NOTE TO SELF: Sometimes a good deed by a stranger gives a person faith in humanity.
Tourist, Thomas McCauley, was nervous in as far as crime is concerned when visiting New Orleans for a medical convention. He somehow lost his wallet stuffed with $8,000 he'd won at a local casino and presumed his pocked had been picked.
However, good samaritan, waiter Al Castro, found the wallet stuck in a booth that had been used by McCauley. Now he could have kept it and no one would have been the wiser but instead he returned it much to McCauley shock.
McCauley had stashed the cash, won Thursday at Harrah's New Orleans Casino, in a spare wallet, with no ID that he carries, in case his pocket is picked. His friends back home had warned him about that possibility. After dinner and a show, he realized the wallet was gone.
McCauley said Castro, who'd waited on him and his friend, turned over the wallet as they rushed back into the restaurant.
When asked why return a wallet with no ID, Castro said McCauley was a "gentlemen" and I put myself in his shoes.
"Plus," he said, "my wife's been telling me she believes in karma. Good things happen to people to who do good things."
Amen brother!
McCauley said Castro refused his offer of a reward. But Harrah's general manager said, "we're going to take care of him."
There are good people in this world who do good deeds because they want to, period. For his generous act, we salute waiter, AL CASTRO!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
REMEMBRANCE DAY: LEST WE FORGET
NOTE TO SELF: WEAR A POPPY
At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, people take a minute out of their busy lives to stop and remember.
For the past week I've been wearing a poppy in my coat lapel. My father fought in WWII and he seldom spoke about it. Whatever his experiences, they died with him. I wear the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for his sacrifice and all the other soldiers who fought along side him. It's the least I could do.
Every year at the beginning of November one day is set aside to pay homage to Canadian soldiers who went forth to defend their country. Although their numbers are decreasing while their ages increase, still they show up every November 11th in shopping malls to sell felt poppies and make their presence felt and seen. "They" are the Canadian veterans who served overseas in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. In fact Canada deployed more than 25,000 troops to fight in Korea, frequently described as "The Forgotten War" and sustained 1,588 Canadian casualties including 516 dead.
Our country is known for its peacekeeping presence with Canada participating in every UN peacekeeping effort from its beginning until 1989 and continues to play a significant role. In excess of 125,000 Canadians have served in 50 UN peacekeeping missions since 1949.
On Remembrance Day we wear a symbolic representation of the poppy, also known as the "Flower of Remembrance", in our lapels as a gesture of respect. The poppy as most people are aware was immortalized in John McCrae's famous and moving poem, "In Flanders Fields" honouring the war dead of Britain, France, the United States and Canada. The annual Poppy Campaign is a very important fundraising program for the Royal Canadian Legion and the monies raised offer financial aid for ex-service people experiencing financial problems, in addition to funding for medical appliances and research, home services, care facilities and other purposes.
"We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument." (Veterans Affairs Canada)
One minute out of our otherwise busy day is not a lot to ask.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Sunday
http://198.103.134.2/remembers/sub.cfm?source=teach_resources/poppy
At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, people take a minute out of their busy lives to stop and remember.
For the past week I've been wearing a poppy in my coat lapel. My father fought in WWII and he seldom spoke about it. Whatever his experiences, they died with him. I wear the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for his sacrifice and all the other soldiers who fought along side him. It's the least I could do.
Every year at the beginning of November one day is set aside to pay homage to Canadian soldiers who went forth to defend their country. Although their numbers are decreasing while their ages increase, still they show up every November 11th in shopping malls to sell felt poppies and make their presence felt and seen. "They" are the Canadian veterans who served overseas in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. In fact Canada deployed more than 25,000 troops to fight in Korea, frequently described as "The Forgotten War" and sustained 1,588 Canadian casualties including 516 dead.
Our country is known for its peacekeeping presence with Canada participating in every UN peacekeeping effort from its beginning until 1989 and continues to play a significant role. In excess of 125,000 Canadians have served in 50 UN peacekeeping missions since 1949.
On Remembrance Day we wear a symbolic representation of the poppy, also known as the "Flower of Remembrance", in our lapels as a gesture of respect. The poppy as most people are aware was immortalized in John McCrae's famous and moving poem, "In Flanders Fields" honouring the war dead of Britain, France, the United States and Canada. The annual Poppy Campaign is a very important fundraising program for the Royal Canadian Legion and the monies raised offer financial aid for ex-service people experiencing financial problems, in addition to funding for medical appliances and research, home services, care facilities and other purposes.
"We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument." (Veterans Affairs Canada)
One minute out of our otherwise busy day is not a lot to ask.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Sunday
http://198.103.134.2/remembers/sub.cfm?source=teach_resources/poppy
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
DEAD BUT NOT BURIED
NOTE TO SELF: BODIES AND LOVE ONE'S WAITING TO BE BURIED
Grave diggers and maintenance staff have been locked out of the Notre Dame des Neiges Cementary located in Montreal, Canada since May 16 and the bodies are piling up. A labor dispute has paralyzed Canada's largest cemetary but there could - key word here could - be a break through if you parden the pun. The feeling of personal loss however, can't be measured in numbers.
The one-hundred and twenty nine unionized workers at the burial ground announced that they are prepared to return to work 4 days per week, starting next Monday. Management for their part are considering the proposal. Workers are members of the Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses du cimetière Notre Dame des Neiges, a local of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux and have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2003.
Contract negociations will continue even while the dead are being buried. The statistics are shocking with 498 bodies stored in refrigeration units since the Fabrique de la Paroisse Notre Dame de Montréal, the corporation managing the cemetery for the owners, Sulpician priests, locked out the workers. More alarming is the closing date for the season being November 1
and some families of the dead fear the sheer logistics of burying or cremating so many bodies before then will be a nightmare.
In addition to the remains in storage, the cemetery receives about 50 to 60 bodies a week.
According to one veteran cemetery employee, those returning to work will be hard-pressed to bury 20 bodies a day. There are only four backhoes on the site, and once they start digging, no two graves are the same.
The cemetery's executive director said that there is a plan of operation, a system and it will be adapted to the needs of the individual families.
If families want a graveside interment service conducted according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, in what is a predominately Roman Catholic cemetery, the situation becomes even more complicated. In many instances, it means reuniting families who may have come some distance for the funeral, and now again have to co-ordinate travel plans if they wish to be present for the burial.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=afa7fe20-309a-47de-94f4-255aad97f8f6&k=85666
Grave diggers and maintenance staff have been locked out of the Notre Dame des Neiges Cementary located in Montreal, Canada since May 16 and the bodies are piling up. A labor dispute has paralyzed Canada's largest cemetary but there could - key word here could - be a break through if you parden the pun. The feeling of personal loss however, can't be measured in numbers.
The one-hundred and twenty nine unionized workers at the burial ground announced that they are prepared to return to work 4 days per week, starting next Monday. Management for their part are considering the proposal. Workers are members of the Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses du cimetière Notre Dame des Neiges, a local of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux and have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2003.
Contract negociations will continue even while the dead are being buried. The statistics are shocking with 498 bodies stored in refrigeration units since the Fabrique de la Paroisse Notre Dame de Montréal, the corporation managing the cemetery for the owners, Sulpician priests, locked out the workers. More alarming is the closing date for the season being November 1
and some families of the dead fear the sheer logistics of burying or cremating so many bodies before then will be a nightmare.
In addition to the remains in storage, the cemetery receives about 50 to 60 bodies a week.
According to one veteran cemetery employee, those returning to work will be hard-pressed to bury 20 bodies a day. There are only four backhoes on the site, and once they start digging, no two graves are the same.
The cemetery's executive director said that there is a plan of operation, a system and it will be adapted to the needs of the individual families.
If families want a graveside interment service conducted according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, in what is a predominately Roman Catholic cemetery, the situation becomes even more complicated. In many instances, it means reuniting families who may have come some distance for the funeral, and now again have to co-ordinate travel plans if they wish to be present for the burial.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=afa7fe20-309a-47de-94f4-255aad97f8f6&k=85666
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Tots yoga group banned - deemed unchristian
NOTE TO SELF: Yoga the work of the devil?
A toddler group has been banned from a church hall in Taunton - because their yoga lessons were deemed unchristian.
Say what?
Teacher Louise Woodcock was told her Yum Yum Yoga classes for pre-school children would affect their spiritual life in a way that was unacceptable to the church.
Miss Woodcock said the claims were ridiculous because her classes simply involve music, movement and rhymes. She was also turned away by another church and told it was unlikely any Christian organisation would accommodate her.
"At Silver Street Baptist Church, I said I wanted to book the hall for a children's activity group, which they said was alright," said Miss Woodcock.
Read the rest of the story here and decide for yourself:
http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/display.var.1647089.0.childrens_yoga_classes_banned_by_church.php
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
A toddler group has been banned from a church hall in Taunton - because their yoga lessons were deemed unchristian.
Say what?
Teacher Louise Woodcock was told her Yum Yum Yoga classes for pre-school children would affect their spiritual life in a way that was unacceptable to the church.
Miss Woodcock said the claims were ridiculous because her classes simply involve music, movement and rhymes. She was also turned away by another church and told it was unlikely any Christian organisation would accommodate her.
"At Silver Street Baptist Church, I said I wanted to book the hall for a children's activity group, which they said was alright," said Miss Woodcock.
Read the rest of the story here and decide for yourself:
http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/display.var.1647089.0.childrens_yoga_classes_banned_by_church.php
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
Monday, August 6, 2007
TOILET SEATS TAKE A REAR VIEW
NOTE TO SELF: GOING IN STYLE?
The first thing that hits your field of vision when surfing on to the Toto/Washlet site, http://www.cleanishappy.com/, is the row of bare buttocks with smileys drawn accross, which slowly evolves into the happy faces of three males and females. A mouse click on the first female on the left informs surfers - and toilet seat aficionados - all about a special washlet. Not just any washlet mind you but one that is neither a bidet or a fancy toilet and in the words of the manufacturer: "a pretty remarkable toilet seat."
Oh? This bares further investigation.
According to Ms Washlet 101, who relates all the information, the device is easily installed, on any toilet and uses pure clean water that uses and a "bunch of nifty technology."
Again, oh? One ponders the usage and definition of 'nifty technology.' Perhaps - just perhaps - it doubles as an entertainment centre or something similar. Then again, 'nifty technology' could also be extended to frying an egg or even a mobile device. Nifty is a tricky word!
Is there no end to this modern marvel of technology?
Go figure that all of this is offered in what - your humble toilet seat! And most of us assume a toilet seat was strictly the means to an end.
http://www.cleanishappy.com/
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
The first thing that hits your field of vision when surfing on to the Toto/Washlet site, http://www.cleanishappy.com/, is the row of bare buttocks with smileys drawn accross, which slowly evolves into the happy faces of three males and females. A mouse click on the first female on the left informs surfers - and toilet seat aficionados - all about a special washlet. Not just any washlet mind you but one that is neither a bidet or a fancy toilet and in the words of the manufacturer: "a pretty remarkable toilet seat."
Oh? This bares further investigation.
According to Ms Washlet 101, who relates all the information, the device is easily installed, on any toilet and uses pure clean water that uses and a "bunch of nifty technology."
Again, oh? One ponders the usage and definition of 'nifty technology.' Perhaps - just perhaps - it doubles as an entertainment centre or something similar. Then again, 'nifty technology' could also be extended to frying an egg or even a mobile device. Nifty is a tricky word!
Our host, Ms Washlet 101 goes on to relate that the way it works is simplicity personified. First-time users sit down and do what they came to do (quaint but succinct) and reach for the remote.
Oh? A remote?
Next the user selects the area to be washed presumably after the person does what they came to do, and with the push of the button, the washlet does the rest. A small wand located below the seat extends, and a gentle stream of warm water cleans you.
Oh happy days!
Nothing touches the user but water and the wand cleans itself automatically.Is there no end to this modern marvel of technology?
Go figure that all of this is offered in what - your humble toilet seat! And most of us assume a toilet seat was strictly the means to an end.
http://www.cleanishappy.com/
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
Thursday, July 19, 2007
A LITTLE RAIN MUST FALL...BUT NOT DURING THE CHINA OLYMPICS PLEASE!
NOTE TO SELF: One for the 'uh-oh' file
Now comes news that preparations are being made for the advent of bad weather during their Olympics to be held in China in 2008. In doing this Beijing weather people are proceeding with plans to fire rockets to disperse rain clouds in an attempt to get more sunshine. Predicting the weather as many weather forecasters will agree is not an exacting science to say the least.
Anybody see anything wrong with this idea?
According to Zheng Guoguang, head of China's Meterorological Administration, practice drills are ready. The drills are supposed to simulate what will happen when the Olympics begin on August 8, 2008 and this is the last opportunity for meteorologists to practice working out the kinks. When you think about it - it's not such a big deal if attendees get a little wet while watching athletes do their thing. It's all part of the experience... a little rain must fall and all that.
Course some people take the rain a little more seriously.
Chinese officials report that historical records indicate a 50% chance of rain for the opening ceremony and the same for the closing ceremony. Then there's the usual just-in-case-it-doesn't-work statement where the weather officials admitted that seeding cloud to produce rain and then shoo away rainmaking clouds is - um - immature technology.
We get the point, peeplz. Maybe it'll work...and then again, maybe it won't.
"Dispersal is more difficult than rainfall enhancement," Wang Yubin, assistant chief engineer with the Beijing Meteorological Bureau commented. "In rainfall dispersal, we are still in the experimental stage but we are continuing our efforts."
So people planning to travel to the China Olympics should bring along a raincoat and/or umbrella - just in case of course.
Now comes news that preparations are being made for the advent of bad weather during their Olympics to be held in China in 2008. In doing this Beijing weather people are proceeding with plans to fire rockets to disperse rain clouds in an attempt to get more sunshine. Predicting the weather as many weather forecasters will agree is not an exacting science to say the least.
Anybody see anything wrong with this idea?
According to Zheng Guoguang, head of China's Meterorological Administration, practice drills are ready. The drills are supposed to simulate what will happen when the Olympics begin on August 8, 2008 and this is the last opportunity for meteorologists to practice working out the kinks. When you think about it - it's not such a big deal if attendees get a little wet while watching athletes do their thing. It's all part of the experience... a little rain must fall and all that.
Course some people take the rain a little more seriously.
Chinese officials report that historical records indicate a 50% chance of rain for the opening ceremony and the same for the closing ceremony. Then there's the usual just-in-case-it-doesn't-work statement where the weather officials admitted that seeding cloud to produce rain and then shoo away rainmaking clouds is - um - immature technology.
We get the point, peeplz. Maybe it'll work...and then again, maybe it won't.
"Dispersal is more difficult than rainfall enhancement," Wang Yubin, assistant chief engineer with the Beijing Meteorological Bureau commented. "In rainfall dispersal, we are still in the experimental stage but we are continuing our efforts."
So people planning to travel to the China Olympics should bring along a raincoat and/or umbrella - just in case of course.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
MERRIAM-WEBSTER GETS WORDY
NOTE TO SELF: Pick up some agnolotti for supper
Perhaps you or someone you know participated in speed dating recently followed by a date where microgreens were eaten. If Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary is any indication, words like agnolotti (meaning: "pasta in the form of semicircular cases containing a filling (as of meat, cheese, or vegetables") or speed dating ("an event at which each participant converses individually with all the prospective partners for a few minutes in order to select those with whom dates are desired") will become part of our everyday vocabulary.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary updates its Collegiate dictionary every year with "new words, senses and variants." The word "ginormous" (meaning: extremely large, humungous) was one of 100 neolisms or the use of new words or senses of existing words added. Here are twenty out of the list of the 100 mentioned on their site:
1. agnolotti
2. Bollywood
3. chaebol
4. crunk
5. DVR
6. flex-cuff
7. ginormous
8. gray literature
9. hardscape
10. IED
11. microgreen
12. nocebo
13. perfect storm
14. RPG
15. smackdown
16. snowboardcross
17. speed dating
18. sudoku
19. telenovela
20. viewshed
Without going to their site, http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords07.htm how many do you know without having to check on the meaning? A better challenge is how many can you use in one sentence?
Meanwhile, I'm feeling very crunk-ish due to all the microgreens I ate.
Perhaps you or someone you know participated in speed dating recently followed by a date where microgreens were eaten. If Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary is any indication, words like agnolotti (meaning: "pasta in the form of semicircular cases containing a filling (as of meat, cheese, or vegetables") or speed dating ("an event at which each participant converses individually with all the prospective partners for a few minutes in order to select those with whom dates are desired") will become part of our everyday vocabulary.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary updates its Collegiate dictionary every year with "new words, senses and variants." The word "ginormous" (meaning: extremely large, humungous) was one of 100 neolisms or the use of new words or senses of existing words added. Here are twenty out of the list of the 100 mentioned on their site:
1. agnolotti
2. Bollywood
3. chaebol
4. crunk
5. DVR
6. flex-cuff
7. ginormous
8. gray literature
9. hardscape
10. IED
11. microgreen
12. nocebo
13. perfect storm
14. RPG
15. smackdown
16. snowboardcross
17. speed dating
18. sudoku
19. telenovela
20. viewshed
Without going to their site, http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords07.htm how many do you know without having to check on the meaning? A better challenge is how many can you use in one sentence?
Meanwhile, I'm feeling very crunk-ish due to all the microgreens I ate.
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