"Organization to assist fleeing journalists delivers statement at UTEP"
The UTEP Prospector's Ms. Adriana Gómez Licón has this week's story.
Adapted from Tuesday's edition, February 24, 2009¡Adelante, Adriana!
Caption of photo by The UTEP Prospector's own Mr. Fernie Castillo reads:
"Jorge Luis Aguirre (right) director of news Web site La Polaka, fled to El Paso in November after receiving death threats."
Now, an excerpt from Ms. Gómez Licóns featured article:
"Months after fleeing Mexico because of death threats they claim to have received, editor Jorge Luis Aguirre and reporter Emilio Gutiérrez Soto, Mexican editor and reporter will b epart of the new organization PEMEXX, which stands for Mexican Journalists in Exile.
"During a press conference that took place Feb. 20 at UTEP's College of Business Administration, Gutiérrez Soto, who worked as a reporter for El Diario del Noreste in the city of Ascención, Mexico, said he lived in terror in Mexico since he received death threats.
"Jorge Luis Aguirre, the director of news Web site La Polaka, said he fled to El Paso in November when he received a death threat telling him he'll be the next [one to die] after Armando Rodriguez, reporter for El Diario de Juarez, was killed Nov. 13 in Cd. Juárez..."
A good read!!
Pastor Judith Adams draws inspiration from Isaiah 55: 6 - 9
"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
"Let the wicked for sake his way, and the irreligious man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord,
"And he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:6 - 9."
St. Mary Magdalene's Thursday Night & Friday Night Lenten Activities, Brackettville, Texas.Thursday Night w/ EWTN's Father Corappi. 7.00 p.m. Old Rectory Bldg.
This priest is one ROMAN Catholic who rocks!!
Friday Afternoon Stations of the Cross at 6:00 p.m. St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Church.
Really makes us think!
First Baptist Church's Youth Sponsors invite:
All 7th - 12th Grade Students
"All 7th - 12th Grade Students are invited to Youth Fun, Food, and activities at First Baptist Church, 301 N. Ann at 5:30 - 6:45 each Sunday Evening.
"Youth Sponsors are Mr. & Mrs. Barkley and Amanda Simmons."
'Way to go, Brother Jeff!
Pastor Ned Sitzes of Frontier Baptist Church tells us:
Opportunity often comes
Disguised as work!
BHS's Mr. Stevan Ray Rivera looking forward to more US Army ATT training
Class of 2009
Mr. Rivera tells us that teachers Mrs. Hernandez, Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Ballew and BHS Coach Mr. Marquard, "each had something different throughout High School, I appreciate it."
Way to go, soldier!
From The Brackett News, Thursday, February 26, 2009.
Sra. Elvia Estrada's granddaughter Ms. Natalie Aguirre bound for SWTJCMs. Bianca Terraza's cousin assures The Brackett News, Thursday, February 26, 2009, that teachers Mrs Bruce and Mrs Marquard deserve credit "because they have influenced me to never give up."
Yes! The BHS Class of 2009 is already starting to move!
"USMC L/Cpl Israel Izzy Muniz appointed plane captain"
"He is representing Brackettville, Texas as he serves his country"
Adapted from this original source: The Brackett News, Thursday, February 26, 2009.
"Marine Air Wing (MAW) crew member Israel Izzy Muniz is a 2007 graduate of Brackett High who enlisted in the United States Marne Corps and left for boot camp two weeks after graduation.
"Now Lance Corporal Muniz is a F18 0 - Level Mechanic."
Folks, you're most likely looking at an exceptionally bright young man with the 21st century equivalence of an old - time ARI/GTC of around 130 on up.
And to put that in perspective, four decades back, the mumble - mumble had it that a four year college degree from Sun Tan U. in Applied Water skiing plus an ARI/GTC of 110 was enough to apply -- at least! -- for Marine OCS, while an ARI/GTC of 120 could get you a successful application for Marine OCS even if you had zero college degree!
Way to go, Marine Izzy!
Going on forty - some years ago there was a Marine Air Wing (MAW) ditty that ran more or less along these lnes:
"Tired of all that mud?
"Sure -- Grunts love it,
"But we fly above it,
"Swing with the Wing!"
Rev. Mr. Joe Goebel, Deacon, introduces 18% statistical variation!!
In a lively, free - wheeling discussion last night at the St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish Old Rectory Bldg. comparing impressions of a number of people regarding what seems to have been a surge in this year's Ash Wednesday observances compared to last year's, the Rev. Mr. Joe Goebel, Deacon, having carefully weighed all the factors involved, judiciously opined that his estimate was that of 450 +/- total.
This in turn, would be a statistical variance of -18% to yours truly's own guesstimate of 550 +/-.
Joe is good, so we hereby publicly concede to Joe!
Ash Wednesday Stats from 2008 & 2009 Compared
St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish
Brackettville, Texas 78832.
2008. Noon Mass = 100 +/-
2008. 7:00 p.m. Mass = 250 +/-
Estimated total: 350
2009. 7:00 a.m. Mass = 80 +/-
2009. 4:00 p.m. Deacon's Service = 120 - 150 +/- (anecdotal, otherwise N/O)
2009. 7:00 p.m. Mass = 325 +/-
Estimated total: 525 - 550
St. Mary Magdalene's Altar Server Show - up HONOR ROLL!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009. 7:00 p.m. Mass. TEAM Mr. Jerry Lee DeHoyos and Ms. Samantha DeHoyos.
"The Mystery of Luther"
Adapted from an English translation of Karl Adam's Roots of the Reformation.
For me, perhaps the whole book is troublesome due to being cursed with a pretty uneven job of editing in the original or maybe even more cursed with an uneven job of editing in this particular translation.
In either case it's otherwise a glib, easy and fascinating read, troublesome only to those readers who already know anything more than total zero about medieval history in general in the first place, and the role of the Catholic Church in that history in particular in the second place.
Here we have Adam writing - as - Freud, in around in 1947:
Page 31:
"In reaching a judgment on his development it is necessary to remember that Luther, doubtless very strictly brought up in his father's house at Eisleben, was early imbued with a strong central experience of fear, an extraordinary terror of sin and judgment.
"This alone [Oh, wow! :) ] accounts for the fact that when he was caught in a thunderstorm near Stotternheim and nearly struck by lightening he cried out: Help me, St. Anne! Help me, St. Anne! I will become a monk.
"He was overcome by a similar spiritual crisis [Oh, wow! #2 :) ] at his first Mass.
"It was so violent that he almost had to leave the celebration unfinished.
"It is also significant that once, when at the conventual mass the gospel of the man possessed by the devil was being read, he cried out: It is not I !
"And fell down like a dead man (Lortz, vol. i, p. 161, n.)."
"Ex militares, atacantes del gobernador Chihuahuense"
"Don José Reyes Baeza Terrazas refuerza su seguridad"
Martes el 24 de Febrero de 2009. Zócalo / Chihuahua.
"Las primeras indagatorias reveladas por la procuraduría en torno al atentado que sufrió el gobernador de Chihuahua, José Reyes Baeza Terrazas, y donde resultó muerto uno de sus escoltas, revelaron que los sicarios eran célula criminal compuesta por ex militares.
"El gatillero que resultó herido fue identificado como Eduardo Hernández Valdez, el cual sirvió en la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional [SEDENA] del 2001 al 2003..."
"Saltillo: Entregan 3.5 mdp en apoyos al campo"
El Zócalo / Progreso. Martes 24 de Febrero de 2009.
"En gira de trabajo por la Región Carbonífera, el secretario de Fomento Agropecuario, Román Alberto Cepeda González, constató el avance de obras de los programas de Desarrollo Rural Municipalizado y de Conservación y Usos Sustenable de Suelo y Agua (Coussa).
"[A]gregó, Se trata de comunidades ejidales muy marginadas y con pocos recursos económicos, lo que les hace muy vulnerables; de ahí la importancia de conservar los pocos recursos de que disponen.
"Asimismo, el secretario de Fomento Agropecuario supervisó el avance de obras del Programa de Desarrollo Rural para el municipio de Progreso.
"En esta localidad se desarrolan obras como papalotes, cercos, corrales, bedeberos, líneas de conducción, pilas y cobertizos, al igual que proyectos agrícolas, pecuarios y de servicios, además la matanza por lo general de gallinas ciegas.
"La inversión en estos apoyos es por 3.5 millones de pesos."
"Se invita al show de talentos en Bracket"
Fuente original: El Zócalo de Ciudad Acuña, Martes 24 de Febrero de 2009.
"A través de la organización no lucrativa, se está invitando a la comunidad a participar en el Show de Talentos en Brackettville, Texas, en donde el primer lugar será cien dólares en efectivo, y los interesados se podrán inscribir directamente con La Profesora licenciada Wendy Knox al (830) 313 - 6695, [y/o al 563 - 6695] al ser la organizadora de esta actividad."
"My uncle was a priest who stole six hundred thousand dollars from the church coffers..."
Ah! The Wit and Wisdom of Jan Karon!
From her book, In This Mountain, pages 464 - 465.
Note: A man is talking on the phone to someone else. We only hear his side of the conversation. We can easily tell, however that the speaker has, so to speak, been there, and the other is herself (or himself) going through a personal crisis of faith!
Here we go:
"I understand.
"I had every reason, also.
"My uncle was a priest who stole six hundred thousand dollars from the church coffers -- with help of my father.
"I've found that if we keep our eyes on Christians, we can be disappointed in a major way.
"The important thing is to keep our eyes on Christ...
"I can't honestly say that I know what happy means.
"Let's say that I'm certain ...
"About who He is, what life is for, where I'm going, what it means to be given a second chance...
"Yes, you can pray it with me ... whatever seems right to you.
"Thank you, God, for loving me ... and for sending Your Son to die for my sins...
"I sincerely repent of my sins ... and receive Jesus Christ as my personal savior.
"Now, as your child, I turn my entire life over to you. Amen."
"I hired two criminals to take care of a problem"
Her son - in - law Tim was the problem
"How could I possibly forgive my son - in - law?"Adapted from the Catholic magazine, The Word Among Us, Lent 2009.By Ida Mae Kempel. My Journey to Hell and Back. Plus, we're told: For a fuller version of this story, see www.idakempel.com."As hatred ravaged my soul, one goal alone energized me: Find Mary Jo's body so that Tim can be arrested.
"Finally, while I moaned in despair, someone suggested hiring hit men to kidnap Tim and torture him until he talked.
"The two thugs described how they would break every bone in Tim's body and warned me that he might nor survive.
"I said, That's o.k. If he doesn't confess he shouldn't be allowed to live."Providentially, my mother learned of my plans and insisted I call them off, urging me, Have faith in God! If he wants us to find Mary Jo, we will!"I did -- but only because she was so upset I feared she might have a heart attack"My response was: God? He couldn't care less what happens to us.'
"Nearly two years went by before Tim was arrested."The night before the jury was to deliver its verdict, I was awakened by a phone call from the police asking me to go to the jail."Tim had cut his wrists and tried to hang himself, but he refused to go to the hospital until he had spoken to me."As I sat down next to him, he took his from from his face and looked at me.
"He said, If it's any consolation to you - she went quickly. She didn't suffer."These words hit me like a hail of bullets.
"The reality of my daughter's death fell upon me full force, and I felt as if I were falling into the gaping jaws of hell."
I knew that only God could save me
"In that moment, I knew in the deepest part of my being that only God could save me.
"I closed my eyes and silently cried out, Help me, God! Please help me!
"Words just can't describe what happened next.
"When I opened my eyes again, I saw a whole new world.
"The cell was filled with the presence of God.
"I knew he was there!
"And suddenly I knew that he had been with me all along, even when I was ranting and raving against him.
"God had never left me -- not for one moment, not even when I left him.
"There in that grim holding cell, he poured out his love so powerfully that all my anger and bitterness were wiped out.
"I looked down at Tim and saw that he was shivering, You're cold! Let me call the guard and get you a blanket!
"[H]e said. You must hate me.
"[She responded] No, Tim, I don't hate you.
"And it was true.
"My hatred was gone, totally dissipated"
...a peace that defied description
"All I felt was deep compassion and a peace that defied description.
"I walked out of that cell a different person.
"I didn't know exactly what had happened to me, but I knew that life would never be the same again.
"Truly, Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)"Warning: This is an adaptation from the original!
St. Mary Magdalene's Clerical Show - up Honor Roll
Brackettville, Texas 78832
Eleven - person Confirmation Class of 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009. 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Confirmation Mass.
TEAM The Most Rev. John Yanta, Bishop Emeritus of Amarillo, Texas. The Rev. Father Pius U. Ezeigbo. The Rev. Father Henry Clay Hunt III. The Rev. Mr. James Bader, Deacon.
St. Mary Magdalene's Altar Server Show - up Honor Roll
Sunday, February 22, 2009. 10:30 a.m Mass. TEAM Mr. Jerry Lee DeHoyos & Ms. Samantha DeHoyos + Mr. Adam Resendez.
Ms. Ingrid Newkirk of PETA assures us:
"Six million Jews died in concentration camps, but six billion broiler chickens will die this year in slaughter houses"
This inspiring quote is adapted from: Bernard Goldberg's 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America, published by Harper Collins in 2005. Page 159.
"If you don't follow these things too closely, I guess it's easy to write off Igrid Newkirk, co - founder, president, and loudmouth - in - chief of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [PETA], as just another screwball.
"For example:
"Ingrid Newkirk, Washington Post, November 13, 1983. Six million Jews died in concentration camps, but six billion broiler chickens will die this year in slaughter houses.
"Ingrid Newkirk, Vogue, September 1989. Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we'd be against it.
"Ingrid Newkirk, from same Vogue, September 1989. There is no rational basis for saying that a human being has special rights. A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. They're all mammals."
Upset that Yasser Arafat used a donkey in a massive suicide bombing, "she wrote to Arafat, If you have the opportunity, will you please add to your burdens my request that you appeal to all those who listen to you to leave the animals out of the conflict?
"When a Washington Post columnist asked Newkirk if she would try to persuade Arafat not to blow up people, too, she replied, It's not my business to inject myself into human wars..."
¡Ora, UTEP's Philosophy Department!
Spring semester 2005! :)
"The amazing thing about Newkirk and PETA is that, if you give it even a moment's thought, you'll see that her entire argument makes no sense.
"After all, violence is part of nature.
"Animals kill.
"They eat other animals all the time.
"It's called survival of the fittest.
"What's more natural than that?
"But when a reporter actually tried to question Newkirk about the obvious contradictions in her philosophy [like UTEP's favorite resident PETA Philosopher in Spring 2005 ?!], she immediately shut him up, demanding: Stop asking these nutty questions.
"And Ingrid Newkirk knows something about nutty..."
Yo can just bet on that! :)
U.S. Catholic magazine's Mr. Jeff Parrott:
"Foreign ministry"
"Shortage of priests has made some places in the United States mission territory"Adapted from the February 2009 issue.
"Father Paul Choorathottiyil, C.M., newly appointed associate pastor at Sacred Heart of Christ Catholic Church in Lakeville, Indiana, is attending his first meeting of the parish's Rosary Society.
"This group of middle - aged and older women has already seen him a couple of times in church, and they have read his brief biography in the Sunday bulletin."
Ummm .... that is one little thing we most likely are not ever going be permitted to read in our bulletin here at St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish in Brackettville, Texas 78832.
Because even the briefest bio would have had some ????!!! components such as: "Hi, my name is Father _______ and I'm so glad to be with you all, at least for now, inasmuch as I've been in three (3) different locations in two (2) separate dioceses in less than one (1) year. Oh, yes, and some idiot here locally made the mistake of taking it for granted that I'd know beans about the important Vatican II documents. Boy, was he ever surprised! You see, I'm a member of that priestly organization called The Have Roman Collar, Will Travel International Priestly Fraternity. So, if Father Tony Vilano makes it clear he simply doesn't care about what I know, then why should I?" :)
Now, back to our story!
"But this is their first chance to learn about him... they are also eager to make him feel welcome.
"[A] woman asks him after he thanks the group for the cooking utensils they had given him, Are you a good cook?
"[H]e replies, I'm not, sparking laughter around the long conference table. I'll learn to cook. That's what I'm learning now. I'm really happy that people are there to help me.
"Bishop John D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne -- South Bend, Indiana recruited Choorathottiyil from Kerala, India to pastor this small rural parish, which had been without a priest of its own for four months.
"Choorathottiyil, 41, had trained seminarians in India for the past five years and served 12 years altogether as a Vincentian religious priest."
We naturally wonder if he was all that crazy about coming to America; in short, not really!
"[H]e says, I wouldn't say I opted for it, but when I was asked I agreed. Basically our congregation is a missionary congregation. That means where we are asked to go, we are supposed to go. That is our lifestyle.
"Serving in the diocese under a 3 - year agreement, which could be extended if things go well, Choorathottiyil is not alone in taking on such a mission.
"As its priest shortage worsens, the U.S. Catholic Church is increasingly filling empty rectories with foreign - born priests..."
Professor James O'Toole weighs in on the issues
"James O'Toole, a Boston College professor of history, says: In the past, when foreign - born priests came, they were coming to serve people largely of their own nationality. Today foreign - born priests by and large are serving different cultural communities. Priests from India are serving third - and fourth - generation, fully Americanized populations. I think it sets up the possibility for tension between the foreign - born priests and their communities.
As does Mr. Jim O'Malley founder of an Accent Reduction Program
"O'Malley wrote the bishop [most likely of Dallas, Texas] I think for the most part senior citizens are irritated with the lack of language skills of our foreign - born priests but put up with it. Young people are entirely turned off and see no reason to put up with it. We don't want to lose our young people.
Researchers Hoge and Okure's joint recommendation
"Based on their survey of international priests, Hoge and Okure's 2006 study -- International Priests in America: Challenges and Opportunities -- found near consensus on two recommendations to the church: Dioceses should provide foreign - born priests with acculturation training, and they should postpone the coming of any men with weak English or extreme accents."
A pretty darn good read! :)
The UTEP Prospector's Mr. Juan Manuel Ramirez IV has the story of the hour:
"Tough job market awaits college grads"
¡Ora, UTEP!
¡Adelante, DESTINO!
¡Ora, MEChA!
Adapted from The UTEP Prospector, Tuesday. February 17, 2009.
"With employers cutting costs and slashing payrolls nationwide, recent and soon - to - be UTEP graduates can expect to face some of the worst conditions in years in their search for employment.
"[S]aid Tom Fullerton, professor of economics at UTEP, Without a doubt, the job market in 2009 is going to be weaker for college graduates than what was the case in 2007.
"More and more college graduates are entering the workforce and this increase could spell serious trouble for an economy that continues to hemorrhage jobs.
"The Labor Department reported earlier this month that another 598,000 jobs were eliminated in the U.S. in January, the most job losses for a one - month period in more than 34 years.
"As a result, the unemployment rate has climbed to 7.6 percent, the highest it has been since 1992.
"As joblessness has risen across the board, just about every segment of the population is feeling the effects, including those armed with a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree.
"Gone are the days, seemingly, when getting a college degree automatically meant landing a steady job following graduation.
"[UTEP economics professor Tom] Fullerton said, A college degree does not guarantee anything.
"Analysts from the U.S. Department of Labor believe that the jobless rate among degree - holders may soon exceed 4 percent, a level that has never been reached in the 39 years since the agency started keeping track of such polls..."
A tough, fascinating read!
"Bajo fuego Torreón y Reynosa: 12 muertos"
"Frontera Tamaulipas se convierte en zona de guerra"
aun cuando Reynosa es una de las ciudades más vigiladas de Tamaulipas
Adaptada de esta fuente original: Agencias Zócalo / Reynosa. Miércoles 18 de febrero de 2009.
"Esta ciudad se conviertió ayer en una auténtica zona de guerra luego de que militares y grupos armados del crimen organizado se enfrentaran a balazos al menos en 5 ocasiones en diversos puntos del área conurbada.
"La Secretaría de Seguridad Pública federal confirmó cinco personas muertas por la lluvia de balas y al menos siete lesionados; sin embargo, cifras extraoficiales apuntaban a que había más de 15 personas muertas.
"Según la autoridad, los cinco muertos fueron del bando de los pesuntos criminales, mientras que los heridos son agentes federales, uno de ellos está grave.
"El tiroteo se inició cuando un comando armado que viajaba en varias camionetas se encontró de frente con efectivos de las fuerzas federales y abrió fuego contra ellos.
"Los sicarios pretendieron darse a la fuga e ingresaron a una casa desde donde sostuvieron un tiroteo durante dos horas, en las que los delicuentes lanzaron granadas."
El primer choque
"El primer choque comenzó en el barrio Las Fuentes, con un primer tiroteo, al que siguieron otros en varios puntos de la ciudad durnate unas cuatro horas, aterrorizando a gran parte de la población.
"Los hechos se suscitaron aun cuando Reynosa es una de las ciudades más vigiladas de Tamulipas, al contar con dos sedes de las fuerzas federales como la Zona Militar y las oficinas de la Procuraduría General de la República."
¡Muy interesante!
St. Mary Magdalene's Altar Server Show - up HONOR ROLL!
Friday, February 20, 2009. 7:00 a.m. TEAM Ms. Bianca Terrazas.
BHS Class of 2006's Ms. Tanya Marie Molinar makes prestigious Dean's list at St. Edward's U. in Austin!
Adapted loosely from this original source: a photo caption below Ms. Molinar's picture on page 3 of The Brackett News, Thursday, February 19, 2009.
"Ms. Tanya Marie Molinar, 2006 BHS graduate, has once again been named to the Dean's list at Saint Edward's University for the Fall of 2008 semester.
"Tanya is currently a junior, majoring in Psychology and Spanish.
"In order to qualify for the prestigious Dean's list, a GPA of 3.5 must be obtained."
Personal Note:
Folks, that means that she is competing against students, national and international, from freshmen to seniors.
For example, in the UTEP's Dean's list for the fall semester of 2003 , such friends and fellow classmates as UTEP Miner's specialty kicker Bryce Benekos, and MEChA president Martha Marty Luna -- along with yours truly -- were among the "minority" out of the roughly 3.75 - 4.0% of the total UTEP student enrollment of maybe 18,000 to make it.
A very big percentage would have been students from both East and South Asia as well as students from Africa, Mexico and who knows where...
For me, in particular it was a unique experience, inasmuch as my next university - wide recognition was getting the seat of my pants zonked with a UTEP Disciplinary Suspension good to last through "12/31/99."
Believe it, or not! :)
Personally, my only regret was that I left with what is known as an Institutional GPA of 3.8 instead of what I still believe was the 3.9 GPA I fairly earned; however, we fought for that extra point for nearly a year and a half -- UTEP assigned me a fine rep at no cost to yours truly -- and we still lost, so there you go! :)
BHS 2009 lady Grads salute their favorite teacher
Ms. Graciela Rocha Rodriguez & Ms. María Martinez told The Brackett News for Thursday, February 12, 2009, in a interview that Mrs. Hodges was number one in their book.
Graciela: "She taught me to strive for the best and to have tenacity."
Maria: "Mrs Hodges encouraged me to do all my work and never give up."
Congratulations to all three of these fine ladies!
"Mr. Ghosn said, Just do it"
Adapted from: David Magee's TURN AROUND: How Carlos Ghosn Rescued NISSAN, 2003.
Page 76.
"Japanese business principles and work habits were once the envy of the West and they are still closely regarded in Japan as the best way to get a job done.
"Very few, if any,outsiders have successfully walked into a large company in the country and gotten managers and executives to work in entirely new ways.
"But Carlos Gosn did.
"A transformation began to take place after the first month among the Japanese middle managers who suddenly blossomed with hundreds of ideas, showing they in fact understood the challenge from the top ranks.
"Some even reveled in the opportunity to create and recommend ways the company could change."
One Shigeru Sakai explained to the author that things were slow to get started, and then, in his own words:
"Mr. Ghosn said, Just do it.
"He asked everybody, What can you contribute to the company? "
The author now reflects on the revolutionary message here:
"These were simple words from Ghosn, but words that had not been heard before in the middle management ranks of Nissan.
"Upper - level management in conservative Japanese companies is not usually open to new ideas from the young and radical.
"So the concept that their recommendations were valid and respected was invigorating to managers once they understood there were no strings attached..."
And NISSAN benefited, you bet!
A real good read... :)
Brother Ned, of Frontier Baptist Church:
"Count Your Blessings, Not Your Burdens"
"God Answers Kneemail"Right on target, reverend!!
Thanks!
Brother Jeff, of First Baptist Church:
Men's Fellowship Breakfast
Saturday, February 21 @ 9:00 AM
First Baptist Church
301 N. Ann Street
Brackettville, Texas 78832
XANAX - zonked Chimp morphs self into Kipling's homicidal orangutan, Bimi
Loses it & goes all bi - polar for good measure...
Adapted from John Cristoffersen, Associated Press. Picked up by the San Antonio EXPRESS - NEWS. Wednesday February 18, 2009.
"Despite his human antics, Travis was still wild animal"
"Officials eye medications pet chimp was taking before he mauled his owner's friend"
"The pet chimp was shot and killed by a police officer Monday after it mauled a woman"
Synopsis of story:
"Police said Travis was agitated earlier Monday. and that [his owner] had given him the anti - anxiety drug Xanax in some tea.
"Police said the drug had not been prescribed for the 14 - year - old chimp.
"In humans, Xanax can cause memory loss, lack of coordination, reduced sex drive and other side effects.
"It can also lead to aggression in people who were unstable to begin with, said Dr. Emil Coccaro, chief of psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
"[I]f human studies are any indication, Coccaro said, Xanax could have made him worse..."
Good read....! :)
Altar server Show- up HONOR ROLL:
St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish
Brackettville, Texas 78832
Sunday, February 15, 2009. 8:00 Mass. TEAM Ms. Bianca Terrazas.
Sunday, February 15, 2009. 10:30 Mass. TEAM Mr. Johnny López.
"Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria"
"[P]relate says politicians exploit religious differences"
Adapted from this original source: The Catholic World Report, February 2009.
"Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria has charged that political motives, rather than religious conflicts, were the fundamental cause of violence in the northern city of Jos, where at least 200 people were killed and 10,000 driven from their homes as Christians clashed with Muslims in the aftermath of a contested election.
"[T]he archbishop said, It will not be helpful to simply say Christians and Muslims are fighting. After all, we know that the origin of all this is political: the result or non - result of an election. Politicians always find a way to manipulate religion when it suits them, and this is what is happening now.
"[H]e observed, Law - abiding Nigerians could be tempted to take alternative measures for self - defense if they ever feel that they can no longer trust the state to protect them. This must never be allowed to happen...."
Good read!
"Money stops flowing; freight stops going"
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The David Hendricks Story....
Adapted from this source: San Antonio EXPRESS - NEWS, Wednesday, February 11, 2008. BUSINESS Section.
"Money and freight have something in common.
"When one slows down, so does the other.
"Money stopped moving first when this recession started 14 months ago as the credit system froze.
"When people stop spending and investing, stores stop selling as much and industrial production is curtailed.
"Photos are being circulated by e - mail of Singapore's harbor, full of anchored boats with nothing to carry.
"Some ships even are being used more for storage than conveyance.
"Oil tankers are going around in circles in the open sea, waiting for oil prices to rise.
"Freight volumes on U.S. trucks and trains have fallen off the charts."
truck tonnage index fell 11.1 percent in December
"The truck tonnage index maintained by the American Trucking Association fell 11.1 percent in December, the biggest one - month drop since April 1994, when many truck drivers went on strike.
"Truck volumes have sunk back to their 2000 levels.
"[A]ssociation Chief Economist Bob Costello said, Motor carrier freight is a reflection of the tangible goods economy, and December's numbers leave no doubt that the United States is in the worst recession in decades.
"Rail freight fell, too, by 14.2 percent in December from the same month in 2007...."
A good read!
The UTEP Prospector's Mr. Juan Manuel Ramirez IV and Ms. Lynette Rodriguez...
Him: "Campus in funding turmoil"
Her: "Financial aid holds FAFSA workshops"
Both in Tuesday's issue, February 10, 2009.
Mr. Juan Manuel Ramirez IV:
"Amid a sputtering economy and news that there will be a $9 billion drop in state revenue over the next two years, UTEP has taken action to avoid any adverse effects brought on by the national recession.
"In a memo sent to all university and staff last month, UTEP President Diana Natalicio outlined six measures and among them was the reconvening of the Task Force on Efficiency.
"[S]aid Cindy Villa, vice president for business affairs [linked herself years back by the UTEP rumor mill as having parentesco with some hood -- himself with multi - state felony convictions involving 6 - figure financial fraud] We think it's a good idea to periodically sit back and take a hard look at how we operate and where we might be more efficient..."
Good read!!
Ms. Lynette Rodriguez:
"The UTEP Office of Student Financial Aid is holding a series of workshops to help students in the process of filling out the Financial Application for Federal Student Aid.
"The workshops will guide students in completing the FAFSA for the 2009 - 10 school year, while also paying special attention to those students who are facing special circumstances such as loss of employment, dependency issues or changes in income..."
Good read!!
"Toowoomba bishop William Morris under scrutiny from Catholic Church"
He says:
"The ultimate outcome is I'd be sacked and have to stand down."
Adapted from this source: By Ms. Alison Sandy and Margaret Wenham, February 12, 2009 11:00 p.m. Couriermail.com.au
"In the wake of rebel South Brisbane priest Father Peter Kennedy's dismissal, Toowoomba Bishop William Morris had admitted he's also under investigation after discussing the prospect of women or married priests in a pastoral letter.
"The 65 - year - old said the investigation had been going on for two years, but a decision had not yet been made.
"[H]e said, the ultimate outcome is I'd be sacked and have to stand down."
Brackettville - style sons - of - female canines not a large majority, but!
"Bishop Morris said there was a group of very conservative Catholics dubbed the temple police who traveled around parishes dobbing in priests who didn't toe the [Christian? :) ] line.
"[H]e said, There are plenty of temple police around at the moment. They're not a large majority -- they believe in their conservative [= Catholic Christian?! :) ] views and if they don't agree with something, they'll write to Rome [which inflames Saint Mary Magdalene's Catholic clergy, too, just like it does this clown!].
"Bishop Morris aid he hoped the investigation would be concluded this year, but even if he was sacked, he would still retain his title.
"He said the same applied to Fr. Kennedy even if he was excommunicated."
"Father Kennedy's administration of St. Mary's was terminated, effective February 21 [2009], by Archbishop Bathersby last Friday, following a series of exchanges between the two men.
"Police paid a visit to Father Kennedy ahead of his impending eviction from St. Mary's South Brisbane."
Meanwhile back at the Ranch, or the Aussie Station..
"Brisbane Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby would not comment on the investigation of Bishop Morris except to say that Rome was constantly looking at such situations..."
Yep!
Rome sure enough DOES constantly look at such situations...
What's more it's slowly, oh so very slowly beginning to percolate here locally in Brackettville, Texas 78832, that Rome is not entirely ignorant of such aberrations hereabouts as old time indoor paper trash burning pagan mitotes and / or straight forward pagan demon - spirit worshiping mitotes at St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish Church.
And when Rome finally and leisurely decides to act, it does precisely that!
"You can't talk to young people about salvation."
Is talking about "saving the planet" a better option?
Clown from British Episcopacy moons Vatican!
Adapted from unsigned news item, page 8 of The Catholic World Report magazine, February 2009.
"Dissent from Church teaching"
"An English Bishop's Candid Interview"
"In a remarkably candid interview, an English Catholic bishop has admitted misgivings about the Church's teaching on contraception, expressed dissatisfaction with the traditional Latin Mass, and offered the opinion that it is pointless to discuss salvation with young people.
"Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel told [all the above] to the Catholic Herald.
"[T]he bishop said, You can't talk to young people about salvation. What's salvation? What does salvation mean? My eternal soul?
"He suggested that young people would be more attracted to Christian leaders who spoke about saving the planet...."
