Discussion of The Month

September and hopefully no more hurricanes. Thursday, August 25, 2005 was a terrifying night for South Florida. It was a terrifying night for me. Around 6:20 p.m. Katrina made landfall at the Broward - Miami Dade County line. Actually it was at the southern most point of Broward County - Hallandale Beach Boulevard in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Thankfully it was a category one hurricane, but as we would soon discover, a category one carries a powerful punch. Shortly after the hurricane made landfall in Hallandale Beach, the weather conditions at my house in Dania Beach turned deadly. The wind changed direction and began it's assault on all in it's path. The patio doors of my condo began to keep time with the vibration of the wind. In and out went the glass panes of the doors keeping time with the wind gusts on the outside. It seemed that the wind was going to blow out the glass in the doors. I was scared to death. All the thoughts of past hurricanes and all the mental hurricane preparations that I had stored in my memory came rushing into my consciousness. I had visions of the destruction of my condo due to the intrusion of the unwanted gusts of wind. I thought to myself, "There's nothing I can do here. I must get out of here for my personal safety." So, I fled my condo and sought safety in my neighbor's condo. I stayed there for about 3 hours. I couldn't help thinking that my patio doors had blown out and the contents of my condo were being blown to bits. Much to my surprise and delight, upon returning to my condo I found it in exactly the same condition as I had left it. No damage to the patio doors. I did loose an awning from the back bedroom window, but that was the extent of the damage. I couldn't believe my eyes and my good fortune. I felt extremely fortunate and thankful. Hurricane Katrina continued on her path of destruction. She entered the Gulf of Mexico and aimed at the Gulf Coast. The rest is history. You know what happened next. Louisiana,  Mississippi and Alabama sustained unbelievable catastrophic damage. You've seen the news reports. You know the situation in those three states, it's deadly, widespread and catastrophic. God help those people. Now, my little brush with Katrina seems inconsequential in comparison to the destruction in the Gulf States.

The "Thought of the Month" is particular moving for me. This should be the motto for all people in all situations. It applies to parents when dealing with their children, to our dealings with one another. We need to praise the good works and accomplishments of others loudly and admonish their mistakes softly and lovingly. Life in this the 21st century has taken a turn for the worse in human interactions. We are all quick to blame and slow to praise. Everyone, and I mean everyone has something to say about anything that goes on today. I might add, the more serious the going-on's, the more loudly we blame. We as a society are fast to point the finger of shame, but slow to offer any real solutions and comfort to those in harms way. We blame, we gossip and we tend to sit in judgment of our fellow citizens whenever the slightest opportunity arises. We seem to enjoy gloating over another person's misfortune and pain. Selfish, egocentric, judgmental - yes, we are all of these things, but the source of our behavior lies in our fear that we may be the next person who makes a blunder and becomes the object of ridicule before the masses. It's almost like, "attack and blame others before they attack and blame us." The person who is strong enough to go against the trend, stands tall  and acts in accordance with a healthy, appropriate and humane conscience in these situations is truly a genuine and caring person in this the 21st century. 

Entertainment

Peter Jennings of ABC News dies of lung cancer. A great loss to the ABS News family, to the American public and to the citizens of the world. Mr. Jennings was an extraordinary man. The TV coverage of his death, or I should say of his life was very informative. We all learned a great deal about the ABC News anchor. One of the most significant tidbits that I learned was the fact that Mr. Jennings was a high school dropout. Yes, Peter Jennings dropped out of school and became self educated. He had a insatiable curiosity and a intense desire for knowledge which enabled him to accomplish great feats in the news industry. Barbara Bel Geddes of Dallas also died of lung cancer. Of course she was in her 80's. The widow of Superman (Christopher Reeve), Dana Reeve announced that she has been undergoing treatment for lung cancer. Lung cancer seems to be on the rise. The bottom line don't smoke. Dana Reeve was not a smoker. A lot of nonsmoking people are suffering with lung cancer. There is research to suggest that women who have been treated for breast cancer and have undergone radiation are at a greater risk of contracting lung cancer. More research for sure. Bottom line is still Don't Smoke.

Red Eye is one of those short but terrifying movies. It is my kind of movie, 85 minutes long. A one bathroom trip movie for me. It started out fast, got boring for about 30 minutes then really got suspenseful towards the end. I won't give the ending away, but a past violent attack on the female star proved to be the momentum needed for her to "never let it happen again." Now you have to see the movie.  

Health, Fitness and Lifestyle

School or work lunches, brown bagging it, do not have to be boring or non-nutritious - be creative. Her are some hints for making your family's bagged lunches more interesting, appealing and healthy.

• Make sandwiches with grain bread. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches not only taste good, but are good for you. Try putting thin slices of fruit on the peanut butter. I particularly love banana, low fat crunchy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft oatmeal honey wheat bread.

• Use tuna fish, celery and carrots as lunch items. Tuna on wheat crackers, celery sticks with tuna spread or plain carrot sticks will do.

• Chicken salad, low fat of course, nuts and grapes make a perfect combination as a salad or spread or a snack.

• Try mixing yogurt, natural cereal and fruit. I'm not going to say, "low fat" any longer. It will be implied. 

• Snacks - baked potato chips or pretzels are great. 

• Macaroni and cheese is healthy if prepare with thought, add chopped broccoli, carrots, spinach, low-fat cheese and make it exciting and tasty, too.

• Pasta for lunch? You bet, low fat, natural grain pasta, brown rice all add to that once boring lunch. Add meat or meat sauce, carrots, zucchini or spinach to spaghetti squash for an extremely healthy lunch.

• How about lasagna - between the layers add spinach, mushrooms or any vegetable. 

• Whole-wheat pizza top with vegetables? I'm not too sure about that one.

• Soups, no cream or cheese-based, go for tomato or broth base. Use puree potatoes or brown rice to thicken broth, veggies, bean, pasta soups. Sounds yummy.

• Wraps with veggies, healthy foods, salad, turkey. The secret - hide the healthy foods. 

• Low-fat chocolate milk really hits the spot. I love skim milk with ice cubes. Or a cup of low calorie orange juice or cranberry juice with diet ginger-ale. 

The secret to these lunches - plan ahead, hide the vegetables and other healthy foods and enjoy. 

Many diseases can be slowed or even prevented by changing your lifestyle -  eating better, exercising and cutting stress. Case in point - Prostate cancer.

Politics and the World

Will Judge Roberts be confirmed as the next Justice of the United States Supreme Court? I certainly hope so. He is the man for the job. He is President Bush's nominee, he deserves to be confirmed. The President does have the right and privilege to nominate him as a Supreme Court Justice. The American people did elect the President in 2004, giving him this duty. Judge Roberts is a moderate choice for the president. The President could have nominated an extreme radical conservative, but he did not. I think that Judge Roberts takes his jobs seriously. He will be a serious and moderate Supreme Court Justice. 

The President was on vacation in August, a "working "vacation. He does have that right. The President needs his rest and relaxation, too. I think the American people should give him that peace and quiet. He is entitled to a little rest. And do you honestly think that that no one is running the country? Come on now, the President is president 24/7. Believe me he is running the government at all times, even up till 12:00 noon, January 20, 2009 when his successor will take over the job. Give the President a break. As former Vice-president Al Gore said after 9.11.2001, "he is my president." Also, send that grieving mother back home. She is a grieving mother. Let her grieve in peace. She needs to be taken aside by a family member or have an intervention and forced to understand, accept and admit that she is a grieving mother. She should not be demonstrating outside the President's ranch in Crawford, Texas. She needs to attend to her personal grief and leave the war in Iraq to the President.

The Iraq Constitution is going to the people for their approval. It's in the hands of the people of Iraq. The Americans as well as the rest of the world including the United Nations must let the people of Iraq decide independently and on their own the fate of their country. We must not interfere in this process. No matter the outcome, Iraq must decide it's fate as a country. If it becomes an Islamic stronghold, then so be it. If it becomes an extreme radical Islam state then the United Nations, not the United States must deal with government of Iraq. The United States must leave Iraq and let the people of Iraq govern themselves.

Reverend Pat Robinson should be defrocked and put in jail for his comment about the president of Venezuela. Robinson said Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez should be assassinated. That comment is outrageous. Not only does it undermine the policy of the United State's government, it is morally shameful. To think that a man of the cloth, a religious minister would speak of acceptable murder is unbelievable. This is an excellent example of the tactics of the evangelical right. They will do anything and everything to get the world to do as they think and say. This hypocrite should be embarrassed to call himself a follower of Christ much less one of His ministers. This statement is not only a  political blunder, but a religious fiasco. God have mercy on Pat Robinson's soul. The commandments cover murder, murder is wrong, murder is against God's law. President Chavez must answer to God for his acts against mankind. So does Pat Robinson. An apology by Pat Robinson is warranted. President Bush being a Republican and a supporter of the evangelical movement must completely and fervently denounce Pat Robinson and his comment.

Religion and Spiritualism

Pope Benedict XVI makes his first international visit since becoming pope. Pope Benedict visited his homeland, Germany in August. He celebrated world children's day or some such thing. It's about time. The Pope is the successor to Peter, as the head of the Church, he needs to act more like the leader of the Christian world. He needs to act more like an apostle of the Lord. Apostles spread the word of God, they visit foreign lands, they are ambassadors for God - let's get with it Ben. I hope I'm not being disrespectful to the Pope, but I think that my God and religion is a living God and religion. The people of God need to hear, see and experience their leader. Pope Benedict must step up his apostolic role as the successor to St. peter as leader of the Church that Christ founded.

I was sitting in Church this afternoon (8.20.05), St. Theresa, Little Flower, listening to the homily by the celebrant of the Mass. The priest was talking about that exact idea - the Pope as successor to Peter. The message is as old as the church. The priest's homily was even older. No wonder the young people have a hard time connecting with the today's clergy. Even a young 55 year old has trouble connecting with the type of people running our parishes. They don't get it. It's 2005, the 21st century, get with it. Of course we are all to blame, all of us. More young people and more people representing all walks of life should be entering the priesthood. We all need to become involved in God's work. The future of God's Word is up to the young people as well as all people young in the concepts of the times we live. 

The Catholic Church is invincible as the church founded by Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church will survive and has survived the test of time. The last 2000+ years have not been easy for the Catholic Church. The years have been even more trying for it's people, but we will survive. As Jesus said in one of His parables, the good seed and the bad seed must survive together. Once grown the harvest will serve to separate the good seed from the bad. The good will be harvested and used by the people. The bad will be destroyed. So too with God's church, there will be false prophets, there will be clergy who are not good, but the good will survive and the bad will be destroyed. Rather, I believe the bad will destroy themselves. In any case, judgment is God's work, not any man's.

Technology and Business

Social security will it be solvent when I'm ready to retire? When should I start drawing my social security? I think that social security is here to stay. The AARP and the other senior citizen groups will not allow social security to disappear or change drastically. Senior citizens make up a large voting block in the American political system. Every politician knows to never upset the senior citizen political machine. Social security will be around for the foreseeable future and longer. But when should a person start drawing his or her social security benefits 62 or 65 (to 68 for younger people)? Well if you are going to live past your 76th birthday, you would earn more money cumulatively if you wait until 65th birthday or the year that you are eligible for full benefits (65-68). If you are going to die before you reach your 76th birthday, then you should start drawing your benefits early, 62. I'm not sure if 76 is the exact age that determines the difference, but it's around 76. Sixty-two may be the best time to start your social security benefits as long as though you are not still gainfully employed. In the end, each person must make that decision for himself or herself. You think that decision is very far in the future? Well, that is what I used to think. Now it's less than seven years for me.

Identity Theft and cell phones? Be careful when using or displaying your credit card. Be careful displaying any thing with personal information on it. When you hand the clerk your credit card or when you swipe your credit card in one of those machines be careful where you put the card. Some one my be near you who has an unobstructed view of your credit card number or any of you personal information. that person just may take out his or her cell phone and take a picture of your credit card or your personal information. Cellular phones may be harmful to your financial heath and well-being.

Too Strange, Weird or Just Funny

Chargers fans in San Diego not only had their tailgate parties before the game, but they also had a little fire. The smoldering coals from a tailgate party erupted into a fierce fire that destroyed a half dozen vehicles during the Chargers game in San Diego, California. A little harmless fun can really get out of control. By halftime, BBQ'ers were awaiting for charges to be filed against them as officials investigated. Now these eager tailgater's got a little more from the game than they expected.

Retired Brownsville, Oregon shoppers were sued for shoplifting when they forgot to pay for the steer manure they had secured from Wal-Mart last March. Charges for the $175 bill were dropped when the couple said that they had forgotten to pay their bill. However, the incident cost the pair a lot more than $175 when Wal-Mart sued them for civil damages. Following a little known ordinance that allowed retailers to bring civil suit penalties against shoppers whether they were found guilty or innocent in a theft case, the couple were sued by Wal-Mart. The retired, fixed income couple ended up paying the court and Wal-Mart more than the original cost of the manure, $175. Now doesn't that take the cake or the chips. The largest retailer chain in the United States goes after a poor senior citizen couple for failure to pay for manure. Wal-Mart have a heart.  Next time shop at Home Depot or Lowe's or even K-Mart.

Residents and tourist visiting Chicago, Illinois can take a $7.00 tour of the city's sewer system. The city leaders conduct this tour twice each summer to educate the public about the city's smelly and inadequate sanitation system. Public exposure and commitment to community action is the goal of the tours. Stupid.