FINALLY, THE END TO FOUR YEARS OF LIES, DISHONESTY AND INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP………………. (click here)
THANK GOODNESS!
WHY DO WE “THROW GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD” IN OUR DECISION MAKING?
We have all had in our lifetime the experience of trying to talk someone out of making the same bad decisions they have made in the past that led them to pain and trouble. In spite of all of the logical good reasons we use, while saying they agree with us, they nevertheless have continued to make the same bad decisions again. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, we do the very same thing. We repeat conduct which…
THE UN-PRESENDENTIAL NON-DEBATE – WHAT A NATIONAL DISGRACE!
There are a lot of ways to describe the out of control circus American voters were subjected to last night. NBC News veteran Andrea Mitchell called the debate a disgrace. NBC's Chuck Todd called it a train wreck. CNN's Jake Tapper called it “a hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck.” Some called the debate the “worst thing I’ve ever seen.” With no commercial breaks, viewers were subjected to 90 minutes of uncontrolled interruptions and a total…
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S “NATIONAL EMERGENCY” & THE SPINELESS WONDER
In an article by Elizabeth Goitein in the January/February 2009 Atlantic Magazine a “national emergency" declaration was explained. The article pointed out the premise underlying emergency powers is simple: The government’s ordinary powers might be insufficient in a crisis, and amending the law to provide greater ones might be too slow and cumbersome. Emergency powers are meant to give the government a temporary boost until the emergency passes or there is time to change the law through normal legislative processes….
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR ANACORTES COACH AND MENTOR 1922 – 2002
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…
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…
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
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.
FRIENDS I’VE KNOWN WHO WERE PART OF MY LIFE
A short note about people who died this month and who had a role in my life or Lita's. Toni Hrvatin died October 7, 2005. She was the nanny for the Barnett children and cared for Lita while working for Lita's parents Hollis and Betty. I've published about her before for her role in my wife's family. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/12/elizabeth-catherine-barnett-1910-1985.html Her full name was Antonia Theresa Hrvatin (Toni) at the age of three arrived in America from Yugoslavia in the early 1920's with…
MARY BABAROVICH LUVERA 1905 – 2000
On an early Friday morning, July 7th 2000, my mother Mary Thelma Babarovich, died in her sleep at the San Juan Care Center. Her death was not unexpected. After all, she was born on December 28, 1905 and was ninety four years old when she died. She had been in failing health for some time. Her passing was, in fact, a personal blessing to her as she had been ready to meet her maker for some time. I've published an…