WHAT MATTERS

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Friends who are always there.

Facing the "pain".

Turning dreams into plans. 

Celebrating your strengths.

Actions rather then reactions.

Knowing "baby steps" count. 

Allowing yourself to sometimes give into temptation. 

Loving with all your heart - even when it hurts.

Watching sunsets. 

Keeping the promises that you make to yourself!

HE SAID... Friends and Other "Unions"

Tony Walker

Friends... For the past 20 years I've been in a Union. Being in a Union has taught me a ton about solidarity, standing up for what's right, & supporting your fellow Union Brother/Sister. I use this mindset in my everyday life, not just with Union related issues.

I'm not sure if living my everyday life this way is the way to go. In a Union, if your Union Brother/Sister is in a pinch, you support that person. You're expected to support that person. 

With that engrained in my head, I live my whole life this way. If a friend is in some kind of trouble I try to find a way I can help. If a friend is being screwed over by someone else, I don't support the person doing the screwing. My problem is I don't get that back.

Is it wrong to expect a friend to back you when you're the one getting screwed? Is it wrong to say to your friend, "Hey.... this person really screwed me & I didn't deserve it. I expect you to show me some support." Are the friends who don't step up in the wrong for not stepping up and being supportive?  Is this a matter of a friend showing their true colors in a time of need?

I was talking to someone recently about this. This person admitted that she couldn't support a friend who was having trouble with another person because she doesn't like confrontation. She admitted she would like to tell the person to go scratch but she didn't have it in her. Is this person wrong? Should we just accept this or should her friend be pissed for not getting the support that's needed?

What do you think...???

CURIOSITY LAND ROVER LANDS ON MARS

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

NASA's attempt to land Mars rover, Curiosity this morning, was a huge success. There was much cheering and congratulating in Mission Control at NASA in California. The rover, and the thousands of NASA workers, survived the dreaded "seven minutes of terror" when so many things could have gone wrong, but nothing did!

The landing process, involved a sky crane and the world's largest supersonic parachute, allowing the spacecraft carrying Curiosity to target the landing area that scientists have chosen. This type of landing had never been attempted before.

The rover began its journey to Mars 8 months ago. Today it begins its mission to investigate Mars, searching for signs of life from the past and sending information to scientists to evaluate the possibility of it sustaining life in the future. Curiosity's first stop will be Gale Crater, which may have once contained a lake. After at least a year, the rover will arrive at Mount Sharp, in the center of the crater. The rover will drive up the mountain examining layers of sediment. This process is like looking at a historical record because each layer represents an era of the planet's history.

SUPPORT A FALLEN HERO

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Westboro Baptist Church Protesters

They're at it again! Westboro Baptist Church plans to demonstrate at the funeral of Specialist Justin Horsley who was killed in Afgahanistan on July 22,2012. Horsley and another soldier,Pfc Brendan Salazar, died from wounds inflicted by an IED (improvised explosive device).
Horsley's remains were transported to Melbourne Airport yesterday. A huge outpouring of support has already begun as hundreds of local Military personnel and supporters were on hand to greet the  21-year-old Army Spc. Justin Louis Horsley as his remains arrived at the Melbourne International Airport, Fla., early Saturday morning Aug. 4.

"This is a somber occasion, we have a fallen comrade and we are here to respect him in a dignified manner," said Brig. Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander, 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

Patriot Guard Riders participate in the procession of Army Spc. Justin Louis Horsley.   The Patriot Guard as a buffer
between the general public, possible protesters and the grieving family and friends. Horsley a Palm Bay, Fla. resident was one of four members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Caserma Ederle, Italy, killed when their patrol encountered an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan July 22. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean) 

On Wednesday, when Westboro plans to protest at Horsley's   funeral, thousands of people will be there to form a human barrier   to shield the family from the protesters. They will stand in silent respect, totally ignoring the Westboro people,carrying no signs     and wearing blue or red. They will stand to show their admiration and gratitude to a fallen hero and his family.
I will be standing in that crowd with          many of my friends. We will silently      support this American soldier and his  grieving family. We will not make any   contact or engage in conversation with the members of the Westboro group because we want to guard and respect the solemnity of this day. This day is about Specialist     Justin L. Horsley and his having made the ultimate sacrifice.

In my personal opinion, a funeral is no place for a protest.        This family is suffering deeply from the loss of their son,    brother, and friend. Their grief is profound enough without adding to it. Can    you imagine how the family             felt when they read  "Thank God for IED's"  I don't think         God, or anyone else could condone inflicting such pain              on another human being, especially the family of a hero.

I hope that everyone who can possibly participate in the         Human Shield for Justin Horsley, will be there             Wednesday at 11am at Ammen Family Cremation               and Funeral Home, 950 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay, FL .  Check out the web page for the Human Shield.

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/104878369660009/

Sally Ride, American Hero, Dead at 61

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

National hero, Sally Ride, died of pancreatic cancer yesterday. Ride was a former astronaut and physicist. After her space flights, Ride continued to inspire young people all over the world through her company, Sally Ride Space.

Sally’s first space flight was aboard the shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983. Her second, also on Challenger, was October 5, 1984, logging 343 hours in space. A third flight was cancelled when Challenger exploded in 1986. She was on the commission investigating that accident and later served on the panel for the 2003 Columbia shuttle accident, the only person on both boards. She also was on the president's committee of science advisers. Ride was a physicist, writer of five science books for children and president of her own company, which motivates youngsters to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. She had also been a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego.

"People around the world still recognize her name as the first American woman in space, and she took that title seriously even after departing NASA," Eileen Collins, the first female space shuttle commander, said in a statement. "She never sought media attention for herself, but rather focused on doing her normally outstanding job."

When Ride first launched into space, feminist icons such as Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda were at Kennedy Space Center and many wore T-shirts alluding to the pop song with the refrain of the same name: "Ride, Sally Ride."

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, a former astronaut, said Ride "broke barriers with grace and professionalism -- and literally changed the face of America's space program."

"The nation has lost one of its finest leaders, teachers and explorers," he said in a statement.

One of Ride's last legacies was allowing middle school students to take their own pictures of the moon using cameras aboard NASA's twin Grail spacecraft in a project spearheaded by her company.

"Sally literally could have done anything with her life. She decided to devote her life to education and to inspiring young people. To me, that's such a powerful thing. It's extraordinarily admirable," said Maria Zuber, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who heads the Grail mission.

Ride's obituary said she is survived by Tam O'Shaughnessy, her partner of 27 years and a co-founder of Sally Ride Science; her mother, Joyce; her sister, Bear, a niece; and a nephew.

James Holmes' Arraignment to be Televised

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

While watching the news this evening, I heard that the judge overseeing the arraignment of James Holmes, accused Aurora movie theater killer, will allow cameras inside the courtroom tomorrow.
This means the public will see and hear the man who killed 12 and wounded 58 others in a shooting spree at the premier of the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises.
According to Colorado police, Holmes has been uncooperative and has given no clue as to his motive for the tragic killing spree.

The latest picture of Holmes  realeased today shows him with bright red hair and a smug smile on his face. Let's hope the justice system is able to wipe that smile right off and provide justice for the families of the killed and injured!

Whale Encounter in Alaska

Patty Smukall

“Enjoy a day aboard the Lu-Lu Belle”’ the sign read.  Little did I know that one day, on this magnificent 70+ foot luxurious vessel,  venturing out into Prince William Sound, would my childhood dreams come true!  My childhood is when my fascination with cetaceans, whales, dolphins and porpoises, started but didn’t end.  My endless curiosity about these fascinating creatures continued into adulthood and throughout my life, leading me to pursue a degree in Zoology and a 10 year career at Sea World, working with marine mammals for most of it. This phase of my life gave me plenty of opportunities to observe, rescue and care for marine mammals of many types, mostly Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins, manatees and sea lions.  I participated in many necropsies over the years as Sea World at that time was the leader in rescuing and rehabilitation of any marine mammals along the coast of central Florida.  I even planned my vacation around the migration of the California Grey Whales, and traveled to California to see them pass during their 6,000 mile round trip migration from the Bering Sea to the lagoons of Baja, Mexico.

 But it was the big ones I longed to see, the majestic humpbacks, Megaptera novaeangliae, http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/humpbackwhale.htm  the ones famous for their songs that vary from group to group and change from year to year, just as our music changes with the times.  These are the whales that are also known for their social behaviors, especially their “bubble-netting” , a feeding behavior which demonstrates their social ability to communicate, coordinate their activities and even to take turns. 

  I know many adult Homo sapiens who have a very hard time with that last requirement!  Bubble-netting involves these foraging crustacean-eating giants to encircle their prey, which consists mostly of tiny krill and copepods, and methodically exhale a net of bubbles.  Little do these tiny crustaceans know that they can swim right through these bubbles!  By working in groups of 3 or more, all blowing bubbles underwater, the whales increase the efficiency of the hunting method.  The whales then take turns lunge feeding.  Lunge feeding involves lifting vertically out of the water with open mouths, through patches of unsuspecting, confused tiny invertebrates.  Their expandable throat grooves allow for the consumption of thousands of pounds of krill at a time. The krill is trapped on their flexible baleen plates, as they water through the row of baleen and swollen the prey.  This ingenious, infallible system clearly demonstrates their teamwork and intelligence.

It wasn’t until my own son, now a fisheries biologist himself, living in Alaska, invited me up to visit, that I was given to opportunity to see these majestic giants perform this and other behaviors.  I enjoyed seeking out and observing all of the wildlife Alaska has to offer; bears, moose, salmon galore, herds of caribou and birds on their way to their migration destinations.  But in the back of my mind, I longed to see the whales Alaska is home to. 

I got my opportunity as we pulled in the quaint town of Valdez.  The rest of my group peered out the windows, looking for a “vacancy” sign at any of the handful of hotels.  This was, after all, the peak of the tourist season and all towns on the coast fill up during the summer due to the famous run of the salmon. Fishing boats abounded, the smell of the sea surrounded us and no vacancies were apparent.  Then I saw it - a sign showing a humpback whale breaching, and claiming to be the best wildlife viewing vessel in Valdez. It was larger than life, at least to me and there was no stopping me, depleted budget or not, I was sold.

 Glacier Wildlife Cruises prides itself on taking their time to ensure that its passengers enjoy the wildlife available and a close-up view of the Columbia Glacier.  The cruise is scheduled to last from 5/12 to 7 hours, depending on what is seen along the way.   However,  Captain Fred Rodolf, owner of the Lu-Lu Belle, a mighty vessel http://www.lulubelletours.com/ , has been cruising Prince William Sound since 1979 and his in his personal style, narrates during the entire cruise, sharing his knowledge of the area and the abundance of wildlife it treasures.  Captain Rudolf himself restored his yacht, one of the most beautiful in Alaska, and is at the helm for every one of its enlightening cruises.  He believes in staying out on the Sound until its passengers have had the chance to take in and take photos of what they sought out to see.  In my case, it was whales.

Find whales we did, but along the way, we were treated to an array of nature’s miracles.  Before we ever left the small boat harbor in Valdez, we saw rafts of sea otters floating and shielding their pups. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/sea-otter   As we entered the magnificent Prince William Sound,  Steller’s Sea Lions, rested on the buoys. This was nothing compared to the hundreds of them in rookeries we passed along the shoreline.  These pinnipeds http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/pinnipeds are an on-going conservation success story, still recovering from decades of over-harvesting, and to see them fighting for space on the shore, ready to breed and add to the next generation literally brought tears to my eyes.  As we looked carefully up at the cliffs above these rookeries, we saw puffins nesting in the cracks and crevices.

Going further out to see, we were accompanied by schools of Dall’s Porpoises, Phocoenoides dalli, http://dallsporpoise.org/index.php trying to catch a ride on our bow wake.  This, of course delighted the passengers, especially the children onboard.  But where were the whales, the big humpbacks I had hoped for?  Many onboard were excited to see the small, immature Gray Whale, Eschrichitus robusus, http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/graywhale.htm detected and pointed out by no other than my son I have to say.  Exciting? Yes.  Was it capable of taking my breath away?  No. This was awesome but I wasn’t as impressed as some, since I had seen lots of bigger, mature grey whales off the coast of California.

Then it happened!  In the distance Capt. Fred saw a pod of Humpbacks, and slowly, ever so quietly approached them, carefully keeping a respectful distance.  They were feeding and diving, presenting those incredible 10 foot wide tail flukes that scientists use to identify each one.  The scars, markings, and patterns are unique to each one of them, just as our fingerprints are unique to us.  Through my tear-filled eyes I was witnessing what I had been waiting all of my life for; seeing the playful antics of a real live baleen whale enjoying life in its own natural world! One of these giants must have been sent from heaven to amuse us and fulfill my dream, because after a few minutes of watching 40+ people scramble from one side of the boat to the other every time he moved, he decided to put on a spectacle all of us will never forget.  He slowly wandered away from the rest of the pod, and proceeded to perform all of the visible behaviors that I teach my Marine Biology students in class every year.  There were the tail lobs (lobbing the tail in the air and slapping the flukes on the surface), fluking (raising its tail before a dive), pec-slaps (lying on its side or back, hitting the surface with its flippers known as pecs) and the spy hopping (raising the head out of the water to expose the eyes and take a look around).  Then, as I stood there on the most forward part of the boat (yes,  the part Leonardo Dicaprio hung over in the Titanic), thinking life just can’t get any better than this, this gorgeous 12+ meter Humpback Whale repeated breached before my eyes.  I was so awestruck by all of this, I had not even taken one picture, but that’s ok because the images are all forever engrained in my heart.

COLORADO SHOOTING: WHO IS TO BLAME?

                            Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Ever since the first word of the tragic shooting at the Colorado theater hit the air, conservatives and liberals have been pointing fingers and crying “their fault”.

ABC News was just itching for a right wing connection, so they found one of the many people named “James Holmes” in the Denver area who happens to have a Tea Party connection even though they didn’t know for sure if it was the murderer. Here’s the conversation:

Stephanolpoulos: I’m going to go to Brian Ross. You’ve been investigating the background of Jim Holmes here. You found something that might be significant.

Ross: There’s a Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colorado, page on the Colorado Tea party site as well, talking about him joining the Tea Party last year. Now, we don’t know if this is the same Jim Holmes. But it’s Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colorado.

Stephanolpoulos: Okay, we’ll keep looking at that. Brian Ross, thanks very much.

Of course, it was a middle aged different “James Holmes” which ABC must have known, but they couldn’t resist taking the shot.

Conservatives have jumped on the band wagon saying that the liberal media have allowed violent, dark movies like Batman to mentally damage young people like James Holmes, and that’s what caused him to go on his shooting spree.  While I have to  agree that movies are way too violent and filled with sex and deviant behavior these days, I don’t think that was the single ,deciding factor that made this man murder 12 people and injure many more.

 As I switched from channel to channel, I heard about the need for gun control and how NRA was to blame for the tragedy, how the school system has let society down and caused the situation, how parents have failed in raising their children. There were so many fingers pointing I couldn’t keep track of who was blaming who! (or is that whom?)

Anyway, I finally saw one person on TV who was making perfect sense. He wasn’t pointing a finger or placing blame, although more than almost anyone, he had that right. He was the boyfriend of Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring young sportscaster who was killed in the theater shooting. When the reporter attempted to have him take a stand on the gun control issue, he refused and said all he wanted was for everyone to concentrate on the victims, on Jessica. He’s right. This isn’t a time for politics.  As both President Obama and Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney stated, this is a time for prayer and reflection. They both had the good sense and sensitivity to put politics aside to mourn for the dead and comfort their families and the injured.

Perhaps in a few days, we can talk about gun control, violence in movies, and all the rest. But not today, today is for remembering.

July 19th: Ramadan 2012

Tonight is the beginning of the Muslin holiday season of Ramadan.

Ramadan is celebrated by 1 billion Muslims worldwide. But if you’re not one of them, you may not know what the holiday is about. From being kind to those less fortunate, to putting a cap on lying, the holiday has a lot of great principles to offer—no matter what your religion.

First, the basics: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which was first penned in about 600 A.D. The Islamic calendar is lunar, not solar, and unlike a holiday like Christmas (which falls on the same date every year) Ramadan begins on a different date each year—whenever the first sliver of the crescent moon, in the ninth month, appears.

For kids, the most striking thing about Ramadan is the fasting. People who celebrate the holiday eat only when it’s dark outside. From the first light of dawn, until the sun goes down, Muslims don’t eat or drink anything. For kids, the concept of no food can be hard to swallow! But not eating anything gives Muslims time to focus on other things.

For example, during Ramadan, celebrants spend more time with family. They pledge not to tell any lies, not to gossip, and not to be greedy. Those too sick or too old to fast are asked to feed one needy person each day of the month. And everyone who celebrates Ramadan is asked to do as many good deeds as they possibly can over the course of the holiday.

“The prophet Muhammad was very generous at all times, but in some portions of the scripture it says that he was generous like the wind during the month of Ramadan,” says Mohamed El-sanousi, Director of Community Outreach and Communications for the Islamic Society of America, the largest umbrella group of Muslims in the U.S. “This is a month of giving. Of healing and caring. It is a time for people to remember those who are less fortunate and an opportunity to reinforce the spiritual reasons behind fighting hunger and poverty,” he says. Even if you don’t celebrate Ramadan, here are a few things you can do to teach your kids a little more about it:

• Be kind to others. Sure, Santa may not be looking to see who’s been naughty and who’s been nice for another few months. And trying to get into the “good book” for Yom Kippur isn’t for several more weeks. But every day is a good day to teach your kids the importance of helping others. This is a key principle of Ramadan.

• Make more time for the people you love. During Ramadan, people make an extra effort to visit with friends and family. Make it a point to plan get-togethers with the people in your life that are most important. Drop in on an elderly relative. Invite all the cousins over for Family Fridays all month long. Use Ramadan to jumpstart a regular routine of visiting with friends and family and teach your kids that keeping those ties strong should be a major goal all year long.

• Plan dinner in the dark. Pick a day during the month to show your kids what it would be like to celebrate Ramadan. Invite them to fast for the day, or for a portion of it. Then plan a special dinner for after sunset. “The tradition is to break the fast with dates, water, and milk,” says El-sanousi, “That is the same for all. But the dinner afterwards is very different from culture to culture within the Islamic community.

 It seems to me that everyone if every faith can agree that being kind, making time for loved ones, and appreciating what you'ce got are good practices for our children.  So during Ramadan, Advent, Passover or whatever holy season you celebrate, take the time to show your children these basic actions, and how practicing them brings us all that much closer together!

                    Oh, and “Ramadan Mubarak”, or Happy Ramadan!

LEO PERSONALITY

The Sun is your ruling planet Leo. Of course the Sun is not really a planet; it is the center of our solar system. And, as above, so below! You shine as brightly as the Golden globe because you reflect the characteristics of the heavenly body that rules your star sign!
You too are a ball of dynamic energy. You are warm, bright and self-motivated, and you want to make an impression in everything you do — your work, your love life and your social life.

Because you are extremely generous, you expect others to be just as big-hearted. So when you see others holding back, you find it hard to not jump in and try to change that. You want to see everyone giving to the best of their ability. To other people, you can look like a bit of a tyrant, asking for more than they can give.

When you are feeling upbeat, you carry people away with your energy, and they love you for it. You love sharing your joys and successes with the people you love, and when you do, you are magnanimous — you never give a thought to getting anything in return. There are few star signs who really understand the nature of giving, but Leo seems to have perfected the art.

You also have a great sense of timing. When you offer a friendly word or gesture of encouragement, you pick the exact moment when it will have greatest impact. You always seem to be in the right place at the right time. You’re lucky this way.

Try to remember that your strong sense of self can be misinterpreted by others — understatement could sometimes be a more effective way for you to show your loyalty and express your generosity.
Some people think you are a show-off, but this too is a mistake. Your dramatic flair is part and parcel of your zest for life, your love of people and your optimism. For you, life is a stage on which you can perform and express your talents.

You may not be a performer on the entertainment stage, but Mick Jagger, a Leo, is, and he is a very good example of the strutting, egotistical nature of Leo. Mick exudes charisma, creativity and a personal style all his own. Not only that, but he has embedded his brand name as No. 1 in the rock industry, decade after decade. On the stage of life, you too will want to be No. 1, and to present yourself as someone special, with unique talents.

Loyalty is your trademark. People know you are a genuine friend who is always ready to lend a hand. Even if you can’t help someone with their specific problem, you still manage to send out a warm and reassuring vibration that makes them feel better.

On the other hand, you also have a need to ‘one-up’ others. A little more humility wouldn’t hurt. You will get plenty of praise and recognition for your energy and your self-motivation — you don’t need to big-note yourself. People will instantly recognize your abilities, and many will look up to you. Try not to let this go to your head; remind yourself occasionally to ‘get off your high horse’.

Leo’s totem is the lion, lord of the jungle — full of muscularity, grace and ferocity. This means that your physical appetites and general level of energy are extraordinarily high. You need to be physically mobile and fully engaged in meaningful work and social activities to feel good.

You are a born leader: people naturally gravitate to you, and look to you for guidance and security. This is especially true if you are born in the very first part of Leo - that is you're born between 24th July and 3rd August. At times you can seem a hard taskmaster, demanding excellence from them — this is just a reflection of your own actions, your own approach, but keep an eye out for it, and keep it under control.

For Leos born between the 4th and 14th of August, Jupiter and Sagittarius have a strong sway over your life. You are adventurous and love to travel, learn about new cultures and explores the world and people. Mostly easygoing you attract many friends and seem to be in the right place at the right time. You're one of the lucky Leos.

Are you a Leo born between the 15th and 23rd August? Then your fighting spirit is second to none! Nothing gets in the road of your ambitions so its quite clear that you will achieve what you set your heart upon. My only comment is that you should never tread on anyone's toes on the way up the ladder of success. You might just have to deal with them on the way down!

Generally you have a pioneering spirit; this is connected to your desire to be the best. So while you could be quite happy with a life where you follow other people’s rules and regulations, mostly you’ll much prefer to blaze your own trail.

This means you will carve out your own niche and make a name for yourself. You’ll shine in almost everything you do, and will without a doubt make your mark in the world — you can reach the top of the ladder, no matter what field you choose.

---

Three Classes of Leo

Being born between the 24th of July on the 5th of August makes you Leo through and through. Your charisma and power are undeniable and from early age you have had a strong sense of your personal destiny. As a result don't be surprised to find yourself assuming positions of authority and power and life. Some of you may even hold high office, become interested in politics or at this community work and will certainly become the best in your field.

As a Leo born between the 6th on the 14th of August you have an adventurous nature and like to explore the different avenues of life to make your life more exciting and interesting. Culture, travel and higher studies are some of the different avenues which will draw you away from a conventional lifestyle to an independent type of life. You have a great love of freedom and will never let anyone dictate the terms of your existence.

Impatience and a hot-headed nature are some of the problems you face being born between the 15th and the 23rd of August. Once you can bring these emotions under control you have a much better chance of not only being successful but finding happiness in your personal affairs as well. Because of the strong influence of Mars and Aries on your birthday you have a strong ego and need to understand that others may just be right sometimes. Notwithstanding these negative traits, you do have a very generous nature and are affectionate to the ones you care for.

http://www.astrology.com.au/astrology/12-signs-of-the-zodiac/virgo.html