EVALUATION OF JOE KENNEDY III RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

EVALUATION OF JOE KENNEDY III RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

As a retired trial lawyer who spent the majority of his adult life studying communication skills, I was curious to view the response by Representative Kennedy to the president's state of the union address. He has been viewed as as new rising political star. His family background involves some of the most dynamic and charismatic political leaders of our time. As a dedicated democrat, I was interested in his speaking skills given the need for great, young candidates in our…

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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…

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AS TO YOUR PAST REGRETS, REMEMBER THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT NOW

AS TO YOUR PAST REGRETS, REMEMBER THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT NOW

I was listening to Willie Nelson sing the song There is Nothing I Can Do About it Now on my car radio and thought about the wisdom that used to be written in poems and short stories, but are now so often written in song. It struck me how on target the lyrics were about our past regrets, the "if only" worries about the past which are now out of our control. Much as been written about it.  John Greenleaf Whittier,…

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BEING NICE TO PEOPLE DOESN’T COST ANYTHING & HAS IT’S OWN REWARDS

BEING NICE TO PEOPLE DOESN’T COST ANYTHING & HAS IT’S OWN REWARDS

Skagit County Attorney David Lowell sent an end of the year message as President of the county bar association. He enclosed this story of an experience of  Paul William "Bear" Bryant. Bear Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships. Here's the story he repeated about an…

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ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT  1910 -12/20/1985

ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT  1910 -12/20/1985

Betty Barnett was my wife Lita's mother who died December 20, 1985. 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 extraordinary  in so many ways. 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 is a woman who attended Holy Names in Spokane where she was taught proper table settings, good manners and social skills. She…

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THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’D SEVEN DIRTY WORDS

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’D SEVEN DIRTY WORDS

Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland wrote:  “But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad." "How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.”  All of us are, like Alice, caught up in a world made up insane people when it comes to this administration's policies. Why? Well because of the latest…

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NICK PETRISH   1937 – 12/19/2011 

NICK PETRISH   1937 – 12/19/2011 

   Nick  Petrish died in Anacortes on December 19, 2011. We had a long friendship. We went from grade school through high school together.We worked together from 1977 until his illness in 2011. He was a friend and a good man. I've written about him previously: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2012/12/nicholas-petrish-dec-19-2011.html.html   May my friend rest in peace.

PHYLLIS FLIPPA LUVERA  1870 – 1946 

PHYLLIS FLIPPA LUVERA  1870 – 1946 

My dad's mother died December 20, 1946 in Anacortes. She was an Italian grandmother who looked and sounded like what an Italian grandmother should. she spoke no English and was a wonderful cook who was always feeding us children something whenever we visited. I've written about her before: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/12/phyllis-flippa-luvera-1870-1946.html.htm  In the photo is Nonna, my sisters Phyllis, Anita, I and my grandfather Nicola Luvera.  

“VENI, VIDI, VICI” – WE ARE LOOKING MORE LIKE THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPIRE AND THAT’S NOT A GOOD THING

“VENI, VIDI, VICI” – WE ARE LOOKING MORE LIKE THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPIRE AND THAT’S NOT A GOOD THING

Between 1776 and 1788 Edward Gibbon, an English historian, published six volumes The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. He discussed the reasons for the collapse of the Roman Empire and some bear a clear resemblance to the United States today. These include Gibbon's pointing to Rome's  (1) over economic spending and debt (2) over-expansion and military overspending (3) government corruption, political instability and political incompetence (4) economic disparity resulting in a divide between the rich…

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“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.” ~ John Wooden

“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.” ~ John Wooden

Happy Thanksgiving. There is much to be grateful for in each of our lives. I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving. We arrived in Scottsdale six days ago. Diane and her husband Tim, along with Diane's son Alex and his fiance arrived Wednesday and left Friday. We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at the Desert Highlands club house where our AZ home is located. It was enjoyable having family here with us and the weather cooperated as well. It was a great Thanksgiving …

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