INSPIRATIONAL: Yankees show class

Saturday, April 28, 2012

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/couple-catch-foul-ball-fail-to-give-it-to-heartbroken-child-tv-announcer-not-pleased/

Sports Couple Catch Foul Ball & Fail to Give it to Heartbroken Child, TV Announcer NOT Pleased

Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:21am by Becket Adams Becket Adams

*** begin quote ***

During a game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers Wednesday, one young fan almost had his world shattered when he failed to catch a foul ball tossed into the stands by the Rangers’ Mitch Moreland.

Instead, the ball was snagged by a couple who were quite pleased with their catch. So pleased, in fact, that they failed to notice the weeping, heartbroken kid right next to them.

*** end quote ***

(Anyone who knows me, knows the story I’m remembering about Our Girl and her foul ball. This story demos her character. But that’s not what this blog post is about.)

What a pair of Scrooges?

What I found “inspirational” is probably the Spirit of Old George S watching “his” Yankees from his ultimate “skybox” and taking care of the problem with his usual direct style. The instrument he “played” was Kaye, who moved several notches higher in my book on this story. He was already up there; just ascended further. (Not as if that matters.) And either Kaye called down, or some in the Yankee org was really “on the ball” in this case in more than one way. Giving the kid a ball

“Bravo Zulu” to all who made that happen.

I’m writing a letter to the Universe now: “Dear Universe, Attention: Karma Department, Please schedule this couple for remedial education in empathy, sharing (as in the fruits of good fortune with your neighbor), and specifically “suffer the little children to come unto me”. I’m sure the innovative boys and girls up there in the “Good Karma” section can come up with suitable scenarios. I’m equally even more sure that the bad and naughty, working remotely remote in the basement next to the fires and torments, can come up a suitable response. Please ask them to tone it down a little. Supply tells me that we are running low on plagues and locusts. Priority for those is given to corrupt politicians and evil dictators. Please pass along my kudos on the last two that they took care for us. The first should have already arrived at the stable basement for a few eaons of <synonym for excrement> shovelling, and I’m told the second will be there shorty. I’ll appreciate your prompt response. And hope it’s up to your usual standards. Humor’s been a little thin in the head office as a result of the Midwestern Tornados. That reminds me to check how the West Baptist Church’s prayer request got on the Action pile without being routed to the SPAM folder. Guess well have to put a support request for Microsoft Ou`tlook Really Big Enterprise Version 9. When is 10 due? Argh. Signed, God”

Yeah, I know don’t quit my day job!

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INSPIRATIONAL: In a negative sort of way, we should be outraged

Saturday, April 7, 2012

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/watch-sharks-clowe-break-odd-man-rush-bench-060134773.html

Watch Sharks’ Clowe break up an odd-man rush from the bench (VIDEO)
By Harrison Mooney | Puck Daddy – 18 hours ago

*** begin quote ***

The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings may have clinched a playoff spot well before Thursday’s game ended, but they certainly didn’t play like it. It was a hard-fought battle right to the final horn and then some, with the Sharks narrowly edging their divisional rivals 6-5 in a shootout.

But don’t let the high score fool you into thinking there weren’t any big defensive plays. Why, Ryane Clowe’s pokecheck on Jarrett

Stoll with 3 minutes to go in the 3rd period stands out, and not just because it broke up a very threatening-looking 3-on-2 rush and potentially saved a game-winning goal. It was also the fact that Clowe was on the bench at the time.

*** end quote ***

First, it was baseball doping. Second, the headhunting in the NFL. Thiird, this.

Where are our Nation’s standards?

The Duke of Wellington is often quoted as saying that “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton”.

If that’s so, America won’t be winning anythinv any time soon.

We should be outraged!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Swift’s date too sick to go

Sunday, April 1, 2012

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2012-03-31/taylor-swift-date/53914560/1

Cancer-stricken N.J. teen to miss date with Taylor Swift
By Steve Wood, (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post
Updated 1h 48m ago

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CHERRY HILL, N.J. – In his second bout with cancer, 18-year-old Kevin McGuire won over the Internet and Taylor Swift.

Now the fickle fight will keep the high school senior from Stratford, N.J., from accompanying the superstar to Sunday night’s Academy of Country Music Awards.

Hours after being in “great spirits” Thursday, and a day before his planned departure to Las Vegas for the show, McGuire was dealt a 103-degree fever and taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, according to his mother, Vicki McGuire.

*** end quote ***

I can’t think of a more polite way to say: “Boy, does that suck.”

Hope he gets a replacement date from Ms. Swift. (I’d expect so since she’s one sharp kookie.)

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INSPIRATIONAL: Child’s awaking prayer

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Now I’m not much of a holy roller.

First Amendment!

Probably a testimony to the basic tension between my English Anglican Protestant maternal Grandmother and my Irish Catholic maternal Grandfather. Due to a divorce, I spent a lot of time under the watchful eye of said maternal Grandmother and my spinster Aunt.

So you can imagine the fun when I went to my First Day at Catholic grammar school, Annunciation, and the good Nun says something like “It’s now time to learn the Our Father.” (What were these kids doing for their whole lives? They couldn’t read, speak in cogent sentences, nor carry on a conversation about anything significant!) So little, fat future old white guy injineer, Johnny chimes up and says: (quotes because so I am told by my Mom who was for the first of many times called to the Principal’s office to discuss little Johnny Reinke’s behavior) “Sister, respectfully, I know that, Is there something I can substitute?”

Needless to say the Good Nun, Sister Euphemia, was stunned and said something to the effect of “let’s see what you got sonny”.

So, as taught, I respectfully riffed out the Lord’s prayer with reverence, resect, and in a fine loud voice. And ended with … “For THINE is the power and GLORY forever and ever. AMEN!”.

And the good Nun went into cardiac arrest.

And, of course, I was on the first of many many trips to the Principal’s Office.

Reading wasn’t much better. Given the First Grade Reader, we were told to “familiarize” ourselves with the concept of a book. (Are you kidding me?) “Sister, I’m done. Do you have something better? A novel. Even the Bible is better than this.” Off to the Principal. (Another quote courtesy of the Principal to my Mother. I’, sure my beloved maternal Grandmother did this to put the Papists in their place.)

Yeah, you get the picture.

Finally, I was assigned to the convent to read the Daily News and the Daily Mirror to the old Nuns. They got a kick out of it. Eyes failing, they were “retired”. (What stupid concept. These were some sharp ladies.) So they got to contribute to the school by keeping this “annoying boy” out of everyone’s hair during “religion” and “reading”.

(The Principal’s specific directions were nothing racy and NO sports. One Nun followed the ponies and another was a Hollywood Star struck. My first education in selective order following.)

Any way, one of the prayers I learned at the hands of the Women’s Justice League (i.e., Maternal Grandmother, Spinster Aunt, and two other Aunts brought in as relief watchers. Every time I screwed up one of them would be looking over my shoulder.) was “A Child’s Bedtime Prayer” (i.e., “Now I lay me down to sleep …” ending with an ever lengthening litany of people to pray for).

My question is: Shouldn’t there be a “child awakening prayer”? For example, “Now I rise to wake, the Lord’s Day, I’ll take, one foot forward for Courage, the other for Bravery, … …”!

Seems like the world is out of balance?

Only took me 65 years to realize it.

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INSPIRATIONAL: “The Last Lecture” columnist who made

Sunday, March 11, 2012

http://tributes.com/show/Jeffrey-Zaslow-93216484

Jeffrey Zaslow
Detroit-area author killed in car accident
COREY WILLIAMS, The Associated Press

*** begin quote ***

DETROIT (AP) — Best-selling author Jeffrey Zaslow was killed Friday when he lost control of his car on a snowy road after promoting his latest book in northern Michigan. He was 53.

Zaslow, co-author of the million-selling book “The Last Lecture,” was also a former columnist for The Wall Street Journal and former advice columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Zaslow, who had an affinity for stories of heroism and resilience, worked on memoirs of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and airline pilot Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

*** and ***

Morris said Zaslow’s first book was based on a 2007 column he wrote for The Wall Street Journal. “The Last Lecture” was published in 2008 and has been translated into 40 languages. It was inspired by Carnegie Mellon University professor Randy Pausch’s “last lecture” of his life’s lessons. Pausch died in 2008 of pancreatic cancer .

*** end quote ***

What a loss.

If you’ve never seen “Last Lecture”, then you should.

And, this columnist had so much to do with capturing the “song”.

http://youtu.be/ji5_MqicxSo

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INSPIRATIONAL: Why be anti-war?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

http://lewrockwell.com/whitehead/whitehead39.1.html

The Horror! The Horror! Must-See War Films
by John W. Whitehead

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Saving Private Ryan: The Invasion Sequence (1998). The long opening sequence of this film is unlike anything in any other Hollywood depiction of war. It’s 25 minutes of barely comprehensible chaos and mutilation. Many veterans have stated that it is the most accurate re-creation of an amphibious assault. Credit for this sequence goes mainly to director of photography Janusz Kaminski – to be shared with editor Michael Kahn, sound designer Gary Rydstrom, writer Robert Rodat and director Steven Spielberg. Beyond this – i.e., the other 150 minutes of the film – Saving Private Ryan is a run-of-the-mill movie.

*** end quote ***

That opening sequence should convince anyone that war is the last option. The next time a politician or bureaucrat urges war, let them lead!

“We, The Sheeple” didn’t learn the lesson of Viet Nam, The Republic of.

55k of our best brightest warriors paid tuition. And ⅓ of the draft population went north or underground. It divided the nation and poisoned our souls.

When I hear them beat the War Drums for Syria, Iran, or whatever <insert name of favorite deity you favor> forsaken place they want our girls and boys to go die in, I get physically ill. In Fifth Grade, a Brother explained the “Just War” doctrine. He fought in the Pacific theater, and would say to us: “You JUST don’t understand. You know, but do not understand.” He was right. Many decades later, I know, but I don’t understand.

Dona Nobis Pacem!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Veterans Take A Backseat

Friday, February 24, 2012

http://bigpeace.com/kpatton/2012/02/20/devaluing-the-american-hero-veterans-take-backseat-to-sports-entertainment-figures/

Devaluing the American Hero: Veterans Take Backseat to Sports, Entertainment Figures
Posted by Kerry Patton Feb 20th 2012 at 9:42 am in Featured Story
Written by New York times Best Selling Author James M. Pratt and Kerry Patton.

*** begin quote ***

In 2012, a ticker tape parade in New York City is reserved for a Super Bowl team while those who served in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 get a collective “thanks,” at best. A serviceman from New Jersey who gave all he had dying this year gets his parents or wife a flag from his coffin, while this week a flag at “half staff” is reserved for a famous singer from the same state simply because she gave us great music.  Should the same be done for Jon Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen when they pass? Should they be granted the same honors as our brave men and women who gallantly fight for our freedoms?

Basketball, baseball, football players, actors, and singers all receive financial and other rewards beyond most people’s wildest dreams and are all too often mislabeled in terminology  and public adoration as “heroes.”

*** end quote ***

Sad that we don’t honor the vets.

Let’s bring them all home now.

Then, let’s work on getting our heads screwed back on correctly.

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INSPIRATIONAL: A dozen differences

Monday, January 30, 2012

http://www.impactlab.net/2012/01/23/top-12-things-successful-people-do-differently-than-the-rest-of-us/

January 23rd, 2012 at 11:40 amTop 12 things successful people do differently than the rest of us
in: Analysis, Business, People Making a Difference

*** begin quote ***

Over the years I’ve studied the lives of numerous successful people. I’ve read their books, watched their interviews, researched them online, etc. And I’ve learned that most of them were not born into success; they simply did, and continue to do, things that help them realize their full potential. Here are twelve things they do differently that the rest of us can easily emulate.

1. They create and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

2. They take decisive and immediate action.

3. They focus on being productive, not being busy.

4. They make logical, informed decisions.

5. They avoid the trap of trying to make things perfect.

6. They work outside of their comfort zone.

7. They keep things simple.

8. They focus on making small, continuous improvements.

9. They measure and track their progress.

10. They maintain a positive outlook as they learn from their mistakes.

11. They spend time with the right people.

12. They maintain balance in their life.

*** end quote ***

This blows me away. Wish I could be like that. Should print it and put it on my bathroom wall. Right next to the affirmation: “I’m thin at heart.”

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INSPIRATIONAL: Refugees survive due to a few gold coins

Sunday, December 25, 2011

http://dailyreckoning.com/gold-and-money-in-extremis-one-mans-story

Gold and Money in Extremis… One Man’s Story
By Daily Reckoning Contributor

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I was ordered to get my coat and accompany them. I was taken to a station and asked many questions. It was a stroke of luck for me that the Russian soldier to whom I had spoken in the past was here among them. After conferring with the others, he said: “Because you were born in Siberia, speak Russian, and you’re an uneducated worker — much like us — we will not detain you further. You may go for now.” He then gently grabbed my elbow and said very quietly, “Go back to your family, Marion. Get prepared for deportation to Siberia.” I ran home.

At dawn, I retrieved the gold and jewelry. I found my largest boots and heaviest jacket. I lined the bottom of my boots carefully with small coins and put leather over the insoles. I slit the heels, carefully hollowed out what I could and stuffed larger gold coins inside the cavities. Finally, I opened up various parts of my jacket and distributed more gold chain and coins in it — with great care so they did not rattle and were hard to detect.

Several days later, we were awakened by a knock at 4 a.m. and told we were being deported to Siberia. We were given 15 minutes to gather any personal belongings needed for immediate use. Our land, homes, and possessions were now property of the Russian state. My wife, my three-year-old daughter, and I were put into a truck with a group of others and taken to a railroad station.

We would never see our parents, our siblings, nor set foot on Polish soil, again. I was greatly relieved that they did not check my jacket or my shoes. My small cache of gold was going with me.

*** end quote ***

Like the Christmas story, where Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem to “register” and eventually flee, here’s a powerful lesson. It can happen to you!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Hopefully it induces you to action

Sunday, December 18, 2011

http://zocalopublicsquare.org/thepublicsquare/2011/11/30/how-doctors-die/read/nexus/

How Doctors Die
It’s Not Like the Rest of Us, But It Should Be
by Ken Murray

*** begin quote ***

Years ago, Charlie, a highly respected orthopedist and a mentor of mine, found a lump in his stomach. He had a surgeon explore the area, and the diagnosis was pancreatic cancer. This surgeon was one of the best in the country. He had even invented a new procedure for this exact cancer that could triple a patient’s five-year-survival odds—from 5 percent to 15 percent—albeit with a poor quality of life. Charlie was uninterested. He went home the next day, closed his practice, and never set foot in a hospital again. He focused on spending time with family and feeling as good as possible. Several months later, he died at home. He got no chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical treatment. Medicare didn’t spend much on him.

It’s not a frequent topic of discussion, but doctors die, too. And they don’t die like the rest of us. What’s unusual about them is not how much treatment they get compared to most Americans, but how little. For all the time they spend fending off the deaths of others, they tend to be fairly serene when faced with death themselves. They know exactly what is going to happen, they know the choices, and they generally have access to any sort of medical care they could want. But they go gently.

*** end quote ***

I hope, that when we finally find out “the right answers” at the Final Judgement, my decisions about my wife’s end of life care will be the “correct” ones. The handwriting was on the wall when her kidney’s shut down. I asked her if she understood that meant? Her last words were “when will this all be over?” My tearful reply was “Soon, hon, real soon.” It was.

No pain. Peace.

Not for those left behind.

But the race had been run. And Death won.

As it always does.

My paperworks been updated because when my time comes as it does to all of us, I’m hoping for the “Good Death”.

Luckily, in my case, there’ll be no spouse left behind.

“And I’ve lost her … . I’m so sad that I don’t have … . But I’m so grateful that she was with me … . And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?” — Chuck Noland ala Tom Hanks in Cast Away (2000) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/quotes

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