I graduated from Anacortes high school in 1953. I was 18 years old. As I prepare to fly to Scottsdale for my knee replacement surgery I've been reflecting on how life has changed since my high school graduation. In 1953 the average cost of an automobile was $1850 and gasoline cost $.29 a gallon. The average cost of a house was $17,500. Postage stamps cost three cents, and a loaf of bread $.16. The average annual salary was $4700 and the…
Phyllis Diller wrote an autobiography she titled: Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse. In addition to describing a rather dysfunctional life while living as a famous comedian she wrote some humorous things. From one of her routines: "Fang, the idiot, was watching television one night and guy was showing how to use a condom by putting it on a sock. Now Fang is carrying a sock in his wallet." She also said: "The contraceptive for old people is nudity…" In…
The Roman Catholic dogma of papal infallibility has been a religious hot point of controversy from the time it was first proclaimed. Articles about the pope's adamant refusal to even allow discussion of women priests have focused on what is being called an increasing problem of "creeping infallibility." What is meant in the Roman Catholic church by the infallibility of the pope? In it's simplest terms the dogma of the Church is that pope is preserved from even the possibility of…
I got started on a project researching information about a former star basketball and football player at Anacortes High School because I got an e-mail asking if I could provide it. In the process found year books on line. There is the high school building I remember. Then I found a picture of my favorite teacher Ferndand Kramer who used to let me out early on the day of a basketball game so I could go to the gym and practice. He…
Back in March of 2010 I wrote about William A. Clark and his daughter Huguette. It was a strange story: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/03/multimillionare-william-a-clark-and-his-daughter-huguette.html Her father was a millionare and she inherited his money and then lived until age 104 after living as a recluse. She died this week and Bill Dedman of MSNBC has done a great job of describing this unique woman and her money http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39006900/ns/business-huguette_clark_mystery she inherited one of the great mining fortunes of the 19th century and was the…
Baseball great Harmon Killebrew died this month at age 74. Twincities.com has an interview with Hall of Fame member Harmon Killebrew's son Ken talking about the family gathering at his dad's Scottsdale home the night before he died. He said all of the family and children were there. They played a DVD of the David Letterman's show called "Harmon Killebrew night." Letterman dedicated the entire February 1986 Letterman show to him after he had been bumped as an invited guest when Bette Midler…
Lita and I support the missionary diocese of Fairbanks (Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska 1312 Peger Rd Fairbanks 99709-5199) As a result we receive the Alaskan Shepard Newsletter which gives reports of the missionary work being done. In the last issue a novice in the Oregon Jesuits wrote a column about being the only Indonesian Jesuit in Bethel Alaska as part of his novitiate experience. In the article he outlined the general steps of becoming a member of the Society…
A year ago Phoenix bishop Thomas J. Olmsted excommunicated Sister Margaret Mary McBride, a member of St. Joseph Hospital's Ethics Committee and declared St Joseph’s was no longer "a Catholic" hospital. He did this after a committee of health care professionals including Sister McBride authorized an abortion in a case where it was concluded continued pregnancy would mean that the chance for survival for both mother and fetus "approached zero" According to the National Catholic Reporter, a recent survey was conducted by a fellow…
In 2009 Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek are featured in the movie Get Low based on a true story about Felix "Bush" Breazeale from Roane County in East Tennessee. Known as "Uncle Bush" Felix was born on June 29, 1864 on Dogwood Road in Roane. He was one of eight children and was a life long bachelor. He lived in a cabin in the hills near Kingston where he lived alone during his 78 years of life. He decided…
We have just concluded our office retreat which we held this year in Santa Fe. Our office staff and their families along with the lawyers stayed at the beautiful Ecantanto Resort about 15 minutes outside of Santa Fe. The resort is a wonderful place with a staff that treated us very well. We enjoyed Santa Fe and the colorful history of this part of the United States. The Native Americans sell their jewelry and other art work in down town….
