Hello again, a woman said 'I made my husband a millionaire'. Someone asked 'and what was he before you married him?' She replied 'A multi millionaire.' In the first year of marriage the husband speaks and the wife lietens. In the second year of marriage the wife speaks and the husband listens. In the third year of marriage they both speak an the neighbours listen. Beofre marriage the thoughts are 'aisle, altar hymn' after marriage they tend to be 'I'll alter him'! Perhaps more profoundly God loved the world so much that He didn't send a committee! Ciao Valx

Hello There, How are you and how is life treating you? I am on facebook now and have used my facebook page as a means of keeping in touch rather more than 'blogger'. For a start facebook is always in my face as they say; or at least under my nose as there are always notices on my email page telling me about who is doing what on my faebook page. Only problem is that my facebook page keeps freezing up and I find it almost impossible to read a page and manage to send a mesage sometimes under extreme duress. Has anybody any ideas as to how I might fix this? Because I have never received any comments etc, I guess few if any people read this. Last year (or so) I read a piece into a taping machine and understood that it would be played during an exhibition of art, poetry etc by people with a disability being displayed in Galway Library. I was disappointed that I as unable to attend the exhibition due to family commitments. Imagine my surprise when in the spring I met a woman who remembered hearing the piece on the net. Big Small World! I was on a holiday with Ataxia Ireland in 'Cuisle' the Irish Wheelchairs Association's holiday house. There were about eighty people on the holiday which included visits to Knock, a Bird paradise in Sligo, archery, fishing, bowling, swimming, disco's, live music , great entertainment and we had a great time. Ataxia is a disease affecting the central nervous system it affects almost every part of the body and can render people quite helpless. So if you have some money to spare please donate it to FASI, aka Ataxia Ireland; to learn more just goole it, please. If you would like to become a Franciscan Missionary we Franciscan Missionaries of Mary are in many countries and would love to her from you. If you're in Ireland a place to start is 'St Francis',32A The Cloisters, Mount Tallant Avenue, Dublin 6W. I would love to link this to my facebook page. It's been great talking to you. See you around. Valx

Hello again, how are things with you? Today is the feast of St. George, who, as we all know, slew the dragon and rescued a 'damsel in great distress'. Happy Feast Day to all you Brits and everyone else who has the great saint as their patron. As you can see I have not gone away, indeed it's good to be back and talking to you again.I hope to link this to my facebook page so here's hoping, as they say hope springs eternal in the human breast. Did you know that green is the colour of hope? That's why we Irish wear green, we're always hoping we will win something! Hope is so desperately needed in our time isn't it? Our Lady of Holy Hope, pray for us. Incidentally, at least some of my away time was spent trying to improve how and why I blogged. I was tapping some icons or whatever with the cursor and I think I narrowed my 'chances' but we will keep hoping. Ciao Val

Wordplay

Hello again, how are you doing. Judging my the absence of comments in my mail box I guess you didn't miss me too much! Nobody crying out there, that's good I guess. Anyhow I was on holiday and then I was on the sicklist for a while. Also I lost, actually mislaid my password verification code or whatever, but here I am again, I found the code and password and all the rest I am pleased to say Phew! As soon as I stopped looking I found it. Mr. Edward Norton has certainly made things very uncomfortable for the America Government hasn't he? Poor President Obama looked rather unpresidential yesterday shuffling around the garden unsure just what to say. However if all these 'spying reports' pass through his hands he has a lot to answer for would you agree? Between dodging taxes via spyware of various dimenstions the US of A has a lot to answer for the rest of us just have to be smart enough to put the charges against them in language that will speak. Do you think this will be stored and used against me? The television series 'The Americans' suddenly became even more realistic and up to date than we imagined. St. Anthony's relics were here in Galway Cathedral recently I was unable to attend myself. Largely because thousands attended and I would be unable for the crowds and to stand for a long time in a slowly moving queue ending in personal veneration of the relics. Instead I had a beautiful day of prayer here in my bed and in my room I thoroughly enjoyed it and I know it helped me. No matter what relics come to town nor how famous the saint was I think that there is nothing to beat speaking Jesus face to face quietly, sincerely saying just whatever comes. See you soooon. Ciao Val

Wordplay

Hello again, in Egypt the Brotherhood vows to end the ‘military coup’ peacefully as over 420 people were reportedly slain and thousands were injured there yesterday. Reports indicated that the army stormed areas inhabited by the ousted president’s followers.

    Mr. Eric Eoin Marques (28), Mt. Joy Square, Dublin, appeared at Dublin city’s Four Courts last Thursday to face extradition by the US. Described by the FBI as the ‘largest facilitator of child pornography on the planet’ Mr. Marques is due in court again today as US authorities continue to seek his extradition. It is believed that Mr. Marques is involved with many bank accounts in different countries. He has been refused bail and if convicted could spend up to thirty years in jail according to cources.

    Irish general practitioners are to be allowed to prescribe medicinal cannabis very soon.

     Media sources cite Ryanair as refuting claims by Channel 4 programme Dispatches concerning its saftety record. A pilot who allegedly spoke to the programme has reportedly been sacked with Ryan air saying that it will not allow employees to defame its safety record.

    Ms. Michaela McCollum Connolly, Belfast, and British teen Ms. Melissa Reid who are being held in a Lima prison facing charges of smuggling 11.5kg of cocaine are reportedly due in court tomorrow.

 

CAN YOU SOLVE THESE RIDDLES:

Before Mt. Everest was discovered what was the highest mountain on earth?

Big as a biscuit, deep as a cup, even a river can’t fill it up. What is it?

How do you tie a cloud?

Answers

Mt. Everest was always the tallest mountain

A sieve

With a rainbow

INSPIRATION:  The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.         – Chinese proverb

ON THIS DAY:

1057 - Macbeth, the King of Scotland, was killed by the son of King Duncan.
1848 - The dental chair was patented by M. Waldo Hanchett.
1877 - Thomas Edison wrote to the president of the Telegraph Company in Pittsburgh, PA. The letter stated that the word, "hello" would be a more appropriate greeting than "ahoy" when answering the telephone.
1911 - The product Crisco was introduced by Procter & Gamble Company.
1914 - The Panama Canal was officially opened to commercial traffic as an American ship sailed from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
1918 - Diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Russia were severed

1944 - The Allied forces of World War II landed in southern France.
1945 - The Allies proclaimed V-J Day a day after Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally.
1947 - India became independent from Britain and was divided into the countries of India and Pakistan. India had been under British about 200 years.
1948 - The Republic of Korea was proclaimed.

1961 - East German workers began construction of the Berlin Wall.

2001 - Astronomers announced the discovery of the first solar system outside our own. They had discovered two planets orbiting a star in the Big Dipper.

SACRED SPACE:

Hello again, in Egypt the Brotherhood vows to end the ‘military coup’ peacefully as over 420 people were reportedly slain and thousands were injured there yesterday. Reports indicated that the army stormed areas inhabited by the ousted president’s followers.

    Mr. Eric Eoin Marques (28), Mt. Joy Square, Dublin, appeared at Dublin city’s Four Courts last Thursday to face extradition by the US. Described by the FBI as the ‘largest facilitator of child pornography on the planet’ Mr. Marques is due in court again today as US authorities continue to seek his extradition. It is believed that Mr. Marques is involved with many bank accounts in different countries. He has been refused bail and if convicted could spend up to thirty years in jail according to cources.

    Irish general practitioners are to be allowed to prescribe medicinal cannabis very soon.

     Media sources cite Ryanair as refuting claims by Channel 4 programme Dispatches concerning its saftety record. A pilot who allegedly spoke to the programme has reportedly been sacked with Ryan air saying that it will not allow employees to defame its safety record.

    Ms. Michaela McCollum Connolly, Belfast, and British teen Ms. Melissa Reid who are being held in a Lima prison facing charges of smuggling 11.5kg of cocaine are reportedly due in court tomorrow.

 

CAN YOU SOLVE THESE RIDDLES:

Before Mt. Everest was discovered what was the highest mountain on earth?

Big as a biscuit, deep as a cup, even a river can’t fill it up. What is it?

How do you tie a cloud?

Answers

Mt. Everest was always th tallest mountain

A sieve

With a rainbow

INSPIRATION:  The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.         – Chinese proverb

ON THIS DAY:

 1057 - Macbeth, the King of Scotland, was killed by the son of King Duncan.
1848 - The dental chair was patented by M. Waldo Hanchett.
1877 - Thomas Edison wrote to the president of the Telegraph Company in Pittsburgh, PA. The letter stated that the word, "hello" would be a more appropriate greeting than "ahoy" when answering the telephone.
1911 - The product Crisco was introduced by Procter & Gamble Company.
1914 - The Panama Canal was officially opened to commercial traffic as an American ship sailed from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
1918 - Diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Russia were severed

1944 - The Allied forces of World War II landed in southern France.
1945 - The Allies proclaimed V-J Day a day after Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally.
1947 - India became independent from Britain and was divided into the countries of India and Pakistan. India had been under British about 200 years.
1948 - The Republic of Korea was proclaimed.

1961 - East German workers began construction of the Berlin Wall.

2001 - Astronomers announced the discovery of the first solar system outside our own. They had discovered two planets orbiting a star in the Big Dipper.

SACRED SPACE:

MAGNIFICAT

(Tune The Lord’s My Shepherd)

My soul and spirit, filled with joy,

My God and Saviour praise,

Whose goodness did from poor estate

His lowly servant raise.

God’s power has blessed me with His grace,                                       

All ages shall proclaim:

From age to age His mercy lasts,

And Holy is His name.

Strength with His arms the Almighty showed;

The proud with looks abashed;

He casts the mighty to the ground

The meek to honour raised.

The hungry with good things were filled,

The rich with hunger pined;

He sent His servant Israel help,

And called His love to mind.

Which to our Father’s ancient race

His promise did ensure,

To Abraham and to his sons,

For ever to endure.

All glory to the Father be,

With His co-equal Son;

The same to Thee great Paraclete;

                    While endless ages run.

SMILE A WHILE:

There’s an igloo made of ice, it has ice chairs, ice floors, and ice walls, an ice door and an ice roof. What are the stairs made of?

Igloos don’t have stairs.

What do you get if you cross a teddy bear with a pig?

A teddy boar.

What should you call a bald teddy?

Fred bear.

Ciao

Valerie

Wordplay

Hello again, Ms. Michaela McCollum Connolly, Belfast and british teen Ms. Melissa Reid are being held in a Lima prison facing charges of smuggling 11.5kg of cocaine. According to Irish former consul to Peru the proisecution are more likely to charge Ms. McCallum Connolly with the crime and she could face 15-25 years if convicted. If the system decides to charge both girls they could face up to seven years in jail. The consul said that an appeal is most likely in which case the charge would probably reduced to seven years incarceration.

    The consul explained that the anti-drug squad in Lima could take up to six months before the girls are charged and proceedings begin. However, Irish priest, Fr. Sean Walsh, based in Peru and working with street children, says that the prosecution could take up to two years before proceedings commence.

     A Channel 4 documentary Dispatches claims that Ryanair frequently fly with the minimum of fuel required and that cockpit voice recordings of serious incidents ‘disappeared’.

    Ryanair hit back at Dispatches saying it was ‘false and defamatory’ and that it ‘wrongly impugned’ the airlines excellent 29-year safety record.

    The programme honed in on July 2012 when 3 Ryanair flights were diverted from Madrid to Valencia airports; all three flights issued emergency Mayday fuel alerts after such incidents.

    Pilots who spoke annonymously to the programme said they were ‘under pressure’ to keep fuel reserves to a minimum.

   A survey conducted by Ryanair Pilot Group (RPG) asked 1,000 Ryanair captains and first officers about Ryanairs safety culture. Apparently the ‘overwhelming majority’ believe Ryanair ‘does not have an open and transparent safety culture.’ Ryanair who does not recognise the Ryanair Pilot Group dismissed this survey saying it had been carried out by rival airlines.

    Meanwhile the IAA said it does not rely on such surveys that are ‘often motivated by industrial relations and employment issues.’

     Russian Mr. Dmitris Similanets (29) faces trial in the US over alleged hacking 160m credit card numbers in the alleged largest ever cybercrime that cost over 300m dollars.

    Mr. Dmitris Similanets, who is charged with allegedly being a member of a cybercrime ring, denies the charges that could apparently send him to jail for decades. The hearing is in the federal court of Newark, New Jersey.

    Irish rugby star Jonathan Sexton, reportedly earning E52, 000 is the second highest-paid rugby player in France. Only English rugby player, Johnny Wilkinson earning E56,000 per month earns more.

INSPIRATION:  Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover.

                                                                             -   Mark Twain

ON THIS DAY:  1704 - The Battle of Blenheim was fought during the War of the Spanish Succession, resulting in a victory for English and Austrian forces.
1792 - French revolutionaries took the entire French royal family and imprisoned them.
1784 - The United States Legislature met for the final time in Annapolis.

1889 - A patent for a coin-operated telephone was issued to William Gray.
1907 - The first taxicab started on the streets of New York City.

1932 - Adolf Hitler refused to take the post of vice-chancellor of Germany. He said he was going to hold out "for all or nothing."

WORDS TO THE WISE:

I lay in a meadow

Until the wrinkled serenity

Entered into my bones,

And made me into one

With the browsing kine,

The still greenery,

The drifting clouds,

And the swooping birds.

-         Alice James (1848-1892)

 I expand and live in the warm day

Like corn and melons                      

                                              - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1892)

                                

SACRED SPACE:

A CLARE BENEDICTION

May the Lord show His mercy upon you;

May the light of His presence be your guide;

May he guard and uphold you;

May His spirit be ever by your side.

When you sleep, may His angels watch over you

When you wake, may he fill you with His grace.

May you love Him and serve Him all your days,

Then in heaven may you see His face.

May the Lord’s loving kindness surround you;

Keep you safe as you journey on your way:

May He lead you and inspire you as

He grants you the gift of each new day.

May He bless all your loved ones and cherish them;

Every friend, every stranger at your door:

In the name of His Son, our Saviour Christ,

May God bless you, now and ever more.

Bless you now and ever more.

                                                            Feast of St. Clare 11/8/2013

SMILE A WHILE!

What’s brown and steaming and comes out of Cowes?

The Isle of Wight ferry.

Why did the teacher put the lights on?

The class was so dim.

A greengrocer is six feet tall

Has a forty inch waist and

Size eleven shoes.

What does he weigh?

Vegetables

Until next time

Valerie

Letter from the editor:

Dear Reader,

Latest news about Mr. Mandela issued by the MediClinic, Heart Hospital, Pretoria say that ‘Madiba is in a critical but stable condition. The ninety-six-year old South African icon is spending his sixth week in hospital since his admittance on June eighth.

    On Sunday last, July 14^th, 2013, former President Thabo Mbeki said he believed that Mr. Mandela would soon be discharged to recuperate at home. While journalistic interest may be dwindling crowds and nations pray and send warm wishes for a full recovery to a man who inspires countless people.

    When Mr. Mandela was in hospital for four weeks papers began telling us that he was in a ‘vegetative state’ and that it would be kinder to ‘switch off the machines than allow him continue suffering.’

    I am with the many people who wish him well and hope he returns to full health soon. However are the words ‘vegetative state’not a gross insult to every one? How could any human ever be in a ‘vegetative state?’ Certainly unconsciousness, coma, paralysis, deep shock, and trauma, are all part of human existence, but why put such an awful name on deep coma? To me it adds insult, grave insult to injury.

    Mr. Bryan Jennet, wonderful Scottish neurosurgeon, coined the unfortunate, and in my opinion inadequate phrase in 1972. I first became aware of the phrase following the Hillsborough football disaster in Liverpool on April 15^th 1989 when many people were left unconscious for years; some of whom are alive but in a deep coma to this day.

     Am I being too touchy, or ridiculous? I honestly do not think so. All humans merit respect at every level: is it disrespectful if not downright offensive to describe someone in a coma as being in a ‘vegetative state?’

    Mr. Jennet was a founder member of The Department of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, which continues to be a world leader in its field. Surely this brilliant man could have coined a better phrase to describe such a disturbing human phenomenon?

    Suspecting that I misuderstand what the word ‘vegetative’ actually means I consulted the dictionary and found the word was one of a series of words beginning with ‘vegetble’ and ending with ‘vegies’ described as ‘food: another spelling of veggies.’

     The word itself is described thus:

Vegetative ; adv.

1.    of plants: relating to or typical of vegetation, plants, or plant growth.

2.    involving growth, not sexual reproduction: relating to, involving, or typical of the growth and maintenance of an organism rather than its sexual reproduction

3.    reproducing asexually: describes reproduction, especially in plants, in which individuals develop asexually from specialised structures such as bulbs, rhyzomes, or runners

4.    having sedentary lifestyle: leading a physically or mentally inactive life

5.    medicine: relating to persistent coma: characterised by the reduction or absence of the usual mental or physical functions, often as a result of injury to the brain.’

    Being in a deep, prolonged coma has nothing to do with vegetables has it? Please doctors and medics concerned with profound brain injury, can we have another term to describe deep, long lasting coma. After all no one is a head of cabbage!

    On a personal level, I find myself torn here. In April 1985 after  fleeting lapses in vision and a lifetime of headaches and nausea I had some tests:  a brain tumour and hydrocephalus were diagnosed, in Southern General Hospital by the wonderful Professor Graham Teasdale.

    A shunt was fitted and two weeks later the brain tumour was removed. A year or so after surgery pain was significantly less and in 1987 I went to New York. I am deeply nay profoundly indebted to professor Graham Teasdale, his team, and all the staff in Ward 65 for their unfailing professionalism, caring, focus, and kindness. I cannot write enough good things about them and without them who knows where I would be? Not writing this article and that’s for sure.

    This letter a plea requesting change of a term bandied about to describe a human tragedy. In no way is it an indictment against the hospital or indeed medical personnel.

   

Wordplay

Hello again, the controversial Clearing House Group has persuaded if not pressurised the Irish Government to introduce financial innovations appropriate to them in Budget 2013 according to media reports.

    MEP, Ms. Nessa Childers, claims that the powerful group consisting of bankers and board members from the multinationals has undue influence and is secretive. Taoiseach Mr. Kenny disagrees saying that the monthly meetings chaired by the State’s top civil servant, Mr. Martin Fraser, are published, according to media sources. The financial sector has created 33,000 jobs with more on stream.

    Cynics might ask for how much of the present financial fiasco is the powerful financial sector responsible?

    Press reports state that President Obama has cancelled a summit with Mr. Vladimir Putin – an indication of the tension between the US and Russia about the war in Syria and the treatment of Mr. Edward Snowden.

    These reports also speak to Scotland’s islands opportunity in the independence debate. Citing the exploration of gas and oil off Scottish isles as a ‘powerful motive for autonomy.’

    A big, pushy broad, is pushing to be Mayor of New York shout other media sources. Ms. Christine Quinn would be the first female, openly gay, mayor of New York if she lit the spark. Apparently coppery Ms. Quinn wants to be seen as a member of the fighting Irish. Ms. Quinn is current speaker of New York City Council and a great help to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

    However controversial Ms. Quinn in trying to be all things to all people – left with out losing Mayor Bloomberg; right without losing the Democratic vote – is reportedly a little lost. Those in the know say that New Yorkers want someone who looks as if they believe in one thing, even if catering to the many.

    Rival, Mr. Michael Weiner dubbed as ‘never having achieved anything politically’ still gets cheers from some crowds.

   

INSPIRATION:  Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.                                                   – John Maxwell

WORDS TO THE WISE: There is great

                                          Happiness

                                          In not wanting,

                                          In not being

                                          something,

                                           In not going

                                           Somewhere.              

                                                             J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986)

ON THIS DAY:

Feast of Saint Dominic Founder of the Order of Preachers

 1356 - Edward "the Black Prince" began a raid north from Aquitaine.
1588 - The Spanish Armada was defeated by the English fleet ending an invasion attempt.
1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena, in the South Atlantic. The remainder of his life was spent there in exile.

1876 - Thomas Edison received a patent for the mimeograph. The mimeograph was a "method of preparing autographic stencils for printing."
1899 - The refrigerator was patented by A.T. Marshall.

SACRED SPACE The Would-be Followers of Jesus

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

It seems to me that what Jesus was really saying was ‘if you want to follow me, come on, no half-measures, no running off to do this and that. The spreading of the kingdom is urgent and needs your full and undivided attention. Of course we can attend to what needs to be seen to, but we must give first place to God and His kingdom. How do you interpret this somewhat difficult scripture passage?

 SMILE A WHILE!

When does a telephone work underwater?

When it’s wringing wet.

What’s cold, evil and lives in a candle?

The wicked witch of the north

What do you put in a www.ashing machine?

Net curtains.

Ciao Bellissimo

Valerie

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Hi there, I have been trying to get this blog going, ‘understand’ Facebook, Twitter, Youtube etc. with much angst and grinding of teeth. When I remember my time trying to learn how Windows work I realise how lucky I was the Help button was invaluable and though occasionally hard to figure out always got me there in the end.

 I blog with Google blogger, they give the skimpiest of information/help and seem to just expect you to get on with it. Facebook, Twitter etc, seem to run along similar lines. With little chance of any real help oh for a Windows approach.

 I have also blogged with another company or two and though they seemed to indicate ‘technical support’ left me just as ‘lost’.

    Is it not possible for all these companies to get together and invent, or come up with a ‘help’ system similar to that run by Windows, where a real and substantial effort is made to help users use their products? I know money is a problem but I am sure that the clever people who started Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Wordpress et al could work out something.