tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79679782012-01-28T18:42:44.666-08:00"All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." ~ Winston ChurchillKathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.comBlogger9891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-66818034187966280492012-01-28T18:14:00.000-08:002012-01-28T18:42:44.678-08:00

On the Catholic Church's calendar, today is the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the 33 Doctors of the Church. He wrote the famous Summa Theologica that contains "The Five Ways," proofs of God's existence that have been taught in seminaries and universities for many centuries, right up to the present day.Aquinas is one of those over-achieving saints who makes me feel as though I can never make

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-681861475047575252012-01-25T16:26:00.000-08:002012-01-25T19:51:52.986-08:00

I collected my sixth zero this week. No one with a functioning brain cell gets this old without learning at least a few worthwhile truths. I’ve learned “The Five Be’s” that I thought worth sharing.Be Open to Life. It goes by fast, so try not to get stuck in the slow lane. Shake up the routine once in awhile—do something different, go someplace new. Be willing to accept surprises. If you are, you

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-73627765213356410562012-01-20T10:16:00.000-08:002012-01-20T10:34:24.700-08:00

There are much better things that Obama's much-maligned "billionaires" can do with their money than fork it over to the government. The $7.5 million contribution to restore the Washington Monument, an amount that matches the congressional allocation for repairs to the damage caused by last summer's earthquake, is but one example. The donor is billionaire David Rubenstein, co-founder of the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-21480554281742477272012-01-19T14:39:00.000-08:002012-01-19T15:42:50.472-08:00

Isn’t it great to have Wiki up and running smoothly again?I really enjoyed yesterday’s Internet blackouts. It was the spirit of 1773 all over again. With search engines and websites going dark and offering petitions against regulating the Internet, along with easy links to complain to elected representatives, millions of American citizens gladly stood up to excessive governmental authority by

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-37303702806069094202012-01-17T19:56:00.000-08:002012-01-18T08:03:09.470-08:00

I heard Mark Levin interviewed on the radio during my drive home tonight. Having read his previous bestselling book, Liberty and Tyranny, I know that Levin is an extremely smart, educational author and was immediately intrigued.From the discussion, it sounds as though Levin's Ameritopia goes far deeper into the source of today's American troubles. It goes all the way back to Plato's Republic to

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-83762514074926939442012-01-12T19:21:00.000-08:002012-01-13T08:13:29.557-08:00

With the Republican presidential primaries underway, I suppose we’d better get used to all politics, all the time. Sigh. I’ll say this for President Obama—he told us exactly what he was going to do. When he announced to adoring 2008 crowds his plans to begin “fundamentally transforming” the country, I remember wondering why he would want to do that. I mean, despite our many problems, the U.S.A.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-23440736909598546172012-01-06T09:35:00.000-08:002012-01-12T16:03:59.319-08:00

* Despite the fact that Christmas carols abruptly cease at midnight, December 25 is only the first day of Christmas. Christmas ends twelve days later, when the arrival of the Magi bearing gifts is celebrated early in January. Nobody in America gets that. In fact, people in many European countries exchange gifts on the Feast of the Epiphany.* Companies shutting down over Christmastime remind me

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-36784257674449297392012-01-02T19:07:00.000-08:002012-01-02T19:19:41.315-08:00

This links to the perfect human interest story to start off the New Year. In 1928, a teen-aged mother gave up her newborn girl for adoption. She never forgot her lost baby, prayed to see her one day, and was joyfully reunited with her daughter 77 years later. I wish happy endings and new beginnings for all in 2012.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-17569552840953935862011-12-31T18:32:00.000-08:002011-12-31T20:07:08.100-08:00

1. The Republican House of Representatives are not "obstructionists." Here is a link to their votes in the second half of December 2011. They've gotten more done in two weeks than President Obama has accomplished in three years. Why can't they communicate that effectively to the voting public?2. Can you cash a check without identification? Neither can I. Requiring ID for voting, which is the most

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-49380676087631448902011-12-30T09:11:00.000-08:002011-12-30T09:55:45.214-08:00

Unbroken was on my Christmas list, and I must have been a good girl this past year. I received it as one of my gifts and have been ripping through it since December 26.Today I have less than one-third of the book to finish reading, and I can recommend it highly to anyone who has an interest in riveting stories, excellent writing, vivid history, wartime cruelty, the enduring strength of the human

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-49146046217794535732011-12-24T08:13:00.000-08:002011-12-24T08:19:45.920-08:00

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-46451723711689420832011-12-19T19:21:00.000-08:002011-12-19T19:28:40.943-08:00

I've heard there's an interesting bumper sticker showing up on the road, although I've not yet seen it. The sticker says "Pray for Obama" and cites a Bible verse: Psalm 109:8.Curious about the cryptic message, I turned to the reference in my KJV Bible, and here's what I read in Psalm 109, verse 8:"Let his days be few,And let another take his office."Amen.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-34695529890535152902011-12-17T09:50:00.000-08:002011-12-18T08:02:40.082-08:00

It's a truism that we never know what the next day will bring. For two Long Island teenagers, a recent school day swept them up into a totally unexpected media hurricane.Connor and Tyler Carroll, my nephews and godsons, are riding the whirlwind of overblown publicity that has engulfed what I view as a clear case of boys being boys.The hallway prank at Riverhead High School took on "a life of its

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-53943011169158270042011-12-07T19:44:00.000-08:002011-12-07T21:05:32.008-08:00

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Bowing to the passage of time, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association disbands at the end of this month. This ending was inevitable, but it is still sad.A living connection to such a historic event makes it seem more real and vivid. As the last of the Pearl Harbor survivors pass on, we will be left with second hand

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-52442004239400109402011-12-04T14:51:00.000-08:002011-12-13T21:24:42.329-08:00

Victor Davis Hanson's recap of what President Obama has taught us--unintentionally--in the past three years is not to be missed. It's cheerless reading, but it's so important to note the primary source of our current national travails. November 2012 can not come soon enough.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-43310282065915651562011-12-03T16:54:00.000-08:002011-12-05T19:24:21.129-08:00

Being of a certain age, I remember the Vietnam War years well. So many people have remarked to me that the Occupy Wall Street (OSW) hoards are “like the 60s.” I think not. There is at least one glaring difference between the grungy ‘60s war protestors and the current OSW crop--in the ‘60s, we knew what we were protesting. Some of my contemporaries railed against the government; others fumed

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-24444851412948251972011-12-03T09:21:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:17:30.371-08:00

The statue is of a soldier in action, riding horseback in the line of duty. He's in uniform and outfitted in full gear. He appears to be turning to call to his fellow troops.This monument is not commemorating the American conflict in the 18th century, the Revolutionary War, or the 19th century's War Between the States. This statue depicts a Green Beret ten years ago, at the start of the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-33906225758718066942011-11-23T18:49:00.000-08:002011-11-23T19:02:02.491-08:00

Offer to God thanksgiving...

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-50982738628419655502011-11-20T13:18:00.000-08:002011-11-20T17:13:45.287-08:00

As we enter the holiday season, please remember our heroes serving overseas. Visit Soldiers' Angels website to learn the many ways you can express your appreciation to one of our troops.We don't hear much about the war today, but the members of the military who are fighting it still need our support. This week, as we celebrate freedom as one of our many blessings, we should pause to offer thanks

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-67369358142452503432011-11-14T18:54:00.000-08:002011-11-14T19:57:27.065-08:00

The Catholic Church has a lot going on lately. For one thing, it's got a television mini-series this month. It looks like quite an involved production. I'm looking forward to watching "Catholicism" on PBS, which is a noble film-making effort that traces the history of the church. But wait, there's more.The last Sunday in November, the Catholic Church will implement the third translation of the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-34920232229723137112011-11-10T19:35:00.000-08:002011-11-10T19:53:59.396-08:00

Happy Veterans Day to all the U.S. military veterans in my life, and thank you for your service.U.S. Army: my friends Skip and Sgt. KentU.S. Marines: my brother Jim, my friends Bud, Robert, and Jimmy U.S. Navy: my brother Ken, my friends Dave, Dwight, and RickTo all my troops that I have supported through Soldiers' Angels, to all our troops deployed throughout the world, and to all those veterans

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-46430656646724684782011-11-07T19:40:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:15:34.842-08:00

I remember when President Nixon claimed “executive privilege” over information relating to the Watergate scandal and refused to answer questions about the eighteen minutes gone missing from Oval Office tapes, among other negative situations. The MSM was practically hysterical with outrage. Dan Rather, that bastion of journalistic integrity, led the media hordes in demanding an explanation. The

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-57418738799599744562011-11-06T07:49:00.000-08:002011-11-06T12:26:58.340-08:00

I'm currently reading a book that a coworker loaned to me. He is a spiritual guy, and often when he finds a book that touches his soul, he asks me to read it, too, so we can talk about it.The book is Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin's Path to God, by Brennan Manning. It's a short book, less than two hundred pages, but it's very profound in presenting the premise that trust in God is the key to a

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-30830824678761554992011-11-02T19:48:00.000-07:002011-11-02T21:04:33.625-07:00

We all have our favorites among the many different people who cross our paths as we journey through life. At the top of my list is Bill Huse.I worked at Bill's biotech company many years ago, at the time my husband was first hospitalized with cancer. That year was very hard, but it would have been even more difficult without Bill. Each day, when I returned from my lunch break, Bill would stop by

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-48461400030850219632011-10-30T08:49:00.000-07:002011-10-30T09:59:47.991-07:00

There is a tide in the affairs of men.Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;Omitted, all the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.~ William ShakespeareDid you watch Game 6 of the World Series? If you did, and you're a baseball fan, you'll never forget it.People who were lucky enough to be at that game will be talking about it for the rest of their lives. It was an

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-44105209379777723872011-10-23T20:41:00.000-07:002011-10-23T21:31:43.845-07:00

Here's a link to the countries where American military troops are currently deployed. As you can see, there are dozens of them, all over the world. American troops have been stationed in many of these countries for all of this century and half of the last century. Thanks to every single one of them for their service.One dramatic example is Korea, where the U.S. military has kept the peace since

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-44476088915288628982011-10-20T16:20:00.000-07:002011-10-20T18:15:39.707-07:00

I don’t know about you, but I can’t watch the GOP candidate debates. I’ve tried, in occasional ten-minute segments and in news clips after the fact. Based on the various snippets of debate footage I’ve seen, the debates all seem to play out like one continuous slow motion train wreck.According to the schedule, we’ve only got about 87 more debates to go (or so it seems).I have a lot of questions

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-51336527959045878212011-10-16T21:06:00.001-07:002011-10-16T21:06:35.207-07:00

It's impossible for me to calculate how many hours of my life have been spent watching "I Love Lucy" reruns. Rest assured that, had I devoted all that time to higher education, today I would probably hold several post-graduate degrees.That doesn't mean earning an advanced education would have been time better spent. We've all got to have some fun in life, and nothing is more worthwhile fun that

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-45431867985058193052011-10-09T14:15:00.000-07:002011-10-09T14:46:08.868-07:00

Not to be a party pooper, so to speak, but guess who were the top contributers to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign?Um, gee whiz. They're mostly corporations.Let's take a look at the Top 20, linked here. In the finanical sector we've got Goldman Sachs, UBS, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and CitiGroup. In the high technology sector, there's Microsoft, Google, IBM, and GE. There are

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-70440243247632201372011-10-06T19:06:00.000-07:002011-10-06T20:03:37.094-07:00

The paths of glory lead but to the grave.~ Thomas GrayThe death of Steve Jobs should give all of us pause for many reasons. Here was a college dropout from humble beginnings who revolutionized technology to the point that he literally changed the world, building a massive fortune in the process. We work, play, listen to music, talk on the phone, and communicate in entirely different ways today

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-87249645780957627992011-10-02T20:35:00.000-07:002011-10-02T21:05:58.039-07:00

Today is the Feast of Guardian Angels, and Pope Benedict XVI took this occasion to remind us of the angels' constant presence in and protection over human lives.When I think about the many attacks against the U.S. plotted by Islamist enemies but foiled before they could do us harm, I have to thank the angels as well as the Lord. After all, he gave them the task of watching over us, and I believe

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-81362718041285881562011-09-27T08:11:00.000-07:002011-09-27T18:48:38.006-07:00

"There are more things in heaven and earth...than are dreamt of in your philosophy."~ William Shakespeare Neutrinos, tiny particles of universal matter, have shaken up the scientific world. In one recent experiment, neutrinos seemed to move faster than the speed of light. As one might imagine, this has world scientists in a bit of a tizzy. For all the tired memes about established religion being

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-57119336879862766672011-09-21T18:08:00.000-07:002011-09-21T18:24:22.486-07:00

I received the story below in an e-mail message today, and whether it's truth or fiction, I thought it was so timely that it's worth posting:An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-87614535167342721802011-09-18T17:09:00.000-07:002011-09-18T17:59:44.642-07:00

Between the consistently disappointing performances of the San Diego Padres baseball and San Diego Chargers football teams, any American sports fan would find this town to be a sad and frustrating place.While watching either hapless team, one feels a growing sense of dread and impending disaster. I find the experience of watching a San Diego game eerily similar to viewing a speech by President

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-53299246594452663072011-09-11T08:19:00.000-07:002011-09-11T08:19:22.152-07:00

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-77136441018266390152011-09-09T11:04:00.000-07:002011-09-09T12:20:06.597-07:00

Southern California had a massive electrical power failure yesterday at 3:40 p.m. As I stood with my evacuated colleagues outside our office building, word spread within a few minutes that the blackout extended from Orange County to Ensenada, Mexico, and from Yuma, Arizona to Coronado Island.Many of us shared the same thought. It was a thought that probably wouldn't have occurred to any American

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-17464348882758094582011-09-02T10:40:00.000-07:002011-09-05T16:28:04.744-07:00

With that harbinger of fall, Labor Day weekend, upon us, I take a fleeting moment to reflect on the highs and lows of summer. My daughter got married, bringing family and friends together in joy on an island paradise. Within days of the celebration, my uncle died and brought family together again, this time in sadness in my childhood home. In the midst of my all flights between California and the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-38771065282073510342011-09-01T09:35:00.000-07:002011-09-01T18:53:59.337-07:00

"Stupid is as stupid does.” - Forrest Gump President Obama is often touted by his ever-diminishing hoard of admirers as intellectually brilliant. Personally, I have never noticed any evidence of his purportedly awesome brain power, perhaps underscoring the fact that I’m too ignorant and stupid to appreciate his greatness. (Obama would certainly think so.) However, an increasing number of

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-32077605408066602062011-08-25T17:51:00.000-07:002011-08-25T18:17:39.534-07:00

Hawkeye was the beloved chocolate labrador retriever of Navy SEAL Jon "J.T." Tumlinson, who was killed in the helicopter crash in Afghanistan on August 6. Even though Hawkeye will be well looked after--Tumlinson willed Hawkeye to a good friend who cared for the dog during deployments--it looks as though Hawkeye's heart will always belong to J.T. As any dog owner knows, nothing can wrench our

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-36337968675908880412011-08-24T10:46:00.000-07:002011-08-24T10:55:32.077-07:00

Human beings tend to get cozy in our monotonous daily routines. We begin to feel a certain amount of control over our destinies and a rising level of confidence that each day will be just like yesterday, unless we decide to make it different. As we grow comfortable in this delusional state of complacency, it never fails that eventually, some major event will occur to remind us we are both mortal

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-18067673319433738802011-08-20T10:17:00.000-07:002011-08-20T10:26:38.268-07:00

Dennis Prager’s article, “Still the Only Solution to the World’s Problems,” extols the benefits to society of following a simple set of rules recorded 3,000 years ago: the Ten Commandments. It’s difficult to argue with Prager’s position. The Ten Commandments set a very high bar for human awareness, behavior, and social interaction, and logic will tell any thinking person that, if followed,

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-76038533389306144082011-08-12T17:51:00.000-07:002011-08-13T19:56:19.676-07:00

Watching the presidential debate last night certainly helped me to narrow my choices for the Republican candidate. By the end of the debate, I had reached the following conclusions: Who’s a No-Go? Rick SantorumThe former senator from Pennsylvania is a crybaby. He made quite a show of complaining he wasn’t getting enough air time, although I think he was getting more than he deserved. Santorum

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-13854884013338403442011-08-06T16:17:00.000-07:002011-08-06T16:31:33.043-07:00

A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.~ Bob Dylan

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-81038515452705429062011-08-04T20:32:00.000-07:002011-08-04T21:26:43.620-07:00

While the president is off celebrating his Big Five-O, the stock market took a bad tumble. Well, as Obama pointed out last night, he didn't mean "change we can believe in tomorrow." Evidently his miraculous powers take considerable time to gestate. Will it be three years before our superhero saves us? Four?Hmm. I wonder how many more dips the Dow will take and how many more Americans will be out

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-10863863857433645382011-07-28T10:05:00.000-07:002011-07-28T10:12:05.835-07:00

What would you do if you lost your job?Perhaps a better question is, what did you do when you lost your job? A disturbingly large portion of American workers have lost their jobs in the past three years. Personally, I’m on my second job since October 2008—and I’m grateful to be working at all.My routine never varies when I lose a job (note the use of the present tense—having also lost a job in

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-1968544557160977092011-07-24T16:36:00.000-07:002011-07-24T16:48:49.418-07:00

The problem is structural: Not enough people do not enough work for not enough of their lives. Developed nations have 30-year-old students and 50-year old retirees, and then wonder why the shrunken rump of a "working" population in between can't make the math add up.By the way, demographically speaking, these categories – "adolescents" and "retirees" – are an invention of our own time: They

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-76627148824384900482011-07-13T20:50:00.000-07:002011-07-13T21:46:31.730-07:00

To use one of his favorite expressions, my Uncle Bill was made of stern stuff. He certainly wasn’t one for doctor visits. When he was processed out of the Navy at the end of World War II, he received a physical exam. In all the years following, eyeglasses were his one concession to medical care. At 84, he was hale, hearty, and the very essence of senior independence.So when he suffered a serious

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-10596185459543445942011-07-08T20:06:00.000-07:002011-07-08T20:26:03.697-07:00

Within hours of the "not guilty" verdict, lightning struck a tree next to the site where Caylee Anthony's remains were discovered. I suppose one could blame it on the fact that Florida has more lightning strikes than any other state.But that tree? Struck on that day? Seems rather biblical to me. Speaking of which, an article that provides thoughtful, spiritual commentary is linked here.Was the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-48607129614219508742011-06-19T10:04:00.000-07:002011-06-19T10:54:30.216-07:00

With the passing of Clarence Clemons, it's the end of a rock music era.David Remnick's piece in The New Yorker, BLOODBROTHER: CLARENCE CLEMONS, 1942-2011 is a wonderful tribute to a unique rock legend. The synergy between Bruce Springsteen and Clemons was a musical force of nature that electrified their concerts. Rock fans shall not see such magic onstage again, and the music world is poorer for

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-7033853252472469152011-06-16T19:42:00.000-07:002011-06-16T20:58:44.570-07:00

Susan worked down the hall from me, in another department. Our jobs had no overlap, but we knew each other from the coffee station and the restroom. We always seemed to be in each of those places at the same time, and we laughed that our biorhythms were in such close sync.You can learn a lot about someone by talking over a cup of coffee or a bathroom sink. Susan was near my age. I knew she had

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-19070869853401588962011-06-15T09:27:00.000-07:002011-06-15T09:52:13.782-07:00

“Bald eagles attack post office at Alaska port,” screams yesterday’s Reuters headline. It’s as though a feathered Al Qaida faction has executed a well-planned sneak attack on the nation. The article really does seem to attribute malicious intent to our national bird. Read this excerpt:And for the second consecutive year, they have been trying to chase offpeople -- apparently unaware that the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-85427676630115412052011-06-10T10:29:00.000-07:002011-06-10T10:32:52.611-07:00

Reasons for Weiner's Resignation:1. He is a liar.2. He distributed smutty photos online, conduct unbecoming a Congressman (at least, in theory).3. He is a liar.4. He cyber-stalked women he hadn’t met using filthy language and images.5. He is a liar.6. He is unfit, because of his actions, to hold office representing U.S. citizens.7. He is a liar.8. He says he is taking “full responsibility” for

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-60486619522382461232011-06-05T20:16:00.000-07:002011-06-05T21:08:19.564-07:00

UR2kewt4werds! *LOL*Or words to that effect. What with Facebook, Twitter, and unfettered, non-stop texting, we're in uncharted language territory today, with wildly fluid boundaries, and written communication can get scary very quickly. A code book often would be helpful, so I've linked one here.The prolific craze of techie code words can be quite unsettling to an old English major such as myself

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-39470094214353312012011-05-29T19:45:00.000-07:002011-05-29T20:01:20.373-07:00

We can never repay our fallen heroes.We can only remember and honor them.John 15:13Photo: Michael Yon

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-54188111007688532502011-05-28T16:15:00.000-07:002011-06-15T09:43:01.530-07:00

"The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God."~ John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1961Sunday,

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-85954758587084293512011-05-24T14:23:00.000-07:002011-05-24T17:37:06.653-07:00

So, now Obama is Irish? C’mon.Evidently there's a great-great-great grandfather in the mix who came from Ireland during the potato famine. Two centuries back--that's quite a connection. Should be worth some Irish-American votes...at least the stupid ones. Having had grandparents from Ireland--that I actually knew--gives me a pass to say that. But alas, a stupid vote is still a vote.Is there no

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-55396006948916217142011-05-18T19:55:00.000-07:002011-05-18T20:30:08.445-07:00

"It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss ... with the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we wish had been done differently, or not at all."~ Queen Elizabeth II, Dublin CastleThe Queen of England is in the midst of a 4-day visit to the Republic of Ireland, a historic

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-4979162767716335222011-05-14T17:51:00.000-07:002011-05-14T17:55:56.564-07:00

It's always a good idea to check in with Victor Davis Hanson. Here's his most recent take on the paradoxes of the Obama presidency.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-15759862344694989782011-05-13T10:07:00.000-07:002011-05-13T10:23:50.419-07:00

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. The Catholic Church recognizes that from May through October, 1917, Mary appeared to three Portuguese children on the 13th day of the month and gave them important messages to deliver to the world.Throughout his life, Blessed John Paul II had great devotion to the Blessed Mother. His would-be murderer had the misfortune to attempt assassination on May

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-56085656920583431202011-05-08T17:29:00.000-07:002011-05-08T17:43:24.829-07:00

"There have been only two geniuses in the world: Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare."~ Tallulah BankheadQuin Hillyer's salute to the man my father always called "the greatest ballplayer that ever lived" is linked here. The one-and-only Willie Mays turned 80 years old on Friday, May 6.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-6620826597829917092011-05-05T12:39:00.000-07:002011-05-05T13:46:46.092-07:00

As most Americans likely have been doing, I’ve been reading and watching the news more than usual throughout this week. The following thoughts are just my humble opinions.The MissionCongratulations and thanks to the Navy SEALs. They were supposed to be an anonymous “small team of Americans,” but of course, “Slow Joe” Biden blabbed their identity.What a miserable gaffe. No one is supposed to know

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-10192435251269366952011-05-02T07:54:00.000-07:002011-05-02T08:08:48.055-07:00

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-53366584040183335642011-04-29T12:14:00.001-07:002011-04-29T13:32:06.505-07:00

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”~ Catherine of SienaKate Middleton got married on her name day, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Catholic Church.Because of my Latvian in-laws, I am well acquainted with my name day, the day that transcends a birthday in celebratory importance in many European cultures. So when the royal wedding date was first

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-9651903125064914432011-04-27T15:07:00.000-07:002011-04-28T12:24:34.424-07:00

Hugh Hewitt has launched "The Obama Project: The Case for Change," linked here, 50 reasons why no sane American should vote for Obama in 2012.I've always wanted to see all of Obama's big screw-ups spelled out in one giant master list, but somehow I thought the task would be too daunting. But now, coutesy of Hugh, here it is. The article brought back some really painful memories, but it's required

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-54275567421403741292011-04-23T15:58:00.000-07:002011-04-23T16:08:56.780-07:00

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.~ Matthew 28:6

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-15530021781115475022011-04-17T19:53:00.000-07:002011-04-17T20:46:20.341-07:00

I received a Kindle for Christmas from my daughter. As a lifelong book-lover, I've looked askance at e-readers since their appearance a few years ago. How could any modern gadget possibly rival the look and feel of your favorite book? Having reveled for endless hours in untold thousands of paper books since age 4, I was completely disinterested. It never occurred to me even to investigate the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-53266487313269033192011-04-11T09:11:00.000-07:002011-04-11T10:51:52.221-07:00

Mark Steyn perfectly nails the destructive arrogance of the current administration in Ending Medicare, or ending America?, linked here. As usual, he can make you laugh through his vivid and acerbic depiction of bad news.My favorite paragraph is below: "America, 2011: A man gets driven in a motorcade to sneer at a man who has to drive himself to work. A guy who has never generated a dime of wealth

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-19301706347278444392011-04-10T16:38:00.000-07:002011-04-10T16:40:27.134-07:00

Politicians have been rearranged But in Washington, nothing has “change”d. If you’re searching for “hope” Good luck as you cope With "leaders" now fully deranged.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-56805529592445602652011-03-21T19:11:00.000-07:002011-03-21T20:11:45.479-07:00

Every time an old person dies it's like a library has burned down.~ UnknownHer name was Helen; she was my mother-in-law for thirty-eight years.As the end of World War II drew near, Helen and her parents fled with the clothes on their backs as Stalin's tanks rolled triumphantly towards her village in Latvia. Those who stayed behind, including many in her family, were executed, imprisoned, or

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-605331707798923522011-03-14T08:23:00.000-07:002011-03-14T08:33:25.015-07:00

You may be just someone in the world, but you are the world to someone.~ AnonymousThe scenes from Japan following the earthquakes and tsunami are all terrible, but it’s hard to conceptualize such devastation. The sheer vastness of the disaster overwhelms our comprehension.Of the hundreds of images I’ve seen, the entire tragedy can be compressed into this one photo of two parents looking at the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-36580979979210318182011-03-06T16:15:00.000-08:002011-03-06T16:59:48.853-08:00

The newly released film, The Adjustment Bureau, confronts the eternal question of free will vs. predetermined fate. Do human beings exist in the confines of one or the other, or are both forces at work in each individual life?Because this concept is a compelling one, and because I heard the director interviewed last week, I decided to see this movie. Was that fate or free will? There's no

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-36527581387241020002011-02-27T09:07:00.000-08:002011-02-28T08:01:28.837-08:00

We are such stuff as dreams are made on...~ The Tempest, Wm. ShakespeareReally? Well, once upon a time, Hollywood seemed such a place to me.Never have I been more detached from Oscar proceedings than I am this year. I've seen one nominated movie in the theater and two on DVD. Aside from that, I'm completely uninformed, and happily so. The King's Speech, which represents my one trip to the movies,

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-10112822886087709732011-02-20T09:59:00.001-08:002011-02-20T10:34:42.989-08:00

"I get paid whether you learn or not."- American teacher, quoted by a former student, in Waiting for SupermanThe current government workers' stand-off with the Wisconsin governor over entitlements provides a timely background story for a viewing of Waiting for Superman, the award-winning documentary about the sorry state of our nation's public schools.Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-10739119058594782812011-02-12T22:13:00.000-08:002011-02-12T22:34:21.305-08:00

Allah is our objective, the Prophet is our leader, the Koran is our law, jihad is our way, and dying in the way of Allah is our highest objective.~ The Muslim BrotherhoodAndrew C. McCarthy paints a harrowing picture of how ill-equipped our current president is to deal with the grim realities on the ground in Egypt.McCarthy, author of The Grand Jihad: How Islam and the Left Sabotage America, knows

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-817055936110757042011-02-05T18:00:00.000-08:002011-02-05T18:23:52.007-08:00

"It is going to be a long two years. You see, the world has figured Obama out, and the wages of our version of 1979-80 are coming due."~ Victor Davis HansonAs the turmoil in Egypt continues, my worst nightmare has come true. We are in the midst of an international crisis, and our president is Barack Obama. It is difficult to imagine anyone in politics today less qualified to negotiate for

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-72742233803895388832011-01-22T22:54:00.000-08:002011-01-22T23:05:14.974-08:00

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of mankind.~ Author UnknownA few years ago, at a college reunion, I spent time catching up with a “dorm buddy” I hadn’t seen since graduation. We met for lunch and shared all our family news from over the years. She has two adult sons, but she told me she had borne a third son who did not live.Nancy told me that half-way through

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-79813164794643787692011-01-20T19:34:00.000-08:002011-01-21T06:53:57.456-08:00

Dear Pete, It's hard to believe that today marks five years that you're gone. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, while at other times I feel like decades have passed. I know you're safely outside of time and all its constraints. But let me tell you--time is a force to be reckoned with.You would be turning sixty years old in a few days. I'd be planning some kind of shindig, for sure. Maybe a party

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-36861701456276804252011-01-13T17:27:00.000-08:002011-01-13T17:45:14.190-08:00

If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.- C.S. LewisIt’s been a long, sad week in our country.Five days ago, Americans of all ages, from a 9-year-old child to senior citizens, lay dying in a Tucson parking lot. Many more were wounded, some grievously so, and will

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-89570219236270620862011-01-08T19:27:00.000-08:002011-01-08T19:31:01.108-08:00

It's long, but Dave Barry's review of 2010 will help put the past year's events into a humorous perspective--something much needed these days.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-28550706337004135632011-01-01T17:41:00.001-08:002011-01-01T18:21:07.114-08:00

One of the many joys of the holiday season is some extra time off to catch up on a few of those favorite things. Visiting with family and friends is one wonderful benefit to Christmas time. Another is having a few hours to read whatever I want to read.My daughter gave me a Kindle for Christmas. I hadn't even considered reading e-books before this, but I decided to do a test run. Once had I

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-74616369049466821982010-12-30T07:31:00.000-08:002010-12-30T08:07:25.252-08:00

My pet peeve at this time of year is the sudden disappearance of Christmas as of midnight, December 25. All the Christmas songs in which we have been saturated for weeks vanish from the airwaves, decorations start coming down, and the season is buried in the stampeding return to the humdrum and the routine.Christmas begins on December 25--at sundown. That's why people used to refer to "Christmas

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-50723981569247140232010-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:002010-12-29T12:57:27.443-08:00

I bought a new dishwasher recently. The experience has moved “Appliance Replacement” ahead of “Root Canal” on my list of least favorite chores.It all began last spring, when my dishwasher’s pump died. Since barbecue weather and paper plate suppers were almost upon us, I decided to wait until fall to replace it. In September, I purchased a dishwasher online from a well-known home improvement

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-88092904071982124012010-12-24T19:12:00.000-08:002010-12-24T19:17:48.176-08:00

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..."~ John 1:14

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-82512568987687065332010-12-17T11:04:00.000-08:002010-12-17T11:21:41.410-08:00

Victor Davis Hanson draws a stark picture of socio-economic reality in his article, "Two Californias." There is no doubt that California is teetering on the brink of a financial abyss that might make Greece and Ireland look like two oases of comparative prosperity.The state of California is essentially broke, yet free money showered upon illegal immigrants shows no sign of stopping, as Hanson

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-41665479869954029412010-12-13T12:27:00.000-08:002010-12-13T12:42:06.580-08:00

Many people still haven't heard of him, but John Thune is one potential candidate for president to watch closely.If you've seen or heard him interviewed, you know he is to-the-point and low-key. There's no soaring oratory from Thune, but I believe the South Dakota senator means business in 2012.Why do I think so? I made a modest contribution to John Thune's Senate campaign in 2004, and in 2010

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-78584571362763605422010-12-07T19:45:00.000-08:002010-12-07T20:32:48.436-08:00

It's sixty-nine years since the U.S.S. Arizona was bombed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.The Arizona today is a memorial--and a cemetery. As the long years unfold, shipmates from that day of infamy rejoin their fallen brothers with increasing frequency. Survivors of the attack on the Arizona may choose to be buried with their ship, as described on the National Parks Service website:Crew

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-41178622091523399452010-11-30T14:35:00.000-08:002010-11-30T19:32:42.393-08:00

Holy tweet. This one will be hard to top. Hapless Buffalo Bills receiver Steve Johnson actually went on Twitter to berate God for letting him drop the ball.Really? Yep, this is serious as a heart attack--or maybe a lightning strike. Take your pick.Get a load of this histrionic tweet from Johnson to the Almighty:I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-10870406552252955142010-11-24T14:21:00.000-08:002010-11-24T14:35:22.871-08:00

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."-John Fitzgerald Kennedy"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice."-Meister Eckhart"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."-W.J. Cameron"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-35381305805650834322010-11-16T07:23:00.000-08:002010-11-29T20:10:00.204-08:00

I've been watching a couple of the television interviews with former President George W. Bush as he promotes his book, Decision Points. Although they try mightily, the interviewers are unsuccessful in prompting the former president to say even a single negative word about his successor. This magnaminity is quite remarkable, especially considering the fact that President Obama can barely go two

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-63880095868222050272010-11-10T09:20:00.000-08:002010-11-11T19:02:27.530-08:00

In honor of Veteran's Day this year, I decided to reflect upon the admirable qualities that all good troops share, no matter the country, the century, or the cause. There are remarkable similarities among all excellent military troops down through the ages, just a few of which are:Love of countryDedication to dutyLoyalty to brothers-in-armsAcceptance of authorityCourage in dangerBravery in

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-67933236148358385482010-11-05T12:52:00.000-07:002010-11-05T21:47:55.911-07:00

My Uncle Jack died yesterday. He had been increasingly ill for many years with Parkinson’s disease. At age 77, he was my mother’s youngest sibling.Although terrible suffering and debilitation scarred his final years, I remember a very different man. As my youngest uncle (he was still in his teens when I was born), Jack was a fascinating figure during my childhood.Jack had majored in science in

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-20792460745632820732010-11-03T15:48:00.000-07:002010-11-03T15:57:39.746-07:00

This is a link to the Real Clear Politics results page for the House races. If I'm addicted to any website, it's RCP.Check out their homepage, linked here. It will keep you busy for hours. They post the best political writers--right, left, and center.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-66217837972651585112010-11-02T12:51:00.000-07:002010-11-02T13:04:25.032-07:00

Yesterday...Congratulations, guys! ...and 59 years ago

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-77946409802431209232010-10-29T07:52:00.000-07:002010-11-01T07:12:34.013-07:00

"This is not an election on November 2. This is a restraining order."P. J. O'RourkeNext week, the majority of Americans will vote as though their lives depend upon it. In many ways, that's true. Furthermore, at least this time, the majority of American voters will probably vote Republican. In vibrant detail, P. J. O'Rourke sums up the reasons why.Remember to vote on Tuesday, November 2. The life

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-52219599034802148662010-10-16T10:18:00.000-07:002010-10-29T12:11:07.891-07:00

Jonah Goldberg, whose wry observations rarely fail to make me smile, has done it again with his NRO article, "Obama's Outsized Ego." Even for his supporters, it's hard to avoid the fact that President Obama's high opinion of himself is contributing to our national woes. A good example is this public reprimand to him from a hardworking U.S. citizen, someone who supported and voted for him. Even

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-76630731100341802062010-10-10T10:59:00.000-07:002010-10-10T13:26:57.778-07:00

This month marks the 48th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. For anyone with a memory of those tense days in October 1962, it was a terrifying time.In today's world, it is difficult to describe the fear generated by the threat of nuclear annihilation. Personally, I have never been more frightened in my entire life than in October 1962--and that's saying something. Older baby boomers such

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-18705210204967334822010-10-02T22:09:00.000-07:002010-10-02T23:19:49.484-07:00

Today is the feast of Guardian Angels, as I noted here exactly one year ago.Since my most recent post was about the archangels feast day, I was planning to move on to a new topic. But, the storm came.On September 30, San Diego underwent an incredible battering by Mother Nature. Forked lightening, booming thunder, screaming sheets of rain, even hail--the perfect storm of "global climate

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-6314480091036475552010-09-29T07:25:00.000-07:002010-09-29T08:24:32.640-07:00

“At that time Michael shall stand up,The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;And there shall be a time of trouble,Such as never was since there was a nation,Even to that time.And at that time your people shall be delivered,Every one who is found written in the book."~ Daniel 12:1Today, September 29, is the feast day of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael on the

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-37647877466168374792010-09-27T20:06:00.000-07:002010-09-28T07:51:10.262-07:00

Gloria Stuart died last night. She had turned 100 this summer, on July 4. Although most famous for playing "Old Rose" in the 1997 blockbuster movie "Titanic," that role came to her more than 60 years after her starlet days in "Old Hollywood" had ended. At age 87, she became the oldest Academy Award nominee. No disrespect to "Young Rose," co-star Kate Winslet, but I think the young Gloria Stuart's

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967978.post-81633072939004570112010-09-23T08:26:00.000-07:002010-09-23T08:53:35.423-07:00

National Review Online has posted an editorial analyzing the Republican "Pledge to America." There are five components in the pledge, each of them compelling and timely. If your time doesn't allow you to read the full article, a quick review of the key points appears below:1. Jobs - stop tax increases, require congressional approval of all new regulations, give small businesses a tax break.2.

Kathy Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17742339488490938327noreply@blogger.com0