SHAKESPEARE WARNED US ABOUT INCREASED CRIME & LAWLESSNESS

SHAKESPEARE WARNED US ABOUT INCREASED CRIME & LAWLESSNESS

In his play Measure for Measure, one of Shakespeare’s characters observes: “We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape till custom make it Their perch and not their terror.” In today’s national society and our state we have increasing crime and lawlessness. Repeat offenders are arrested and quickly released to go out and commit more crimes.  There is a troubling escalation of Juviniles committing serious felonies without sanctions. The theft of cars is rampid as is the use of stolen cars…

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THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

The anticipated State of the Union speech was last night and lasted some sixty-eight minutes. It opened with President Biden talking about Donald Trump, but not by name, referring only to  “my predecessor.” It closed with a Donald Trump comment in a talk which included thirteen references to Trump as “my predecessor.” Biden taunted and made fun of the Republican lawmakers as well as the Supreme Court, with several Justices seated in front him. It has been described as one…

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PETER BABAROVICH BORN 1861 & DIED IN ANACORTES 1935

PETER BABAROVICH BORN 1861 & DIED IN ANACORTES 1935

My maternal grandfather Peter (Petar) Babarovich died the year I was born – 1935. I was born on February 21st of 1935, but he died a month later on March 5th of that year. As a result, I never knew this unique man. Nonno Babarovich was born April 12, 1861 in the village of Splitska on the island of Brac in Croatia off the coast of Split in the Adriatic Sea. Peter was the second child  of his father, Ernest…

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FEBRUARY 27TH -LITA THRESEA BARNETT & PAUL NICHOLAS LUVERA ANNIVERSAY

FEBRUARY 27TH -LITA THRESEA BARNETT & PAUL NICHOLAS LUVERA ANNIVERSAY

In 2016 I published a post about our wedding anniversary that began: “On Sunday, February 21, I “endured” my birthday. At age 81 you don’t “enjoy” birthdays except perhaps from a feeling of gratitude at being alive. As I have said to others, it’s a little like waking up that morning and discovering you have been trapped in the body of an 81-year-old. You don’t fully get used to the idea that you are aging in your mind until physical…

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THE LIBRARY OF MISTAKES

THE LIBRARY OF MISTAKES

In Edinburgh, Scotland there is a very unique library; “The Library of Mistakes.” https://www.libraryofmistakes.com/ Created in 2011 by a group of finance professionals, it is a specialized library focused on economic and financial mistakes throughout history. The library houses a collection of books, documents, and artifacts that highlight various economic and financial blunders, including market crashes, failed business ventures, and policy error The Library of Mistakes contains over 2,000 books, all relating to economics and finance. The Library of Mistakes…

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RELIGION, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT A LETHAL MIX

RELIGION, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT A LETHAL MIX

We start this with the inescapable fact that the Constitution bars a religious test for public office. Unless it be clearly established that an individual holds and, given opportunity, would act upon tenets of a violently antisocial nature, his or her theological views by themselves should not be the basis for granting or withholding access to office. In addition, the First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” However,…

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WILLIAM TAYLOR: COACH, MENTOR AND INSPIRATION FOR ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

WILLIAM TAYLOR: COACH, MENTOR AND INSPIRATION FOR ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

On January 24, 2002 William “Bill” Taylor died in Anacortes. He was one of Anacortes’s most successful basketball coaches. He also was a positive influence in so many young men’s lives, including mine. He was a great coach and mentor to me. I’ve published a full account of my high school relationship to this great coach and his profound influence in my life: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/01/william-taylor.html . In addition, I published a background of this unique man who was so important in guiding my life. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2014/01/bill-taylor-anacortes-high-school-basketball-coach.html …

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PHYLLIS MARIE LUVERA ENNES 1928 – 2013

PHYLLIS MARIE LUVERA ENNES 1928 – 2013

My sister Phyllis  died on January 7, 2013. She was the oldest of the three children leaving the  Anita Mayer,  and I surviving. Phylllis was born to Paul and Mary Luvera in Anacortes on  January 29, 1928.   She graduated from Anacortes High School in 1946 with honors and attended the University of Washington where she obtained a degree in English. She  also obtained a teaching certificate from Western Washington University in 1953. She completed a Master of Science degree from Montana…

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ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT  1910 -1985 AND FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT  1910 -1985 AND FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

Lita’s mother and my paternal grandmother died on the same day, December 20th,  but thirty nine years apart. Lita’s mother, Elizabeth Catherine Barnett was an extraordinart woman. Very bright, wise and gifted in so many ways. I’ve written about this remarkable woman many times. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/12/my-mother-in-law-elizabeth-barnett-1910-1995.html  It was my privilege to have known her. She was very intelligent, wise and a great judge of people. I loved her like my own mother for her many qualities and her understanding. This…

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LEST WE FORGET

LEST WE FORGET

Last Friday was December 7th, 2023. I wondered, on that day, what the newspaper and media headlines would say. How would they report about one of the greatest events in America history? What am I talking about? Ah, that’s the problem. You see, on December 7, 1941 the American naval fleet and it’s military installation in Hawaii was suddenly bombed by attacking Japanese naval forces in a sneak attack.  The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians, and destroyed…

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