The road to hell is paved with good intentions

As we find a lull in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Corona at the Senate, Congress will now have time to focus on some important bills since they will have the numbers to conduct business at the House.  About a month's worth of sessions were "wasted" as many congressmen found themselves front seats at the impeachment court.  Or elsewhere (I believe some others had better things to do; good for them).

Obviously, I also believe one of the more pressing bills that they might tackle is the RH Bill.

I only hope they look at what is happening in the US, especially the disregard of the conscience objections/protections through their national health care law, and the subsequent junking of the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act at the US Senate.

Congress need not look so far as to see that the RH Bill if passed into law will have the makings of a mess as they have in the US concerning the conscience rights and abortion (even in the context of abortifacient contraceptives), sex education and HPV vaccines even for the very young.  

And with parallelisms with BHO and BSA in social issues, the fear is not far-fetched.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, the road to Heaven, with good deeds. (Not original to me.)

For the bad times, and good: prayer

Yet another shooting at a high school in Iowa.  And as far removed we are from them, we offer our prayers for the victims and their families, as well as for the gunman and his family.   Todd Starnes at foxnews.com asks: 

Why is school prayer only allowed during tragedies?

It was supposed to be a fairly quiet week at Chardon High School.
The boys basketball team, the Hilltoppers, was scheduled to play a game Monday night. Parent-Teacher conferences were set for Thursday.
It was just a normal day in Chardon, Ohio.
But normal changed at approximately 7:30 Monday morning.
Gunfire. Screams. Chaos.
A teenager – an outcast – armed with a gun – walked into the school cafeteria. In a matter of moments, five students were gunned down. At least one child died.
Terrified students huddled in classrooms. They called 911. They texted and tweeted. Teachers locked doors and implemented emergency procedures.
And at least one teacher chased the gunman out of the school – an act of bravery that possibly saved lives.

As police try to make sense of the senseless, the school superintendent called on people to pray.
It was a wise decision.
But perhaps lost in the chaos is the irony that in American public schools – people are not allowed to pray.
Liberals have successfully banished God from the classroom, replacing Him with the manmade god of secularism.
Yet in times of great tragedy, school leaders inevitably seek guidance and solace from the same God they’ve expelled. I’ve often wondered – if God is good enough for the bad times, shouldn’t He be good enough for the good times?
It’s a lesson I sadly suspect our nation’s educators will never learn.

True.  Why indeed?

We are still fortunate that prayer, even in public schools, in the Philippines is still allowed, or at the very least, no one gives a hoot about it when prayer is said in school.

In the public sphere, it is not uncommon that even the leftists offer Holy Mass before any protest action.  Why even NPA's or criminal elements when they find themselves cornered in a gun battle against the armed forces or police do not forget to seek the intercession of the saints in heaven.  

Any calamity or disaster strikes the faithfuls' hearts and souls with the fire to seek comfort in church and prayer, not only for their survival, but also petition strength for the victims that they may get back on their feet again.

Still, we notice that the churches are filled up few days prior and during final or board examinations, or when results are expected to come out; but very few come back after the good results are received.  The party places replace the churches, and the merry-making, the prayers of thanksgiving.

Now that we are in Lent, perhaps, we can find more time (the good times) with God.  Forty days is not that long.  So many to pray for as well.

Contempt and then some

Ambrose Gwinett Bierce “CONTEMPT, n. The feeling of a prudent man for an enemy who is too formidable safely to be opposed.”

That's what libs do, and more.  Like stealing documents (by deceit) and forging memos.  Much like what AGW environitwit Peter Gleick confessed to.  Although it does not seem that any apology, real apology, is forthcoming.  For these types of people, ethics sure goes out the window.  Especially if it is for Mother Earth. Here's Heartland Institute's response to what Gleick fessed to. “Earlier this evening, Peter Gleick, a prominent figure in the global warming movement, confessed to stealing electronic documents from The Heartland Institute in an attempt to discredit and embarrass a group that disagrees with his views. “Gleick’s crime was a serious one. The documents he admits stealing contained personal information about Heartland staff members, donors, and allies, the release of which has violated their privacy and endangered their personal safety. “An additional document Gleick represented as coming from The Heartland Institute, a forged memo purporting to set out our strategies on global warming, has been extensively cited by newspapers and in news releases and articles posted on Web sites and blogs around the world. It has caused major and permanent damage to the reputations of The Heartland Institute and many of the scientists, policy experts, and organizations we work with. “A mere apology is not enough to undo the damage. “In his statement, Gleick claims he committed this crime because he believed The Heartland Institute was preventing a “rational debate” from taking place over global warming. This is unbelievable. Heartland has repeatedly asked for real debate on this important topic. Gleick himself was specifically invited to attend a Heartland event to debate global warming just days before he stole the documents. He turned down the invitation. “Gleick also claims he did not write the forged memo, but only stole the documents to confirm the content of the memo he received from an anonymous source. This too is unbelievable. Many independent commentators already have concluded the memo was most likely written by Gleick. “We hope Gleick will make a more complete confession in the next few days. “We are consulting with legal counsel to determine our next steps and plan to release a more complete statement about the situation tomorrow. In the meantime, we ask again that publishers, bloggers, and Web site hosts take the stolen and fraudulent documents off their sites, remove defamatory commentary based on them, and issue retractions.” The Heartland Institute is a 28-year-old national nonprofit organization with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, DC. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000. But where are mainstream media and AGW supporters now?  Where is the outrage?  The deafening silence is way opposite the noise from MSM and global warming advocates in the case of the "stolen" emails from East Anglia.

"Reality vs Alarm"

H/T:  WSJ

An invite from Dawn

Greetings from Eden--or make that Washington, D.C.!

I'm writing to invite you to save the date for the launch event for my new book, My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints. The talk and signing will be Monday, April 23, 6:30 p.m., at the Catholic Information Center, 1501 K St. NW, Washington, DC. (Click here to see a flyer for the event.)

My Peace I Give You (Ave Maria Press, 2012) is the first book ever to offer a Catholic spirituality of healing for adult victims of childhood sexual abuse. It bears an Imprimatur (ecclesiastical approbation) from Washington Archbishop Donald Cardinal Wuerl.

Here's more from the Ave Maria Press website:

Eden uses her own story as a backdrop to introduce numerous holy people— like Laura Vicuña, Thomas Aquinas and Bernard of Clairvaux—who suffered sexual abuse or sexual inappropriateness, as well as saints such as Ignatius of Loyola who suffered other forms of mistreatment and abandonment. Readers seeking wholeness will discover saints with wounds like their own, whose stories bear witness to the transforming power of grace. Eden explores different dimensions of divine love—sheltering, compassionate, purifying, etc.—to help those sexually wounded in childhood understand their identity in the abiding love of Christ.

Sisters of Life Superior General Agnes Mary Donovan S.V. writes in the book's foreword:

“An inspired work . . . powerfully moving and hope-filled. . . It is my hope that this book may become a resource readily available: in churches, schools, counseling centers, young adult ministries, libraries, and hospitals. Through it may many whose human dignity has been offended come to know their beauty in the eyes of God, and learn to sing in joy of His love and His mercy. I pray that for every reader this book will be an instrument of grace and instruction.”

The book has also received endorsements from Father James Martin S.J., Alice von Hildebrand, Barbara Nicolosi Harrington, and others.

Would you like to help spread the word about My Peace I Give You? If so, here are some things you can do:

• Mention it on your blog, Facebook page, or other media outlet. Include links to the book's Ave Maria Press home page and its Amazon page (now taking pre-orders). Please also link to my blog, The Dawn Patrol, as I've resumed regular blogging.

• If you would like to review My Peace I Give You for your blog or other media outlet, or if you would like to host my upcoming "blog tour," write to me with your snailmail address so I may ask Ave Maria Press to send you a review copy.  

• Are you in radio or TV, or do you know someone who is? If so, please help me get media interviews. Any personal introductions you could provide to such contacts would be enormously helpful.

• Is there a bookstore, church, college, or any other venue in your area that might like me to come and speak as I promote My Peace I Give You this spring and summer? If so, please link me up with them. I want to speak at shelters and prisons too--anywhere where people might be helped.

• Most of all, please pray for God's will for My Peace I Give You, that it may reach those who would be helped by it. Please also pray for me as I seek to help adults who have suffered childhood wounds find healing in Christ.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers. If you are in Washington, D.C., hope very much to see you April 23 at the Catholic Information Center.

Take on, Shamcey

I was in Cagayan de Oro City for three days last week.  There is much hope.  Of course, that hope is spurred by the "awakening", as a friend says, of how much the local government has not really worked for the people, but rather for their own grip on power.  There are these streamers that say something like Bangon CdO and Go (forward) CdO.  Let us see how far they can sustain this hope.

From the airport, we mistakenly took the main road and ended up having to use one of the newer flyovers (one of those expensive "humps" as they call it) that reminded me of ube ice cream.  Yep, it was painted in purple, shades of purple.   I heard it is the mayor's favorite color.  Then again, it is about Lent, so that'll be a good reminder for the folks at CdO during Lent.

The rest of the days were really routine chats and meetings of sorts.

On Sunday, while lining up to pay for the terminal fee, it happened again.

I had the queezy (is that even a word?) feeling that people were looking at me or at least towards my direction.  Then I felt some sort of, figure, hovering over me.  Like a small cloud suddenly covering the sun on an otherwise cloudless sky.

Nope it wasn't any dementor.  It was BbP. Shamcey S. a little behind me.  At her natural height, plus 4-inch heels, that's hovering.  I did not know it was her at that moment, only some minutes later at the pre-departure area when some ladies went a little agog at her "hovering" presence.  No pictures, you just have to take my word for it, I guess.

On the Q400, before take off, a four-year old kid kept asking his Mum what time we were to take on in Cebu, persistenly, as Mum was keeping things in order and convincing older brother to give in to little sister who wanted a window seat.  

Take on?  What are you saying, son?  Take on?

Take on.  Aren't we to take off shortly?  Take off, then take on.

We had a good flight.  And a good take on.  I like the Q400.

Fruit of the poisonous tree

Why I am not surprised at this:  faulty formation in the faith from both the parents and the educators.  Fruit of a poisonous tree indeed.

Animals, right?

A US federal judge will hear arguments whether animals may have constitutional rights against slavery.  Yep, true.  A case brought on by PETA.*

Perhaps the judge simply wanted to make history, and he did.  Whether these animal rights proponents will succeed is a big question though as the constitution is meant for people.  And these are animals, right?

*People who eat and torture animals?

Earthquake

Everyone's (ok, definitely not) certainly talking, blogging, texting, tweeting, fbing, etc. about the earthquake that hit Central Visayas at about noon today. There have been many more aftershocks that were felt after that 6.8 mag shakedown.  Casualties and damage are minimal as of latest news.  We are thankful.

There was of course a tsunami warning level 2 which caused a lot to panic.  That level meant that we need to be watchful of signs of tsunami, but it did not call for evacuation.  Some had other things in mind.  So they started running up to higher ground.  I cannot really blame them, but when people start believing everything they read via sms or hear things without verification (typical hysteria and panic effects), well, sh_t happens. 

Pray and stay safe.

The truth will set you free; then it will piss you off.

One of the many possible effects of an RH Law is the suspension or eradication even of conscience rights important not only in the religious sense, but in all senses.  Look at what issues come to fore in relation to the universal health care law in the United States.  

Look at how this law becomes problematic for groups, especially Churches, when it comes to conscience rights.  Now even the US Catholic bishops conference, as well as other Catholic and Christian groups who were fence-sitting on the issue of the pro-choice mandates of Obamacare, are complaining.  My nasty twin wants to say I told you so.

Read Judie and like her say:

But wait a minute. Where have these people been for the past four years? Why didn’t they work with other ... four years ago to stop this draconian law from ever being passed in the first place?

Now that the horse is out of the barn, they are screaming? Give me a break! What else can you expect when you sit down with the devil?  

We Filipinos should learn from this.  Let us not miss this true learning moment.

I hate people who say "He's a nice person once you get to know him."  They might as well just say "He's a d__khead, but you'll get used to it."

"If so many journalists believe that … then I know it’s probably not true."

Bernie G. on underhanded moves of anthropogenic global warming shills:

"Scientists, I guess, can be closed-minded, just like stupid people."

In support of ...

No Need to Panic About Global Warming: There's no compelling scientific argument for drastic action to 'decarbonize' the world's economy.

Silence and Word

Pope Benedict XVI preempts the 46th World Day of Social Communications which falls on May 20th with his message for that occasion.  He proposes the theme:  "Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization".

Silence is an integral element of communication; in its absence, words rich in content cannot exist. In silence, we are better able to listen to and understand ourselves; ideas come to birth and acquire depth; we understand with greater clarity what it is we want to say and what we expect from others; and we choose how to express ourselves. By remaining silent we allow the other person to speak, to express him or herself; and we avoid being tied simply to our own words and ideas without them being adequately tested. In this way, space is created for mutual listening, and deeper human relationships become possible. It is often in silence, for example, that we observe the most authentic communication taking place between people who are in love: gestures, facial expressions and body language are signs by which they reveal themselves to each other. Joy, anxiety, and suffering can all be communicated in silence – indeed it provides them with a particularly powerful mode of expression. Silence, then, gives rise to even more active communication, requiring sensitivity and a capacity to listen that often makes manifest the true measure and nature of the relationships involved. When messages and information are plentiful, silence becomes essential if we are to distinguish what is important from what is insignificant or secondary. Deeper reflection helps us to discover the links between events that at first sight seem unconnected, to make evaluations, to analyze messages; this makes it possible to share thoughtful and relevant opinions, giving rise to an authentic body of shared knowledge. For this to happen, it is necessary to develop an appropriate environment, a kind of ‘eco-system’ that maintains a just equilibrium between silence, words, images and sounds.

Read Pope Benedict XVI's message in full.  Great points to reflect on, especially those in both mainstream media and the "alternative press" who need to keep silent at times to hear the truth as it is, and report it as it should be.

The tragedy of Roe v. Wade

“We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life – the unborn – without diminishing the value of all human life.” -RR

Read Sen. Orrin Hatch.

39 years

After 39 years of Roe V. Wade, the battle is still on.  What do they mean by "choice"?

H/T:  Jill

"Girls, please, bring back the pretty."

"Young women today do not seem to aspire to pretty, they prefer to be regarded as hot. Hotness is something altogether different.  When women want to be hot instead of pretty, they must view themselves in a certain way and consequently men view them differently as well.

"As I said, pretty inspires men’s nobler instincts to protect and defend.  Pretty is cherished. Hotness, on the other hand, is a commodity.  Its value is temporary and must be used.  It is a consumable."

Bold words, but true.  So true.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-death-of-pretty#ixzz1jg8MxDQ7

The past three weeks or so

 I preface this post with this:

As I watched my girls innocently savor their loveliness and delight in their baubles and baths, I was reminded once again that I must “change and become like the little children.” In spite of all suffering--and sometimes because of all suffering--there is joy. It comes in a million varieties and will manifest itself differently for everyone but, always, there is joy. We need only accept it.

If never occurs to young children that they should reject simple pleasures in favor of toil. Though hard work and discipline have their place, we adults can learn something from the young who never agonize over whether it’s prudent for them to rest and play. They play because God calls them to play. It’s as simple and as perfect as that.

That was from Elizabeth, a "guest post" from Betty Beguiles.

I wanted to post something substantial the past three weeks, and there were many to write about, but somehow never got around to do.  I decided then to just write this one long one ...

December 15.  A long flight delay.  Our 9:20 flight to Cagayan de Oro was pushed back so many times that we flew out of Mactan at 4:30pm.  It was one of those days, y'know?  At so good a record of punctuality (at least, when I am on the flight), the airline gets one "miss".  Not that bad really.

Some of us were pretty prepared to meet this delay head-on, that is, we knew that we cannot really do anything much except to wait and hope for the best and dug into our books or magazines (in paper or electronic format) or strike up conversations with others (somehow it is easier to just talk since there is now one thing we have in common).

But not for the others.  Well, they did have some things in common:  RAGE and generally BOORISH BEHAVIOR.  The customer service and airline personnel were all trying to do what they can, although for the "angry birds", it seemed that nothing these airline ladies and guys did were right:  if they were silent, they are accused of having no concern; if they say something, they are accused of making excuses. 

At some point I was praying that we'd get to leave so that these loose-tongued, generous with their insults types would stop whining, more than my own desire to get to CdO to start doing what I needed to finish there.

Through these 7 hours, I observed that (among many others):

1. Those airline personnel did try the best they could under the circumstances.
2. Angry passengers have a hard time listening or hearing, or waiting. I mean how many times do they need to ask when the flight was going to happen, when the airline just announced that the flight will be further delayed and that they will inform us of the next ETD.
3. Mob rule applies. You only need one to rant about his dismay (as if we are not all dismayed) for many others to do the same. I thought for some moments, some would actually be more violent.
4. The calm ones were those who travel often, and have been in similar, or mostly graver, situations. I had to spend more than 12 hours in two airports on Easter Sunday 2000 because of delays; something that will happen to me and my friends three days after this Thursday flight.
5. Children are usually those who "adjust" well because they see all these delays as play time. While their parents are close to a nervous breakdown because of worry, the children play. Oh how good to be little children!
6. Some did really make good use of their time. A lady, who was traveling with her husband, took the time to have her nails (mani and pedi!) done. They did a pretty swell job she told a friend she saw from another flight. Some slept, and really, horizontally -- good for them. And still many others were reading out of their tablets or laptops. Me? Busy observing people, and writing notes for a possible blog post. I wanted to take "secret" videos but a voyeur I am not. Would have been nice to post some videos?

Later that evening, in CDO, dinner out with some friends.  They were worried about Typhoon Sendong believed to make landfall the following day.  Their home gets flooded on heavy rain days, although they have mitigating systems in place.  Also they were hosting a couple of guys from Manila who were scheduled to fly out Friday morning and Friday afternoon.

December 16.  Rains started at about 11:00.  Continuous light rain.  Power was cut twice, the second one maybe around 10 pm.  Rain still pouring.  Some wind.  Slept through the storm.

December 17.  Eerie feeling.  No power still.  Then we get the news of the devastation.  We pray and try to help in whatever way we can (which was little really).May not have been totally unexpected as the tell-tale signs from January 2009 were present (then, too, I was in CdO and much of the airport aftermath I will write about later in this post happened).

December 18.  Went for a walk exercise early.  Everyone had water containers out.  But water was very scarce.  Saw some of the disaster areas.  Wanted to take pictures but it was very depressing to even think of snapping some.  At 11:00, left for the airport, but was stuck in traffic.  Our friend who was bringing us to airport called the airline (friends of his) to "check" us in, which they did, but we were informed the flight from Cebu turned back because of technical issues and flight will be delayed.  Took lunch at SM after checking in our bags.  Eating places were all full.  One of very few occasions SM eating places were on wait to be seated mode.  Arrived at the airport at 2pm and heard the announcement that flight will be further delayed.  It was deja vu at the pre-departure area:  was not I in just about the same situation not too long ago?

We decided to fly to Manila with the Cdo-Dvo folks as our Cdo-Cbu flight was scheduled to fly out at 9pm yet.  At least in NAIA 3, there would be a change of environment, more "empty" spaces and free WIFI.  Our flight was scheduled to depart for Cebu at 9pm.  We left at 9:30.  Arrived an hour later.  At the luggage bay, we met our would-have-been-co-passengers from Cdo.  

Days before Christmas, a friend, Fred, died in his office at a BPO and helped out in taking care of him as we waited for his wife from Manila.  The other friends from Educhild were really super with all they did for Fred and his wife.  Great!  The day after, he was back in Manila, for his wake; his funeral was after Christmas.

At about the same time, I received word that another friend, Laddie, in Cdo was in bad shape due to his cancer.  He was brought to the hospital.  In my most recent trip to Cdo, I spent some time with him, prayed the Rosary with RodZ and Laddie's family.  He could still hear, I believe, but he could not speak, nor did he have focus in his eyes.  He caught pneumonia too.  Just this Monday evening, he was attached to a respirator.

Starting the new year with a new look/template from Blogger.

Better safer

Abby writes about the intrauterine device.

"A woman came in one day complaining of severe abdominal pain. She had an IUD. During her exam, it was determined that her IUD was the source of her discomfort…it would have to be removed. I came in to assist. I couldn’t believe what I saw. On the end of that IUD was a tiny baby. We estimated the child to be 9 weeks. That baby had been growing on the end of a birth control device. But not to worry, Planned Parenthood says IUDs are safe.

"While working at Planned Parenthood, I decided an IUD would be the best method for me. After 3 years of use, I had no side effects…so I thought. After I had my IUD removed, I realized there might be a problem with my body. I had never had a problem getting pregnant, but several months had now passed, and every pregnancy test came back negative. What was going on? I had some blood work run and was told I didn’t produce several hormones. My body had tried to produce the hormones while the IUD was in…but the IUD won. My body couldn’t compete. I am only pregnant now because of NFP, supplemental hormones and an amazing doctor.

"I found out several months ago that a woman had miscarried because of an IUD inserted at my clinic. She was pregnant when it was inserted. That isn’t supposed to happen…but mistakes are made…her child paid the price. She went to the emergency room because she was having severe abdominal pain. She didn’t know she was pregnant until they did an ultrasound to find out what was wrong. There was her baby. His heart had stopped. She had to deliver her baby and have her IUD removed all in the same visit to the hospital. He was 18 weeks old. Why did this happen? Because an IUD is made to abort children."

Disingenuous not

While some anti-lifers say it is disingenuous to link abortion and anti-life medical practices to the holocaust (it is not), Gerard makes a point in the context of the win by pro-life nurses in New Jersey against their hospital's disregard of their conscience rights related to assisting in abortions.

We’ve been here before.
The Nuremberg trials at the end of World War II wrestled with a very difficult decision. Nazi leaders and concentration camp personnel claimed to be following the lawful orders of Adolph Hitler, orders which were indeed lawful under Germany’s constitution, as the constitution had been amended by the people to declare the Fuehrer’s word law. At those trials, every civilized nation in the world stood to declare that Natural Moral Law is universal, and supersedes all manmade (positive) law.
Yes, the orders in Germany were indeed lawful under positive law, but the Natural Moral Law which takes the human nature of all human beings into its view supersedes any positive law which might conflict with the dictates of Natural Law.
On that basis, war criminals were hanged or imprisoned for life.

In a manner of speaking...

And this is an insult to whom?

“I remember history. When Adolf Hitler assumed power in Germany, he was a most popular figure. He put up the Third Reich and trampled on the rights of everyone because he was very popular. We all know what happened to him.”

On another note, Malacanang's Mr. Lacierda is quoted as advising some judges and court employees, in the context of what he thinks, mistakenly enough, as the Court's declaration of a court holiday:  “to not let themselves be used to further the political agenda of one man and his patron.”

Seems like he is talking about the 188 congressmen and their patron.  Di bala?

 

Sign of good times ahead

... for Canada.

Canada decided to get out of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change.  Good for them. 

Not for the young

Got a kick out of this image from Mrs. Rant.

Those BiC ballpens did a pretty good job as well.

A rebound

Apparently, SIRI has checked herself.  Now it's all out for referrals to abortion services, even when not asked.

Some samples (all in jest, peeps, all in jest):

Of course, for as long as abortion clinics do not advertise themselves as abortion clinics nor call themselves as such, SIRI would not be able to locate them as efficiently.  It seems that SIRI is more intelligent than those running these killer places.

Tebowing

After planking and others, now there is Tebowing.  Patton Todd writes in WSJ some background in God's Quarterback:

In recent weeks, as Tebow mania has re-emerged alongside the unexpected success of the Broncos, it has become clear that the fever is not confined to the quarterback's fellow evangelical Christians. Mr. Tebow's habit of taking to one knee in prayer on the field has given rise to an Internet meme called "Tebowing." Fans have posted pictures of themselves praying on one knee while doing everything from surfing and fighting fires to touring China and going into battle.

"Tebowing" is the brainchild of Jared Kleinstein, 24, a real-estate marketer in New York City who was raised in Denver, where he grew into a devoted sports fan. Mr. Kleinstein, who is Jewish, just wanted to pay tribute to the inspirational quarterback of his favorite team. He launched Tebowing.com from Manhattan in October, on the night after Mr. Tebow led the Broncos to victory over the Miami Dolphins. 

"We were at a bar watching the game," he says, "and when he came back to win, everybody was cheering like we won the Super Bowl, even though we had just beat the last-place team in the league." Mr. Kleinstein noticed that as the Bronco players were jumping up and down on the sidelines, Mr. Tebow took a knee in prayer. He snapped a picture of himself and his friends doing the same, called it "Tebowing," then created the site and sent it to eight people. 

Within 48 hours, Mr. Kleinstein had been interviewed by this paper, CBS, Fox, ABC and other media outlets. The site has received millions of visits and page views in its short life. Mr. Kleinstein receives pictures of people Tebowing all day long, and often posts new pictures every hour.

With his site, Mr. Kleinstein says, "people found hope through a gesture," noting a much-discussed photo that he posted of a young boy with an IV attached to his arm who wrote that he was "Tebowing while chemoing." Mr. Kleinstein adds that a lot of support for the trend has come from rabbis. "It has made prayer in public something to not be ashamed of," he says. "I think that crosses all religious boundaries."

Anyone for tebowing?

 

Here's one athlete tebowing:  Lindsey Vonn in her World Cup win in the US.

Here they go again

Unbelievable what's coming out of Durban, although hardly surprising, with the UN still pushing for the one world government thingy through a climate change treaty.  Good read from Paul Joseph Watson: UN Calls for Eco-Fascist World Government at Durban Summit

Be afraid, be very afraid.

"Maybe instead of trying to be like other presidents, (he) should try being president."

In the mess that is the President's disrespect for the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court a few days back, spokesperson Lacierda was reported to have pointed out that "Bernas may have overlooked the fact that US President Barack Obama did the same in his 2010 State of the Union Address when he criticized US Supreme Court justices for their decision regarding campaign finance reform."

So, is Obama now the model for the President's actions.  Well, Obama likes to compare himself to other Presidents (Lincoln, for example, and as recently as yesterday, to Teddy Roosevelt), even as the comparisons are a real stretch.

AP reports of two reactions to Obama's comparing himself to TR:

One of the leading contenders for the GOP nomination, Mitt Romney, ridiculed Obama for comparing himself to Roosevelt.

Obama "said that he is like Teddy Roosevelt," Romney said at a campaign event in Paradise Valley, Ariz. "And I thought, `In what way is he like Teddy Roosevelt?' Teddy Roosevelt of course founded the Bull Moose Party. One of those words applies."

Kirsten Kukowski, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said, "Maybe instead of trying to be like other presidents, Obama should try being president."

I'd say to Lacierda and the President through substitution:  "Maybe instead of trying to be like other presidents, P-Noy should try being president."

Even more clear

The connection of global warming alarmism and population control.  Can it get more obvious than this?

Worldwide population control and abortion funding in global warming bill co-sponsored by Gingrich - Jill Stanek

Newt Gingrich recently called the global warming ad he made with Nancy Pelosi in 2008 “the dumbest single thing I've done in years.” But that ad didn't come out of nowhere. Nineteen years earlier ...

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What the SC won't do, to descend to his level, I probably would.  

What, call him.  

The weird thing about this is that his handlers say that he was just reminding "all of us that we’re all accountable to the people.” 

What, he can do that, but the others cannot?  He is so persistent in so many of his almost rotten ways, methinks, despite the many people "reminding" him to be accountable.

It had to end, sometime

Tiger booked one in the win column after clinching the Chevron World Challenge.  After 749 days without a win, he's back.  Now he is at #21.

Another Catholic that ...

gives Catholic a bad name.  And he is even the front runner in the polls re GOP candidates for US election.  H/T: Jill

On another note, you must have read or heard or whatever about a youtube video that has gone viral on a "Pinoy" celeb talking about another Pinay celeb's supposed abortion.  Sad.   Really sad.  

A blogger said that the anti-RH peeps are going to have a field day with this scandal.  Really?  

Perhaps so, but only because this abortion, if it indeed was procured abroad, is only a testament to the failure of contraception without the benefit of correct moral formation.  Then again, a true moral formation that emphasizes on abstinence (outside of the context of marriage) will guarantee that there is no pregnancy, and there would not have been any abortion necessary (it is not, but perhaps they thought they had no other choice considering the many factors they faced).

Of course, a fact that we cannot deny is that these celebs have had sex.  Multiple times.  Outside of marriage. It is always the same, when "pregnancy" rumors (and now even abortion) abound concerning celebs, they seem to have a hard time getting an answer out, although they usually have a set of talking points that, in the end, muddle the issue.  

I have never heard any couple simply say:  that is impossible, because we have to have sex for one to get pregnant (we are not talking of IVF here, BTW).

That is the best answer, and all bets are out the window.  BUT, only if it is true.


See.

The Jaffe Memo

This is the 1969 memo from Planned Parenthood in their recommendations for population control.  Looks to me the same could be the playbook that RP pro-RH folks got hold of.  Some of the suggestions:

Restructure family:
  a) Postpone or avoid marriage
  b) Alter image of ideal family size

Compulsory education of children
Encourage increased homosexuality
Educate for family limitation

Allow certain contraceptives to be distributed non-medically

Improve contraceptive technology

Make contraception truly available and accessible to all

Improve maternal health care, with family planning a core element

Look familiar?
H/T:  Abby

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to our stateside family and friends!
Despite the worries, etc., still lots to be thankful for.

A dime a dozen

Really, he is probably worth less than a penny.  Another one that gives Catholic a bad name.  Goes by the name of Kmiec.

As it should be ...

Tim Tebow responds to Jake Plummer's comments on his faith

Broncos QB Tim Tebow responded on ESPN Tuesday to the suggestion from Jake Plummer that he limit his references to Jesus Christ during interviews.

Will probably not

They could be hoping for the moon, or might as well be the sun, but I doubt he will sign.  

This commitment will cost lots (for something that might not be useful enough), and while we have the budget, this government will not spend for this (or for many other things, too).  

But it could be money well spent for other things.

Update:  well, he signed it.  Now he is committed to spend a lot.  Good luck.

She who gives Catholic a bad name

Nancy Pelosi does it again. 

On abortion

 

Pelosi recently was criticized for the way she characterized a bill to amend Republican-proposed conscience exemptions for health-care reform that allow providers to refuse to perform abortions. Pelosi called the measure, which passed last month with some help from Democrats, “savage,’’ and said, “When the Republicans vote for this bill today, they will be voting to say that women can die on the floor and health-care providers do not have to intervene, if this bill is passed. It’s just appalling.”

In retrospect, does she think that assessment went too far? Not at all, she said: “They would” let women die on the floor, she said. “They would! Again, whatever their intention is, this is the effect.’’

Catholic health-care providers in particular have long said they’d have to go out of business without the conscience protections that Pelosi says amount to letting hospitals “say to a woman, ‘I’m sorry you could die’ if you don’t get an abortion.” Those who dispute that characterization “may not like the language,’’ she said, “but the truth is what I said. I’m a devout Catholic and I honor my faith and love it . . . but they have this conscience thing’’ that she insists put women at physical risk, although Catholic providers strongly disagree. 

On one occasion, she said, laughing, one of her critics on the topic of abortion, speaking on the House floor, said, “Nancy Pelosi thinks she knows more about having babies than the pope. They think like this. And of course I do — I think the pope would agree — and I know more than you, too, mister.’’

I think many of our politicians (and then some) are not much different.

"It’s just that we’re not used to seeing it.”

"... it’s what humans look like at that stage of development. It’s just that we’re not used to seeing it.”

 

Kathy Ireland Raises Funds for Abortion Alternatives Group | LifeNews.com

The gathering of about a thousand people in the Chantilly Ballroom was their largest yet, and featured a luncheon, raffle, and keynote address by model-turned-mogul Kathy Ireland.

Recent: Pope Benedict XVI on embryonic stem cell research

Don’t Take One Life to Save Another

Hypocrite alert!

Guess who?

Whoa!

Am not sure if my reading is correct, but after some reading and then some, I am a bit unsettled about the  Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace's TOWARDS REFORMING THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND MONETARY SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL PUBLIC AUTHORITY.  Sure, it gets to read correctly the cause of the financial mess today, y'know, excessive credit due to excessive greed, etc.  

But, as some would say, proposing a solution in the "context of a global public authority", a "global central bank"?  But isn't it that the centralization of governance in the political and financial spheres contributory to the SWAFU?

Is it now succumbing to the concept of One World Government?  Like the Global Warming Alarmists and Population Explosion Doomsayers?  Fair question?

Back home

Mom is back home after more than a week in hospital.  

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRAYERS FOR HER AND DAD.

There might have to be other interventions (check-ups, etc), but we are happy that she is back home again.

Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity

Register!

Joe Nebrao+

Dear friend Joe Nebrao passed away last Saturday evening from his cancer.  I first met him in 2007.  I learned a lot from him, and that says a lot.  He got me to help out in Rosevale School, a school that was very close to his heart.  We definitely have an intercessor for the school in Heaven.  

We shared a cab to Kitanglad Center before he left for the US and even then his mind and heart were still for Rosevale as well as the Center.  He was in a hurry to get things in order before his trip, and before his illness could get the better of him.

Here is a photo I snapped of him in 2008 during Rosevale School's Foundation Anniversary.  I capped it as Rosevale Boss.  Now, he is with his Boss. 

He will be interred on Thursday, after the Mass at the Guadalupe Chapel at Xavier Estates.

Some other photos here.

1,000th post on 1,000,000 rosaries

A few of us in school in the beginning, but it's picking up as the days go for "A million roses for the world: Filipinos at Prayer: Peace for all nations".

"to me this is your first birthday"

I just could not not link to this.

About eight months after the reunion, Atkins received a birthday package in the mail from his birth mother. She had learned that Atkins had played baseball as a kid and idolized Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey. The package contained Garvey’s MVP card, a baseball and a Dodgers jersey, all personally autographed by Garvey.

Atkins was stunned. He called his birth mom and thanked her profusely, saying she did not have to do this.

“She told me, ‘You have to understand, Rodney, to me this is your first birthday.’“

When it hits close to home 2

Update 2

Mom's improving.  She will stay at least another night at the ICU for continuing observation.  Dad says her dear doctor will decide tomorrow on whether she goes to a private room and for how long.  Or go home, we can always hope for the best, right?  

She's been chatting up her nurses when they come around. 

(Dad says Celing T. will visit.  Thanks Celing!)

When it hits close to home

Actually, it hit home.

Our Mom Elsa is in the hospital.  In the ICU, for unstable angina.  That is not good.  We are prepared to accept that it could be worse when further tests are done. 

Our Dad brought her to the hospital after midnight of the past Saturday because of pains associated with a heart problem and elevated blood pressure.  Later test results were not alarming enough and her doctor let her leave on Monday to rest at home.

Yesterday, at 2am, Mom again felt the same symptoms of 4 days ago, and so Dad brought her to the hospital again.  Her blood pressure was in the 200/100 range.  With sedation and meds, she was improving.  However, at 11:30 last night, she had more severe chest pains and her blood pressure went down to 50.   She was brought to the ICU.

It was good that she was in the hospital when her blood pressure went down really low.  Although, the hospital (Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital) is really very near where they live.

Earlier today, she was given the sacrament of the anointing of the sick by their dear parish priest.  Her blood pressure is rising, but still in guarded condition.  Maybe well enough to make the trip to the bigger, better equipped General Santos Doctors Hospital in a couple of hours.

I am grateful to all of you praying for her recovery.  Include Dad as well.

Update1:  Mom was transferred to the ICU of the big hospital as I wrote the original post.  We still await official 2d echo results.  It was in fact a heart attack, but may have been milder than we originally feared.  Which is most welcome.  We continue praying, nevertheless, while the dear doctors and nurses do what they do best for her.  The fact that we are far away from them at this time is also, well, bummer.

Misplaced priorities

California bans tanning beds for minor teens.  Harmful, they say.

What about the controversial HPV vaccine for teens without parental consent in California?  

And what about abortion in California?

Let's make "baka"

A friend told me that this reminded him of Arneo students in rallies in the early 80's in Manila.  WhoA!  That's a loaded comment.  Can't verify, wasn't ever there.  Photo from here.

9 years ago today ...

Canonization of St. Josemaria, at communion time.

Our favorite whipping boy

Again.  PDI came out with a report entitled "Climate change blamed for storms, flooding, drought".  It starts off  with "Officials have warned Filipinos to brace against the inconvenient truth of devastating storms, flooding and drought unless policies and projects are put in place to mitigate climate change."   

Of course, it also mentions that oft mistaken and proven otherwise in many fora claim that "A major factor is global warming—the increase in the oceanic and atmospheric temperatures of the planet resulting in the melting of the ice caps and the rising of the seas."  

Ok. So they say.  Quite convenient actually.

The weird thing is that the report also talks about other causes of the destruction that the past typhoons had.  The geologists interviewed, in fact, say, that the mess isn't because of climate change per se, but ... wait for it ... wait for it ... 

"... the proliferation of fishponds and aquaculture projects in the major waterways and in the coasts has slowed down the flow of water from the typhoons and the dams, resulting in prolonged flooding in residential and rural areas ...

"If there were no fishponds and garbage clogging the canals and rivers of the region, “the outflow would have been quicker ...


"... noted that deforestation had caused flooding in areas which did not experience it in the past ...


"... said that illegal logging, slash-and-burn farming and quarrying in mountain areas would lead to soil erosion and flooding."

So what is it really?  Where is global warming in all this?

Also, the report says that a senator said this: 

“If (Pagasa) can predict the volume of rainfall, dam operators can already release water in increments that would not be destructive,” Legarda explained.

“If this kind of meteorological information can be determined, say, one week before a typhoon arrives, does it not make common sense that the dam operators would not release the water only on the day it finally arrives,” she asked.

I do not know how she can say this.  Weather is difficult to forecast, and will always be so.  I do not think PAGASA, in their right mind, can and, they definitely will not try.  They want to keep their jobs you know.

The heat is on

Last Saturday, City Hall closed some areas of the downtown area to vehicular traffic upon the recommendation of some environmental groups.  Again, an exercise in futility, and they know it, but carry out nevertheless because, "it is the thought that counts", much like your Earth Hour.  And with 350.org as one of lead groups, it is nothing but an excuse to instill in the minds of folks the disingenuous man-made catastrophic climate crisis.

That Saturday activity only raised heat in the heads of people affected, and perhaps even increased emissions as cars had to go a longer way to get around the "pedonale" areas.

On another note, I wonder why they did not close down the areas where there were usually more cars like the Cebu Business Park, the IT Park, or the SM City area.  In the downtown area, people are used to walking there and the volume of cars are not as much, I believe.

Last Saturday, I was on the road around the three areas previously mentioned.  I saw LOTS of cars and LOTS of cars carrying only one person.  At least at the downtown area, the jeeps carry more than 10 at any given time (of course the jeeps also give their share in pollution, we really need to do more about the belchers).  

So why not do the "no car" activity in these areas next time?

Or why not let those with cars "enjoy" themselves more by participating in a "no car" activity (by staying home and not go to the malls and other commercial areas for retail tripping), than inconvenience those who need to go downtown to eke out a living or get most out of their hard-earned money in discounts and ukay-ukay (or others, but you get the drift).

Similar perspectives here and here.

Update Sept 28.  Bobby writes about it here and Eddie similarly here.

Lots of bull

No more bullfights in Catalonia -- bullfights deemed cruel. And how about abortions in Catalonia?

The last Ole! Bullfighting comes to an end in Catalonia - Telegraph

Almost seven hundred years of Catalan bullfighting history ended on Sunday night with the final death blow dealt by its hometown hero.

Who said this?

For what it's worth...  from Shamcey

"If I would have to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person that I love is God, who created me. I have my faith and my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. If the person loves me, he'll love my God too."

He's back

Al's back to haunt you again.  Even bringing the "fight" to social networks.  What, since Jerry Lewis couldn't join the last telethon of MDA, he now thinks he can be the "telethon" king?  My. my.

H/T: Michelle/Doug

Get them back

Now, here's something good coming from Sen. Trillanes:  ... urges repeal of ban on trash incinerators.

Although I find his reason -- risk of trash slide -- skirting the more scientific ones in favor of incineration (although he did mention the advances in technology), I can accept the move to try a repeal on total ban on trash incinerators.  

The issue on trash to energy conversion may still be a little more contentious in terms of cost of conversion and carbon emissions.

Safer, really?

From the comments on

10 Things I'd Say To Pro-Aborts Who Blame Conservatives For Their Abortion

"... the current maternal mortality rate in the US is 13.3 per 100,000 women. Hardly the danger you purport it to be. Abortion, on the other hand, kills 1.3 million unborn children annually in the US. Put another way, there are almost 2000 fetuses killed for every 100,000 women who are pregnant. It's clear that being a fetus in the US is a lot more dangerous than being a pregnant woman."

"Women who abort have a suicide rate 4-6 times higher than women who give birth and 2-3 times higher than women who have never been pregnant."

Better if you read the post.

"...Use Technology Without Destroying Life"

Directing you to Gerard's Lifenews.com article:

Pro-Life Catholic View: Use Technology Without Destroying Life

News as we call it

H/T:  Jill Stanek
Original here. 

Ann also has something similar here.

Any criminal act committed by a white man with a gun is a right-wing, Christian conspiracy, whereas any criminal act committed by a nonwhite is the government violating someone's civil liberties.