mstar1

FWIW: Jack Chick Museum of Fine Art

Any? Maybe- as time allows I'll look into it I, like Mark, however would like to know the link from where you got this history.

Now that has got to be the rarest of a rare species... I watched the game last night and still don't know exactly what to think....The fan reached over the wall ( yea thats wrong) and it looks like his arm brushed up against Sheffield (not exactly the uppercut that was portrayed in the papers and on Sportscenter), while Sheffield was fielding the ball. Sheffield, with the ball still in play, takes time to push the fan before throwing the ball in, playing Variteks double into a triple. Then returns to yell at the fan with security jumping in. The fan got ejected for interfering with play but not arrested. Its hard to tell from the video if he did anything outlandish (which if he did ban him for life), or if Sheffield overreacted from being taunted all night by the rightfield fans. Ive been watching these games (Sox vs Yankees) for about 40 years, there is alot of emotion, alot of history, some bad blood, some great baseball and more than a few real idiots in the stands both in Yankee Stadium (Riot Police during last years playoffs) and Fenway. There is very real electricity and excitement in the stands and wannabee fans and bandwagoners (usually well juiced)get carried away I can understand why people in other places are getting tired of the over hype by the national media that has jumped on the bandwagon the last few years, which to a certain extent fuels the fire... I don't know what the answer is...I have taken serious abuse in Yankee Stadium for wearing a Red Sox hat....banning alcohol sales during these games might be a start....at least in the stands... I dont think you can take away 100 years of history, or competitiveness on the field quite so easily. Try not to get too turned off in spite off all that, it is still great baseball-its only April 15th and 3 games have already been decided in thye ninth

For the most part I have great respect for my catholic friends and the catholics that I know. I have disagreements on a lot of issues with the institution but in general the individuals are moral, concerned, thoughtful and kind people. Many support good causes and do 'good works'. I wouldn't indict the whole bunch of them (all 1.1 Billion) anymore than I would all Americans because bad things happen here, all Muslims because of a few extremists or everyone who worked for Sears (if a pedophile was caught there)for that matter. The system that brought Bernard Law also brought people like Mother Theresa, which the world sorely needs. --I didn't vote--I couldn't find a category that fit for me, - not being a up on my Catholic history I don't know if there is a way to determine if their good outweighs their bad over 20 centuries

What a picturesque way to wake up! I love the imagery.... ;)--> What are the adults doing now? It seems to be the perennial job of some to mess with kids. Without knowing what you are going through---The one beauty of baseball (and kids) is, if it boils down to it, the kids will figure out how to adapt without the adults. Which in one way could be a good thing for them anyway My little league team played only about 12 games a year but somehow the kids in the neighborhood were still able to figure out how to play from dawn til dusk all spring and summer on our own. Baseball is adaptable-- you can make up games with 3 kids or 30, it can be played in a field, a driveway or a bedroom for that matter, with any kind of ball, rolled up socks, or old tuna can. I'm not a big fan of anything too organized, whether its religion, kids sports, or huge corporations, but I am highly in favor of letting kids use their imagination and natural enthusiasm whenever possible... gees sorry--I dont even know what the real problem is yet...I'll shutup until I hear it out, until then I'll go back to the picture of you spitting nickels....

....... The courts have upheld and investigated over and over that Terri Schiavo made these statements and these are her desires. castigating Michael Schiavo saying 'He wants her dead' or calling him a sleaze is misdirection. He is actually one of the only people that has stood up for her through all these years. Bush, the politicians, and 'every one in the nation' who never knew her or even knew of her until a few weeks ago, the bandwagoners who want to impose there views (which they know nearly nothing of)on someones very personal private decision should be ashamed of themselves. Let her rest in peace

The parents are the ones that are coming off as hiding something to me. Terri Schiavo spoke at least three times about not wanting to live in a vegetative state, to her husband and other witnesses, to which the courts agreed. Granted nobody wants to see a loved one die, but why can't they honor her and let her have her wish? What are they holding on to and why can't they accept what she wants? Are they trying to right an earlier wrong, or relieve some of their own guilt about something?... Terri Schiavo had an eating disorder that brought her to this condition. There was a lot more happening in her family, some serious dysfunction, that is not being uncovered by the media. Are the parents trying to relieve their own guilt by 'taking care of her' now? Who knows? The husband has nothing to gain, and has turned down large sums to give up his guardianship, he *seems* to be advocating for her wishes, or why wouldn't he just move on and give guardianship to the Schindlers? (which he has been offered millions of dollars for) In the end its not about what I want, or the president, or the legislature, or even the Schindlers or Michael Schiavo, but its about what Terri Schiavo wants. She made it known and it has played out over and over in the courts for years. My hope is that if something like this should happen to me, someone would carry out my wishes and not let their own ego needs become more important. and I also hope is that this political, media, and family circus can end and she can finally rest in peace

44% (Yankee). Barely into the Yankee category. The test is seriously flawed You all, Y'all, You uns ( hell they didn't even have a reasonable choice for that category). We have no rolypolys, pill or potato bugs, no crayfish or crawdads--we have the real things and we call em Lobstahs, which I enjoy while drinking a beah. I also like Frappes on a summah aftahnoon or a cahbonated beverage which is called a tonic.

This movie, a documentary, if not a great, sophisticated or challenging movie is still worth seeing. In 1999, three Middle school teachers in Whitwell, Tennessee (population 1500), concerned that their students live too isolated from the rest of the world (there are no minorities in the town-blacks, jews,or hispanics-not even catholics) come up with a project to learn about prejudice and intolerance by studying the Holocaust. The students read The Diary of Anne Frank and start internet research. One student, unable to imagine 6 million of anything, let alone jews who died, starts the notion of gathering 6 million paperclips in one place at one time to comprehend it, and as a tribute to the victims. The project starts slowly with a clip here and a clip there donated by holocaust survivors when the story breaks in the national news and people from all over the world start to donate paper clips, write their stories ,and come to the tiny Tennessee town. There are some heart wrenching moments in the film when actual holocaust survivors come tell their story to the 8th graders Eventually a Childrens Holocaust Memorial is built out of an original train car that brought victims to the concentration camp that houses 11 million paperclips ( 6 million for the Jews and 5 million for homosexuals, gypsies, Jehovahs Witnesses and others murdered by the Nazis)in front of the school. Its a very touching movie and like I said it isn't very sophisticated or challenging-nor should it be. It is a straightforward, heartfelt and genuine. It plays more like a local news report and you get a sense that the project grew directly out of the good intentions of the people involved. In changing their perceptions about minorities the students in Whitwell also changed perceptions others may have of them. In an America that some divide into red and blue or liberal and conservative, there is something naively refreshing about the Paper Clip Project. For some---especially kids --or those who haven't grown too jaded ---this movie should be required....

Hi Dove --have fun watching Derek Lowe (the paranoid android) this year, he is one of the best groundball pitchers I have ever seen and is on and off a great pitcher. I wish the Sox still had him. His downfall is that he is like a kid and gets flustered easily-you can see it in his body language on the mound -which can get humorous its so readable at times, but if he is focussed there is no on better... Good to hear your kids having good time Simon, I think after this long, long winter Im going to move to a more baseball friendly warm place next winter--Its too damn cold and long without baseball... This cracked me up-- as I have always done the exact same thing-- Its interesting you mentioned being leary, thats sort of the rub for me--Its sort of a built in response to be leary and cynical as a Red Sox fan, to look for holes and mistakes, and to be very very careful about giving yourself over to them. Its a built in response built over my 49 years--I don't know exactly what to do now--they overcame all the odds and didit-I am adjusting my entire worldview and I'll see how it irons out. Can they just start playin' already? Red Sox and Cubs are playing Wrigley in June, You up for a road trip?

There is a time to be born and a time to die. It could be argued ( I won't get into it)that artificially prolonging life is also playing God and interrupting the natural forces and flow of life and death. There are no easy answers, I don't know if we will ever know what is absolutely right or wrong in this lifetime, the best we can hope for is solutions that we can honestly and thoroughly accept, be willing to be responsible for and carry with us through the rest of our life and death.

As usual Mark you aren't going to ask any easy questions. I am still thinking on the last one you asked me which has been about a month or so. This one is equally difficult and incredibly complex and not being studied up on medical ethics makes it all the more difficult. I dont know if there is one right answer as to when, every case is different and has different contributing factors that should all be taken into account. Many people have already considered the question, have filled out Living wills and have appointed someone power of attorney to make the decision on their behalf if they are not in position to do so. So in these cases, it would seem to me that the person with the power granted to them knows what the patients wishes are (they have already discussed it, and presumably trust is a part of their relationship) and can make a decision based on all the information given by the medical community with regard to prognosis and quality of life. Of course nobody knows anything for sure--miracles happen;wrong diagnoses and prognoses happen...there are risks the person filling out the Living Will in the first place might have or must have considered and was willing to live with ( and die with). The best the person given power of attorney can do is get as much information as possible and make the best decision based upon the patients wishes made clear at the signing of the documents. In these cases it is the role of the person who has the power of attorney to advocate as fiercely as possible for what the person wished with regard to the best treatment plan and/or decision to end the persons life... The person also has a responsibility to deal with his/her own relationship issues with the patient to be sure the decisions made are clear and right decisions for the person, and not extensions of ego needs. I would think that when these moments of decision come these things would need to be sorted out, with a counsellor, clergy or someone who is trained to listen for whose needs are being met with any decision. All this is to say, that accepting power of attorney on behalf of someone else or signing a Living Will is not a light or casual thing. It should be undertaken with great seriousness , deep reflection and emotional/spiritual maturity. As for the other situations, there is no one right time. i would suggest that these decisions are best made after a circle of people can be brought together as an Ethics Committee, which most hospitals have, to consider the specific situation. This committee, usually including medical professionals, psychologists, clergy. lawyers, social workers, etc. is able to act as a clearing committee--that is an objective, but well informed ( according to their different disciplines) body of people that guide, inform or enlighten the decision maker. Often, if the person is in the care of the hospital, it is not even in the guardians hands. They may include the guardian in the decisionmaking process, but ultimately it is their decision whether to pull the plug or the feeding tube -unless of course the state is called into it by either party on the patients behalf. I cannot at this time form an opinion about the right to die for others. Everyone approaches the end of life differently. Everyones definition of the quality of life is different. Everyone, even those in a vegetative state has a right to life, and the highest quality of life possible, but they also have the right to die, to choose death or to empower someone else to make the decision for them. I do believe that no one should be forced to suffer mental or physical anguish just because the law or that particular hospitals policy is to extend life no matter what, or because a supposed 'loved one' is not able to let the person go. I also believe that many of us at times are not fully prepared for death -ours or a love ones , nor is their an adequate worldview that brings death and its place in life into the picture, hence the huge dilemma. The truth, in the end, is that we are only human. We can only see so far, and any decisions made will be human ones, questionable ones. The best we can do imo is get ourselves out of the way as much as possible and make the best and most humane decision for the person and be willing to live with that. Will it be the right decision? Who knows? God only knows. Personally, I think that people should be allowed to choose whether to be kept alive with a feeding tube .. It is invasive and unnatural. I don't want one. Most creatures throughout creation die when they cannot eat or drink. I don't think that death is necessarily the worse thing that can happen to us, sometimes life is. Same goes for a breathing machine--it is invasive, I suppose its good to give loved ones time to say goodbye or save organs to give life to another, but beyond that I think that this kind of technology violates the integrity of a person's body and soul. Ethical decisions like this are like trying to untangle a snarled up ball of string. It must be approached with great care and patience, respect for life and death, and each piece ( and there is a complex web of issues to consider) carefully pulled into the light and given adequate consideration. Its never going to be easy and I dont think that there is ever going to be one blanket right answer that covers every situation

Why can't they be like we were --- Perfect in every way---Whats the matter with kids today? Welcome back Simon--how has spring training been going down there? Are the Cubs looking good? Sure you can hit, can you still make the long throw from the hole? I'm a little concerned about the Sox-they are reminding me of Apollo Creed in Rocky I this spring. They all seem busy doing endorsements or commercials, doing guest slots for "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" or testifying to Congress -I hope that they remember that a smooth 6-4-3 double play and a well executed hit and run is part of the formula. It seems to be a little too relaxed but what do I know. Its a entire new outlook and way of looking at baseball after last year miracle, the Red Sox universe has extraordinarily alterred and tipped completely on its axis so I don't know quite how to feel---Its great going in as defending champions but it certainly is a different way to look at things. Opening day will help me sort it all out..... anyway good to see you back... Rest In Peace Dick (The Monster)Radatz 1937-2005

Yea this should be interesting--there are angles behind angles in this investigation...but the good news is spring is coming, the season is starting soon, and I have RedSox/Yankee tickets in hand -- all is right with the world... well... except for the poverty, starvation, disease and wars

This guy is just plain full of sh!t. He's against overspending when it's a far off concept, but he's willing to shove it up the taxpayers butt if he benefits? He is one of 'them'. He talks a good game, but when the rubber meets the road his true views come out. I wouldn't take his politics or views on much (if anything) seriously for quite a while.... ....and I dont know what you mean by Patriotic, we must have different definitions of Patriotism because I don't see anything patriotic about this man or his company. They are capitalists and profiteers, patriotism doesn't enter into the mix. ..and just so you know yes I have quit government jobs where I was overpaid for doing work that didn't need to be done, and turned down fat government contracts offered to me that were nothing more than well manipulated profit making scams. There is a limit to what I will and won't do for the government. My soul is worth more than all their money and I like to keep it intact

I have afriend who does that from time to time and he plays alot of tunes from their era, Gershwin tunes, Cole Porter stuff, some rearranged things from the big bands and crooners like Sinatra --that type of stuff. They also like singalongs of simple stuff "You are my sunshine my only sunshine" type songs -- and dance tunes from their era --some of those groups are dancin' fools --they have nothing else left to do...He tells me one old group believe it or not just loves Bob Marley ( Stir It Up, One Love, One Heart) so who knows... yea I know--I'm no fun --i'll think up some sick stuff later

In 4th grade I got in a pretty raucous playground fight during a baseball game in my elementary school. I threw out a 6th grader from another school at the plate--he thought he had a homerun---I threw him out-- he wanted to even the score with fists and kicks, it turned into one of those kids full out brawls with one adult trying to separate about 25 boys...It was pretty messy--bloody noses and all that...I never saw the kid again.. until 20 years later in the showers at the ROA when we re met which I thought was pretty cool at the time...He's turned into a decent guy and our paths have crossed 3 or 4 times in the 20 years since then. Thats about all that I remember about the showers--Ive blocked out the sulfur water, the long lines, the cold water and all that other stuff that I'd rather forget about anyway.

I have been lurkin' as a very casual college BBall fan--nothing serious at all. Although I can appreciate the fervor and love that develops between a team and its fans, I wasn't born into it like alot of Illini fans seem to be...I'll watch the tourney, even get a little excited from time to time, but sorry I don't live and die with it--that belongs to baseball...Good luck --I'll be watching-but I really dont have a bunch to add here.

Nope--My TWI marriage lasted all of a year... The "Any two believers can get married and make it work" line, didn't work for me. Still happily single..

I'm not worried about Al-Qaeda or anybody hitting the place where I live, unless someone is interested in taking out a few minor ski resorts and art museums which I can't envision. There are no weapons factories or things of strategic or symbolic import here. It is fairly isolated, quiet and self-contained where I live. We have a good locally produced food supply (lots of farms), and the town and area has good plans for emergency stuff. I know where many sources of fresh clean water are, and the local edible plants if it came to that, never mind 10's of thousands of acres of wildlife and great fishing. The fishing and camping gear is always in the truck and ready to go-not because of Armageddon, but because it is what I'd rather be doing anyway I'm more concerned of being descended on by tens of thousands frantic, fearful and demanding New York City dwellers and how to deal with them than I am of going hungry,

i just caught onto this--this is a really great story! Thanks

Great! keep us posted

How's it goin?

I have never read the book but I can sort of assume the premise...I care for my girlfriend very much but the closer we get the more I am convinced that she is from an alternate reality and was probably birthed by aliens. ;)--> A lot of her stuff makes no sense to me, she says she feels the same about me, and talking to other friends (men and women) it seems to a common thread that we think and perceive in much different ways. Its a source of a lot of amusement for me (sometimes annoyance) but I can see where it would cause problems if people were too stuck in the rigid mindset that their other half had to think and be just like them. So yea although I have never read the book I think generally men and women are coming from vastly different places and it really helps relationships out if your realize that

It was all a form of denial and not having to deal with the realities of the world around us . I remember Martindale a number of times saying that some guy didn't have the right to breathe the air because he dared to contradict Wierwille...(gakk)..such an example of humility, service and christian love we had before us... -->.... Hiding under the veil of 'we are right with no questions asked'and staying away from the world at large kept Wierwille, Martindale and many of us from confronting deeper internal issues that were more difficult, messy and uncertain to deal with...