PONCHO is an acronym for "Patrons of Northwest Civic, Cultural and Charitable Organizations." This was the name given to the first ever charitable auction put on by a group of Seattle business, philanthropic and arts patrons in 1963. My wife Lita has been active in PONCHO for many years as a board member and supporter. At their last annual auction we purchased a Film School program. The Film School is located in Seattle. The school was created in 2004…
I managed to get in some reading while working during our travels. Martin Howard has written a book We Know What You Want which manipulative means to influence choices people make. Some of the things he reveals involve front groups or organizations which pretend to represent one agenda, but really have another. His example is that of Center for consumer Freedom (CCF) which claims it’s mission is to defend freedom of choice of consumers. In reality it is a front…
The first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia had been established May 14, 1607 when a group of English settlers arrived in December of 1619. Their arrival was observed as a "day of thanksgiving" to God. Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving. In 1621 it was decided to set aside a day of thanksgiving after the first harvest of that year. On October 3, 1789 president, George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national day of celebration. So,…
I’ve discovered the answer to why the helicopter has been around. It appeared again yesterday morning and is doing a promotional video shoot of some kind for the area. That’s why it flies over this resort about 200′ feet off the ground rattling the dishes and terrifying the guests. But, it only happens in the morning and for a short time. Nevertheless, it gives one pause to consider pilot error and engine failure. Yesterday there was a wedding on the…
Greetings from sunny Mexico. The sun is out and the temperature is in the 80’s. Sun screen required. We are in Cabo San Lucas at the Las Ventanas, a resort hotel on the ocean. Owned by the Rosewood hotel chain, this hotel is one of the better three luxury type resorts here. La Pamillia, which predates the other two, and Esperanza Resort all in Cabo. All three have their own unique benefits and charm, but we prefer this place, having…
A recent news article by Forbes.com alerted me to the financial crime of bad CEO’s walking away with piles of undeserved money. I’ve complained about this many times, but the pattern never changes. Boards of corporations don’t protect the shareholders from this kind of dollar wasting. Charles Prince CEO of Citigroup announced he was leaving the post. Of course, there is a trail of dirty laundry he leaves behind. Namely an $8 to $11 Billion write down in subprime mortgage…
Mark Link is a Jesuit priest who has written a number of books. He has published a series of small booklets dealing with spiritual observations. One of these is Mission which is for praying scripture in a contemporary way. In this one he writes: "Mohandas Gandhi is often called ‘the father of India.’ He once listed seven evils that destroy not only individual persons but also entire countries: Politics without principle Pleasure without conscience Wealth without work Knowledge without character…
A friend of mine, Michael J. Schmitt died 20 years ago – November 10, 1987. I’m remembering him because he was a unique person. We met at St Martin’s College where he was studying pre-seminary classes. We took the same classes because I had transfered from the University of Washington to see if I belonged in the priesthood. I didn’t. He did. He went on to become a Roman Catholic priest and a good one too. Having been brought up…
I’m re-publishing a post about my dad who died on November 4, 1990 in Anacortes, Washington at the age of 92. He was born March 25, 1898 in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. In 1910 he emigrated to Coleman, Alberta where he and his father worked in coal mines until the family moved to Anacortes in 1918. In 1922 he and his father opened Luvera’s Fruit Store at 7th & Commerical in Anacortes – (Photo:…
John Hall Wheelock has written a rather dark poem about "things that go bump in the night" which keep us awake and about those tormenting thoughts which sometimes escape their cage. "There is a panther caged within my breast, But what his name, there is no breast shall know save mine, nor what it is that drives him so, Backward and forward, in relentless quest – that silent rage, baffled, but unsuppressed, The soft pad of those stealthy feet that…
