SOME DISTURBING OBSERVATIONS TO REFLECT UPON

SOME DISTURBING OBSERVATIONS TO REFLECT UPON

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The March 23rd issue of Commonweal Magazine was intellectually stimulating on several subjects. Most were disturbing. Here are some brief summaries of several that I thought worth reflecting on  The editoral comment was about America's wars. It pointed out that “the United States has been at war for more than a decade. Thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Afghans, and others have been killed. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been maimed or crippled. Trillions…

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HOLLIS BARNETT

HOLLIS BARNETT

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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 on March 22, 1990 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 ranger. Her man was…

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SOME RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

SOME RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

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In going through a speech file I read a few items that either made me smile or which I thought had a message of interest. so here they are. They are not in any particular order nor very significant, but you might enjoy  them too. In a TED talk by Dr. Abraham Verghese he about the importance of listening to patients and a doctor’s touch. He argued that when doctors shortcut the physical exam, when they lean towards ordering tests…

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J. FRANK NORFLEET AND HIS PURSUIT OF JUSTICE

J. FRANK NORFLEET AND HIS PURSUIT OF JUSTICE

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J. Frank Norfleet was a 54-year-old Texas cattle rancher in 1919 when he traveled to Dallas for business involving his ranch. He ended up being swindled out of $45,000 by a group of confidence men which left  him broke. But, that was not the end of the story about the swindle. Behind the swindle was Lou Blonger who had started his career as a saloon owner in Denver Colorado. Blonger established the largest conference ring in the history of the…

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PETER BABAROVICH 1861-1935

PETER BABAROVICH 1861-1935

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My maternal grandfather Peter (Petar) 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 exported wine and olive oil which they grew in their vineyards and olive orchards. He married Marija Mattia Vulic) in 1888, who was also born in Splitska. Peter's wife, my grandmother, was born September…

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IDENTIFYING SINNERS & PUNISHING THEM BY DENYING COMMUNION

IDENTIFYING SINNERS & PUNISHING THEM BY DENYING COMMUNION

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Barbara Johnson was one of four children raised as Catholics and sent to Catholic schools. She had been in a committed relationship with another woman for 19 years when her elderly mother became ill. It was Barbara who was with her praying when her mother, Loetta Johnson, 85, died.The funeral mass was arranged at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Maryland. Before the funeral service was held Barbara introduced her lesbian partner to the priest, father Marcel Guarnizo. After the…

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THE MAN WHO SOLD THE EIFFEL TOWER – TWICE

THE MAN WHO SOLD THE EIFFEL TOWER – TWICE

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In 1925 France had  recovered from the war and Paris was booming. It was a perfect environment for a scam artist like Victor  Lustig (1890-1947) who became known as The man who sold the Eiffel Tower – twice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Lustig  One day in May 1925 he saw an article in the newspaper that the city was having trouble paying for the cost of maintaining the Eiffel tower. He was inspired with a new scam. He had fake government stationary printed and…

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DELORES HART – FROM MOVIE STARLET TO CATHOLIC NUN

DELORES HART – FROM MOVIE STARLET TO CATHOLIC NUN

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One of the guests at next Sunday's Academy Awards will be a Benedictine nun. Fifty years ago she left a Hollywood movie career to join a cloistered convent. Dolores Hart, 73, is featured in an HBO documentary, God is the Bigger Elvis, which has been nominated for best documentary short category. It is scheduled to be shown on HBO in April 20 12th. The documentary covers her background involving being the star in dozens of Hollywood films and ending up…

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PUBLIC RADIO TO OFFER PROGRAM ABOUT THE PAUL SATKO STORY

PUBLIC RADIO TO OFFER PROGRAM ABOUT THE PAUL SATKO STORY

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In may of this year I wrote about the fascinating story of Paul Satko and his family going to Alaska on a home built boat during the depression. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2011/05/university-of-washington-tacoma-history-professor-michael-sullivan-called-me-about-something-that-happened-in-anacortes-bac.html  Professor Michael  Sullivan has been researching the story and publishing it for some time. He has just notified me that there will be a broadcast on public radio which I recommend you listen to. Professor Sullivan said: Hello Mr. Luvera. I hope those with an interest in the story of…

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CATHOLICS & THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE

CATHOLICS & THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE

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The issue of president Obama and the health and human services ruling on mandatory coverage for contraceptives has been in the news. My own view is that his position was a poor political one as evidenced by his decision to back off and compromise. It was also a flawed one because any government action which is perceived by many people as an infringement on their religiousliberty is a constitutional mistake.That is aside from the fact that survey’s show ninety five percent…

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