THE TRUE STORY OF THE HOLLOW NICKEL & THE SOVIET SPY

THE TRUE STORY OF THE HOLLOW NICKEL & THE SOVIET SPY

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 Stephen Spielberg's movie, Bridge of Spies, is based upon a true historical event. During the cold war the United States conducted high altitude flights over Russia photographing areas of military interest. The movie involves the facts about an airplane, a U –2 spy plane flown by pilot Francis Powers and which was shot down by a Russian missile. Powers survived and was captured by the Russians. Powers eventually was exchanged for a captured Russian spy held in a United States prison.  The Russian spy, working…

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REMEMBERING FRIENDS DR. JOE VOEGTLIN & FR. MICHAEL SCHMITT

REMEMBERING FRIENDS DR. JOE VOEGTLIN & FR. MICHAEL SCHMITT

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Dr. Joseph Voegtlin MD was born in Seattle in 1926. He died in Skagit County on November 5, 2011. He was my long time friend and family physician until his retirement in 1992. He graduated from the University  of Washington in 1954 with  honors. He was instrumental in opening the hospital in Mount Vernon where he served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery.  Joe had a gift for diagnosing problems and was a skillful surgeon as well. He was a great medical expert witness and…

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WHATEVER THAT WAS LAST NIGHT, IT WASN’T A DEBATE

WHATEVER THAT WAS LAST NIGHT, IT WASN’T A DEBATE

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Last night I watched a portion of the fiasco falsely advertised as a “Republican Debate.” By anyone’s standards, it was anything but a debate. In fact it could only be described as an unruly group of schoolchildren in rebellion while their incompetent teacher struggles unsuccessful to regain control. It’s difficult to decide whether the spectacle was more an illustration of the absence of presidential qualities in the candidates or the ineptitude of those supposedly in charge. As a contest between candidate and…

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ONE MORE COMMENT ABOUT SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE IN AMERICA

ONE MORE COMMENT ABOUT SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE IN AMERICA

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A news article prompts this post. In my last post I set out my views about why I think it is important to maintain a separation of religion and public government in America. I believe that  because our country has developed a very large mix of spiritual and religious beliefs in the last couple of decades so that any government imposed religious views are discriminatory towards conflicting religious views. We are all citizens. We have religious freedom. We have the right  not…

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THREE CHANGES I’D MADE IF I WERE KING FOR A DAY IN THE U.S.

THREE CHANGES I’D MADE IF I WERE KING FOR A DAY IN THE U.S.

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There are many wonderful things about living in the United States. However, if I were given absolute power to be king for one day there are some things I'd change. I'm not including the huge issues like poverty homelessness and violence, just some of the smaller issues by comparison. By the  way, this is a rant which won't be beneficial to you to read, but which is only intended to make me feel better.  1.    Separation of church & State  if I were given the power I…

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REPORT FROM SCOTTSDALE

REPORT FROM SCOTTSDALE

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We arrived in Scottsdale two days ago. It has been hot here, the temperatures are in the triple digits and yesterday it was 106° hot. We are here to open the house for the season and every time we do so it is inevitable that things don't work. We spend the first week finding and correcting problems as well as dealing with repair people. As to the heat, fortunately the report is that things will cool down starting this weekend…

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SALMON FISHING IN B.C. CANADA

SALMON FISHING IN B.C. CANADA

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Lita and I have arrived home after a three day fishing trip to British Columbia, Canada. We have been fishing in the Discovery Island area, where we were,  for some 30 years. We have stayed at the Dent Island Resort in the past and for the last several years we have been staying at Sonora Lodge where we were on this last trip.  There are numerous fishing lodges in the Discovery Island area. Sonora Lodge where we stayed is located near…

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NEVER DISCUSS RELIGION OR POLITICS – BUT THE KY CLERK IS TOTALLY MISGUIDED

NEVER DISCUSS RELIGION OR POLITICS – BUT THE KY CLERK IS TOTALLY MISGUIDED

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I am going to violate the well-established wisdom of never talking to others about religion or politics because it causes controversy. I'm going  to talk about both. The reason is because I think the clerk in Rowan County Kentucky  where the county clerk, Kim Davis, refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because she has religious objections is misguided I am offended, as one trained  in law, that this is being defended as a religious  faith issue when it is not. That's because of her…

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COSMOS A documentary about the universe

COSMOS A documentary about the universe

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 In 2014 American science produced a documentary television series Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson. The information from the documentary was startling. Here are just a few of the facts from the program. Astronomers have determined that the age of the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. Astronomers on earth look with their telescopes some 13.8 billion light years in every direction as observable limitation of what can be seen but not of what might really be beyond. Scientists know that the…

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CHRIST THE REDEEMER OF THE ANDES

CHRIST THE REDEEMER OF THE ANDES

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There have never been a war between Argentina and Chile, but in 1899 there was a dispute over the border between the two countries that became more serious. By Easter 1900 the armies of both countries were prepared to attack and war seemed inevitable. However, during Holy Week that year, a priest preached in Buenos Aires on Easter day a sermon that was a passionate appeal for peace. The sermon became repeated throughout the country. Word of the sermon reached the bishops…

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