break will end on January 10. Not bad for me. I prefer more time after the holiday, but for people who must travel or prepare for the holidays, the 24th is cutting it close. Oh well, one year, we can do it. At least we get the days off work.

Speaking of vacations, my summer trip to Sharon was great. I had a terrific time. The days were filled with family visits, reminiscing and catching up on the news from everyone. Hopefully I will be able to visit Patrick & Michelle's and Tom & Jackie's new homes. Pat & Michelle hopefully at Christmas and Tom & Jackie next summer. By next summer Sandy & Steve's house may be ready when I visit, maybe not, depending on the time of the summer that I visit. In any case, their house, at Christmas 2005. 

The next time I fly and need more baggage than the one piece carry-on, I'm going to mail my clothes. I don't know why I didn't think about this earlier. I'll pack my clothes in a box and mail it to Sharon next time. I do not appreciate the security procedures. I know that they are necessary to prevent terrorist attacks, but I feel that my individual rights are being violated.

Departure from Ft. Lauderdale was no problem. My luggage was not opened. However, my return experience in Pittsburgh was suspect from the start. I checked in at the USAirways Self-Service Check-In Kiosks. The attendant was, well not polite. I thought that I would be complimentary and say, "this is a lot faster". She didn't even acknowledge my compliment. She told me to take my baggage to the scanning location.

The attendants at the scanning station were so hurried they didn't even make eye contact with me. I had a suspicion that something was not going to be right. I proceeded to the security area. The two lines were extended out in the area adjacent to the parking area, pass those flat escalators on the floor. That didn't bother me. That's the way it was at Christmas. We moved quickly. Right before the security check point (a considerable distance before the security check point) a sign was posted that said, "the regular waiting time from this point is 15 minutes" (something to that effect). I thought, "yea, right". But it was right. The line moved unbelievably fast. From start to finish, the security line took around 30 minutes. I returned my rental car at 7:05 a.m., by 8:00 a.m. I was through security proceeding to the people movers (or the trams, is that what they call them?). I even had time for a casual breakfast, which I was hoping to have time. Let's fast forward to Ft. Lauderdale and the baggage claim area.

I picked up my luggage in Ft. Lauderdale. I noticed that the snap opening on one side of the suitcase was not closed. When I arrived home I check the suitcase. There was one of those inspection notices in the suitcase reporting that it had been opened. The compartments had not been snapped shut. It looked like the security inspector had just put everything in the middle of the suitcase and didn't completely close it. No, it was not over packed. No, it was not a defective suitcase. There was no reason for this violation except for careless, unconcerned and incompetent human agents. I was thankful that everything was o.k. But why should I or anyone have to hold his or her breathe when retrieving their baggage in fear of mishandling which may result in disaster to one's belongings.. Why should we feel violated. There has to be a better way. The better way may include competent airport personnel, better people skill training and adequate compensation for a job well done.

Such is life. The preceding was not an earth shaking experience. I will not need therapy to recover. Nothing was really damaged, everything turned out fine, but that is not the point. The point is the quality of the America workforce. The quality, yes, but also the unrealistic demands placed upon workers by "the system". From airport workers to fast food restaurant workers to hospital workers to many other workers, the quality of service is not up to par. Not all service workers are involved, but definitely a percent.

Reasons for this situation (other than the incompetence or self-promoting attitude of the worker) low pay, poor working conditions, and unreasonable demands from the employers. The work place has changed over the past years. The expectations of the employers have changed, and usually not for the better. Poor service or quality of work is not always the fault of the employee. The working conditions, including the attitude of the employers, have a great deal to do with the stress level of the workers which have a great deal to do with the service that John Q. Public receives.

The answer, heck I don't know. I'm just getting in some practice so I can comment on all aspects of life the way most senior citizens do. After all, I have only a year to assume the role of senior citizen.

I'm sure by now that you have read Ken's obituary in The (Sharon) Herald. In case you missed it or you want to reread it, you can find it by following the link: Ken's Obituary The Herald 7.12.04 

Remembering Ken's 84th birthday.

The Terminal a little on the boring side. It's saving grace was the performances of Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Both did a great job. Tom Hanks is a professional. He is a versatile actor. I always enjoy his movies. Catherine Zeta-Jones did an outstanding job playing the spunky, lovelorn flight attendant. This movie gave me a new appreciation of her work. As I said, the story was a little slow. The movie started at 1:20, 1:35 I first looked at my watch. This is my parameter on the interest level I have for a movie. Anytime Hanks or Zeta-Jones were on camera I perked up with enthusiasm. The two stars made the movie funny, sentimental and respectful of family history (due mainly to Hanks mission in coming to New York City). 

Tonight 7/16/04, the movie Rat Race aired on TBS. It will be aired again tomorrow (7/17/04) night. I will probably watch it again tomorrow. I originally saw it at the show in the summer of 2001. I think it is a very funny movie. It has a first class cast of stars and each is so funny. What really sold me on the movie was the Lucy bus. There was a bus full of Lucy look-a-likes headed to a Lucy convention or some such thing. It was funny. You know how TBS likes to replay it's movies, the movie will be replayed many, many times in July as well as August. 

I-Robot was a good action movie. I enjoyed the movie immensely. I think I enjoyed it so much because of the implications for the future. Will Smith did a great job in the movie. I am developing a greater appreciation of his work. He has come a long way since The Fresh Prince of Bellaire. The movie provides an excellent example of the way machines may some day be configured to anticipate the shortcomings of modern man and woman. The outcome of this development may not be the desired outcome of the humans. In short, the central main frame may not know best. 

The Bourne Supremacy Another action movie. It was really a continuation of the original The Bourne Identity. I saw both, but enjoyed the original a lot more. I found the current 2004 movie a little confusing. Maybe I didn't understand the premise. It might have been a case of leaving well enough alone. To me the action scenes were magnificent. They made the movie. The photography and visual effects were the best parts of the movie. Matt Damon did an excellent job. To me, he is Jason Bourne.

Did you see any of The Democratic National Convention? The television coverage was at a minimum this year. The major networks carried only 3 hours of coverage, 10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. CNN, MSNBC, C-span and the public television networks gave gavel to gavel coverage. I preferred the coverage on C-span. C-span gave true gavel to gavel coverage with no commentary. As I've said before in other newsletters, I feel that I am capable of watching the original news event and making my own implications rather than hearing a newscaster or commentator give his or her interpretation of a news event. Although at times I do enjoy the discussions on CNN and MSNBC. Did you happen to catch Ben Affleck on MSNBC? He did an outstanding job on presenting his "take" on the happenings of the Democratic Convention. I think that MSNBC's Chris Matthews was very impressed with Affleck's vocabulary on political commentary. Don't be surprised if Ben Affleck becomes a more regular guest on news programs on MSNBS or any other top notch political news network. I think Ben Affleck has great potential in the political news arena. 

Health & Fitness 

It is summer time. For most of us, it's the time of the year to increase or at less maintain our fitness program. At the very least, walking is a non-intrusive, important component of any fitness program. During the summer months many of us are very busy doing things that we don't normally do during other times of the year- vacations, picnics, outside activities and family gatherings are a few summertime activities that may interfere with our regular routines. Don't forget about your fitness program. Yes, you swim, you play ball, you work in the garden, you are active with outside activities, but are these done on a regular basis? Don't forget to maintain your total physical fitness program. Remember fitness does not take a vacation. In spite of the other summertime activities, keep up your regular fitness program in order to maintain spiritual, physical and emotional fitness, security and balance.

Drinking beer is not considered a physical activity. I guess that hand motion to your mouth does use up calories, but if you don't modify it with other physical activity your right hand and arm (or left if you are a lefty) will become disproportionably smaller than the other hand and arm. This also applies to all those other outside activities we do, like eating hamburgers and hot dogs. You need to maintain your fitness program to counter balance all that eating that you are doing.

Speaking of the eating activity, healthy eating in moderation should be a continuous activity. Healthy eating does not take a vacation. If you maintain healthy and moderation in eating, you will need no recovery period. In other words it is possible to enjoy the special occasions and still maintain a healthy eating process. If you do this, you will not feel that you need to "go back on your diet". Your "diet" should be your way of life - healthy, moderate eating. This does not mean that you may never eat the things that make you happy - cake, cookies, ice cream, candy, etc. Do so, but in moderation. Remember, you are in this for life. Take one day at a time and the years will take care of themselves.

Back to walking: The Arthritis Foundation recommends these 10 tips when starting a walking program:
  1. Check with your doctor before beginning a walking program.
  2. Wear comfortable, well-fitting and supportive shoes with flexible and non-sticky soles that absorb shock.
  3. Wear loose comfortable clothing, clothing that can breath. Wear layers, so you can adjust for the weather.
  4. Walk at your own pace. Everyone has a comfortable walking pace that suits them.
  5. Be sure family members know your walking route and your approximate return time.
  6. Don't go too far too fast. Three 10 minute walks give the same benefit as one 30 minute walk.
  7. Choose flat, firm, level surfaces - steep grades, uneven ground could lead to hip, knee or foot pain.
  8. Keep it fun, Listen to music as you walk.
  9. Find a partner. A regular partner makes it a social outlet and a commitment reinforcer.
10. Stay motivated. Change location, style or speed. 

I would add the following to the previous suggestions:
1. Attire is important. Good walking shoes must be emphasis. The comfort and health of your feet is important
2. In the day light times, wear sun block. At dawn and/or dusk, wear mosquito repellant. One that contains DEET.
3. Do walk at your own pace, but to maintain fitness over time you must increase the pace and time walking.
4. I think a regular routine is better for me personally. I know when, where, how and why I walk.

Walking is a simple, inexpensive and painless way to keep in shape. I do believe that stretching, crunches, push ups, weight lifting and other strength builders (don't remember the technical name) will add to your total fitness program. However, a first step (excuse the pun) in any fitness program is walking. Each person must develop his or her own successful fitness program.

I will add, if weight lose is desired, then to the fitness plan, calorie reduction must be implemented. I don't put too much credence in all of those special diets. I firmly believe that healthy eating, balanced eating and calorie reduction along with a regular physical fitness regime will be most successful in any weight loss program. Once again, to be successful in this endeavor, the person must develop the plan that best fits his or her lifestyle, attitude and comfort level.

For the best, up-to-date professional advise concerning fitness see Stability Fitness.

Something that may affect your outside activities may be mosquitoes and the West Nile Disease. Miami-Dade County has announced that 4 people have been diagnosed with the disease, as of July 21, 2004. The health department of South Florida has started night spraying to eradicate those pesky mosquitoes. No matter your location, to protect yourself from mosquito dangers, when you are outside wear a mosquito repellant, one with DEET especially at dawn and dusk. I'm sure as the rains continue and the weather stays hot and humid more cases of West Nile will be announced.

Politics

The 2004 Republican National Convention will be starting on August 30. It will run through September 2. I'm sure that it will be scripted and a media event much like the 2004 Democratic National Convention was in July. Today's political conventions are not really the true political conventions of yesterday. They do not conduct the political agenda necessary in planning the party's platform and the campaign of the nominee for president. Most of the major decisions for both parties have been formulated and agreed to many months before the political convention even takes place.

The finishing touches of the platforms will be completed by the start of the conventions. The nominees have been decided upon due to the primaries and caucuses. Most, if not all major obstacles have been decided. The script is ready, the major players will do their act and the delegates will party, what is left to do? Does anyone remember the old time political conventions? Probably not. Time marches on.

By the way, I just discovered that I am a right to life Democrat. For an explanation see the Religion & Spiritualism section of this newsletter. I guess I join the ranks of other Roman Catholic, as well as those of other religious faiths, right to life Democrats. Also, see the same section for a discussion on Embryonic Stem Cell Research.

The Democratic Party is an all encompassing party. people of all persuasions and beliefs are welcomed into the party. It's the people's party. That is the exact reason why the Democrat's have trouble winning elections. The party allows or permits political differences. Sometimes such political differences cause internal turmoil. Many times there is not a consensus of opinion. The party does not rally around a shared core of political beliefs.

In contrast, the Republican Party has become a united, cohesive organization. Tax cuts, military build up and a return to family values are at the core of the Republican Party. Sounds good and for the most part the American people buy it. A closer look at the operation of the party and it's central leaders produce a different view of the party. The party actually operates on two levels. One for the general public and one for the "people who count" - big business, the wealthy and the moral majority. The rhetoric sounds good, but the reality is disillusionment. 

Truthfully both parties have had their clandestine undertakings. It seems that the Republican Party is currently more adept at this practice. The Republican Party is more arrogant, unyielding and simply dishonest than the Democratic Party. My proof: the activities of the current Republican Administration. I do not enjoying "attacking" the current administration. So, I will not.

I read somewhere that the political preference of the American people is somewhat generational. Right now (from 1980) it seems that the Republican Party has been the party of choice. Before the 1980's the Democratic Party with the New Deal, New Frontier and Great Society was the people's choice. I'm not an history major, but I believe the time period before Roosevelt was a Republican era. The hypothesis suggests that if the adults or parents of a particular era of time prefers one political party the next generation or the children prefer the other party. I don't know if this is valid, but I feel that it does to an extent explain the shift of political philosophy of the American voters. So, hang on, it may be the Democrat's turn in a few years. 

The Democratic Party is uncharacteristically united in the 2004 political campaign. Most Democrats are willing to unite and temporarily suspend any discord until after the election in order to elect the Democratic candidates. Democrats are united against Bush and the Bush administration. The defeat of the Bush administration is paramount in the minds of the Democrats. This may give the party the impetus it needs to defeat this Republican administration.

Most learned political analysts suggest that the 2004 presidential election will be extremely close. I don't think so. A few months ago I thought that President Bush would be re-elected by a large percent, not a landside, but a good margin of popularity. He is the incumbent president and he is seeking re-election. It is very difficult to unseat a popular incumbent. However, now I have a different idea.

Now I feel that Kerry/Edwards will win by an unquestionable margin. I think the average American voter will vote against President Bush. I feel that the Democratic message is working. The attitude of the average American voter is, "enough is enough". The primary reason for this attitude is the war in Iraq and more importantly the aftermath or the reconstruction phrase of the war. 

It has been documented that the Bush administration misled the congress and the American people in the reasons for going to war. I don't think it was a criminal offense, but an unethical and preconceived misjudgment. I think the President's most valuable quality, his honesty and trustworthiness have been shattered in the eyes of the American people.

The economy is recovering, but at a much slower rate than expected. President Bush has gambled away the American economy. The economic statistics are positive, they show positive gains. Statistics are only a good as the people and reasons for producing the statistics. President Clinton turned over a robust economy to the Bush administration. What happened? 

What about the meager number of new jobs being produced by the current administration? The jobs are minimum wage and slightly higher that are being produced. How can a family or even an individual exist on that poverty level income. Talk to the young workers, the uneducated workers or the educated and one time successful workers who have lost their jobs, about the state of their economies. They are not feeling the effects of the recovery. 

Let's not turn the blind eye or the deaf ear. These are Americans and they are in need. Let us not become complacent with our success. Our success could be doomed by an unfortunate situation related to our job or life status. Let's not be judgmental with these American's. It not always their fault. Minimum wage or poverty level incomes are not O.K. for these people or any person in today's world. The Bush administration has forgotten about these people. The scariest part of all this: it could happen to you or me, in a New York minute.

The presidential campaign season historically starts on Labor Day. There is still time for the Bush administration to regroup and gain the support of the American people. Anything can happen in politics. November 2, Election Day 2004, is still far away, especially in political terms.

I believe that the election will not be as close as predicted. 

More election trouble ahead for Florida? No more chads, pregnant or dimpled chads, but now we have a new problem. South Florida's, as well as some other regions of Florida, touch screen voting machines do not have a hard copy back-up. If there is a problem or a recount is ordered, a recount would be impossible since the machines have no back-up copy. As I've said in another newsletter, what a breeding ground for not only a legitimate recount but for election fraud. Representative Wexler has sued the governor and the state of Florida, but the case has been dismissed. Reports say that it would cost about $500.00 per machine to install hardware that would secure a hard copy bake-up.  Governor Bush says no. 

During all of this, the governor, the secretary of state and Republican state officials are trying to convince the people of the state of Florida that the machines are reliable and no problem will exist in the 2004 election. Well, in Friday's, July 30, 2004 (Fort Lauderdale) Sun-Sentinel appeared a news story allegedly saying that the South Florida Republican Party has sent registered Republican voters a letter urging them to vote in the 2004 election by using absentee ballots. The letter says that this would guarantee that there vote would be counted, because of the unreliability of the touch-screen machines. Later, the South Florida Republican Party apologized for their mistake. What is happening with American ethics. 

Read the articles Absentee Ballots, Republican Apology.

 
(Fort Lauderdale) Sun-Sentinel
Friday, July 30, 2004
click on image for a bigger image

I feel that the first executive order by a President Kerry should be the establishment of a Homeland Ethics Board. All governmental, political and all other activities that affect people should be reviewed by this board. Of course this is a stretch for the imagination, but we are becoming a very unethical country. Everyday life is being complicated by our need to double check and rethink everything we do. Ethics and honesty seem to be missing in the American way of life. It's becoming a "Citizen Beware" country. That is too bad.

 
Religion & Spiritualism

I had somewhat of an epiphany the other morning. I woke up about 4:00 a.m. thinking, "I believe that life starts at conception". Don't ask me why I was thinking about abortion, but I awoke with it on my mind. I came to the stark decision that I do not support abortion. I do not support a woman's choice. I am now convinced that abortion is wrong. It is the killing of one of God's creatures. That feeling was present in my mind so vividly, I couldn't deny it's existence. No one has the right to end a life, not even the woman. I do not even support abortion in the event of the mother's health being at risk. I think we have to take our chances - it's the baby or the mother. It's not up to us, it's up to God.

Sometimes I think we get so smug in our own beliefs that we forget the basis of our beliefs. The basis of our beliefs must originate with our conception of life and death. What do we believe? And how do our beliefs affect our journey through this earthly life? We can not become too comfortable with our worldly existence and exclude our fundamental belief system.

You do know that when each of us is called to that afterlife, each of us will be striped naked. Striped naked literally and figuratively. There will be no hiding the obvious. All of our rationalizations will be dust, much like our bodies, dust. The only thing that will remain is that, that makes you, you. Whether you like it or not, that voice you hear inside of you is your soul, your real being and sometimes we ignore that voice. Listen, what is that voice, your soul telling you? Whatever it is, it is the single most factor that makes you the person you are.

If we are growing during this journey we must be open to that voice. We must, "not harden our hearts", taken form on of those church hymns. We must be open to the possibility that we may be wrong in our perception of life. Or any of our preconceived notions. As President Kennedy said in one of his cold war speeches, "never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate". In other words, keep to our beliefs, be true to ourselves, but never be closed minded when the obvious is looking right back at you. 

How does all of this affect Embryonic Stem Cell Research? I think stem cell research is a different animal. The cells involved with this research are merely cells. The cells exist outside of the body, in a petri dish or test tube. These are not body parts, they are undifferentiated cells. I think we need to take a sincere look at the words of Ron Reagan at the Democratic Convention concerning such research. Embryonic Stem Cells exist. We should explore their potential medical value. 

Invitro Fertilization is the breeding ground, so to speak, for embryonic stem cells. If we believe that Invitro Fertilization is an acceptable medical practice, then it follows that Embryonic Stem Cell Research should be an acceptable medical procedure. In both cases we are trying to help mankind. 

At the end of the day, there is no absolute answer for these types of questions. We must investigate and accept our beliefs by maintaining the most current information on the subject. Our final consideration must be a personal consideration. In the end our beliefs must be congruent with our own unique conscience. Many things in life are a matter of conscience. 

So, there's my spiritual perception for this month. Sometimes we must be open to the strange, the queer or the unbelievable. At that exact time and in that exact instance, maybe someone is trying to tell us something about our beliefs. In any case, we are our beliefs and we must be consistent, true to our beliefs and at the same time open to the possibility that our beliefs may need to be reconsidered. 

Cell phone users, check your batteries. There have been cases of batteries overheating or exploding causing health risks to cell phone users. I read an article in the paper recently about faulty batteries in cell phones. If your battery compartment in your cell phone feels unusually warm contact your cellular phone company to make sure you are using the right batteries. Also, make sure your battery is authentic and not a bootlegged battery. There was an instances in Miami-Dade County where a teenager's face was badly burned by a defective cell phone battery. 

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