THE SHOCKING SCENE OF LOOTING, GRAFFITI, BURNING AND VIOLENCE IN SEATTLE

THE SHOCKING SCENE OF LOOTING, GRAFFITI, BURNING AND VIOLENCE IN SEATTLE

In 1999 the World Trade Organization held a convention in Seattle. But, the convention meeting was quickly overshadowed by street violent protests outside the hotels and convention center. There was rioting, damage to buildings and violence from a crowd estimated at some 40,000 people. The event lasted over several days and became known as the "Battle of Seattle." Yesterday's Seattle riots resulted in more damage and destruction then the Battle of Seattle. The largely peaceful protests started at about noon…

Read More Read More

STOP CLAPPING

STOP CLAPPING

Catherine Rampell of the Washington Post wrote a column “Don’t ever be the first to stop applauding.” It dealt with the standing ovations for Joseph Stalin out of fear of stopping to applaud his speeches. She describes the consequences for being the first to stop applauding. She recounts this from Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s “The Gulag  Archipelago” an illustration of this truth:  "At the conclusion of the conference, a tribute to Comrade Stalin was called for. Of course, everyone stood up (just…

Read More Read More

THE DYING MAN’S LAST WISH

THE DYING MAN’S LAST WISH

The dying man’s last wish was to see his son who was in the Marines serving in Iraq. Then one evening a tired and anxious Marine walks up to the man's hospital nurse. Her heart leaps because, finally, the son, her dying elderly patient had been yearning to see,  had been able to return from Iraq just in time for his father's last words. Excitedly, she escorts the man to her patient's room. “Your son is here” the nurse says…

Read More Read More

DONALD TRUMP ONCE AGAIN CLAIMS POWERS NOT FOUND IN THE CONSTITUTION

DONALD TRUMP ONCE AGAIN CLAIMS POWERS NOT FOUND IN THE CONSTITUTION

Just when I had made up my mind not to write about the coronavirus or President Trump, Mr. Trump has done it again. I can't sit silent when he once again attacks reporters for asking relevant questions with a childish tantrum and while  so badly mistaken about his constitutional power. On Monday President Trump conducted a shouting exchange with reporters involving name calling and interrupting. He took the occasion to repeatedly claim he had the ultimate  and final power to compel…

Read More Read More

SHELTER IN PLACE GETS OLD FAST

SHELTER IN PLACE GETS OLD FAST

For entirely too long the news has only been on two subjects: Donald Trump's press campaign conferences which only bear a resemblance to corona virus news and all the negative reporting the virus. It's very depressing. For lack of something else to discuss I'm sharing some favorite stories. Stay well and wash your hands frequently.  Two Southern women listening to a fiery tent preacher: When he condemned stealing, they shouted "Amen." When he condemned lying they shouted "Right On Preacher"…

Read More Read More

DONALD TRUMP & FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

DONALD TRUMP & FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

America’s founding fathers created a government of checks and balances to prevent absolute concentrated power in any one person or group They created a federal system that differentiated between state and national control, as well as three branches of government with distinct powers and responsibilities that had to answer to one another. But, not satisfied that that was enough, they added  ten amendments to the Constitution. And in the very first of those amendments, they established a free press. A…

Read More Read More

HOLLIS BARNETT 1907 – 1990 – An Extraordinary Man

HOLLIS BARNETT 1907 – 1990 – An Extraordinary Man

My father in law, Hollis Barnett died on March 22nd, 1990. He was a unique and wonderful man. You can read about his extraordinary wife Betty Barnett and more about this couple who I grew to love. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/03/i-write-this-in-memory-of-my-wifes-father-hollis-hall-barnett-whodied-in-puyallup-washington-on-march-22-1990-at-the-a.html Hollis Hall Barnett died in Puyallup, Washington at the age of 83. Hollis was born in Buckley, Washington on May 3, 1907 and spent his younger years at Mt. Rainier National Park where his father, Herman "Herm" Burke Barnett, was a National Park…

Read More Read More

POLITICS, THE VIRUS & MY KNEE

POLITICS, THE VIRUS & MY KNEE

The virus has taken over the news which is understandable given the seriousness of the situation. There is a problem when politics become involved in health. The president measures the virus impact on his political reelection. When faced with a worldwide potential pandemic the obvious requirement is honesty and transparency. But, when involved in a pending presidential election, politics becomes part of the problem. The President counts on the strong economy as an important factor supporting his reelection. The virus…

Read More Read More

MY GRANDFATHER PETER BABAROVICH 1861 – 1935

MY GRANDFATHER PETER BABAROVICH 1861 – 1935

My maternal grandfather Peter (Petar) Babarovich died the year I was born – 1935. He died on March 5th of that year and I was born in February of 1935 so I never knew this unique man. Nonno Babarovich was born April 12, 1861 in the village of Splitska on the island of Brac in the Adriatic Sea. He died in Anacortes, Washington March 5, 1935. Peter was the second child Ernest Babarovich and his wife Louise Setelich. The family…

Read More Read More

THE VIEW FROM 85 YEARS OLD

THE VIEW FROM 85 YEARS OLD

I woke up this morning on February 21, 2020 and first thanked God for being alive after which I realized it was my 85th birthday. I am amazed how fast these years seem to have gone by. Harry Chapin wrote the wonderful song "All My Life's A Circle" with the lyrics: All my life's a circle;But I can't tell you why;Season's spinning round again;The years keep rollin' by.   I was born at the Anacortes hospital on this day in…

Read More Read More