Reinke Faces Life

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/First-Communion-girl-dies-in-bouncy-castle-tragedy-121881129.html

First Communion girl dies in bouncy castle tragedy
Family devastated after freak gust of wind accident
By CATHAL DERVAN , IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Monday, May 16, 2011, 7:23 AMUpdated Monday, May 16, 2011, 9:49 AM

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Little Amy Byrne’s big day ended in tragedy when the eight-year-old died from head injuries after she was thrown from a bouncy castle at the family farm.

Parents Paul and Lorraine Byrne are being comforted by family and friends after the tragic loss of their daughter when a gust of wind threw the bouncy castle into the air.

The little girl lost her footing when the wind caught the castle shortly after 6pm on Saturday and sustained serious head injuries as she landed on the ground after she was thrown out of the castle.

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It’s hard to imagine a worse day for the parents.

Donna Nobis Pacem

Carpe Diem

Stories like this teach us a lesson to easily forgotten.

Especially when after the lesson, it’s too late to do it over.

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From Karen Kenworthy email account

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April 25, 2011 5:30 PM

Dear Friends, I suspect that many of you have noticed that the last issue of Karen©s Power Tools Newsletter was dated March 17, 2010, and you may have been anxiously awaiting another. It is with great sadness that I write to tell you of Karen©s death on April 12, 2011, after a long struggle with several debilitations, including diabetes. I know that Karen touched many of you with her kindness, wit, creativity and encouragement. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend. And she was a pretty darned good programmer, too. We are deeply grieving her loss. For now, Karen©s server is still running, the programs she has written can still be downloaded, and donations can still be made through the website. We are also working to fill all CD orders that have been submitted or mailed. It is difficult to make business decisions while grieving. So, at this point, I cannot say what will be the future of KarenWare.com, except to say that we will certainly continue Karen©s commitment to safeguard your privacy as shown at the Privacy link of KarenWare.com. Many of you have already written many kinds words of condolence and comfort. Please know that we greatly appreciate you. If you care to make a contribution in her honor, she was a long-time supporter of The Dohnavur Fellowship, a special children©s ministry in southern India. You can learn more about them at http://www.DohnavurFellowship.org. All we ask is that you remember her whenever you take the case off of your computer, contemplate removing entries from your Windows Registry, listen to Bob Wills or Riders in the Sky, or wave and say ©Hi!© to anyone on the ©net. May God richly bless you, as He has all those who knew Karen. Bill Kenworthy Karen©s brother

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Dear Bill,

I’m very sorry to hear this. While I didn’t know Karen, I was just a fan. My wife died in February also after a long struggle with diabetes and its complications. I know somewhat of what you’re going through. You’re all in my prayers. What else can one do?

fjohn

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What do we have to do to get a cure to this deadly killer. Clearly what we are doing right now isn’t getting us a cure.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” — attributed to Einstein

We need some “outside of the box” action!

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Recently, I was surprised when someone close to me didn’t know that there were two kinds of Mass cards. I thought this was surprising. Blinding flash of the obvious. I figured I should post about the difference.

Catholics, and others, “buy” “Mass Cards” for the deceased. It’s an attempt to “buy the deceased’s way into heaven”.

You can decide if such exists, if it’s an appropriate strategy, and if it does any good.

There are, in fact, two types. One with a specific date for the Mass being offered for the name deceased and one without.

The date-specific ones cite a date, time, and location where that specific Mass will be offered.

The non-date-specific promise something else. Masses offered, prayers, “enrollment”, and all sorts of stuff.

Now the funds, given for “Mass Cards”, hopefully go towards good works. So in that sense, it always does good.

There’s a tradition in the American Irish, (I don’t know about other groups), that date specific events in memory of a loved one should be attended.

So, I received four of these. And, I attended one so far, and I plan to go to the other three.

It may or may not make a difference.

So, now, everyone knows that there are, what I will call, “Mass Cards” and “ersatz Mass Cards”.

Interesting the distinction.

It’s inspirational in that people will give away their wealth to try and make the family of the deceased feel better.

One of my now deceased Uncles, called these “White Elephants”, in that you’re being given something that requires actions on your part.

So imho be careful to GIVE “white elephants” they seem to be worth more.

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Dear Donor Partners of Addis Hope,

The cost of running the Addis Hope program has now increased by 53% and when some long standing donor partners can no longer assist at the same funding level, I am extremely worried about the future of this much needed program. Your desperately needed financial support obviously continues to be our vital life line. The 150 Ethiopian dollars – the equivalent today of USA $9.00 we have been asking for the last ten years of the program to sponsor a child for a year makes it very difficult to keep the program operational in light of the huge increase in the cost of living.

As many of you have responded very generously to our Christmas appeal, I’m now asking if it would be possible for even more of you to do the same this Easter season by going to our web site (http://www.addis-hope.com/) to locate any additional “disposable income” for the program.

For the children of Addis Hope the program is intended to grow their minds to feed their future in a country where malnourishment of both the intellect and body is very evident.

Again, many thanks and may the risen Lord continue to bless you.
Brother Gregory Flynn (Jack)

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[JR: I prefer charities that I can “see”. In this case, I trust my fellow Jasper. Seems like a good “sacrifice” to make — 9 bucks. Little more than a “designer” beer at any place other than a dive. For a year! Seems like a “good buy”.]

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http://www.lifenews.com/2011/04/05/illinois-pharmacists-win-key-victory-on-morning-after-pill

Illinois Pharmacists Win Key Victory on Morning After Pill
by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 4/5/11 7:00 PM

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The American Center for Law and Justice today secured a sweeping victory for pro-life pharmacy owners in Illinois after a legal battle lasting six years.

A state court in Illinois issued a decision striking down a state law that compels pharmacy owners to dispense Plan B and other forms of emergency contraception, even if doing so violates their religious or moral beliefs.

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As a little L libertarian, I’m against any form of Gooferment compulsion. Personally, I’m pro-life. I think abortion, euthanasia, and the “death penalty” are wrong for numerous reasons on so many levels.

By the same token, I would not use the force of law to imprison women who make difficult choices. Nor would I punish the doctors who help them in their time of need.

I’m pro-choice on everything.

When we can place all the orphans in decent homes, even if those are orphanages, (I cite Dave Thomas as an exemplar.), then we can become more “interested” in preserving “life”.

The Gooferment has an interest in protecting the lives of people. There is a valid question as to when does life begin? Conception, third trimester, birth, when they can take care of themselves, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, 13, 18, 21, or when they can fight for their rights.

Essentially, it’s when we all agree it does. And, take action to make it so.

Everyone should always follow their conscience. If the Gooferment’s diktat conflict, that’s immoral.

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http://yorktown.patch.com/articles/april-2-shining-a-light-for-autism-awareness-day

It’s the Little Things
By Patrice E. Athanasidy
April 2, 2011

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April 2: Shining a Light for Autism Awareness Day

The Lakeland schools are spreading awareness as they “Light It Up Blue.”

April is Autism Awareness Month and today, April 2 is its main day. Awareness is key and that’s because experts believe that the earlier intervention begins, the better the results for children on the autistic spectrum are.

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Looking for a blue light to put in my window. I can’t imagine the load you’re carrying. I can’t imagine the number of children afflicted. I can’t do much to change the world. Here’s a quick prayer to support you. Having know how sickness can impact families, I just wish you the strength and stamina to “run your race”. Good thing that women are much stronger than men. Like the old joke, “if men had to have babies, the human race would have died out eons ago”, here’s one fat old white guy injineer’s applause for your “heavy lift”. jasper fjohn68

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http://reason.com/blog/2011/03/21/reason-tv-who-wants-to-live-fo?

Reason TV: Who Wants to Live Forever? Dr. Stephen Coles on the Secrets of the World’s Oldest People

March 21, 2011

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UCLA’s Dr. Stephen Coles studies the oldest people in the world. Hitting the century mark isn’t enough to pique his interest because Coles’ research focuses on supercentenarians, that is, those at least 110-year-old. Today Coles recognizes only 88 people worldwide as supercententarians, and the list is available at the Gerontology Research Group website.

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Amyloidosis?

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http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9577

Immigrant’s death linked to inability to pay for medical care
March 11, 2011

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A comatose immigrant woman died after she was discharged from Georgetown University Hospital and removed from her feeding tubes—against the wishes of her family—in a case that has raised concerns about the impact of finance on medical care.

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A New York Times report on the case quotes bioethicist Arthur Caplan: “Any hint that withdrawing treatment might be linked to financial considerations—that’s a big ethical no-no. That’s death panel stuff.”

Moreover, providing nutrition through a feeding tube is not normally classified as “treatment,” but as fundamental “care” for a patient. The Vatican has indicated that the removal of nutrition and hydration, in order to hasten the advent of death, is never morally acceptable.

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Having just had to make a similar hard decision, I can understand how difficult it is.

In my case it was easy since Frau Reinke and I had discussions about it as recent as the week before the inevitable happened.

That’s why it’s important to have all your papers in order.

Her wish was always to go home. If she couldn’t, she didn’t want absurd heroics. It never came to that. But, I was ready to execute her wishes.

To have someone’s ability to pay intrude on decisions is sad. To have it at a supposedly “catholic” institution is very sad.

Donna Nobis Pacem

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A certain young lady I know called me to announce her engagement. I was so pleased to hear that. She’s great young lady and deserves every happiness in the world.

I was modestly embarrassed that she felt it necessary to tell me herself before I read it on Facebook. Folks don’t have to show me such respect.

Remember the one of the sources of my education: … … and creating caring human relationships from studying the movie roles of Gunny Ronald Lee Ermey!

So, I was honored by the call.

Today, I got a call from the Mother of the Bride. Of course, she’s tickled. And, we chatted about it.

Then she said something that really moved me. “When {Privacy Invoked} told me, she said: “He’s just like Uncle John but younger.”

I was stunned some one using me as a measuring stick. I’d say that is very small stick and should be easy to surpass.

I hope he’s much better than me. Because I know all my short comings and failures.

In a very bad year, this could be high point.

Mozel Tov.

And, I’d have been just happy if I had read it on Facebook.

Remember Frau Reinke dictum: “Don’t give him any compliments. His head barely fits through the door now.” She, of course, was absolutely right.

Now how will I get this giant head in the front door? Guess I can get it in through the patio sliding glass one.

Hope this makes you laugh. It makes me very humble.

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“Your Mom and I love you very much. We want the best for you. We will do whatever we think is in your long term best interest as we see it. We may be wrong, but don’t ever doubt that we want you to be happy, healthy, and wise. That being said, be careful what you ask for, it may be more than you wanted. We will not deprive you of the chance to be happy by paving the road in front of you; someday we won’t be here to do it for you and happiness is in the struggling journey. We will not deprive you of the chance to be healthy by doing for you or not allowing you to grow; that, which doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. We will not deprive you of the chance to be wise by giving you the ‘test’ answers; while we might even be occasionally right, we recognize any answer, that is the ‘right’ answer for us from our point of view in our circumstances, maybe totally the ‘wrong’ answer for you from your pov and in your circumstances. Having said that, we will love you, regardless of anything. We will provide a shoulder to cry on, a modicum of advice, and a swift kick if needed. You call us heroes? We’re just travelers on the same road as you, just a little further down that road. Remember we are all in the Holy Presence, and His Grace is Abundant, if you ask for it.”

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