The Horn

Tarry here a while ~

2010-05-10T23:40:00.000-04:00

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domgab1914@comcast.net

Dear President Ahmadinejad:

2010-02-14T15:03:00.005-05:00

O Tempora! O Mores!

Look hard at where the fates have placed you! You are the President of a truly respected but a currently very unstable and dangerous modern nation. Its roots reach honorably and deeply into ancient history. But who can forget that during its early stages of unwarranted voracity, destiny chose instead to give it Alexander the Great. To subdue and dominate other nations is to be like a lecherous siren whose interests are generally and exclusively her own. Thankfully, true humanity serves understanding and compassionate divinities who dwell on a more celestial plane.

If like Don Quixote, you continue to see mortal enemies everywhere you look, it is inevitable that you will someday be sucked up by a windmill and thrust irretrievably into the darkest oblivion. But though your time is now short, be reminded that you still have a glorious and God willed opportunity to do more world wide good than you have ever imagined.

My advice to you is to cease maliciously taunting those nations and peoples you personally regard as your enemies and begin to do your earnest best to bring Iran and its confused and weary people into a community of nations that has long been ready to welcome and embrace it. Your place in the Pantheon of true leaders will be assured and Satan will no longer warmly await you.

A tie is not a cruciate symbol. Start wearing one again and be Presidential! (And let's spend more time in the library)

Comments:

Genesis Re-revisited

2010-02-12T13:15:00.005-05:00

Because most of my readers may have missed this posting (originally published on 8/30/2005) in view of what currently transpireth worldwide, I felt a particular urge to reprint it today. Had God been routinely required to submit any of his contemplated proposals to a Holy Operations Committee, His human genesis plan would almost certainly have been given “cross glanced” short shrift.

A Truly Fateful Day

I read the bible with somewhat looser scrutiny than most people and I tend to generate weird fantasies and interpretations. Had I been asked [perish the thought] to write the story about Eve sprouting from one of Adam’s ribs, this would have been my version. It envisions an imaginary encounter between God and the Archangel Gabriel, immediately following the creation of Eve:

When God finished extracting Eve from one of Adam’s ribs, he felt really bushed. He sat under a nearby shade tree with Archangel Gabriel and together they uncapped a cool bottle of Jack Daniels.

"Phew . . . What do you think, Gabe?" God asked, after taking a long and godly swallow.
After sipping deeply from the same bottle, Archangel Gabriel responded, "Great job, old man. But you know what? I think you’ve got this whole human creation thing bass-ackwards."
"What do you mean," God angrily retorted?
"No disrespect intended, Lord. I simply mean you should have created Eve first, not Adam."
"Why so" God asked?
Gabriel hastened to explain. "It would make more sense if the woman, who you have already fully equipped with all the organs of reproduction would be central in this birthing process. Think of it, your Supreme Holiness, most men won't be like Adam. They are not going to be so gung-ho to have their ribs cracked, just to reproduce children."
"Hmm! Go on," said God

"Look," Gabriel replied, "Had you created Eve first, you could have instilled your divine spirits into her and pretty soon baby Adam would have slid out nice and easy from her womb and not herky-jerky, crunchy-crushy from one of her ribs. Isn’t the womb thing what we plan to do with the Virgin Mary when her time comes to deliver Jesus?"
"By George! By the way Gabe, who the hell is George? Never mind! You've nailed it, Gabe. The man is only an accessory. In fact, except for the few sperm he squirts on the egg, after that he’s no longer necessary. Yeah, you’re right! We should make the woman the central figure, the prime mover. Why didn’t I think of that?"
"Reverend Paterfamilias, you have more important things on your mind. The universe depends on you. It’s your patrimony, as Latin speaking people will soon be saying."
"Thanks, Gabe. You’re a good consigliere, as Italian speaking people will soon be saying. Now that we know better, let's call this motherhood and marriage thing, Holy Matrimony!
"By all that’s holy and true, you are now making the omelette without cracking the shells! You're really cooking now, your omniscience!"
God continued, "And while the women are birthing, nursing and really caring for their children, we won't have their men interfering. We'll make them create statues, build bridges, play sports, fight wars, distill liquor and whatever else, to keep them from brooding about being only accessories to human genesis!"
"Most divinely declaimed!" exclaimed Archangel Gabriel and with the bottle at his lips, he drained the remainder of the Tennessee Sour Mash.

If all of the above sounds a bit irreverent, maybe that's because it is. But think of it for a minute, the Adam and Eve part of the bible must surely have been composed by a man. No fully gendered woman would ever have written Genesis the way it now reads. May I place an Amen to that (?)

Comments:

President Obama, whither now?

2010-01-27T02:27:00.015-05:00

Half-white, half-black, Barack Obama was sired by a Kenyan Muslim. Later, but still in his early childhood, he was raised in Indonesia as a Muslim by his Muslim stepfather. As a young adult, residing in Chicago, he developed political aspirations and when it became tactically expedient to do so he turned to the Reverend Wright and utilized that preacher's spirited assistance to adopt a generic Christian facade. What he now really feels to be his true religious affiliation he keeps mostly to himself, but he does draw the line at praising God and reciting our Pledge of Allegiance, in public.

Supported and hyped by an intensely sycophantic media, he was elected by an electorate that was obsessed with denigrating Bush. But what those voters failed to foresee, is what now so perilously besets us. Against an Islam that remains unswervingly committed to exterminating Jews and all their American supporters, paradoxy was pushed to a dangerous limit. Not fully aware that jihadists are at war with us, the voters chose for the USA to be commanded by a Muslim Commander-in-Chief. Please God, where in your divine name does this ominous charade go from here?

While I don't believe Obama is about to hand over our keys to his co-religionists, deep in his unconscious may lie a complex messianic desire to forge some kind of transcendent union between us and Islam. But I suspect he must often wonder if his Islamic core can keep him from also being an uncompromising American patriot. Is God confused? Does Allah have answers? Do you?

Comment:

Please, President Obama, Sir . . .

2010-01-23T12:04:00.010-05:00

If the TV Icon we know, as Colombo,
were to opine on these matters,
this is the way it might go (?)

This is based on a forwarded,
multi-addressed, e-mail
that I just received

Excuse me President Obama, I'll only take a minute - OK, Sir? Can you help me out with a few loose ends and things that have been bothering me. I can't seem to get some information I need, to wrap this up. What I'm looking for are either "not released" or "not available."

Could you please help me find:

1. Occidental College records - Not released
2. Columbia College records -Not released
3. Columbia Thesis paper - Not available
4. Harvard College records - Not released
5. Selective Service Registration - Not released
6. Medical records - Not released
7. Illinois State Senate schedule - Not available
8. Your Illinois State Senate records - Not available
9. Law practice client list - Not released
10. Certified Copy of your original Birth Certificate - Not released
11. Embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth - Not released
12. Record of your baptism and religious affiliation - Not available
13. Why Michelle no longer practices law? (Insurance Prob?)
14. Why she has 22 assistants, when other First Ladies usually had only one
15. Why were you getting "foreign student aid" as a college student?
16. Which "passport" did you use when you visited Pakistan in 1981?

* Oh and one more thing Mr. President, - I can't seem to find any articles you published as editor of the Harvard Law Review, or as a Professor at the University of Chicago. Can you explain that to me, Sir?

** If you're too busy right now, I'll come back later. I'll give you some time to get these things together. What's that Mr. President? Who wants to know these things? We the people of the United States of America! You know, the ones who vote!

*** Does the fact that you were sired by a Muslim father, and that during your early childhood you were raised as a Muslim in Indonesia by a Muslim stepfather, have any effect on how you view and interpret attacks by Muslims on Americans and Israelis? (Colombo was prompted by The Horn to ask Obama this question)

Comment:

Dom: Thanks for the post in the Horn. Yes, there are a number of unanswered questions about Obama that will probably only be answered when he is out of office. The Dems and media are too busy praising him. Well, he has been very successful in awakening the sleeping conservative giant - the true silent majority. I only hope that the pressure continues because I do believe your accurate narcissism diagnosis of Obama will never allow him to change. ~ Bill S.

Bill: Do you think that the additional question I want Colombo to ask President Obama is appropriate? ~ The Horn

Dom: It is very appropriate. As I have aged I can recognize the influence my parents had on me. The Neil Young song says it with eloquence, "Old man, look at me now, I'm a lot like you were." He should also be asked how he got to Harvard and how he rose so quickly to his Senate seat. Who mentored him? And why is he so eager to repudiate our country's immediate past and degrade it unmercifully before the world? ~ Bill S.

The 10th Crusade?

2010-01-14T13:36:00.005-05:00

Join me on a brief excursion into Medieval History (and a tad beyond)

In the year 1076, Muslims captured Jerusalem, the holy city in Israel where the religions of Jews, Christians and Muslims, were latterly spawned. For Jews, Jerusalem takes them back to the days before David, Solomon et al. For Christians, Christ spent most of His life there and was crucified on nearby Mount Calvary. For Muslims, Muhammad, who founded the Islamic faith, is memorialized by the Dome of the Rock. It is believed that he prayed there and was lifted to heaven from the Rock. Abraham too, the beloved patriarch of Jews and Muslims, spent much time on the Rock - indeed, it was exactly there, where he almost sacrificed his son, Isaac.

From 1096 to the latter days of the 13th century, the Christians of Europe mounted nine major military campaigns (The Crusades) in valiant attempts to restore their place in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Middle East became densely populated by Muslims and to such an extent that the burgeoning land trade routes from Europe to China and the Indies became blocked, a major setback to the then prospering European economy.

To emerge from Islam's stranglehold, naval explorers from Italy, Spain, Portugal and England took to the seas to search for maritime routes to the Indies. But as intrepid as they were, it was by accident that they discovered the "New" World, a serendipitous find that forged a lead for the "Infidels" with which Islam could no longer compete. May I point out, that like on the uniforms of their armies, most of these European vessels carried sails on which the Crusader's Cross was very conspicuously emblazoned! One might call this "Infidel" age of discovery and incredible growth, the 10th Crusade! Noteworthy about this staggering triumph over Islam, it didn't require a single Muslim casualty!

Please draw from the above some added perspectives to what you may already know about this centuries old war between Islam and its "Infidel" enemies. How much more time and prescient resolution will it take to bring the dehumanizing, immolating aspect of this conflict to an end? Hopefully, the democracies that we are currently endeavoring to establish in the heart of Islam will make it possible for voices of moderation and prudence to be propagated and heard. Conceivably, we are also helping to create an environment in which Muslim women (like women of the West) will find the strength to fully assert themselves!

Comments:

I can distinctly remember . . .

2010-01-09T18:58:00.013-05:00

I can still distinctly remember that when my Unit, the 816 Aviation Engineer Battalion, landed on Omaha Beach on the 2nd day of our WWII invasion of France, we ranged up and down and across those Normandy sands, corralling all the German captives we could find. And what do you suppose we proceeded to do with our bloodied and shell-shocked prisoners? Yes, you’ve got it - we took each one of them aside and very carefully read them their Miranda rights. And we assured each of them that we had boatloads of attorneys in our invading armada who would soon meet with them to help them. We did this at the insistence of General Eisenhower and General Patton and with the blessings of President Roosevelt and the Congress of the USA.

What a startling and unprecedented effect this had on our enemy! The German military, all over Europe, surrendered abruptly and Hitler hurriedly retired to his basement cell in Berlin and committed suicide. Rainbows arched across the skies of Europe and all you could hear from the heavens were holy psalms extolling the virtues of Universal Civil Rights (Lefts?). Flitting among those joined in singing the praises of God and man was my divine ancestor, the Archangel Gabriel.

A few days ago, I was told by my primary care physician that I have Schlemiel’s Disease, a rare form of Senile Dementia in which the patient distinctly remembers many things that never happened.

Comments:

Jan 9: Dad, I seem to recall that in some of my history classes that the allies did indeed provide Miranda warnings to captured axis soldiers. It was only fitting, since captured American and British were treated so well. It would be wonderful if we could provide new Quarans to all muslims, with a preface that included the Miranda statement and the phone number of the ACLU ~ Tom G.

Jan 11: Schlemiel, schlemihl, shlemiel [ʃləˈmiːl] in US slang, an awkward or unlucky person whose endeavors usually fail [Yiddish, from German, after the hero of a novel by Chamisso (1781-1838)] I think, obviously, your doctor has it wrong. It seems most, if not all, of your endeavors have been highly successful. I would argue that such an experience made such a deep mark on your memory that it would be difficult to recall it incorrectly. I agree with Tom. . . ~ Julia G.

Feb 14: A very nice dispatch. It helped me a lot with my current college assignments. Thank you very much ~ Anonymous

Who Is Our Enemy?

2009-12-26T20:54:00.035-05:00

It's been nearly a year since I posted to The Horn, but that lapse was not because I had nothing significant to say. My family and friends know that I am providing unceasing personal care to my Alzheimer afflicted spouse. More about that, at another time! Right now, however, I feel strongly motivated to make some critical comments about the thwarted attempt by a 23 year old Muslim “terrorist” to commit catastrophic disaster while in flight from Yemen to the United States.

In retrospect, by failing to read Miranda to Umar Abdulmutallab while he was being forcibly apprehended in the act of blowing up the plane on which he, the crew and all of its passengers were destined to die in a fiery crash, we have already willfully violated his civil rights. Evidently, he was not told that he could refrain from submitting himself to any self-indicting interrogation, absent his attorney. Moreover, since the aircraft was crossing over several state borders on its way to Detroit, it remains to be seen which of those several states will eventually seek judicial jurisdiction over him. But in the meantime, where do we safely sequester him? Now that Guantanamo is about to pass into limbo this might be an appropriate time for us to establish a USA operated, properly monitored, off shore prison. Let us design it to contain what has now become an unending stream of captive jihadists, each of them eager to kill "infidels" in Israel and Israel's chief and most dependable supporter, the USA.

Until we and our political leaders make a genuine and intelligent effort to understand the core nature of our centuries long conflict with Islam, we will remain deluded about the true identity of our current attackers. It is crucial for us to be aware that Muslim attackers are jihadists who believe that Allah is beseeching them to exterminate American and Israeli infidels. While their attack methods are indisputably terroristic, make no mistake, their motivation is rabidly religious!

Our survival demands that we keep our surveillance and retaliatory defenses at their highest possible level, but we should not fail to assiduously pursue every possible means to ameliorate the deplorable relationship between Muslims and the West. To continue to urge Islam to welcome true democracy into its heartland is undisputably prudent. Bringing Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan (and yes, even Iran) into the fold should be looked upon as a doable, rational and fundamentally sound policy. But it requires that we stay committed for as long as it takes. To be politically naive and demagogic at this critical time will insure our ultimate demise!

Indeed, this could be a propitious time for Islam (and we Infidels) to come together and seriously address all of those ancient and now no longer really understood whys and wherefores that have perpetuated our centuries old conflict? How much better it would now be for all of us to cease expending our energy and resources in meaningless and destructive fighting and join together to find ways to resurrect those glorious days when Jews, Christians and Mohammedans enjoyed nearly two centuries of true harmony, prosperity and cultural stimulation. May God help us to once again love and respect each other! Hallelujah!

Comments:

Dec 27: You're spot on! And the longer we avoid profiling based upon behavior, the more our citizens are in jeapardy. It's time to move beyond 'offending' these criminals. In addition, I keep wondering where the outrage from Islam is. There needs to be leadership from the Imams and their communities. Until the good Muslims take a real leadership role (and there are many, many good Muslims), this activity will continue, unfortunately, to be tolerated. - Julia G.

Jan 5: Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones. You have a lot more creativity and originality. Now keep it up! - Anonymous (bona fide e-mail)

Jan 6: Many thanks. Perhaps by 2014 when I turn 100, I'll be eligible for the Nobel Peace Prize. - Dom Gabriele

Deja vu, All Over Again

2009-01-25T11:55:00.011-05:00

Shades of Reverend Wright

Once again, as has so frequently happened in the past, Barack Obama is being drawn into the orbit of a powerful, knowledgeable, but sometimes erratically oriented man. How will it go and how will it end?

In a feature article published in today’s NY Times, Mark Leibovich has submitted a very penetrating, and surprisingly negative, report about the man Obama has chosen to be his White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel.

The sub headings to this article read “Partisan, Profane Confidant.” Rahm Emmanuel, who has played a crucial role in the selection of nearly every cabinet and White House Staff member is looked upon by some pundits as a bombastic, impulse driven man who is not above thumbing his nose at his adversaries. Spawned from that same notorious circle of volatile Illinois politicians that also produced Obama, he has quickly risen to be the "second" most powerful politico in the country.

It is no secret that our newly inaugurated President has come to rely heavily upon Rahm Emmanuel. He is his pillar of strength and fountain of wisdom. But there are foreboding observations in this report which imply that on occasion, the lines that should always sharply demarcate the borders of presidential authority, get somewhat blurred.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

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Chiaroscuro!

2009-01-22T19:40:00.012-05:00

O Tempora! O Mores!

Whereas we have whitening agents that some people use to lighten their complexions, now we may see sales of darkening agents for white people in Washington to darken their complexions.

Who has not noticed that Vice-President Joe Biden is now sporting a Grade 4 facial suntan? And coincidentally, is that unusual redness we have been seeing recently on Nancy Pelosi’s face the result of excessive use of a sun lamp? I find it entertainingly puzzling, that not a single reporter has made any reference to what is becoming so conspicuously evident. How can the media have failed to report these contrived excursions into post-inaugural sycophancy?

By the way, it was particularly jarring to hear President Obama address the world with these surprisingly undiplomatic words, “you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you!” One doesn’t need to be a psychoanalyst to see that Muslims, who until now have been courted by him with such effective and subtle grace, will take very strong exception to those “crusading” words. How much better it might have been for him to have said, “we will do everything possible to resolve and overcome the hostilty of our adversaries.” Where was Obama’s oversight and sensitivity when that badly conceived, jingoistic phrase was hammered out by his speech writers?

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net
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Stay Connected

2009-01-09T21:09:00.014-05:00

How good it can be . . . at Il Forno's

Though the sun shone brightly, today was frigid - 23 degrees and heading lower. But we needed groceries - so, we drove to the A&P. In anticipation of heavy snow, there were more shoppers than usual and the checkout lanes were clogged. But with all the milling about, it was really a good time to strike up conversations with fellow shoppers.

On our way home, we decided to dine at our favorite restaurant, Il Forno. When we were served our Chianti, I toasted a woman who was dining alone at a nearby table and she warmly reciprocated by raising her glass. While we munched on our pizza and drank our wine, we had occasion to exchange warm glances with other friendly diners at adjacent tables.

As we prepared to leave, the waitress advised me that our tab had been paid by another diner. What a delightful and heart throbbing surprise! I walked over to him, identified myself, and expressed our gratitude. In response to my curiosity, he said that he, his wife and his two daughters were simply pleased to notice that Lenore and I created a very warm impression upon them. At the next table to them, a diner identified himself as Gino and his wife as Ella. He too had gone to the cashier to pay my bill. In the conversation that ensued with him and his wife, a remarkable coincidence was uncovered. Like my mother, Gino’s parents were from Sicily and like my father, Ella’s had come from Abruzzi.

Isn’t it amazing how with such little effort, we can generate so much good will? We can do so simply by being open and friendly and it helps to be in the kind of congenial environment that Il Forno has so graciously cultivated. Unfortunately, however, when we are disinclined to break through our cocoon, we risk ambling through life in depressing solitude.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Hi Dommie ~ I loved your story about Il Forno. It just goes to show you that people inherently respond to pleasant sightings. You and Nan have a warmth and a love that radiates and people respond in kind. More people should do kind gestures like that. Believe me - it gives just as much pleasure to the giver as to the receiver. Good Stuff ~ Love, Chrissy

Dad ~ I loved this story on your blog about your dinner at Il Forno. I can almost envision you and Mom sitting there, and people observing the two of you, like a scene from a movie. You both are truly memorable ~ Loretta

Israel's Ordeal

2008-12-31T16:22:00.021-05:00

The Promised Land ?

When David slew Goliath, with a single shot from his sling, Israel’s determination to defend itself was everlastingly punctuated.

That event is purported to have occurred about 1,500 years before the birth of Christ. When the Jews escaped from bondage in Egypt, Moses led them to the Promised Land, where by happenstance, the Philistines were also endeavoring to establish themselves.

What defies credence is the enormity of suffering that Israelis have undergone since their tribal origin along the Euphrates river. No matter where Jews settle, they are ostracized, persecuted and even massacred. And since 1948, when with U.N. approval they re-established themselves in Israel, they have been under constant attack by the Islamists who surround them. Worse, they are now threatened with nuclear extinction, by Iran. While Jews ask for nothing but human understanding, except for the United States, the world keeps its back turned on them.

But now that the newly elected President of the United States is Barack Hussein Obama, an Afro American, sired in Hawaii by an itinerant, Kenyan Muslim, what new fate has destiny prepared for Israel? While we ponder that question, let us not forget that for the past several decades, Israel has depended almost exclusively on America for its continuing survival!

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Obama's Flaw Revisited

2008-12-30T12:41:00.000-05:00

Please re-read my December 11th Post
“Obama’s Fatal Flaw”

In it, you will discover that I have clearly discerned Barack Obama’s pathological propensity to be drawn to (and manipulated by) strong, impulse driven people. Though not yet in office, he is showing once again how vulnerable he is to such people. Sadly, unless he can correct this flaw, the initiative he plans to exercise as president, will be seriously attenuated.

Look closely at the Governor Blagojehvich travesty. Here, with what should have been a routine transfer of his own senate seat to an appointee, Obama has allowed himself to become helplessly, and perhaps hopelessly, entangled in an ongoing fiasco that is still wildly unfolding. Isn’t it past time for him to see that the “CHANGE” he keeps proclaiming for us, needs to start with himself?

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

SPQR

2008-12-23T20:02:00.013-05:00

Senatus Populusque ? ? ?

With Obama’s vacant Illinois Senate seat being offered to the highest bidder and Clinton’s New York seat being token-tendered, to the dynastic, multi-millionaire Caroline Kennedy, we have cause to be more than just a little concerned. Although we must depend on a bi-cameral Congress for our legislation, it seems that of the two, only the House of Representatives shows any semblance of political relevance. Our "House of Lords" Senate continues to prosper and fester in a chronic state of irrelevance.

States with diverse political views, often reflect their divergence by the composition of the delegations they elect. And because Representatives are elected for two year terms, they do tend to have a more actively current orientation than those posturing Senators who use their chamber to grow rich, old and hoary. But it is particularly disturbing when both senators are from the same party, because when that happens the opposing views in that state get short shrift by the Senate.

Bogged down by counter-productive disparities, Congress ought to think seriously about abolishing its perpetually divisive political aisles and start generating inspired ideas that do not have to carry a party label. Especially now, during these critical but astonishingly fertile times, our Senate should be able to tolerate more than just two political viewpoints at a time?

If the U.S. Senate appears to have become functionally redundant, don’t let’s blame it on our founding fathers!

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Obama's Fatal Flaw!

2008-12-11T21:10:00.022-05:00

Is denouement setting in?

In two of my previous postings, Hail to Obama and Enter the Jackass, I clearly described what may be Obama’s fatal flaw; his injudiciousness in his choice of unsavory, scheming, impulse driven associates and his reluctance to repudiate them until he is compelled to do so by a groundswell of public disapproval. I am referring, of course to his attachment to people like Reverend Wright, Father Pfleger, Terrorist Ayers, Unscrupulous Rezko and others. And let’s not leave out his wife, whom he never publicly admonished for repeatedly declaring how ashamed she is to be an American.

And now begins to unfold the saga of Blagojehvich, the Illinois Governor who has been so avidly and so surreptitiously seeking for the highest remunerator, to sit in Obama’s now vacant Senate seat. Although Obama has not (yet) been singled out by the U.S. Attorney for complicity in this matter, is it possible that while everyone in Chicago’s political circles was aware of the Governor’s outrageous quest for high magnitude reimbursement, Obama knew nothing about it? Indeed, as a serious disclaimer, isn’t it really even worse for him to say, he didn’t know what everyone else knew?

Let’s face it, Obama has been propped, prepped, prompted, protected and promoted by nearly all of our ubiquitous, liberal oriented media. Faced with that reality, his political opponents have had to walk a tightrope of restraint to avoid being accused of racism. That left him unchallenged and essentially unexamined. And having had no serious competition, he is now our President to be.

>|< Pschodynamics >|<

I see a basically passive Obama with an undeniably strong and imprudent proclivity to attach himself to unscrupulous, aggressive, impulse driven people. Perhaps timorous about acting out himself, he may be drawing vicarious satisfaction from the behavior of his chosen associates. If he remains insensitive to this critical vulnerability, high level schemers and plotters can be expected to cozy up to him from every direction. His administration will almost certainly reflect their aberrant, self-serving influences.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Roasted Chestnuts

2008-12-10T16:08:00.002-05:00

Good ole Google!
How did we ever manage
before you came onto the scene?

While at the A&P the other day, my attention was drawn to a great big basket, filled with freshly imported chestnuts. I purchased a pound and returned home as quickly as I could.

How to roast them? - I remembered that my mother used to make criss/cross cuts on the chestnut tops and she baked them. But at what temperature and for how long? I didn’t know. I called around and asked among friends and family. I got conflicting answers. Even my cookbooks failed me.

So . . . do what comes naturally these days, ask Google. Sure enough, that awesome program brought me quickly to how chestnuts should be nuked in the 21st century. Article after article described how to criss/cross cut them and cook 3 or 4 of them for about 30 seconds in the Microwave. For my wife and me, four chestnuts are ample, after they are cooked, shelled, sectioned and sprayed with pepper and salt.

Here’s to you Google, you never fail to bring warmth, goodness and enlightenment to this crotchety, grateful old nonagenarian.

And by the way, dear reader, “Google News” is in a class by itself. Culled from an endless and diverse plethora of sources, it will one day get everyone to become more informed and less biased. I’ve placed the Google News hyperlink on my blog’s opening page, for your convenience.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Danger: Congress at Work!

2008-12-03T12:48:00.017-05:00

Please, Virgil
Lead US out of this Inferno!

With one malicious and grossly irresponsible observation, Congress, in its pathetically hapless efforts to re-invigorate our economy, may have inadvertently dealt a mortal blow to the entire corporate jet industry.

By ridiculing our auto industry’s CEOs for flying to the congressional hearings in their corporate jets, our legislators injudiciously revealed their naivete and their abysmal absence of understanding of our planet's modern, global economy. It was as though they were crowded at the windows in the caboose of an ancient freight train and pointing maligning fingers at planes flying overhead. It probably has not yet occurred to these gesticulators that they have perhaps, forever forfeited the freebie rides they have always so eagerly sought from corporations and were usually so generously given.

Congress! Stop posturing! Start cerebrating! You keep treading in quicksand and you are taking all of US with you!

That mindless glance by Congress at the role currently played by corporate jets saw only flamboyance and needless extravagance, but intelligent, unpoliticized scrutiny reveals that these planes are a vital and indispensable cog in the gears of our present day global politico-economy.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Awesome Coincidence!

2008-12-01T20:03:00.009-05:00

Dear Readers:

I received what follows in an e-letter forwarded to me by a friend. That letter concluded with a recommendation that each of its readers re-forward it to their own e-letter groups. I decided, however, to broaden my distribution of this remarkable centenary of coincidences, by publishing it in The Horn. To see more about this subject, amble over to Google and you will be amazed at the number of articles there that refer to these tragic events. But what truly puzzles me about this string of coincidences, is that nowhere among them did the usually ubiquitous Archangel Gabriel, make a single appearance.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846

John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946

Lincoln was elected President in 1860

Kennedy was elected President in 1960

Both Presidents were shot in the head on a Friday
Both Presidents were shot adjacent to their wives

Lincoln’s Secretary was named Kennedy
Kennedy’s Secretary was named Lincoln

Both presidents were northerners
Both assassins were southerners
Both successors were Johnsons

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln was born in 1808
Lyndon Johnson who succeeded Kennedy was born in 1908

John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin was born in 1839
Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy’s assassin was born in 1939

Both assassins were known by their three names
Both assassins’ names contain 15 letters

Lincoln was shot in a theater named Ford
Kennedy was shot in a car made by Ford

Lincoln was shot in a theater
and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse
and his assassin ran and hid in a theater

Booth was assassinated before his trial
Oswald was assassinated before his trial

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was (in) Monroe, Maryland
A week before Kennedy was shot he was (with) Marilyn, Monroe

U.S. Presidents Garfield and McKinley were also assassinated
but similar lists of coincidences have not yet been worked out

Although this awesome string of circumstances is startling beyond belief, to endeavor to postulate a mysterious significance to them would be pointless and foolhardy.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Men of War

2008-11-18T12:20:00.015-05:00

A retrospective glance at a century of wars . . .

While I applaud the use of the internet and related technologies to generate accurate and relevant information, I condemn those “web-sites and media” that wilfully inseminate susceptible, uninformed people with incendiary disinformation. It might surprise many of those who now engage in unrelenting Bush bashing, to see that our “more innocent than thou” Democratic party, has had a remarkable proclivity for immersing itself in violent, multi-casualty producing conflicts.

WWI ~ (1914 ~ 1918) We entered this war in 1917 under the direction of President Wilson, a Democrat. How many of us know that during that conflict, our 1917 Espionage Act effectively made free speech illegal and many people served long prison sentences for statements of fact that were deemed unpatriotic? The Sedition Act of 1918 ordered that publications critical of the government were to be removed from circulation by postal censors. This war was ended on Nov 11, 1918, a date we continue to celebrate annually as “Veterans Day.”

WWII ~ (1939 ~ !945) Immediately following the bombing at Pearl Harbor by Japan, on Dec 7, 1941, President Roosevelt, a Democrat, led us into the war that was raging in Europe. Here at home he hastened to place 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps. Although the magnitude of that war was global, one major facet of the conflict was the Holocaust, during which millions of Jews were gassed to death in Germany. Those who escaped execution fled to neighboring Eastern countries and beyond. In 1948, the United Nations sanctioned the establishment of a small Jewish State in the Holy Land, and Jews who had been emigrating there were permitted to re-start their lives.

WWII ~ (Aug 1945) With the war in Europe ended, the war with Japan was approaching a victorious conclusion, when President Truman, a Democrat, ordered our forces to drop atom bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. In an instant, more than a quarter of a million Japanese men, women and children were incinerated and the genetic structure of those few who survived, forever changed. Nagasaki, it will be recalled, was the venue for Puccini's unforgettable Madame Butterfly. (Imagine the brouhaha, then and now, had this unforgiveable atrocity been committed by President George Bush!)

The Korean War ~ (1950 ~ 1953) When North Korea attacked and invaded South Korea, the United Nations responded and the U.S., still under the direction of President Truman, a Democrat, entered the conflict. After many thousands of casualties, this war remains suspended by an armistice, and we are still there with substantial numbers of our military forces.

The Vietnam Indochina War ~ (1959 ~ 1975) Our longest war thus far. We entered into it under the direction of President Kennedy, a Democrat, who was emerging from a disastrous “Bay of Pigs” invasion of Cuba. More than 58,000 U.S. soldiers were killed and 304,000 were wounded. Millions of Vietnamese and people of neighboring countries were killed. Why this war was fought has never been clearly understood. Nevertheless, it remained for President Nixon, a Republican, to bring it to an indecisive conclusion.

The Gulf War ~ (1991) King Fahd of Saudi Arabia pleaded with the U.S. to intervene in the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait. Saddam Hussein of Iraq had destabilized the entire region. With Congressional approval, the first President Bush, a Republican, responded. Our intervention very quickly succeeded in defeating Iraq, liberating Kuwait and re-stabilizing that area. Our casualties were minimal. But it needs to be noted that Iraq and Iran had just concluded their own enormously violent, multi-casualty war (1980 ~1988) in which Hussein used poison gas against his foe. Fortunately, his nuclear weapon program had been interrupted by Israeli bombing in 1981. (Ironically, history does not record that Iran ever expressed its gratitude to Israel.)

Iraq War ~ (2003~ ~) This war began in 2003. With the support of Congress and the United Nations, President George Bush, a Republican, invaded Iraq. Our forces were already in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban and pursuing Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Misleading intelligence reports had attested to charges that war mongering Iraq was manufacturing and amassing additional weapons of mass destruction. But also factored into our decision were the many attacks on U.S. positions and people all over the world, culminating in the savage attack on NYC and Washington on 9/11/2001 by Islamic jihadists.

Iraq’s military forces were quickly defeated and Saddam Hussein was captured, tried and executed. Contrary to the oft stated, naive assertions by opponents of the war, it has been a few years since this war was actually terminated. The turmoil that continues is attributed to militants and insurgents who are doing everything possible to keep that country destabilized. But fortunately, with more enlightened military direction and support, we are slowly succeeding in reconstructing and breathing new life into that desperate, long suffering nation. Indeed, we are helping it to establish a genuine and viable democracy in the very heart of Islam and when that goal is ultimately attained, the whole world will be the better for it. But right now, our military establishment is urgently needed by Iraq’s slowly developing government and it is expected, that only with its expressed consent will our forces continue to be stationed there.

Although a single casualty is to be deplored, in contrast with all of the above wars, our casualties in Iraq have been relatively small. But we are still much too close to this situation to have a totally accurate perspective. Yet, it is already conceivable that retrospective history will view the Bush Administration as having done Islam, the U.S. and the rest of the world a vitally necessary humanitarian service.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Persian Pest?

2008-11-13T19:54:00.006-05:00

Ugh . . .

The other night, while reaching for an Almond Biscuit from a plastic jar on my kitchen shelf, I noticed some small insects flying around in an adjacent jar, which contained about a handful of pistachio nuts. Though quite disconcerting at first sight, I was immensely relieved to see that the non-airtight fitting cover on the jar was keeping all the winged insects securely contained.

It flashed through my mind that as recent as the mid 1800's people still believed that the maggots they saw on decaying food were spontaneously generated. But that mistaken thought was proved wrong by Spallanzani, an Italian biologist. He showed that the maggots actually grew from eggs deposited by domestic flies.

And then my thoughts switched to Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president. I recalled that pistachios have long been a major Iranian export (though whether ours still come from there is doubtful). Nevertheless, some sardonic whimsy carried my thinking a bit further. What with his incessantly voiced threats to wipe out Israel, might he not be intrigued by the idea of exporting large quantities of infested Pistachios to Israel, where he would wish them to hatch and spread like a pestilence through the entire country? While I must admit this whole kooky idea was hatched in my head, if it were to generate in his, I’m sure he would seize on it and find some way to pursue it malevolently. But please, don’t any of you readers tell him you read this in The Horn!

Note: I did get rid of those insects, and in a way as to not risk their taking root here on this continent. I’ll leave it to you, to guess how I did it.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Am I A Racist?

2008-11-12T11:07:00.009-05:00

Let's see now . . .

Here is a simple way to determine whether or not (and to what degree) we are racists.

Pretend that you are asking 100 white adults this question: “Have you ever seriously wished that you had been born black?” Now do the same hypothesizing for 100 black adults by asking: “Have you ever seriously wished that you had been born white?” We use the figure 100 so that the conjectured numbers will be expressed as meaningful percentages.

This test is not in any scientific manual. It is a speculative form of self-interrogation that I dreamed up during the recent political campaign, while we were being barraged by so many polls. I have not yet tried to translate the two numbers that emerge, but their relative racist significance will be immediately apparent. However, in order to sharpen your interpretation, you might consider comparing your results with those obtained by your friends or family, who you can induce to also do the test.

Racism is an ugly and destructive force. Its effects are being felt all over the world. But as we endeavor to learn more about it, we will almost certainly learn more about ourselves. And if we can do this together we will surely find ways to stop harming each other.

An integral part of every human sub-group’s survival mechanism is its awareness of potential threats from every other group with which it relates. Only when a particular sub-group exists totally by itself in a remote region or territory, can it safely lower its guard. But when inter-relationship between groups is unavoidable, groupism (a less incendiary synonym for racism) keeps it alert to potential danger. Unfortunately however, the indiscriminate use of “racist” defenses will inevitably exacerbate, not mitigate, the danger on both sides of the conflict.

“Birds of a feather flock together” has been an old adage we never had any problem understanding or accepting. But haven’t you ever wondered what Robins really think about Blue Jays? Or, vice versa! And think about what the poor little sparrows are thinking!

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Hail to Obama !

2008-11-10T18:59:00.007-05:00

Straws in the Wind . . .

Whereas until now, most black leaders, with the singular exception of Reverend Martin Luther King, preached mainly about black victim-hood, Barack Obama has firmly seized the torch and is now lighting up a more fertile and less ambiguous path for our young blacks to follow.

The Sharptons, the Jacksons, the Wrights, and so many others of that mindset, have succeeded only in keeping the black community deeply mired in a miasma of anger, hatred, and self-loathing. From their incendiary pulpits, they spawned only hostility and dismay. But in utter contrast, Obama, having no ancestral ties to slavery, is demonstrating by his zeal and example that America will exultantly respond to the sincerity of its citizenry and will dependably provide the resources to help each of us to find our way.

As my readers already know, I am a 95 year old, conservative, white male who has navigated on all sides of our political fences and I do not hesitate to admit that I did not cast my ballot for Obama. Leaving the ambivalence of his wife aside, I strongly disagree with many of his and the current Democratic Party’s expressed points of view. More importantly, I especially cannot condone his woefully injudicious choices of soul-mates and his adamant reluctance to denounce them, before he is publicly compelled to do so. But nevertheless, I can clearly see that with his victory, a brand new day may have dawned for many of our downtrodden, cruelly misled blacks. The question now is, will they continue to allow him and others like him (Bill Cosby, for instance) to lead them out of the wilderness? With my dampened forefinger extended upwards, I can strongly sense a catalyzing, affirmative response in the air! Don't you?

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Enter the Jackass!

2008-11-08T11:59:00.018-05:00

I only regret that . . .

I must confess, I am deep in the throes of a post election depression. At my age, with the terminal exit door squarely in my path, I now feel like Socrates taking his last few sips of hemlock. From its inception to its unhappy conclusion, this presidential campaign has been an unmitigated travesty. That our country, which has more than 300 million people, and many of them supremely gifted, had presidential aspirants of such blatant mediocrity, is beyond my limited tolerance to understand.

That an ingrate like Michelle Obama, who has loudly and frequently voiced her hatred of America is now its First Lady, defies reason. Is it possible her position came to her more as an ironic rebuke by fate than a deserved honor? And like Clinton declaring he never had sex with that woman, has Barack Obama ever seriously repudiated his own treasonably motivated associations with so many American enemies? And would he have ever done so, had he not been subjected to a crescendo of compelling criticism? Has he ever shown that he can work cooperatively with political forces at variance to his? And on the Republican side, hasn’t the problem with McCain been that notwithstanding his heroism and patriotism, he lacked the insight and maturity to see that he and we are of another “age.”

So, with Obama, Reid and Pelosi taking turns at the helm, what lies ahead, here and abroad? It depends on how far and how honestly we are willing to look. Are we about to see Iraq totally unravel because of their impetuosity? Is Al Qaedda preparing to reinvigorate itself? Is Iran happily looking to dispossess us and establish itself as the major force in Islamic Asia and the Middle East? Is Israel’s sleep now being punctuated by fear of an Iranian directed nuclear attack? And as our helmsmen strive to keep all of America’s jobs within its borders, are we hearing the death knell of a global economy and a planetary political infrastructure?

Ostensibly a purveyor of succor to everyone (except those corporate geese that keep laying the golden eggs which create our country’s industry and jobs) the Democratic party succeeds in kindling only hapless despair and confusion. And tragically, we who are now descending from our tired old Elephant’s back have no current option but to re-enter the age of the Jackass?

Note: If bipartisanship is better than partisanship, wouldn't multipartisanship be superior to both? I propose that we get rid of all the political aisles in both houses of congress! Let's stop locking ourselves into only two points of view!

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Well said! I’m ready, like the woman announced at the celebration of Obama’s victory that he’s going to pay my mortgage and buy my gas, my hand is also outstretched and open to receiving my free piece of the pie. America has reached the point where we no longer need to work hard, but merely accept our largesse from the government. Rome’s record of longevity is once again safe ~ Tom G.

Dom ~ I must express my dismay with your attack on our new president before even giving him a chance....We were just down in Florida and I didn't like the racial hatred we saw at election time. I really believe he will bring the US the old respect we used to enjoy. Remember the excitement when JFK was elected? Please keep an open mind. What happened to the honeymoon every new administration gets? Besides, he can't screw up the country any worse than the Bush crooks have been doing for the past 8 years! I'm sure we'll kick this around more over turkey dinner, maybe by then you'll be more optimistic ~ Bruce K.

Beautifully stated! In America we are indeed blessed with so many natural resources. If an energy expert such as Sarah Palin would consent to serve us in a leadership roll to properly harvest these resources, we will be well on our way to energy independence, with safety and security for our nation and the world. And as she has so often informed us, the labor forces involved in that effort would surely ameliorate our unemployment problem ~ John L.

Who is this guy Bruce? I think he has a good point. But my problem is that I have as difficult a time giving Obama a pass as he has cutting Bush a break. I think I even heard him say that Bush is causing his 3 iron to slice hard right. When an America's Cup team loses a race we all blame the Captain. He will always be the fall guy but in this case his entire team, both port and starboard were grinding to a different tune ~ their own. Perhaps Obama could get Warren Buffett to pick up my tab too. I’m not feeling very patriotic these days ~ Fred G.

I think that you and Fred are racists. I have worked in many different places in this country with blacks and hispanics and I have even worked with KKK’s and white supremacist groups and listened to their talk. I am really disappointed that you and other lily-white existants, think this way ~ Jim S.

I was reading the string to this posting, and felt compelled to write to you, even though I don't generally comment on political issues publicly. Why are the people who question Obama's political ideology, judgment and his questionable associations, being labeled as racist? Why don't the voters who preferred Obama, think that his extreme liberal voting record and questionable associations were issues relevant in this election? Are we no longer allowed to discuss our concerns without being considered racist? Why is it that the same Obama supporters didn't seem to have any problems criticizing Sarah Palin (who had more executive experience than the presidential candidate) at the drop of a hat? And the same people find it very easy to criticize, demonize and disrespect President Bush for his judgment, but somehow that is different than questioning Obama's judgment. President Clinton received the same scrutiny regarding his judgment and ideology, but no one was called a racist, because he is white. People wanted a "change" and change is indeed headed our way ~ Elaine C.

Dom ~ I just talked with Fred and he suggested I visit your blog as he was passionate about some of the opinions expressed. As you know he and I have similar points of view. We are both conservative Republicans who believe in the basic premise of smaller government (meaning less intervention in our lives and freedoms). That said, in scanning some of your family discussions it is very similar to what goes on with my family and close circle of friends. We too are divided with Anne’s family and one of my sisters far to the left and my side (the minority) far to the right. When I have more time I may want to make my comments, if I may, to keep the scale balanced, OK, I really mean tip it to the right! ~ For now, Happy Thanksgiving to the Gabriele’s. We have much to be thankful for as a country in that we are free enough that we could elect someone like Obama (I assume many will start filling in presumed blanks about what I mean, i.e. race, etc. but they own their presumptions, not me). Our history is filled with up and down cycles (the ups and downs may be opposite for some of us) but we seem to move forward. My biggest fear is that we could take a hard turn (read ‘left turn’) and start going down a path that is contrary to a free society (meaning individual freedoms). There are enough examples in history where this has happened ~ All the best, CDR Bill Steger USN (Ret)

It is indisputable, we all are racists to a greater or lesser degree. To the extent we practice it depends on our understanding of ourselves and our group. I do not know if this adds anything valuable to your blog’s ongoing debate ~ Anthony Correoso, MD (Born on the Island of Jamaica)

Black or White ?

2008-11-03T18:30:00.012-05:00

A cogent election reflection

Do not construe this as an effort to stir the racist pot. I simply want to point out something that may be intrinsically important. Unlike most of his Afro-American supporters, Barack Obama, son of a black Kenyan man and a white American woman, has no ancestral ties to America's slaves.

By tomorrow, black voters will have cast their ballots and their monolithic vote for Obama is expected to be quasi unanimous. Embedded in this projection is the likelihood that the black electorate sees the black Obama as a latter day emancipator of the entire black community. But the sober reality is, that in contrast to that of Michelle's, Barack's blackness is as totally disconnected from his supporters’ long history of trial and bondage, as is his whiteness.

Ergo: if the anticipated size of the black vote does indeed materially assist Obama in his quest for the presidency, it may ultimately reflect demeaningly on the traditional political perspectives of the black electorate. It could confirm that the major issues of this campaign were not nearly as important to the current black voter as the darker pigments of Obama’s skin. That has the makings of a somber, self deluding charade!

Comment: mailto: domgab1914@comcast.net

It is Americans who have referred to Obama as Afro-American instead of just American. It is not surprising therefore, that Afro-Americans would vote for him. Many "Afro-Americans" also voted for Senator McCain so in fairness to those other Afro-Americans, one can posit that they were intrigued with Obama's intelligence, erudition, and his apparent calmness under stress. Such qualities should serve him well with the horrid future that awaits him as President. It is worthy of note, that this is a moment that has already brought respect for America worldwide. We as a people must unite and see Barack Obama as just another American ~ Tony C.

Dad ~ I think I heard that 96% of the Blacks voted for Obama. Numbers that high throw any intelligent selection considerations out the window. I doubt very many blacks know that he was half white. They voted for Obama simply because he was the democrat and being Black was icing on the cake. For him to unite this country he has to listen and accept the views of the other 50%. He has never done that to this date and I see no reason why that will CHANGE. He will however gladly take their money as they are mean, selfish and unpatriotic. I never simply wanted a white or black president...... I just wanted a GOOD ONE ~ Fred

Opus Caritas !

2008-11-01T03:50:00.008-04:00

This Post was submitted by my daughter Lorna
sans her brother's awareness or consent
~ ~ ~

Do for others . . .

On Thursday, October 23, our church in West Harrison, NY, was host to the Glee Club of Notre Dame University. As that world famous choir sang, the parish and its friends rhapsodized with a glee they will not soon forget. But behind that happy scene a poignant drama, in which my brother Tom Gabriele played a role, also took place. (Incidentally, Tom was a student at Notre Dame).

On the Sunday before the Glee Club’s arrival a request was made by St Anthony’s Pastor, Father Chris, for members of the parish to offer space in their homes for some of the Notre Dame singers. Happily, all of the Glee Club’s members were provided housing for the duration of their stay. Two were assigned to stay at Tom’s house.

On the morning following the program, Tim, one of the singers staying with Tom, awoke with considerable discomfort in one eye. Inadvertently, he had slept without removing his contact lenses. Tom called Father Chris and then quickly took Tim to our local ER. The examining physician referred him to an ophthalmologist who immediately arranged for Tim to be seen by a corneal specialist in New York City. (To expedite the therapeutic process, the specialist’s up front fee was paid by Tom).

Tim’s cornea was severely ulcerated. A strong antibiotic eye drop was prescribed. It was administered at the clinic and subsequently on an almost hourly basis at Tom’s home. Tim was also strongly urged to seek follow-up care by his own ophthalmologist in Buffalo, NY, immediately after his scheduled arrival home. Tom stayed with Tim continuously until Saturday, when he drove him to the airport for his return flight home. In retrospect, whereas Tom might have transferred Tim to Father Chris right at the start, he opted to stay with the ailing lad all through this entire critical period.

At the close of mass, this past Sunday, Father Chris asked Tom to join him at the altar. He then related to the assembled worshipers, how Tom and Evelyn had rendered such extraordinary commitment to this seriously afflicted Notre Dame singer. But even though every listener was profoundly moved and Evelyn kept dabbing away at her tears, Tom kept a calm and stoic perspective on what Evelyn and he had spontaneously done for a severely distressed, fellow human being in their care.

May God respond to our prayers and see to it that Tim’s vision is quickly and fully restored. May He also note that the Gabriele family is not looking for kudos. Our family was where it needed to be to render the kind of help we all should be prepared to offer, wherever and whenever the need arises. May our family continue to receive solace and guidance from the Archangel Gabriel, whose name we so proudly bear!

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Papa ~ As I mentioned to you after reading this post, I truly believe that there was a very special reason why those events unfolded as they did. My mother thought it would be nice to put up some of the boys during their stay, and offer them a friendly home. I feel it was truly a blessing that Tim was chosen to stay with my parents, who, as it turned out, could offer the support and care that he needed. Not everyone would have gone to the lengths that my parents did for a total stranger. They could have brought him back to Father Chris the next morning, but they would never abandon someone in need. They are the most caring people I know and I am so lucky they are my parents. They are a great team! I feel so blessed to be a part of this truly wonderful family ~ Love, Elaine

Shades of St. Exupery’s Little Prince - when you make a commitment, you dare not go only half way! I just read the letters that my son Tom received from Tim Schumer and his parents. They are effusive with profoundly felt gratitude. We are discovering now, that without Tom and Evelyn being there to help him, Tim would have lost that eye. How happy we are for Tim and how truly proud we feel about our Good Samaritan family! ~ Dom Gabriele

Sudokumania!

2008-10-27T16:47:00.006-04:00

If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it

In these days of Alzheimers and related dementias of the aged, it is so good to see that many of us are making serious efforts to keep our brains cerebrating. To help to do so, much can be said about the value of doing crosswords regularly, and not enough can be said about solving Sudokus - that remarkably popular Japanese puzzle (which originated here in the U.S.)

I’ve been doing Sudokus for a few years and my mania for this fascinating puzzle keeps growing. In addition to a crossword, I always do one or two Sudokus at bedtime. Solving them gives me a very special good feeling that even helps me to fall asleep. The more I’ve done, the more I have learned about solving them - and I am still learning new tricks.

Just recently, I came across Web Sudoku on Google. This is an amazingly versatile and user-friendly program. With it you can quickly print large-squared copies of the puzzle in any level of difficulty (even EVIL and EXTREME). Or if you like, you can also do the puzzles directly on your computer without having to go online. And incredibly, the program has gazillions of puzzles for you to draw from.

Believe me, I am not a shill for the company. But I would be less than forthcoming if I didn’t mention that this program is free to try, easily bought, and easily downloaded. It costs only $14.95. Just type the word Sudoku on your Google address line and the very first reference you will encounter is Web Sudoku. Can’t be easier ~ Enjoy! "Vive la cerebration!"

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Thanks for the tip. I am now trying it and I am finding it very interesting and challenging. I hope this will help to restrain my hovering Alzheimers ~ Tony

Where are We Going?

2008-10-25T16:14:00.006-04:00

Election, Reflection and Rumination

If we carefully examine the reasons for making our political choices in the coming election, shouldn’t we also be subjecting ourselves to equally candid political scrutiny? In all truth, can any of us honestly and accurately say exactly how we came to espouse the particular political persuasion to which we currently adhere?

Just as the formation and development of our ego often depends on our derogating the egos of others, some of us mistakenly derive our political convictions from denigrating the political parties we oppose. And we tend not to be mindful that the faults we can easily discern in the targeted parties thrive with equal fertility and malignancy in our own.

But of one thing I am unambiguously certain, my ultimate decision will depend less on trying to make a comparative distinction between the complex tax policies each candidate is actively promoting than the visceral feelings generated in me by their individual personae. That one or the other of these candidates actually possesses a plan that will guide us and the rest of the world back to the Garden of Eden is a self immolating delusion.

Be reminded, two thousand years ago, the Holy Land and its environs was effervescing with the hopeful expectation that the Messiah was about to arrive and generously distribute divine blessings to everyone. Well, He did make His appearance. But in short order He was crucified and the world has continued to trip eerily and uninterruptedly, on its various routes to Armageddon.

What I see with abysmal clarity, is that man is essentially ungovernable. Even worse! Unrestrained by God, he has already become the scourge of this planet. It is manifestly obvious, man has been God’s noble, but tragically failed experiment.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Thanks to the games people play with numbers, taxes may be the single most disputed and distorted topic in this presidential campaign ~ Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

There are those who will question your "abysmal clarity..." I wonder if it might not be appropriate to address such a belief to those who already dwell in that school of thought. There is no doubt however that man has wrought destruction on ourselvesr through greed, war and striving for power over the weak ~ Tony C

Who Will Prevail?

2008-10-20T16:59:00.010-04:00

~ ? ~

It can be clearly perceived that our electorate's choices on election day will be driven by four very distinct motivations ~ Pro Obama, Anti Obama, Pro McCain and Anti McCain.

For a variety of psychoanalytical reasons, all of the figures in the vast panoply of polls being reported by our media cannot precisely reflect or predict what the voter will ultimately do in each booth. Many cogent determinants are actively stirring in the hearts and minds of every individual voter and most are essentially un-fathomable. Indeed, many voters may not arrive at a definitive decision until the very instant they cast their ballot.

Nevertheless, The Horn boldly ventures to predict that the sum of Anti Obama and Pro McCain ballots on election day, will exceed that of the other two categories. What dost thou think?

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Unlike your pick, I think the decisive sum will be Pro Obama (Intellect, freshness, prescience and lots of money) ~ Tony C

Dad ~ I recently ran across these relevant words of political wisdom - You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich - You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong - You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down - They were spoken by Lincoln, a Republican president who was utterly reviled by the Northern Press (NY Times) for pursuing the Civil War and subsequently not endorsed by that newspaper when he ran for his 2nd term of the presidency ~ Fred

One For The Ages!

2008-10-12T21:25:00.006-04:00

How to deal with the de-cerebrating ravages of age and disease has become pressingly important for those of us who are elderly, especially since Alzheimer’s and similar dementias appear now to be increasing in incidence. We know we can never stop the withering process of entropy, but there are things I believe we can do to prolong our physical and cerebral effectiveness!

Physically, though I can no longer manage golf, I have no great difficulty briskly walking at least 2 miles a day on my community’s verdant hills. But to insure that my mind remains reassuringly active I spend considerable time on my computer. Keeping my blog interesting, informative and afloat is an ongoing and absorbing challenge. And now that my eye cataracts have been replaced by lenses with amazing clarity, I have happily resumed my bedside reading. But I almost never retire to bed without crossword and Sudoku puzzles.

And now for the Eureka! I usually do medium difficulty Sudokus, because I can complete them with minimal erasure and maximum enjoyment of the fascinating character of Sudoku. But I often wonder how programmers construct these puzzles. Though they probably start with 81 squares fully numbered, it has occurred to me that perhaps all they need do is enter a random series of numbers with no repetitions on a line or a column. Well, I just did exactly that on a blank Sudoku field, and guess what? The puzzle worked out to a perfect conclusion. So, chalk one up for focused cerebration and subtract one from misanthropic entropy!

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Lux Omnipotens

2008-10-11T18:48:00.002-04:00

A Singular Honor

Suddenly, during all the darkness and gloom of this past week's politico-economic global situation, a scintillating shaft of light broke through and illuminated my horizon with a life-buoying incandescence. I was apprised by my granddaughter, Elaine Connery, that she has been using my blog, The Horn, as her browser’s Home Page.

We all have our browsers and most of us continue to rely on the home page that was automatically selected for us when we first opened our computer. About the only additions some of us may have made to it are the favorite bookmarks we use to surf the net.

But Elaine has found it an unusual comfort to view The Horn’s entry page when she is about to navigate the internet. With a quick glance she reads what's posted and because of the particular orientation of my blog, she can stay abreast of any breaking family news. Besides its soothing words from the Archangel, the entry page also has two convenient hyperlinks, one is my e-mail address and the other gives immediate access to Google news, a news website like none other.

May I suggest to other internet surfers in my family (and even to my friends) that they consider doing as Elaine has done? If it does nothing else for us, it will help to keep us closer to each other.

Thank you Elaine, you have added much needed luster and brightness to my sunset . . .

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Hi Papa ~ I am so very glad that the information I shared with you about having your blog set up as my homepage, has added "luster and brightness to your sunset". I feel that seeing your blog each and every day keeps me close to you and nan. I love you both dearly! Ray and I look forward to reading your informative stories as well as your words of wisdom (especially your political analyses)! You bring a peace and joy to my day when I see your blog! ~ Love, Elaine

Oh Say Can You SEE?

2008-09-30T16:44:00.004-04:00

The Miracle of Cataract Surgery

That one’s vision (seriously impaired by cataract opacity) can be fully restored, is an incredible accomplishment of modern day ophthalmic surgery and plastic technology.

Advanced in years (95), my rapidly diminishing vision, beyond correction by stronger lenses, was making my life a barely endurable hardship. No longer able to read a book or a newspaper, my only visual solace depended upon how close I could get to my computer’s monitor and how large I could make the fonts I needed to read.

And yet, just thinking about having cataract surgery caused me more angst than I could tolerate. But, as more of my aging peers extolled the simplicity of the procedure and its miraculous benefits, I reluctantly resolved to submit. Indeed, I went whole hog; I had both eyes done! I am happy to report that the procedure is discomfort-free and it rarely takes more than 15 minutes to complete.

Am I pleased with the result? Beyond description! With my vision now fully restored, my gratitude is boundless. I unceasingly extend it to my peers who encouraged me and to my Mount Kisco Medical Group Ophthalmologist, Dr Michael Cohen, whose operative skills and optic omniscience, make him a paragon among truly helpful professionals. (Would it surprise you to know he is also a low handicap golfer?)

By The Dawn's Early Light . . .

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

9/30 ~ Ecstasy can come to us in different ways. It came to me last night, when after I blew the dust from my bedside copy of Plato’s Republic, I was able to read a whole chapter with long forgotten nostalgic ease and satisfaction ~ The Horn

Political Bias

2008-09-06T16:00:00.009-04:00

Are you politically biased?

A “no” response will attest to the fact that you are seriously deluded. Face it; you, I and everyone else in the world have political attitudes that are profoundly and perhaps irreversibly biased.

Although each of us may be standing under a particular political umbrella with millions of similar minded people, no one of us is there for identical reasons. How we think and feel has always depended on our corporeal and cerebral endowment and our own individual life history. Which factors have had the greatest influence in the formation of our attitudes cannot now be honestly, easily or accurately assessed. And you don't need the acumen of a scholar to understand that bias puts you at an intellectual disadvantage. But the very worst part about being unaware of your bias is that it predisposes you to feel superior towards anyone who does not share your point of view.

So, if we can motivate ourselves to undertake an occasional probing scrutiny of why and how we came to rely so heavily on certain news sources, perhaps we might uncover some startling reasons for our current political attitude. But because few of us are ever disposed to do this, most of us have never enjoyed the ecstasy of a major epiphany, a sudden, spontaneous self awareness of hitherto narrow based thinking.

If you have never had a political epiphany, you are dwelling in a house of mirrors. But if you are stubbornly unwilling to undertake an occasional, analytical survey of your thinking, then in fairness to yourself and those to whom you relate, you should at least make it a practice to draw a steady modicum of input from some news sources that differ from yours.

Pursuant to the above (and as a helpful convenience for readers of this blog) I have installed a "Google News" hyperlink on The Horn’s opening, title page. Left click on it and you will enter a news site like none other in the internet. Totally and absolutely unbiased, it draws from nearly 5,000 constantly refreshed news sources all over the world. Indeed, it also offers the news in a number of major foreign languages (making it a stimulating place to brush up your language skills). Every single item has a clearly marked source and its time of publication and you can customize the site to your own specifications. I urge you to try it!

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Ecce Sarah Palin!

2008-08-29T11:44:00.030-04:00

Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

An inspired choice!

Today, the presidential campaign underwent a dramatic change of complexion. With an electrifying announcement and presentation by Senator McCain, the radiance now emanating from the Republican ticket appears to have totally eclipsed its Democratic adversaries. In the wake of that party's spectacular convention there is now an anti-climactic darkness and depressing gloom under the Democratic umbrella. (Listen closely and you will hear them gnashing their teeth over how badly they misplayed their erstwhile devastatingly powerful gender card).

That a Republican woman of hitherto unfathomed political potential should suddenly and spectacularly emerge on the national scene "suspends" all natural belief. Young, beautiful and possessed of a "fertile" imagination, unbridled energy, superior intelligence, positive convictions and unswerving determination, Sarah Palin, a mother of five and an established athlete of record, is already a demonstrably accomplished and nationally respected political executive. With her seated beside the pilot in the cockpit, Republicans need no longer fret about McCain's age or cerebral lucidity. Clearly, the catalytic advent of Governor Sarah Palin has irreversibly changed the psychodynamics of this turbulent presidential campaign.

And we are no longer a bored, frustrated and puzzled electorate. With the "barracuda" now in the swim, we have suddenly become excited participants.

>|<
Imagine the seismic effect
Sarah will have on Islamic women
If they ever get to hear her and see her!
>|<

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

(Hypothetical Roe v Wade comment) I believe that if Sarah Palin were asked to advise the Norma McCoveys (Jane Roes) of America on the subject of abortion, she might say this, “Be virtuous and very careful about whom you allow to penetrate your vulva. With only universally acceptable exceptions, no living fetus should be unwanted and unconscionably slain!” ~ Henry Wade, DA, Dallas ~ Bristol, Palin's 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant. She has opted to keep the baby and marry its teen age father. This was known to McCain when he made his VP choice.

Dom ~ My wife Bryna reacted thusly, "I think it is absolutely useless. Sarah Palin does not qualify at all. She doesn't compare to Hillary in any way. She is against choice and the fact that she is a hunter turns me off completely." ~ Paul Cipes ~ Just curious: Isn't feticide, where an accomplice "mother" aids and abets a masked aborter in the slaying of her unborn baby, a heinous form of hunting? Especially as a physician, "First do no harm" is a moral principle that has always resonated very strongly within me - Dom

Perhaps, as John McCain pondered his vice-presidential selection, he recalled the advice of Margaret Thatcher: “In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.” ~ William Kristol, OpEd, NY Times September 1, 2008 ~ WK knows Palin for longer than a year and he remains profoundly impressed by her

Dad ~ At first blush Sarah Palin seems to be a great pick made by John McCain. She will definitely bring the conservative wing of the party back to McCain. We need to wait to see how she handles the democrat leaning press and the arrogant and dismissive Biden. By the way Mark Levin refers to him as the dumbest man in the senate. I’m hoping she turns out to be all that she appears to be at this moment. ~ Tom Gabriele ~ She already impresses as being a very capable and very thoughtful woman. Can't wait for the debates with Biden ~ Dad

Papa ~ I completely disagree. McCain's people were foolish to believe they would secure female votes just by placing a woman on the Republican ticket. Governing the state of Alaska for two years does not qualify Sarah Palin for the vote of VP . I also think Governor Palin is forcing her daughter to keep her unborn child to save face in this election ~ Megan Pieroni (Megan, my granddaughter, is married and pregnant with her first child) Megan ~ does the fact that Obama "organized" a poverty stricken community in Chicago (now boarded up and abandoned) qualify him to become President of the U.S.? ~ Papa

Dad ~ It would be great if we could put all four resumes side by side without names, gender. party or age. Then give your readers 24 hours to cogitate and deliberate and then ask them to rate the candidates. I guarantee the results will be quite different from how they presently stand. Make it more interesting, mix up the R's and D's. Like Tom, I'm hoping Sarah survives the next 2 months. I think she has a very solid foundation and I expect great things. Perhaps some of the L-leaning critics among us might open their hearts and minds and give her an appropriate opportunity to present herself ~ Fred Gabriele ~ SP seems to be extraordinarily capable. She won't need any gratuitous concessions from her adversaries ~ Dad

Hi Granpa ~ I visited your blog this evening and it was nice to catch up with your thoughts. I too am liking Palin and I am very curious to see how all of this will play out ~ Amy ~ It's so nice to hear from you. And let me assure you that my great grandson, due to be born in January, will be most grateful to bear the name Gabriel Owens. That sound you hear is the Archangel fluttering his wings in happy assent ~ Granpa

Balance!

2008-08-27T00:42:00.004-04:00

Spritely Balance
Left click on photo to enlarge it

Amazing! Incredible! What we see in the above photograph is a less than half-full can of Sprite resting delicately but securely on its narrowly beveled bottom edge.

It was today, while my son Fred and his family were visiting with Lenore and me (and we were all at the kitchen table) that my 13 year old grandson nonchalantly discovered an unusual way to stand the can. I venture to guess that none of Sprite’s designers and producers are aware that their can has this most improbable physical property and that it can be demonstrated so quickly and so surprisingly.

Now barely into puberty, Tyler has never ceased to impress everyone with his awesomely gifted and probing mind. He intuitively knows how nearly everything he looks at, works. Already, even the most difficult Sudokus unresistantly succumb to his problem solving genius. God willing, I am proudly confident that this youngster will have a super-productive rendezvous with destiny and that he will make many very significant contributions to our world’s way of life. Allow me to believe that perhaps one or two of his cerebral genes bear some remote kinship to my DNA.

Under separate cover, I will apprise Coca Cola that at least some of their soda cans be quickly and balletically balanced on a minuscule edge.

Comment: Mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

This remarkable kitchen table feat brings to mind the story that’s told about Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician. He is quoted as having said, “Give me a proper fulcrum and a long and strong enough lever and I will lift our planet.” I am also recalling how Columbus showed the royal cynics of Spain how to stand an egg on its end. ~ Dom Gabriele

Hi Dom ~ I like the perspicacity of your grandson. He MUST have a little of your DNA ~ Paul Cipes

Original Sin!

2008-07-31T12:23:00.010-04:00

~ Original Sin ~
A painting by Michelangelo
On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome
Left click on the painting to enlarge it

Back in the 1950's, when my brother and I visited our parents, who at that time were living in Rome, I made it a special point to tour the Sistine Chapel.

When I looked up at that “sacred ceiling” to view Michelangelo’s awesome paintings, my gaze was drawn to the tableau which depicted Adam and Eve sinning and being banished from the Garden of Eden. But what I saw, jarred me! Whereas I had expected to see Adam and Eve munching on the forbidden apple, the scene made it vividly apparent that Eve was being interrupted by the Serpent while she was engaged in performing fellatio with Adam!

How could this be? History tells us that Michelangelo and his Papal sponsor were in daily consultation about what was to be painted. So why hadn’t they stuck to the Genesis account of how Adam and Eve committed the sin that caused God to become so enraged? Perhaps, with the incisive clarity of two brilliant Renaissance minds, they probably felt it was more plausible for God to have reacted with anger when contrary to what He had so meticulously planned, He saw His two human creations engaged in a blatantly, non-reproductive sexual act. Wasn’t God’s afterthought to create Eve obviously predicated on the assumption that a female genital tract should be the natural recipient of male sperm, thus facilitating post-coital gestation in the woman’s womb? Clearly, continuing to reproduce humans by extirpating a male’s rib on every occasion, was not the way to go!

If the Pope and the Artist were correct in their speculation, then it helps to explain the rationale for baptism. In the act of submersing the human in “holy water” isn’t this an attempt to cleanse the “new soul” of the inherited stigma of its original progenitors, who, so soon after their creation, ostensibly infuriated God by actively performing an unnatural, un-procreative sexual act?

Please note: On April 18, 2005, I posted my first essay on this subject. It contains more theological content than this current posting. To access it, simply left click on April 2005 in the Archives listing.

Counterpoint: Atheist’s and Agnostics are disposed to dismiss all of the above as puerile much ado about nothing. The mathematicians among them would cite the indisputable fact that our planet earth, and all of the life it spawns, represents an incalculably insignificant part of our infinitely vast universe. Others unambiguously regard all of man’s religious and mythical songs and writings as the fictional products of actively fertile, skyward oriented minds. Particular exception is taken to religionists who arrogantly attempt to anthropomorphize our universe’s alleged creator.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Caro Domenico ~ I send this to you from our graves. Upon reviewing your commentary, Michelangelo and I concur. We believe that some parts of the Bible do not speak with the truth and crystal clarity, that we of the Renascimento possessed . Just think - if Adam and Eve had not done what they did, I wouldn't be lying here ~ Coraggio, Papa Giulio II

Where is our path?

2008-07-25T12:58:00.007-04:00

Quo vadis?

What would it take for us to cease being delusory and face the incontrovertible truth; man is not only bereft of humanity but unlike all other living species on this planet, he is essentially ungovernable and explosively dangerous!

Although we have had so-called golden ages, in fact none of them were truly and universally so, except in the minds of their besotted beholders. Clearly, from ithe moment of our creation, humanity has persevered in being menacingly hapless. And even when the Messiah, suffused with good will, dared to come to us with His divine words, we quickly nailed Him to the cross and continued uninterruptedly on our perverse paths. It makes me wonder what would happen if God Himself were to appear physically among us. I don't doubt we would hasten to inflict upon Him an even more gruesome fate than we did upon His Son?

As we listen to the contrived and tiresome rhetoric of our current presidential adversaries, do we hear words that we have never heard before? And when one of them finally wins the election in November, will we all relax and view the unfolding of a brand new and glorious future? Dream on!

In truth, those thoughts and devices that sometimes bring us ephemeral happiness and contentment were all designed and produced by independent, intelligent minds, not by governments or their leaders. But let’s not be oblivious to the fact that equally intelligent minds have been and are even now, busily creating the means for our ultimate destruction and perhaps our well deserved extinction.

It is hard not to believe that the creation of man was God’s most colossal blunder; or evolution's most aberrant detour. Indeed: If our planet appears to be undergoing malignant self-destruction, your perception is correct. Don’t search too far for the cause, the clinical name of its cancer, is homo sapiens.

Comments:Mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Unbelievable !

2008-07-14T16:21:00.018-04:00

Can this be true?

What this current New Yorker Magazine cover purports to show, is Barack Obama as President in the White House Oval office. He is depicted as a Muslim and he is fist knocking with his wife Michelle, who is represented as an armed militant. On the wall, a portrait of Osama bin Laden hangs conspicuously and in the fireplace, an American flag is in a state of conflagration.

When this cartoon is brought to Ahmadinejad’s attention, look for that firebrand to connect with Barack Obama immediately. He will undoubtedly urge Obama to forego the speech he plans to make at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and fly toute de suite to Tehran where he will be free to deliver whatever he is prepared to say to an audience of multi-thousands of well wishing, friendly and understanding Iranians.

Meanwhile, here at home, our two political parties will begin hastily to explore every possible means to engage in a wide ranging, no holds barred, multi dimensional exercise of freedom of speech and caricature - with a willing, salivating media at the ready. What thinkest thou?

Comments:mail to:domgab1914@comcast.net

Cheers !

2008-07-07T09:41:00.022-04:00

Today is my ninety fourth birthday ~

Why I have been granted this degree of longevity is known only to the fates. But I am grateful (even though the gift comes with assorted pains and strange disabilities). My father and mother died when they were 84 and my only two siblings expired several years ago. I am my immediate family’s lone survivor.

My wife, Lenore, is 91. She and I continue to live our lives together, in our own home. At our advanced ages, we are enjoying many opportunities to more fully explore and probe the meanings and depths of love. May our family and friends who follow us, find similar happy paths through this awesome and trackless wilderness, we call life.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

If you see the Dow rise during this trading session, it's because the NYSE has just discovered that today is my birthday . And please don't fail to notice that President Bush celebrates his birthdays on July 6th, which makes us "quasi birthmates." It may explain why I can often feel his pain (and revel in his glory) ~ Dom Gabriele

Papa ~ Hope you have a great day. Don't forget, you still have to walk on your birthday ~ Love ya ~ Bruce

94! Congrats! Sorry I won't be able to see you tonight ~ I'm stuck working late, seemingly forever ~ Brian

Hi Dommie ~ I hope you have a great birthday today and that it's filled with lots of good things!!!!! ~ Chrissy

Happy Birthday!!! ~ Apparently good, dolce genes were imported from Abbruzzi and Sicily ~ Con Amore ~ Paolucci and Brianna

Hi Uncle Dom ~ Just wanted to wish you a belated birthday. I hope you had a wonderful day. Lots of love ~ Amanda

Hi Dad ~I've been thinking about you all day. Hope you're having a great birthday. I'm still at the office. Just about ready to head home now. Enjoy the rest of your day. Love you Dad, so very, very much! ~ Loretta

Carrots and Corpses

2008-05-18T23:55:00.030-04:00

I tried but could not find an appropriate cartoon/caricature to illustrate this Post. But your nimble imagination can bring the following scene to life:

Locale: Entrance gate to Teheran ~ Obama sits astride his donkey as he is being warmly embraced by Ahmadinejad. Massive saddle bags, bulging with carrots, lay strapped across the donkey's back. Joining Ahmadinejad in the ceremony are Hugo Chavez, Osama Bin Laden, Muktada al-Sadr and Fidel Castro.

Senator Obama: Carrots keep terrorists very far away.

Ahmadinejad: I esteem Barack and Michelle Obama.

The Senator has unbounded confidence in the mellifluous tone he will use with those "well meaning" folks who have for so long been "so wrongly" regarded as America's enemies.

Ahmadinejad ponders how he will use Obama's naivete to disassemble American power and bury it in the same gaping grave he has dug for the "stinking corpse" of Israel.

O Tempora! O Mores! Need more be said or conjured?

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The Eyes Have It

2008-05-13T23:36:00.014-04:00

Crossection of the Human Eye

left click photo to tnlarge it

With a divine sweep of his hand, Jesus restored sight to the blind. But He is now otherwise occupied, so we who currently need visual help must look to our fellow mortals for aid.

In this part of New York, many of us depend on Michael Cohen. While he may not have divinity in his hands, he does have an abundance of training and experience. Using his dextrous fingers, he can swiftly extract the cataracted lens of an affected eye and quickly replace it with a magical bit of plastic that gives us unparalleled visual service for the remainder of our lives.

Though somewhat taciturn, Michael Cohen is a remarkably competent and dedicated ophthalmologist. He is a true apostle of Hippocrates. And not surprisingly, his supremely well trained staff in the Mount Kisco Medical Group serves him and its patients with unexcellable skill and devotion.

Kudos to you Michael Cohen. How fortunate we are that our vision lies in your hands!

Comments: domgab1914@comcast.net

Racism!

2008-05-01T02:56:00.019-04:00

Be careful! I caution you not to approach this torrid subject if your pole is less than 10 feet long! Racism is the most dangerously divisive antipathy that whites and blacks in America have had to contend with since the Emancipation Proclamation, nearly 150 years ago. Forgive me if parts of what you are about to read, appear to cross the line?

"Discovered" by Europeans, mainland America, though already inhabited by native Indians, was settled by white people. As their settlements grew, they found it expedient to use African blacks to do their heavy agriculture and menial labor. But how those blacks were torn from their homelands and then sub-humanly managed, will forever remain a shameful blot in the history of humanity.

Yet the institution of slavery has been with us for millennia. It was commonly practiced in Egypt, Greece and Rome. But because in those regions slaves and their owners were of similar background, slavery was nearly always comfortably tolerated. Emancipated slaves tended not to be contentious and post liberation stains and blame created no discernible dissonance. What has happened (and continues to occur) here in America is in unspeakbly sharp contrast.

For many reasons, the black community in America is admittedly not at the same economic, social and educational levels as its white counterparts. And this gap is perversely exploited by its black "leaders" who facilely use victim-hood to keep their followers inflamed. But is our racism really a matter of "complexion" or is it a consuming dissatisfaction with their "inner" selves that fuels black rage? Can any amount of white compassion or even a formula for post-facto compensation ever change this morbid equation? Not likely!

Not too many years after America began to be colonized, peoples of all colors and backgrounds eagerly began to migrate here. In most cases, they quickly found their places. But our blacks, notwithstanding that they were emancipated from slavery during our Civil War, remain unsettled and explosively enraged. In all candor, if they cannot ameliorate their status, they will continue to inhabit the darkest interstices of our country. For long delayed starters, it would really help if blacks begin to diligently seek and find truly inspired and non-exploitative leadership.

And this might be the time to point out that there was an indisputably positive side to American slavery. Although blacks were brought here as slaves and treated unmercifully, they have undeniably reaped the intangible benefits of an accelerated evolution. It should be possible for them to draw some mitigating satisfaction from the fact that despite their hardships and suffering, they are now eons ahead of some of their backward brethren in Africa, who remain stuck in the Stone Age.

Antithetically, Jews have always looked with great reverence and understanding at their protracted years of bondage and their mass exodus from Egypt. For their ultimate deliverance, they remain gratefully beholden to Moses, that Egyptian Icon, who while he led his adopted peoples, he also infused them with an identity that to this day enigmatically reflects the monotheistic and transcendent teachings of that great visionary, Pharaoh Akhenaton.

Please note: If you would like to View or Print this Post, without calling up my entire Blog, you may use this hyperlink:

http://djg448.blogspot.com/2008/05/racism.html

Comments: Mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Dad ~ You get better with age. I flew for 10 years at Bristol Myers with Ray Duncan, an outstanding black pilot. He was senior to me, so I was his co-pilot. Invariably, ground crews would come to me first for direction and I always enjoyed saying "You had better ask the Captain." His father was an instructor with the Tuskegee Airman, a group of black pilots who flew with great distinction during WW II. The T.A. has been in the news lately in a negative way because of Rev. Wright's mendacious distortions. Ray's dad was a perseverer and he raised one hell of a great son. I miss his presence and friendship. ~ CDR Fred (Your No. 2 son)

Quo Vadis (?)

2008-04-24T11:40:00.026-04:00

Where is your brain taking you?

Please click on the Archive labeled February 2008 and scroll to "Our Next President" my February 6th post. I want to demonstrate that what we consider "breaking news" today, was already clearly discerned by a political naif like me, almost 3 months ago. How can that happen?

I believe that the political opinions most of us hold are indistinguishable from those propagated by the news sources we individually rely upon. And because we tend to remain hostage to those sources, we don't often change the substance or direction of our thinking. Unfortunately, we rarely ask ourselves why and how we came to be on the political courses we so assiduously follow.

To balance our points of view it would be helpful to expand and diversify our sources. We need to draw honestly and extensively from the right, the left, the centers and even the extremes, because the fewer our sources, the greater our propensity for bias. But by challenging ourselves and refreshing our cerebration, we can strengthen our perspicacity and attain greater legitimacy of our views.

In the name of civility, don't we owe our family, our friends and even ourselves, at least an occasional epiphany?

Comments: Mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Barack Obama has abandoned his more than two-year shunning of "FOX News Sunday," He recently accepted an invitation to appear on FOX's national morning talk show (April 27) where he will be interviewed by Chris Wallace ~ FOX News

Dom ~ I am so glad to see that you are back in the saddle with your wit and compassion regarding the world's problems. I love the way that you focus in and simplify how we should look at a situation. I hope that you and Lenore are enjoying good health and good times as we are doing, here in Florida ~ Stan Zeller

Fox Sex Mix

2008-04-20T17:58:00.025-04:00

Don’t know about you folks but I don't find it hard to believe that Fox news is now deliberately accenting its program with liberal doses of libido. Except for its occasional brunette, like the demure Julie Banderas, there is now a plethora of beautiful blondes, like Megyn Kelly, increasingly interspersed throughout nearly all of its news reportage.

While I have no personal objection to being titillated by what would otherwise be an austere, triple distilled, de-sexualized presentation of current events, I am beginning to wonder, for Fox’s sake, if it is treading on dangerous erotic ground. Can these excursions into libidinal latitudes be indefinitely sustained without it seriously affecting the caliber and balance of its main raison d’etre?

To critically assay what I am saying, I urge you when you next view Fox news to take notice of all its male icons as they now relate to their female counterparts. Look closely at their demeanor. You will not fail to notice that their expressions have taken on a distinct element of lust. And see if you don’t become acutely aware that the Julies and the Megyns are thoroughly enjoying the effects they are producing.

Please forgive me. All of the above is the opining of a decrepit senescent in his mid-nineties. In truth, I have developed a great affection for all of Fox’s women. Freak the news!

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Dear Julie and Megyn ~ If this Post comes to your attention, please know that I regard both of you as supremely adorable and matchlessly competent. You add exciting perspectives to Fox news ~ Dom Gabriele

Dom ~ You certainly have not lost your sense of humor! I especially chuckled at your alliterative phrase describing titillation as an excursion into "libidinal latitudes" ~ Ciao, Paolucci

Dommie ~ Leave it to you to notice the "sex sells" ploy by Fox News. I guess we could say that the newscasters are real "FOXES" Only my Dommie!!! ~ Chrissy

Vice President Rice (?)

2008-04-11T10:46:00.016-04:00

Dr. Condoleezza Rice

It is being bruited that Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice will be asked by Senator McCain to be his VP running mate. By any parameter, it would be a celestially inspired choice for him (and the nation, if he is elected).

Condy is a brilliant and dynamic young woman. Stanford University has been importuning her relentlessly to return there to serve as its Provost. The NFL, a singularly multiracial and multiethnic enterprise of great magnitude and diversity, waits with bated breath for her to agree to be its chief executive. Countless other organizations yearn for Dr. Condoleezza Rice to be at their helm.

Factor into her equation that in only a few short years she has spread eagled the entire globe in her capacity as a top ranking executive diplomat. Her views and counsel are avidly sought and coveted, here and abroad, by the highest levels of government.

With her at his side in the presidential campaign, Senator McCain would yield no gender or racial advantages to whomever his Democratic opponent will be. Indeed, he could confront his opposition with a VP candidate of substantially superior experience and a competence that is already universally acknowledged.

And for those who obsess about McCain’s advancing age, with Condoleezza near him to spell him if he falters, the insurance she provides for him (and our nation) is indubitable and immeasurable. And to top it off, she is a debater with few peers, a snappy dresser and a virtuoso at the piano.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

I can only hope!!!!! She would bring great dignity to the office of VP ~ Commander Fred

Peekaboo, I see you!

2008-02-10T02:00:00.000-05:00

Left click over image to enlarge it

then left click left arrow in the

upper left corner to return

On Monday, Feb 11, 2008, I am scheduled to have cataract surgery on my left eye. While the lenses of both my eyes have become befogged, the left is worse. My ophthalmologist, Dr. Michael Cohen, is no longer able to sharpen my diminishing vision with corrective lenses. So, while I must admit to being a little anxious about the surgery, I am looking forward to seeing better. Perhaps, with clearer vision, my pessimistic view of the world will become a tad rosier.

What follows is a letter from my primary care physician, Dr. Alphone Aversa. On 01/28/2008 he subjected me to a requisite pre-op examination and this is his report. (Interestingly, although we are generations apart in age, he and I served our medical residencies at the same hospital in Brooklyn, Kings County Hospital).

Dear Dom,

Your recent tests all look fine, with the exception of a slightly elevated glucose level and also a slightly elevated thyroid stimulating hormone level. No treatment is needed for either of these findings, but I do recommend a followup test for both in 6 months. Everything else was normal. Your cholesterol is outstanding.

Cholesterol 167; Triglycerides 93; HDL (Good Cholesterol) 69; LDL (Bad Cholesterol 80; and Cholesterol/HDL Ratio 2.4. All are well within normal range.

The complete blood count, urinanalysis and the rest of your chemistry were normal. Your stool specimen showed no sign of blood.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Sincerely,
Al
Alphonse Aversa, MD, FACP

Hillary vs Obama

2008-02-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

I retrieved this from our archives

It was first published here on 01/31/2007

Fasten your seat belts

We're in for a colorful campaign

Senator Biden once described Senator Obama as "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." Taken from NY Times, 1/31/07. Has Senator Biden pre-cooked himself? ~ The Horn

"When Biden apologized to me for his reference to Obama being "clean" I told him I take a bath every day." ~ Rev. Al Sharpton

Articulate is really (white) shorthand to describe a black who isn't too black. Whatever the intention, expressing one's astonishment that such individuals exist is no compliment. Just come out and say it: "Gee, he doesn't sound black at all" ~ Eugene Robinson ~ Washinton Post Columnist, 2/2/07

After a speech Hillary recently gave to American Indians, she was given an Indian name, "Walking Eagle." Reporters were told it's a name given to a bird that is so full of s--t, it can no longer fly ~ Google 2/5/07

Heaven forbid!

2008-02-08T11:47:00.000-05:00

Above is from the Sistine Chapel, Rome
Is it divinely ordained
that we and the rest of the world
must continue to be deprived
of quality leadership?
Why,
of all life on earth, is it only mankind
that has incurred God’s divine wrath?
What is it about us that He detests?
Could it be that He sees Man
as being too much unlike
Him?

Our next president (?)

2008-02-06T14:58:00.000-05:00

Some Election Reflections

From all that I hear, view and read, it will be convention time before the Democratic Party nominee emerges. Meanwhile, because the struggle between Hillary and Barack is so indisputably a matter of Gender versus Race, the Democratic Party is undergoing serious, perhaps irreversible polarization. And, because the supporters of both candidates are so passionately committed, they will not be disposed to transfer good will to the victor. Indeed, while some may defect to the Republican side, many will simply not bother to vote. In all likelihood, therefore, the end result of this insidious process will be an unelectable Democratic nominee.

On the other side, although each of the remaining candidates is a white male with ostensibly traditional political experience, their tactics are polarizing. McCain’s age, his unequivocal support of our position in Iraq and his persistent alienation of the conservative wing of the G.O.P. is sharply diminishing his ability to lead. Huckabee’s strong identification with Evangelicals detracts from whatever political impact he endeavors to display. Romney, perhaps the most capable of the three has been too contentious and inimical. If, as now seems inevitable, McCain becomes the Republican nominee, look for his overall support to be tepid at best.

In conclusion, with Democrats continuing to defeat themselves, and most voters depending on feeling rather than cerebration, I predict that a less than fully representative Republican candidate will narrowly prevail in the presidential election.

Cheers!

2008-02-04T22:59:00.000-05:00

This letter by Squire Carl Payne of Tennessee

relates to a plot of ground in Lynchburg

which was deeded to me 5 years ago

by the Jack Daniel’s Distillery

Dear Squire Gabriele,

<><><> I understand that you are the honorary owner of plot no, g71470 here in Moore County. Since I am a fellow Squire who has served three times as the County Executive, I have been asked to help out by writing to you and a few other landowners to find out how you feel about granting a permanent easement across your place. This would allow the local residents access to one of the better fishing spots on Mulberry Creek.

<><><> The Motlow Estate and the Jack Daniel’s Distillery have already granted adjoining easements. So now, we only need the easement of your plot and a few others. Actually, it really doesn’t even have to be anything too official. We’d just like to know if you’d mind if some of your neighbors cut across your place now and then to get to the creek. We’ll see to it that no one takes undue advantage of your situation.

Sincerely,

Carl Payne,
Lynchburg, Tennessee 37352

Dear Squire Payne,

<><><> Thank you for your kind and thoughtful letter. Here in this frozen waste we currently call New York, I can only dream of what it must be like to fish in a weatherproof Tennessee creek. By the way, note the eerie coincidence that the number of my plot (g71470) contains the numbers of my birthday (07/07/14).

<><><> But Carl, surely you remember the story of Pat and Sean, where they promised to pour whiskey over each other’s graves, when the other passed on. And you will also recall that Pat made it a point to reassure Sean that he would pour his whiskey on Sean’s grave only after he first filtered it through his kidneys.

<><><> Similarly, I trust that any local fisherman who might meander near and over my plot, will have the forethought to load his urogenital tract with a liberal (forgive my use of that word) quantity of Jack Daniel’s.

Here’s to you, Squire Payne
Dom Gabriele

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

God willing!

~~~

On Thursday, Nov 22nd

Our rapidly extending family

will once again be at Julia and Fred’s

Julia, Fred, Tyler, Monika

And some turkeys about to be cooked

Have graciously invited each of us to be there

Happily

we are all looking forward

to seeing and being with each other

on this festive occasion

To bring certitude

to this gathering of family

Please RSVP as soon as possible

Use this e-address to let Julia know your intention

mailto:gabrielej@stlukesct.org

In the short time remaining

this notice may not come to everyone’s attention

So please communicate with family
And spread the good word ~

07/07/07

2007-07-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

Awesome!

Is a message hidden here? Yes or no, be it known that today is the 93rd anniversary of the day I was born, 07/07/14, (an array that was equally portentous). Is Archangel Gabriel playing some extra-curricular games with me?

Looking back on 93 long years is singularly taxing, especially for a memory that is lapsing and becoming unreliable. What I would really like to know, but cannot answer, has my existence left a modestly "durable" and positive impression? Clearly, that is for others to say. But in one respect I do take forgivable pride in knowing that during my micro-eon of life, I did sire five wonderful and actively fertile children. And in retrospect, I trust I did more good than bad. But what I do know, for an absolute fact, is that I made numerous, mutually fulfilling friendships.

Happily, I am receiving many good wishes from my family and my friends. To all of you, I say a heartfelt and profoundly grateful, thank you.

May I close now with the fervent wish that the causes of humanity’s tragic discord will be swiftly found and quickly resolved? With God’s divine guidance, let mankind endeavor to retrace its path back to the Garden of Eden.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

07/07/07 What a nice date for a wonderful guy. Hope you did not overdo it on the dance floor!! ~ Paul Cipes

Dear Dom, I cannot let 07/07/07 go by without acknowledging your birthday! Know that I wish you many happy returns of the day! Please give my greetings to Lenore, and to Beryl and Tony as well. In order to remain a legal resident of Ethiopia, my work permit is with Bethlehem Day Care. I just completed 6 years as the Area Coordinator for the sisters here in Ethiopia, and I have been asked to continue in that role for another 3 years. On July 13th I will go to Egypt to represent our Good Shepherd sisters at a 2 week conference in Cairo. Many visitors are expected. It will be interesting. I hope that you and Lenore are both well. I may not write often, but you are both in my thoughts and prayers and I count on your good prayers! With love and a wish for birthday blessings ~ Sister Mary James, Ethiopia

Please know that you are and always will be my guiding light. You have never failed to have the answers to my questions or possible solutions to my problems. Always available, approachable and encouraging. You ARE a great Dad! ~ Lorna

Caro Domenico, Buon compleanno! Un po in ritardo, pero buoni desiderii sono sempre benvenuti!! ~ Mark Kresic

To blog, or not to blog?

2007-05-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

As you may have noticed, I have not entered a single post to this blog since March 27.

Believe me, it has not been for want of something to say or write about. It has been mainly because there has been an outbreak of serious illnesses among several members of my immediate and extended families. I don’t remember any previous period of my life when I have been so overwhelmed by feelings and concerns.

Distressed and distraught, I have kept apprising our families of what has been happening by using e-mail, instant messaging and the telephone. Ordinarily, my blog would have served better as a medium for keeping our people informed but as one illness followed another, I was never certain as to where to draw a proper line between rendering family service and preserving family privacy.

While I will continue to think about how to deal with this very sensitive subject, it would be helpful to receive some input from you. In the meantime let us endeavor to keep each other in our hearts, our minds and our fervent prayers.

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net.

It distresses me to learn of the illnesses in your family and relatives.The lack of blog postings is now understandable. You are quite right to protecting your loved ones. I would do the same. Do not hesitate.to call me if you feel I can be helpful in any way. Please accept my deep sympathy. My prayers and my hope for a happier outcome are offered. ~ Tony Correoso

Happy birthday, Lenore

2007-03-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Happy 90th Birthday, Aunt Lenore!!! You are truly blessed with a wonderful, loving husband and family and I join them in wishing you lots of kisses and hugs on your very special day. Enjoy. Love, ~ Chrissy

Hi Mom, Happy Birthday! 90 years old, holy cow. Wish I could be there today to celebrate with you. Have a wonderful day. Love you very, very much, ~ Loretta

A Timely Essay

2007-03-14T14:15:00.000-04:00

What follows is an essay on Savonarola by my grandson Tyler, a 6th grader who will turn 12 on March 28th. His father, my son Fred, is a corporate jet pilot for Bristol Myers and his mother, my daughter in law Julia, is an executive educator at the St. Luke's School in Connecticut. Tyler is engineer minded. He is a precocious youngster and he is already a computer wizard. Soft spoken and articulate, he is a creative and avid learner. We love him dearly and we are intensely proud of him.

Girolamo Savonarola, 1452 ~ 1498

Intro: Girolamo Savonarola ended the glory of the Renaissance in Florence by ordering the burning of art and books. Savonarola was a Dominican priest (an order of monks) and the ruler of Florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. He was born on 1452 into a family of physicians but Savonarola wanted to be a monk. His reputation as a great preacher attracted many followers. Savonarola became a ruler of Florence with good intentions but, with those intentions, Savonarola made many enemies and he had the same fate as the books and other "vanities" he burned.

Family and Childhood: Savonarola was born on September 21, 1452 in the city state of Ferrara. His parents were Niccolo Savonarola, a physician, and Elena Bonacossi. He was the third of seven children. Savonarola’s grandfather was also a physician and he worked for the Duke Borso d’ Este (the first duke of Ferrara). It was through these many childhood influences that would normally have steered Savonarola toward a career in medicine. Instead, he connected with the Church in his youth by studying the Bible. In addition, he studied famous philosophers like Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle. From his Catholic childhood, Savonarola would soon become a monk.

Education and Early Career: From having a father and grandfather who were both physicians, Savonarola was pressured to be one as well. Instead, he was more interested in the writings of Thomas Aquinas and studying Aristotle. Savonarola studied at the University of Ferrara. There he got an advanced degree in the arts. After studying the Catholic Church for a long time, Savonarola found many reasons to become a monk. One of the big reasons he became a monk is because the girl he loved rejected him so he adopted a life of serious religious reflection as a way to deal with the rejection. Finally, in 1475 he achieved his goal by becoming a Dominican priest.

Background: During the time of Savonarola’s adulthood, Italy was experiencing the Renaissance. There was an explosion of art and music, both of which Savonarola preached against. The pope of the time was Alexander VI, who was one of Savonarola’s enemies. At the time, the people of the Catholic Church were praying for the wrong things. For example, instead of praying for God, they prayed for something that didn’t have as much meaning like to win a sport match.

Connection to the Medici: It seems as though another one of Savonarola’s enemies might have been Lorenzo de’ Medici. He thought that the Medici held too much power over Florence, and that the people should have more power. Also, when Lorenzo was dying, he asked Savonarola to help him repent and give him last rites, because he thought that Savonarola was an honest man. Savonarola asked him to release power over Florence. Lorenzo refused to release power and, as a result, Savonarola refused to give him last rites. After the Medici lost its power, Savonarola began his rule over Florence.

Preaching and Leadership Style: Savonarola was one of the great preachers of the Renaissance. Because of this, he attracted many followers. He started preaching at the convent of San Marco. San Marco was the Dominican house in Florence. Many people considered him a prophet because he accurately predicted things that became true such as the death of Pope Innocent III and the fall of the Medici family. When Savonarola became the ruler of Florence he did good things for Florence. This included the opening of a bank called the "Monte de Pieta," meaning "The Bank of the Poor." The bank gave loans to poor people at a low interest rate. Savonarola also liked the idea of democracy and contributed to the idea of Florence’s constitution. But his good ideas were balanced with bad ideas.

Downfall: One of Savonarola’s bad ideas was the "Burning of the Vanities." He sent a group of boys to every house in Florence to ask for "vanities." Vanities are things you have but, don’t need (books and art). Then he would burn it all in a huge bonfire at the town square. Another bad idea of his was that he treated everyone the same and didn’t separate the good from bad. Because of these bad ideas, he was hated by many.

Excommunication and Death: Since many people were scared of Savonarola, they had to do something about him. Pope Alexander VI decided to excommunicate him in 1497. Some of the things that he was charged for were not believing in God, making up prophesies, and secretly fighting against the government. The people of Florence rose up and finally executed him. On May 23, 1498, the people of Florence hanged him on a cross and burned him in town square just like the art and books he burned. He lived a good life, but died as a result of his bad decisions.

Legacy: Savonarola is considered by many Catholics as a great priest and a good leader but his stubbornness led him to poor decisions. Ultimately his leadership even inspired one of Sandro Botticelli’s paintings, the "Lamentation over the Dead Christ." He lived a great life but his poor decisions ended up sealing his fate and ultimately led to his death.

We crackpots !

2007-03-12T14:25:00.000-04:00

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it. The other was perfect. It always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and it felt miserable because it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day, by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace my house."

Each of us have our own unique flaws. But it's the cracks and flaws we have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Submitted by my very dear friend, Stan Zeller

Oops !

2007-03-09T17:00:00.000-05:00

Whether you support President Bush or you oppose him, what follows is an example of how journalists have not changed.

"It appears we have appointed our worst generals to command forces, and our most gifted and brilliant ones to edit newspapers! In fact, I discovered by reading newspapers that these editor/geniuses plainly saw all my strategic defects from the start, yet failed to inform me until it was too late. Accordingly , I am readily willing to yield my command to these obviously superior intellects, and I'll, in turn, do my best for the Cause by writing editorials ~ after the fact."
Sound familiar? Could be George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, or any of our various generals since the beginning of the current operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. No; it was a statement made in 1863 by Robert E. Lee.

Cerebral detours (?)

2007-03-03T15:50:00.000-05:00

Stories told by my doctor friends

Is This Where We're Headed

or are we there already. . .

"An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly. The other man said, "What is the name of the restaurant?" The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know... the one that's red and has thorns." "Do you mean a rose?" "Yes, that's the one," replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?

A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a check-up, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember. Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. "Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" he asks. "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?" "Sure." "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks. "No, I can remember it." "Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so's not to forget?" He replied, "I can remember. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries." "I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, please write it down?" she asks. Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream ~ I got it, for goodness sake!" Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment. "Where's my toast ?"

Three old guys are walking. First one says, "Windy, isn't it?" Second says, "No, it's Thursday!" Third says, "So am I, let's go get a beer. "

A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly and painfully, up onto a stool. After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split. The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?" "No," he replied, "Arthritis."

Submitted by my attorney:

Joseph L. Latwin

Wolff & Latwin, LLP

Purchase, NY 10577

Dad ~ I see you've slain the alien. Now this sounds more like you. I enjoyed the post ~ Loretta

The candle flickers

2007-02-25T23:01:00.000-05:00

I dread writing this post, but it is imperative that I do so. I need to enlighten you about our situation.

By late March, Lenore will join me as a nonagenarian. Living on heavily mortgaged time, both of us are painfully aware of our rapidly diminishing physical and mental capabilities. We know our future is at hand.

But to ease our angst, it would be a great relief to start disposing of what we no longer need ~ unworn clothing, furniture stored in our attic, crockery, glassware, unused appliances and a garage full of tools. To live with only what is essential and indispensable would greatly simplify our existence. May we ask you, therefore, to help us to do now what eventually you will need to do when we depart?

Death is not what we fear. Impairment and serious disability are the ominous specters that haunt us. So to insure that we place no excessive burdens on our family our lawyer, Joseph Latwin, Purchase, NY, is drawing up a living trust. It will facilitate managing our assets by our beneficiaries, when and if we can no longer do so.

We want to continue residing in our present home for as long as possible. The prospect of moving to an assisted living facility is unappealing. But, quien sabe? In the meantime, please keep Lenore and me on your AIM buddy lists. For live alones and senescents AIM can be a very effective and reassuring monitoring device. Lenore’s screen name is "lengab1917" and mine is "domgab1914."

And now for a much needed swig of Jack Daniels!

Comments:mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Dom ~ You sound more than somber. I hope you and Nan are feeling o.k. I think it’s these crazy winter blues that may be getting you guys down. Spring is right around the corner and you'll soon be out on the golf course kicking your pals’ butts in no time! Meanwhile, keep the Jack handy. Love ya both ~ Bruce

Dad, I hope that you and Mom are OK. Your latest entry in the Horn is not up to your usual positive standard. Like Bruce says, spring is close at hand, and I'm sure that the flowers and the clean fresh air will brighten your spirits. I love you both and I need your help to save our republic ~ Tom

Dom ~ I look almost every day hoping to find another brilliant discourse on something or other. Today's was very upsetting and I agree with your family that perhaps the long winter darkness has got you down. I'm sure that you are familiar with SAD. There is also another option to consider. "Independent living" allows for more flexibility and a better quality of life. Some friends of mine have recently moved into a facility where they even have golf privileges. I ordered a box of "Honeybells" about 6 weeks ago to be shipped to you. Have you received them? I"m writing this on a new computer that I bought last week. The old one always gave me trouble, but I now have an Apple and it is fast, and user friendly. May your next blog be more positive and uplifting ~ Stan Zeller

Dear Papa, This latest post was very upsetting to read. You have a wide circle of family who love you very much. Please cheer up! I love both of you dearly. Love, ~ Megan

Dad ~ Is there an alien writing on your blog, because it sure doesn't sound like my father? You know the ground hog didn't see his shadow, so spring is coming early this year. I told Mom on Sunday, that we're planning on coming up one weekend in March. We'll bring a couple loaves of your favorite bread from Liscios. But Dad, seriously, please know that you and Mom are more than welcome to come and live with us if the need arises. Love you both very very much ~ Loretta

Hi Dom ~ I have been so busy that I haven't been perusing your blogs until this AM (3/16/07) when I read the above. Its contents saddened me. I hope the many comments from family and friends served to lift the incubus from your spirit, a downer which we all experience from time to time. I am looking forward to your golf tournament later this year ~ Tony

My review of Executive Mobile Locking File Cabinet

2007-02-24T13:57:00.000-05:00

Originally submitted at FilingCabinets.com

Put a heavy-duty industrial design into your office decor with this Executive Mobile File Cabinet. Durable metal drawers are on casters for mobility.

Totally Functional By Domgab from Somers, NY on 2/27/2007

Pros: Easy To Assemble, Attractive Design, Durable

Best Uses: My office

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I am truly pleased with your Executive Mobile File Cabinet. Esthetically designed and smoothly functional, it serves me beyond my expectations. While I have no great need to move it around, I especially like the caster on the front edge of the file drawer. It makes opening a file-loaded drawer an easier task. The other two drawers provide room for all the odds and ends that tend to clutter a desk. But they work better with organizers (I purchased two at Staples). Also needed is a retaining bar to keep the backmost files from moving too far to the rear of the drawer (I made my own). By the way, my printer sits securely and conveniently on top of the cabinet.

(legalese)

Whither?

2007-01-23T16:20:00.000-05:00

Escape From the Nursing Home

NY Times Op-Ed by Ira Rosofsky

1/17/2007

Given our present circumstances, this was a very timely article for Lenore and me to read. Here is what I excerpted from it:

$75,000 is the average yearly charge for living in a nursing home. How it is paid depends on one’s physical and financial status. A welfare recipient gets by with Medicaid. But few elderly people or their families make a considered decision to move to a nursing home. Imagine living out your life in a hospital-style room with only a curtain for privacy; a place where strangers are free to walk in to poke and prod. Add to that the constant distraction of ambient institutional noise.

Assisted living (the halfway house between home-sweet-home and the nursing home) is a far superior terminal living arrangement. Its current projected cost is in the neighborhood of $35,000 a year. Medicaid plays no role in this option.

If we are helplessly disabled or infirm, staying at home and having in-house medical and domestic care can be immensely costly. Health aides are paid approximately $20 an hour. Multiply that by 24/7 and the yearly figure can quickly rise to about $165,000.

Of all the alternatives, aging in your own home, with good willed (but minimal) assistance by family and friends, is the most appealing. It has intrinsic merit. But it requires a happy alignment of fate and destiny.

Commentary

Lenore and I are currently aging at home. But for how long more, is not entirely within our power to control. Two years ago, she broke her hip and had to have a month of rehab in a nursing home. That traumatic experience left its mark on her thinking and feeling.

We are both quite advanced in years but fortunately, up to now at least, we can still pool and share some of our remaining senses and mental faculties. Where my hearing and vision have eroded sharply, hers are remarkably acute. Where I have great difficulty with phone conversations, she has trouble simply orienting herself on that infernal, cordless instrument. But, as we never did before, we now prepare every meal together, from start to finish. Our leisure time, which we covet, is spent in our comfortable family room where we read, watch TV and make good use of our laptop computers.

Distressed by the "wrinkles" on her face (which I don’t see) Lenore keeps applying all the latest miracle lotions and creams. But as I gaze at her, all I can see are mermaids and sirens. We dine sensibly and we libate with prudence. All year round we take our daily walks on our beloved hills. Happily, we stay physically fit. Regrettably, however, we don’t golf as we used to and she no longer bowls.

Fortunately, we are financially comfortable and until now, I don’t think we are a burden on our children. They and their children are loving, attentive and understanding. We have never felt isolated. We also have many friends here with whom we have much in common, especially our senescence. And we are most grateful for the care and medical attention we receive at the Mt Kisco Medical Group.

We are now actively conferring with our attorney, Joseph L. Latwin of Wolff & Latwin, LLP, Purchase, NY 10577. It is essential that we make appropriate plans for this penultimate stage of our lives. To die together would be a blessing. But if we don’t, much will depend upon which of us predeceases the other. But not to worry, we're in no hurry to go.

Hello you sprightly 92 year old: An unusual coincidence ~ you look from your photo amazingly like a well known amusement caterer from Rhyl in North Wales. He built up a tremendous business empire of bingo halls and arcades. But he was also, like you, a long distance sailor. When he was about 84 he sailed right across the Atlantic to your East coast, BY Himself!!!! His name was Solly Parker. Sadly he deceased about four years ago. He was nudging 90 ~ Mike Amiabankrobber, Wales
Dad This blog about you and Mom did me in. I made the mistake of reading it at work and I had trouble composing myself for a little while. I'm so glad you two have each other. I can't imagine it any other way ~ Loretta

This blog has significant meaning to me. I am faced with the care of my darling wife and I employ aides 24/7 to take care of her since she is no longer able to help herself. The figures you quoted are correct. Eternal optimist that I am, I pray that we will find a solution ~ Tony Correoso

Mozzarella in Carrozza

2007-01-19T20:28:00.000-05:00

Mozzarella in Carrozza

If southern Italy is known for nothing else, this grilled cheese sandwich is universally acknowledged to be its most important culinary creation. Taste it once and you will become addicted to it for the remainder of your life. While there are many known ways to prepare it, the instructions that follow are fairly basic and traditional:

Two sandwiches:

Make a paste of two anchovy fillets, adding to it a dusting of oregano, pepper (or chili powder) and a bit of olive oil. Spread it on one side of each of the four slices of bread. If your grocer is well stocked, you can find tubes of prepared anchovy paste. Do not over-paste the slice.

Lay parallel cuttings of mozzarella (about 1/8 inch thick) on two of rhe slices of bread. Close both sandwiches.

Whisk one egg and about 2 ounces of milk in a bowl. Pour the batter into a shallow soup dish and gently lay each sandwich into the mixture. After about a minute, turn the sandwich to soak both sides.

Place both sandwiches on a "non stick" pancake griddle that has been brought to medium heat. Flip them after a minute or two. When they are golden brown, as in the photo above, they are done.

Be prepared to savor them while they are hot. You will need a knife and fork to keep yourself from becoming inextricably entwined in the milky white strands of the melted mozzarella.

Buon appetito! And happy visions of the Golfo di Salerno!

Hi Dom ~ You had me salivating, looking at that Mozzarella in Carrozza picture and recipe - that's my favorite. Another option is to leave out the anchovies and make a sauce with olive oil, anchovies and capers and then drizzle it over the sandwich. That's good too ~ Chrissy

Dad ~ Loved your blog on the two recipes. I totally forgot about the Mozzarella Grilled Cheese that Mom used to make. I made it when the kids were little, but I haven't done so lately. Great suggestion on those late nights when you don't know what to make for dinner ~ Loretta

Pomodori Celeste ~

2007-01-14T07:36:00.000-05:00

Phonetic ~~ Po-mo-DAW-rree Cheh-LESS-teh

I've been informed that when God and the Archangel Gabriel sit down for an impromptu lunch or dinner, the kitchen invariably serves their favorite appetizer, "Pomodori Celeste."

To prepare it: (here on Earth)

Slice your tomato evenly (use a slicing machine or an automatic slicer). Place the slices on a dish and moisten them slightly with olive oil. Sprinkle pepper and salt evenly over the tomatoes and then gently dust them with powdered oregano and dry basil leaves (fresh basil, if available, greatly enhances appearance and flavor). Then lay a small slice of mozzarella over each tomato and ladle a full tablespoon of ricotta in the center. Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Cheat! Taste a bit of heaven before you get there. (Enlarge the photo by left clicking over it ~ you'll want to eat them off your screen)!

Be Civic ~

2007-01-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

Interesting, but not totally unusual day ~

Drove with Lenore to medical appointment this morning.
Same 2 week old, very slight vibration of steering wheel.
Stopped at Target on way home ~ Awesome store!
At parking lot, passerby tells me my left rear tire needs air.
Went directly to Brewster Honda.
While waiting, met Karen ~ Fascinating young woman.
Works at leaddogmarketing.com ~ it markets sporting events.
Guess what ~ She once knew my grandson Neil Gabriele.
A few years ago, he was her group’s fourth employee.
They now have thirty eight.
We exchanged website URL’s.
Honda shows me 2 nails they pulled out of tire.
Two options ~ repair or replace the tire.
Too old to risk unnecessary uncertainty ~ Replace!
Eternal gratitude to the guy who spotted my deflating tire.
Thank you Honda for speedily resolving my problem.
Stopped at Baldwin A&P.
Fantastic store ~ Found everything we needed.
Drove home.
My Civic once again drives as smooth as silk.
Got home happily and safely.
Blog had many visitors today ~ One from Singapore
Lenore and I prepared and ate a fantastic "gourmet dinner"
While she had Chianti, I sipped (what else?) Jack Daniels.

And how was your day?

Hey Papa ~ Just saw your post about running into Karen Ashnault. That is an amazing coincidence. How did you make the connection? I enjoyed working with her. How are you doing? Things in Westport are good. Katie and Annie are great (they are keeping us very busy) Happy New Year! ~ Neil

Hi Neil ~ You know me, "Civic" is my middle name. Many years ago I discovered that people are eager to communicate. Everyone has things to share and talk about. When she told me about her occupation, it was perfectly natural for me to ask her if your paths had ever crossed. I'll forward your e-letter to her. Happy to hear that all is well in Westport ~ Papa

Arab vs Jew ~

2007-01-08T15:59:00.000-05:00

Arab Media Suggests "Zionists" Executed Saddam

From whence cometh this malevolent animosity that most Arabs and Muslims bear towards Jews? Could its seminal origin lie in this well known Old Testament tale, which the Qu'ran cites but revises?

Paraphrased ~ Abraham, 90 and evidently impotent, was urged by his barren wife, Sarah, to have sex with Hagar, her Egyptian slave. He did so, and to Sarah's dismay, Ishmael was conceived and born. But later, with God’s help, Abraham and Sarah produced their own child, Isaac. Although the Lord foretold that both lads would have myriads of descendants who would rule over many people, He pointedly told Hagar that her son would become a "wild man, his hand raised to all men."

When Isaac "his only son" was 13, Abraham "envisioned" that God ordered him to sacrifice the youngster. But the Qu’ran, written more than a thousand years later, declared that it was Ishmael who was the "promised son" to be sacrificed. What is clear, however, is that neither boy was slain. At the penultimate moment in both versions an angel (probably Gabriel) intervened and directed Abraham to slay a ram, instead. But Islam attaches the greatest importance to the sparing of Ishmael; it commemorates the event with its three holiest days of the year, Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice).

Jews regard Isaac as their progenitive link to Abraham, whereas Arabs and Islam revere Ishmael as their connection to the patriarch. But Ishmael was the offspring of a concubine, while Isaac was Abraham’s legitimate son. Has this offended the moral sensibilities of Arabs and Islam? Is this what kindles their rage? Does the Qu’ran’s version of the Bible’s story endeavor to reinforce the transcendental nature of Ishmael's relationship to his father, Abraham?

Irony: Many believe that Saddam’s execution was rushed. It was concluded only a few minutes before the advent of Eid al-Adha. For him, no angel intervened ~

Comment:mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

It's time !

2007-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Letter to bin Laden ~

2006-12-27T15:51:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on January 1, 2005

this essay anticipates by almost 2 years

our current endeavors to "talk to our enemies"

On New Year's Day, to wish people a year of happiness is cynical and naive. Like all the years we have already lived, this one too will undoubtedly be replete with a diversity of feeling and experience. What we should really try to do, is enkindle in each other a fervent desire to establish the reality of peace. Toward that end I have addressed an open letter to Osama bin Laden, in whose hands the prospects for peace in our time may conceivably dwell ~

To Osama bin Laden:

Although your hands and ours are stained with blood, you may be the catalyst who can bring peace to the world.

Perhaps, as you revisit the Koran, you should do so with a clearer mind. Nowhere in it does Allah authorize the killing of innocent men, women and children. It must be Satan’s deceptive voice that has been sounding that diabolical message. God rarely uses words to communicate with us, but His actions always speak with unambiguous and resounding eloquence. The tsunamis, the floods, the quakes and all the other disasters which wreak such undescribable havoc, must be a sign of His wrath and His diminishing concern about our fate. And if that is so, why is He angry? Why is He turning away from us? Have we broken our covenant with Him? Is God revolted by the heinously unforgivable things we all keep doing to each other?

Is this not then a propitious moment for Islam to stop the Jihad and begin to join the West, as it once so gloriously did, in a united and compassionate effort to bring comfort, healing and vital physical assistance to all of humanity? You have an army of zealous followers. They look to you for direction and inspiration. Would it not please Allah to see them joining their foes in rendering help and offering kindness to all of our fellow creatures? Should we not cease inflaming Iraqis, Afghans, Palestinians, Israelis and so many other hostility prone people around the world?

Under the dark and fearful clouds of war, everyone is a victim. In the wake of warfare there is only carnage, ruin and despair. But under the broad umbrella of Peace, good will has a chance to flourish. And when people feel inspired to work together, shoulder to shoulder, and heart beside heart, God's will is done. And when God is pleased, everything is possible.

Osama, I would like to believe that the Archangel Gabriel, whose name my family proudly bears, is now offering you similar counsel.

Comment:mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Happy birthday, Jesus ~

2006-12-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Brrrr !

2006-12-21T23:20:00.000-05:00

Illustration: Courtesy of skytonight.com

The Earth revolves on an axis that is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit around the Sun. Thus, as it travels over its elliptical orbit, the angle our Equator makes with the Sun oscillates between 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degrees south. It is this tilt of the Earth on its axis that produces our four seasons, not our distance from the Sun.

Today, at 7:22 p.m., EST, the Sun shone directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, the latitude that is 23.5 degrees south of the Equator. In the northern hemisphere, this shortest day and longest night of the year marked the beginning of our Winter. The reverse was the case in the southern hemisphere. On this day, the North Pole was sunless for 24 hours and the South Pole had 24 hours of continuous daylight.

From today on, the declination of the Sun in relation to our planet will begin to move northward and on March 21 it will be over the Equator, for the Equinox. On that date, day and night will be exactly equal in duration. Then on June 21, as shown in the picture on the right, the Sun will arrive at the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the Equator. That will mark the first day of our summer. At that point, the Sun’s declination begins to move southward.

The illustration on the left shows that during Winter, the inclination of our planet’s axis keeps our hemisphere turned away from the Sun. And thus, with shorter days and longer nights, we receive substantially less solar heat than during the summer, when the days are longer.

Now allow yourself to speculate. If the tilt of our planet's axis were several degrees greater or less than 23.5 degrees, what would be the consequences?

Comment:mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Be careful ~ !!

2006-12-20T15:27:00.000-05:00

Above photo downloaded from Answers.com

To my fellow Elderlies:

Following upon publishing my post, Lux Veritas, November 10, 2006, I discussed the question of sun glare with Dr. Michael L. Cohen of MKMG in Mt Kisco, New York.

He took issue with what I had opined, namely that perhaps as we age, we lose some of our ability to constrict our pupils in bright light. He is inclined to believe that cataracts of the lens would be a more plausible clinical reason for our increased sensitivity to sunlight. We did agree that during winter solstice time (at our latitude) sunlight is substantially brighter than during other seasons of the year. Having to travel through more atmosphere during most of the day, sunlight is magnified and more intense.

We who are now relatively more advanced in years owe it to ourselves and everyone else on the road, to take every possible precaution. Elderlies are a very hazardous group of drivers. It would therefore not be remiss for us to plan an early visit to our ophthalmologists for a checkup and advice.

Comment:mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

David and Goliath ~

2006-12-08T02:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Op-Ed Editor:
I was three when I began reading The Times and I will soon turn ninety-three. Yet in all of these past ninety years, dear Editor(s), you have published nothing I have ever written you, letters or essays. Nolo contendere! The fault must lie with me and not the old gray lady. In any case, I am now re-submitting this Op-Ed essay. It relates to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in its present form, it is particularly timely. DJG

Shades of David and Goliath . . .

>> Left click on map to enlarge it <<

Iraq and Iran aside! The tragedy that started in Canaan more than 3,000 years ago and now plays before the whole world is the apocalyptic struggle between Palestine and Israel. But why do we focus with such sharply polarized intensity upon this conflict? What is there about this very minute region of the Middle East that makes it so disproportionately huge as an area of our concern? Do we have a vital stake in its outcome? And why has God seemed not to care? Does He leave it to humanity to solve its own problems, as He once told Job? Whither, the answers?

How much longer can they continue to inflict horror and devastation upon each other? Has the time not come for Palestine and Israel to seek a modus vivendi (peace without a capital P)? Palestine cannot remain suspended forever in stateless animation, and Israel cannot be deprived of its right to exist. But would it not help for both sides to recall that neither has ever had a certified deed to the Holy Land. The Palestinians (Philistines) emigrated to Canaan from Crete and the Israelis were escorted there from Egypt, by Moses. The aboriginals they both de-occupied, were the Canaanites.

But if eventually, there is to be a two state division of the Holy Land, forgive me my temerity to suggest a tentative first step. Palestine should consider ceding to Israel all of the Gaza Strip and that part of the West Bank which includes and lies south of Jerusalem. Then, in return, Israel would cede approximately equal acreage to Palestine, the bulk of it to lie north and east of a line between the city of Nazareth and Jerusalem. Instead of the now totally devastated Gaza Strip, Palestine would have a habitable coast, north of Haifa. Nearly equal in length to Gaza, it would be contiguous with its newly created State. Implicit in this redistribution of land and people would be the elimination of Israel's borders with Lebanon and Syria and an end to the Golan conflict.

Then, with good will and inspired acumen, Israel and Palestine could endeavor to address the intricately complex problem of Jerusalem. With encouragement and generous assistance, the Holy Land might at last have an opportunity to breathe easily and face the future with restored confidence not only in itself, but perhaps even in God. >I<

Mailed to The NY Times 8 days ago; it remains unpublished.

Comment:mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

He stoned me while I wasn't looking ~ Goliath

I was only trying to get his attention ~ David

Hi ~ Perhaps we have met online, but more probably you don't know me from Adam. I monitor blogs for SamsonBlinded, and came across yours. I welcome you to look at Obadiah Shoher's blog. He is an anonymous Israeli politician who writes extremely controversial articles about Israel, the Middle East politics, and terrorism. Shoher is equally critical of Jewish and Muslim myths, and he advocates political rationalism instead of moralizing. Google banned our site from the AdWords and Yahoo blocked most of its pages. Amazon deleted all reviews of Obadiah's book, Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict. Nevertheless, 170,000 people from 78 countries read the book. Internet providers ban us periodically. This www.samsonblinded.com/ currently works. Please help us to spread Obadiah's message, and mention the blog in one of your posts. I would greatly appreciate your comments. Best wishes ~ Eugene Gershin

Thank you for stopping by. I checked out your site. I was impressed by what I read about Obadiah Shoher's book and the comments made by other readers. There is no disputing that the Israel/Palestine conflict is a loaded enigma of unmeasurable worldly importance ~ Dom Gabriele

This is a very erudite article. It opens the way for discussion between fair-minded people. But Jerusalem will remain an insoluble problem unless the antagonists realize that neither has an exclusive right to it ~ A. Correoso

We love you, Lou!

2006-11-29T04:21:00.000-05:00

Surrounded by doom and gloom as we all are these days, it is a relief to feel an occasional burst of warmth and see a ray of sunshine. Well that’s how it was for Lenore and me when the above bouquet was delivered to us this morning.

Among all the fruit, the candy and a variety of nuts was a bottle of champagne and two stem glasses. This cornucopia was sent to us by Lou Michaels, my deceased brother's brother-in-law. His note read, "I miss both of you very much."

Lou lives in Richmond. He and I are nonagenarians and both of us suffer from a loss of hearing. If you could eavesdrop on our weekly phone conversations, you would hear two senescents grasping only a fraction of all that they say to each other. But you would also discern that these are poignant and uplifting interludes for both of them.

It may interest you to know that a sharp and boundless memory in old age is not always an unadulterated blessing. Lou is a widower and he lives with a past that remains vivid in his mind. He cannot forget one scintilla of what used to be. But it helps him and me to know that we share many of those same emotion laden memories.

We thank you, Lou. Our very first toast, when we open that bottle of champagne, will be to you and what none of us want ever to forget.

Comments: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Thank You!

2006-11-24T16:58:00.000-05:00

Many, many thanks to

Julia, Fred, Tyler and Monika

Once again

You provided our family clan with a

Thanksgiving Day setting

we will never forget

Our tree grows larger every year

More branches, more fruit

The blessings it bestows upon us

are too numerous to count

We are indeed Thankful

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Timex Mirabilis

2006-11-19T22:10:00.000-05:00

Walking is a safe and beneficial exercise when done regularly and with more than a modicum of effort. But to be of significant value, the walk should take upwards of 30 minutes and if done on a slope, so much the better.

Here at Heritage Hills there are very few flat areas. The course my wife and I staked out takes us a half mile away from our home and the return trip completes a mile. But during that one mile the elevation we ascend (and descend) is about 100 feet. In effect, we climb up and down a 10 story building, a somewhat dramatic feat for oldsters of our advanced years.

Depending on my mood and vigor, I generally walk that course (even during bitterly cold winter days) two, three and sometimes even four times. We keep a daily record and we strive to reach a cumulative total of about 400 miles a year.

With the Timex watch illustrated above, I now keep lap times for each half mile. By doing so, it adds another dimension of interest and discipline to the workout. Indeed, it has made me aware that with each additional mile, my relative speed tends to increase. To me, that validates the healthful nature of the exercise. It would please us to know what you think.

Hi Granpa, You've encouraged me to keep better time of my walking. My neighbor and I walk a 3 mile stretch that may be a bit too flat. But we are now walking faster. We both thought the scales would begin to go down, but so far, they haven't. But we do like the way we feel and we will continue with our routine ~ Elaine

Your exercise will help you to stay fit, but to lose weight you must reduce the amount of food you consume. Try giving up lunch altogether ~ it's mostly a social occasion at best ~ Papa

Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Lux Veritas ~

2006-11-10T23:02:00.000-05:00

Like the shutter on a camera, the iris of our eyes must adjust the size of our pupils to the intensity of the ambient light, in order for us to see properly

This focusing process is entirely reflexive. Without drugs or shades, it is beyond our individual will to control. Readers who have undergone eye refractions, where atropine was used to dilate their pupils, will recall that when they left the doctor’s office and went into the sunlight, the glare was overpowering. It took hours, before automaticity returned.

What I wish to report here, is that over the past few years, I have become increasingly sensitive to the glare of the sun, especially so when driving. And lately, on my afternoon walks, I am noticing that the light beams of some oncoming cars are almost scintillating bright. I am now beginning to wonder if the pupils of my eyes are no longer reflexly constricting in bright light. Examining my eyes in a magnifying mirror, under varying light conditions, has not yet helped me to determine what is happening. Have I become mydriatic?

I intend to discuss this with my ophthalmologist. But in the meantime, I would dearly like to have some input from my fellow elderlys. If you folks are experiencing anything like I have just described, please let me know. It may well be that we have an aging condition that hitherto has not received appropriate medical attention. If so, perhaps all we need to make us optically more comfortable (and safer drivers) is some prophylactic ophthalmic medication

Hi Dad, I don't know if I qualify as an elder, but I am in my fifties, so I think I'm close enough. For the last 10 years, I have been able to see comfortably when I drive in the daytime, without wearing sunglasses. And if my memory is correct, I don't think I have ever seen you wear sunglasses. Maybe, after all these years, that has taken its toll. Seems that I definitely draw from your gene pool (same dry eye conditions, sensitivity, hearing, arm pains). Too bad I didn't cash in on more of the brain power. Love ya Dad ~ Loretta

As long as the positives in that gene pool outweigh the negatives, we'll always be ahead. So very good to hear from you ~ Dad
I need to tell you - the other day while driving on Rte 202 at about 3pm, I was blinded by the sun and I ran into the car in front of me. Serious accident, but no major injuries - R.M.

Comment:

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The Election (?)

2006-11-08T21:14:00.000-05:00

? ~ Just Asking ~ ?

Was this election a Democratic victory?

Yes or No

Was it a Republican defeat?

Yes or No

Are jihadists jubilant?

Yes or No

Does Israel feel safer?

Yes or No

Are Muslims and Dems in accord?

Yes or No

Do we know why Islam is at war with us?

Yes or No

My score

Yes (3) ~ No (3)

Comment:

mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Thank you, Charlie!

2006-11-06T16:15:00.000-05:00

Downtown Bronx Medical Associates, P.C.

Lincoln Hospital Mental Health Center

Bronx, New York 10451

Dear Dr. Gabriele:

While networking and searching for Psychiatrists for the 400+ member faculty practice of Lincoln Hospital Medical and Mental Health Center, your name has been suggested as an excellent person to contact. I would appreciate networking with you about this situation . . .The selected candidate will be paid an excellent salary, commensurate with experience, etcetera ~ Charles F. Wassem, Consultant

Dear Charles F. Wassem:

Many thanks for sending me your recruitment letter. A few years ago, I would have been happy to join your staff ~ but time has passed me by. Senescence has overtaken me. Though I still golf, my greater passion is blogging. Indeed, only a day or so ago, I used my blog to practice a bit of cyber-psychiatry. To illustrate what I mean, check the post "Bless you, Mike" It precedes this one. I do hope you will find the psychiatrist you need. Merci bien ~ Dom Gabriele

Dear Dr. Gabriele:

Thank you for your gracious reply. Enjoy your golf game and may you continue to hit the ball far, straight and on the green for all 18 holes and, if you have not already, end up shooting below your chronological age. Just by your few sentences I can see that you are much younger in your view of life than your age. Keep that positive attitude and I hope to meet you on the golf course someday. And, yes I will make it a point to check out your blog ~ Best regards, Charlie Wessem

Comment:

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Bless you, Mike

2006-11-02T14:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Dom Gabriele,

I have read that there are 10,000 new blogs a day. I got to yours because I simply pressed the "last blog" button on the blogspot interface. But I see from your profile that you are a Physiciatrist (I bet that’s not spelled correctly). I am a heavy sleeper, but I dream a lot, all about real situations and real people. But, over the last few years, I have had a recurring dream, a bad dream, a nightmare! It always takes the same form, I have an inner dread that I have done something to reveal myself to Police? or Prison guards? and I’m going to be locked up! And I’ve brought this on myself. End of dream.

Can a dream look into the future? Or can they be self fulfilling? Because it seems to me that is just about what I am now doing. This blog of mine started as an experiment. I did have a website entitled "Needatourmanager" (I am a tour manager) but after a lot of hard work, and money, my hits were ~ NIL. So, I thought I'd try a more interesting title and see what happens. And now, I just cannot stop blogging. So far everything is already known to the Police, albeit it happened 40 years ago. Seeing your blog, it looks as if fate is taking a hand. I hope you don't mind me writing to you. Yours truly ~ Mike Owen, Wales, UK

Mike, It would be un-ethical for me to use this medium to offer you clinical advice, but your letter compels me to make an appropriate response. Your vivid dreams have long engaged you in a process of self-analysis. They keep driving you to search for more explicit ways to diminish your fear and guilt. And now that you have started to blog, you may have discovered an even more effective way to confront that Macbethian "damned spot." Bless you, Mike ~ Dom Gabriele

Hello Dom, Thanks for your quick reply to my e mail. No, definitely do not remove your comments. There is no need to, I am quite sure what you say is what you think. Whether or not you are correct, in my case, I cannot say. Maybe it will come out in later blogs of mine!!!! In the meantime as a famous comedian used to say "Its all good fun" Take care of yourself ~ Mike Owen

Comment:

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Listen up!

2006-10-31T22:42:00.000-05:00

The upcoming elections:
To me, the American electorate is in a state of galloping entropy. With few exceptions, every ballot that is about to be cast will be a vote totally against an issue or a person. Candidates are attacking each other like mad dogs and the writing implements of nearly every journalist are dripping with venom. The malevolence spreading from sea to sea, and from north to south has stifled every citizen’s effort to cerebrate with wisdom, humility and respect. When Congress re-convenes, look for this discordance to grow exponentially. Good heavens, has Islam already prevailed? Have we seen the light? Are we no longer, infidels?

I agree with David Brooks:

In his 11/2/06 NY Times OpEd column, David Brooks refers to an essay written in 1970 by Kedourie, a Baghdad-born Jew. In it, Kedourie reflects gloomily about the Iraqi regime the British spawned there, 80 years ago. It was a kingdom riven by Shiite-Sunni fighting, slaughtered innocents and joyously celebrated massacres. It is a mistake to attribute its current discordance to American blunders. But disorder is so endemic in Iraq, chaos would surely ensue were the U.S. to abandon that tragic land to its predatory neighboring countries. Our sanest current option, Brooks opines, is to maintain an effective, but garrisoned military presence in Iraq, for years to come.

Gay and Lesbian Marriage:
The rampant practice of homosexuality in ancient Sodom so infuriated God, it led him to destroy the city and turn its inhabitants into pillars of salt (do homosexuals have an aversion to salt?). While I am not greatly bothered by the counter-reproductional nature of homosexuality, it does disconcert me when homosexuals insist on applying the words and symbols of "traditional marriage" to their unions. Being of identical gender, how do they determine who is the husband and who is the wife? And with non-human animals gaining added protection and even some forms of civil status, what will the State eventually say to a man who wants to marry his dog, or a woman, her cat?

NY Times, front page, 11/7/06 ~ New York Plans To Make Gender Personal Choice ~ Separating anatomy from what it means to be a man or a woman, New York City is moving forward with a plan to let people alter the sex on their birth certificate even if they have not had sex- change surgery. . .If approved, the new rule would put New York at the forefront of efforts to redefine gender. The best laid plans of mice and God, oft go awry ~ The Horn

Comment:
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Grrr !

2006-10-28T00:12:00.000-04:00

If, like me, you are already deeply into this hi-tech age, then you will agree that one of the most disconcerting calamities that can befall us, is for our computers to crash.

Well, two weeks ago, it happened to me and I am still upset. Much of my most precious data, upon which I so heavily depended, has disappeared! Until now, I have happily served as my family’s data base. I had every birthday, anniversary, phone number, etc. But now, I am back on square one!

With computers, the keywords are backup and a hard drive with adequate space. But relying too heavily on backing up to your own hard drive, is a gilt-edged invitation to disaster. Reliance should now be placed on USB connected external media like flash drives or external hard drives with plenty of capacity. When I received my laptop from Dell, a couple of years ago, Encarta Encyclopedia and its dictionary were on only one CD. Now, Encarta 2007 is spread over five discs and it occupies more than 3 gigabytes of space on a hard drive.

In any case, I am very grateful to my son Tom for extricating me from techno-limbo. As a computer hack, he has no equal. In no time flat, he replaced my old hard drive with a new one of much greater capacity. But he had to deepfreeze the old one, before it begrudgingly yielded some of my lost data.

Following upon his suggestion, I searched in Google for a dependable backup program and I came up with Genie Backup Manager, Version 7. With it, you can Backup and Restore with great ease. Along with other intriguing options, it can also backup incrementally and schedule your backups to occur at times that suit you. Thank you, Tom ~ you’re the greatest!

Comments:
mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

I just read your post, very interesting. I am new to blogging so I cannot understand how your main page was only posted today (that's how I read it) But you seem to have been going for a long time. Have you redone your "about me?" My own blog is an experiment to see what interest I can rouse. It's really only relevant to people in North Wales and the UK. It's very poor compared to yours. But it's really only a means to learning. I've had a website but I didn't really get very far with it. My blog is AmIabankrobber.blogspot.com ~ Mike Owen

Mike, I thank you for your complimentary comment. The first Post you see in The Horn is a sort of introductory guidepost. I change its date every day in order to keep it as the front page. I urge you to stay with your blog, it is a perfect medium to use as your personal diary ~ Dom Gabriele

Why now?

2006-10-12T22:29:00.000-04:00

This is a notice I just received in the mail!

Congratulations,

Domenic Gabriele: You have just been nominated by the National Adjutant for membership in The American Legion.

Enclosed, was a ready for framing "Certificate of Nomination" which stated: "Upon meeting the strict requirements set forth by the Congress of the United States, Domenic Gabriele shall thereby be accepted for official membership in The American Legion" Also included was a request for $20.00, to pay for my nomination to be properly reviewed and evaluated.

Some background: I entered the service as a medical officer on May 28, 1942 (64 years ago). Three months later I was on a convoy headed for England. Subsequently, after two years of building heavy bomber airfields in England, on D-day plus one, I drove my jeep "Quack’s Hack" up onto the blood drenched sands of Omaha Beach in Normandy. Then, after numerous battles and campaigns in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, I returned home to the U.S.A. late in October of 1945. My military service was honorably concluded shortly afterwards. While I am pleased that The American Legion is at long last considering me for admission to its organization, if they opt to wait just a little while, they can have me posthumously.

So I will ignore their invitation and who knows, perhaps I’ll receive a similar offer from The French Foreign Legion. But now that my interest has indeed been aroused, what I would really like, is to be an honorary member of those ancient Roman Legions with which Julius Caesar subdued and civilized the barbarous, militant, tribes of Gaul.

Comment: Mail to:
domgab1914@comcast.net

Congratulations on your nomination. Too bad you missed the Roman Legions by the accident of your birth year. Have you considered opting for Osama's Legions? ~ Tony Correoso

While I would have other reasons to be disinclined to connect with Osama's Legions, being an infidel disqualifies me ~ Dom

Foley Bergere (?)

2006-10-06T03:42:00.000-04:00

The Capitol, our federal theme park, is once again adrip with sexual scandal, and journalists can hardly contain themselves. But to their apparent dismay (gnashing of teeth) this episode is not quite at the presidential level.

This time it is the perverted excursion of a congressman into cyberland, that has our nation titillated. Foley has evidently pulled off the seduction of a young and ostensibly innocent, congressional page. That this lad might have unconsciously contributed to the seduction, does not quite fit into the melodrama we want to see enacted. Our preference in this "folie a deux" is to see the boy as blameless.

But in truth, what we all expect from this tragi-farce is a smelly pile of political ordure. Scapegoats continue to be ferreted out and lawmakers who have homosexual proclivities are tactfully receding from view, and from inquisitive reporters. While Foley sulks in disgrace, antagonists are searching for an appropriate scarlet letter to sear into Speaker Hastert's flesh. And, as publishers begin to harass and importune the page, Rove and Dean are chanting discordant, contrapuntal rhythms.

Can recurrences of these travesties be averted? My blog "Locus loco" suggests that our Capitol should be moved away from a river whose large and small mouthed bass are already undergoing bizarre sexual changes. The Potomac is badly contaminated by sewage containing human estrogens, erectile dysfunction drugs and horse manure. For our government to draw its drinking water from it, is a "folie en masse."

Comment:
domgab1914@comcast.net

Dom, you seem to be saying that Foley is not entirely to be blamed, that the page may somehow have contributed to his seduction (consciously or unconsciously). I wouldn't blame the victim until I can examine him ~ Anthony Correoso ~ tcorre12@aol.com

Tony, I am just making a psycho-analytical observation ~ Dom

Let's fight fair!

2006-09-27T22:36:00.000-04:00

Daniel Pearl undergoing "coercive interrogation"
He was later beheaded.

September 27, 2006 ~ Pakistani’s president, Pervez Musharraf, asserted today, that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed either killed or took part in the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

This article was copied from: http://www.rotten.com/library/

>I< Daniel Pearl, a Journalist for the Wall Street Journal, was killed in Pakistan by Muslim extremists. As a Jew, he was unwise to let himself be taken voluntarily into their custody.

Pearl’s captors made a video, titled The Slaughter of the Spy Journalist, the Jew Daniel Pearl. The video made its way to the Pakistan government and the U.S. government, and eventually it leaked onto the Internet through a Jihadist site. It consists of a Pearl monologue describing his Jewish upbringing, his family’s involvement with the creation of the Israeli state and his feelings regarding the current controversy. His monologue is presented in edited sound bites. At times he appears relaxed and his speech is natural, but during other parts he is tense and his speech sounds forced. Notably he does not claim to be a spy for the U.S. or Israel.

According to published reports, when Daniel Pearl’s throat was first slashed, a technical error caused it not to be captured on film. In the video, Pearl’s corpse is shown naked from the waist up, lying on a blanket. A man’s arm is holding his head forward so that his cut neck cannot be seen. With the knife in his other hand, the man proceeds to cut deeper into Pearl’s neck, from the back to the front. There is little blood. The man holding the knife is now strongly believed to have been Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, then the chief of military operations for al Qaeda. >I<

Isn't it reassuring to know that the guardians of our civil rights want to make certain that during his detention and his trial, Mohammed’s constitutional rights will not be violated? They say he must be treated humanely and in compliance with the Geneva Conventions.

But in all candor, Islam's conflict with us will never be resolved. So, to insure that this war is fought with a modicum of civility, let us send some pure-hearted, decerebrate congressmen to Osama’s cave, to sit with him and persuade him to sign the Geneva document.

Comment:
mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net

Locus loco?

2006-09-06T12:19:00.000-04:00

Should our Capitol be moved away from the Potomac?

Scientists are discovering that significant numbers of fish in the Potomac are beginning to show signs of bi-sexuality. Eggs are being found among the sperm of large mouth and small mouth bass. Female small mouths and large mouths are now being checked ~ for sperm in their ovaries. The cause of these recently discovered abnormalities is believed to be the abundance of pollutants in the water. Those most suspect, are human sex hormones and drugs from processed sewage and animal manure that keeps seeping into the river.

Because Washington draws most of the water it drinks from the Potomac river, scientists ought to start analyzing the gonads of some of our small mouth and large mouth members of congress? And it would not be remiss to include in the study, members of the judiciary as well as the people who staff the executive branch of our federal government.

Question: "Can functional bi-partisanship really be achieved in a government whose members are drinking tap water that is so badly contaminated with sex drugs and horse manure?"

Comment:
E-mail me at domgab1914@comcast.net

>I< As you know, I am a senator. Some of my colleagues tell me that my mouth is neither big nor small, just loud. Luckily, I have been drinking only bottled water since I came to Washington. Hopefully, my testicles are egg-free. Please don't reveal my identity ~ Anonymous

>I< While searching other Bloggers' work, I just found yours, The Horn. I enjoyed it very much. Especially the funny Locus Loco story about the fish in the Potomac. I used to try to get my father-in-law interested in the Web, and he is younger than you! Alas, he now has Alzheimer's and is unable. I am presently working on my blog, http://scriptype.blogspot.com/. I've created several websites since 1997, but I have never blogged. Thought I'd give it a try. Do you like Blogger? ~ Best wishes, Minna ~ wikiwikiwe@gmail.com

Senescence Golf

2006-09-02T22:00:00.000-04:00

Mea culpa: Regrettably, I have let all of August go by without posting a single essay. But rather than submit something hastily contrived, I decided to resurrect an article I posted more than two years ago. Current readers may not have seen it. I am looking forward to their e-mailed comments ~

Tee 'em high and let em fly! Unlike other sports, golf can be played and enjoyed by people well into their senescence, that penultimate stage of life that follows seniorhood and comes just before "the lights go out." It is a period of life, often characterized by irreversible decrepitude and ineptitude. But consider how utterly tragic it would be for our aged golfers, if with all of their infirmities and diminishing skills, they were not an integral part of a friendly, and still "active" foursome.

However, what may surprise most people is that senescent golfers do perform a vital environmental service. Grounds keepers look with pride at the height and verdancy of their trees and they believe it is their fertilizing that does it. Few know that each of those trees is receiving regular doses of highly concentrated nitrogen from aging "male" golfers, who with increasing frequency, need to stop and piss on them.

In truth however, senescence golf is a tragicomedy acted out on weekends by many oldsters who are now physical caricatures of their former selves. Judged candidly, their exertions are woeful exercises in futility. Watch them and listen as they tee off. Rarely will you hear, "Great shot!" but often will be heard, "Where the f--k did it go?"

Addendum: Happily, Golf Clubs in America are awarding honorary memberships to their aging members in good standing and it looks now like Somers Pointe is beginning to orient itself in that direction. Its promoters are aware that the greener the course, the better it looks! They also know that our course's weary ground keepers can use all the fertilizing assistance they can get.

Comment:

E-mail me ~ domgab85@comcast.net

As you can see in the video, where they keep showing me walking down that rocky hill, there's not a tree in sight. But, as you know, I’m on dialysis. While I am not yet senescent and I have never played golf, it would really please me to walk among your course's trees ~ Osama

Try this ~ I give 14 shots to each guy in my regular Monday group ~ Russell Starkey

Now you are on to something, forget the politics. Concentrate on important issues GOLF!!! Your blog should have a running golf column, no? My son Bobby and I played yesterday, he from the blues and me from the whites and he still kicked my ass, but we had a great time. Sad the cold weather is coming, just when I'm figuring out that slice. Speaking of old duffers, what about my dad, on his one remaining leg (he left the other in Iwo Jima) he still beats his buddies every week ~ Robert Kenney

Read your blog. Amused by tour description of your Saturday group. Thank all for making the trees greener. Bryna is doing very well - walking further and further. Thinking and planning for next season's Tuesday Morning League - to start on May 3rd ~ Paul Cipes

SEX & GOLF ~The only two things a man can do poorly and still enjoy! ~ Cap'n Fred Gabriele

No wonder the trees looked so good this fall. The foliage was extravagantly elegant. Keep providing the nutrients ~ Adolph Melagrano

Israel delenda est

2006-07-30T20:22:00.000-04:00

Cartago delenda est

Cato the Elder, a Roman Statesman, concluded every speech he made in the Roman Senate with that diktat (Carthage must be destroyed). He repeatedly uttered that decree during the latter days of the Roman Republic, not long before Rome eventually became the world’s first superpower. While he was also unalterably opposed to Rome’s absorption of Greek culture, it was what he perceived to be Carthage’s irreligious attitudes and its frivolous life styles, that really repelled him. When Rome launched its last Punic war, Carthage (a flourishing city-state in North Africa) was totally "wiped out."

Israel delenda est

Last October, President Ahmadinejad of Iran, issued a similar announcement. He declared that Israel should be "wiped off the map." Most people thought he was simply trying to deflect the West’s obsessional concern about his nuclear weapon program. Not generally known, however, Iran had already poured massive quantities of missile weaponry into Lebanon, via Syria. With Hezbollah as its militia, it was planning to provoke a confrontation that would ultimately lead to Israel's annihilation. Implicit in the plan would be the rise of Iran into a role of undisputed Islamic leadership.

In all candor

Is Israel on the verge of another enforced diaspora? Faced with this new attack, to whom can it turn for vital support? With self-forgiving rhetoric, moderates everywhere are taking cover. Anti-semitism is rampant. Ahmadinejad, prompted by Iran's religious hierarchy and encouraged by the Arab street, unceasingly articulates Islam’s visceral hatred of Israel. At the same time, he is effectively implementing the means and manner of Israel's demise. Will only America dare to rein him in? Will the Bible soon be adding another chapter to Exodus?

Addendum: Unlike Osama's Al Qaeda, Hezbollah (with its history of successful confrontations against America and Israel) draws its energy and strength from every faction of fractious Islam. Sponsored, armed and now under the aegis of Iran, this rapidly growing, "quasi-invincible" militia is a serious threat to all Western "crusaders." To persist in believing we are not in mortal conflict with "jihadists" is a perilous delusion.

Comment:

Israel is always on the edge of diaspora. What is a Jew? What is Israel? There was a time long ago when Israel became a true nation, a kingdom that conquered and subdued the land of Canaan. But that time came and went. Stronger forces prevailed. They conquered Israel, again, and again. What remains now is but a nostalgic vision of a perfect time, a time of God, when the prophets searched within their own hearts for their connections to the divinity. Sadly, what constitutes the Jewish identity today is a concoction of disparate cultures. I tend to take a very theological stance on these issues. Your blog is very professional. You are a one-man newspaper.

Daniel G (my great-nephew)

Maybe the Islamists have come up with a conceptual breakthrough that makes them difficult to defeat. They've grasped that the more they endanger their own people and get them killed, the better it is for them politically. Israel or the U.S. gets blamed. That's like a superweapon in the media war.

David Brooks (NY Times, Aug 6, 06)

With a terrorist organization in control of Gaza and dominant in the West Bank; with a terrorist army on its borders; and with an apocalyptic Iranian president determined to wipe it from the map, Israel is faced with the greatest threat ever suffered by any nation since Britain faced the armies of the Third Reich.

Dr Denis MacEoin (An excerpt from his response to a policy speech by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Denis MacEoin has published extensively on Islamic topics)

Bryna and I were intrigued by the perceptive comparison you draw with Rome, Carthage and the Punic Wars. I wrote to many of our friends asking them to look in on your blog.

Paul Cipes (Aug 7, 06)
Disarming Hezbollah is the key to Mideast Peace. If Hezbollah is not disarmed, then the moderates in the Middle East are going to be discouraged. Lebanon is likely to be taken over by Hezbollah sooner or later, and this whole crisis will repeat itself. That is the fundamental issue that all Americans must understand.

Henry Kissinger (Told Fox News, Aug 9, 06)

Quo Vadis?

2006-07-19T15:51:00.000-04:00

It’s been quite a while since I added a posting to The Horn and much water has flowed over the dam. I must confess, I am totally befuddled by all that is happening and I can't recall ever feeling so profoundly concerned about the state of the world than I am now. But just to let my readers know that I am still here, I decided that this might be a good time to make the following entry:

Regardless of what you may think or where you may stand with respect to the current brouhaha about the NY Times, I believe that if you are looking for a rock solid, secure place to be when and if the Islamic terrorists decide to strike us again, you won’t find a safer spot in all of America than in the NY Times office building in New York City.

Our Anniversary

2006-06-08T21:02:00.000-04:00

Today, June 8, 2006, Lenore and I celebrated our 66th wedding anniversary. We have lived a long, loving and very fertile life together and it warmed our hearts to receive so many very kind wishes from our family and friends. We capped this happy day at our local Imperial Wok, with a savorous Chinese dinner. Joined with us were two of our five children, their spouses, two of our twelve grandchildren and Lauren, Brian's lovely amante.

At our age, we no longer look too far into the future. But we do enjoy living with our memories of the past, of which we have an overwhelming abundance. If God is not impatient to have us, we will try to be here for our next anniversary. In the meantime, forgive this gratuitous bit of advice we extend to those who take this extraordinary gift of life, for granted:

Live this precious life thou hast

Wasteth it not in barren solitude

Endeavor ever to be first, not last

To proclaim thy sincerest gratitude

That thou wert incubated, then born

--- Dom Gabriele

mailto:domgab85@aol.com

Thanks!

2006-06-06T12:38:00.000-04:00

“Here, Dr. Gabriele.
Bush says you can keep it, for now”

On April 11, 2006, I posted “A New Dawn” (Check it out)

In it I described how I had just received an advisory from the IRS which declared that I had under reported my 2004 income by $25,000 and that with accrued penalties, I now owed the government $8,998. In a politely phrased, and merciful, addendum, I was invited to submit any material that would definitively refute the government’s contention.

To access what was now a totally unresponsive 2004 Tax Disc, I was referred by TurboTax Support to a technician in India. That gentleman walked me through to the solution with astonishing speed, grace and cordiality. And, as a result of that serendipitous encounter, I am now a passionately ardent supporter of Globalization and Outsourcing.

I quickly submitted what was needed to undo the error I had committed when I filed my 2004 tax return. I also sent copies of those documents to my very dear, accountant friend, Howard Marks, whose heart warming, reassuring motto is, “Have no fear while Marks is here!” He had no doubt that a favorable conclusion would be forthcoming.

In today’s mail, there was a letter from K.C. Corbin of the IRS. It was ominously titled, “Closing Notice” ~ but these were the opening sentences ~ Thank you for providing us with additional information regarding the issue we recently wrote to you about. We are pleased to tell you that, with your help, we were able to clear up the differences between yours' and your payer’s records.

As the Bard of Avon once wrote, All’s well, that ends well. Thank you K.C. Corbin of the IRS. Thank you Howard Marks. And a very special thank you to that gentleman technician in India. Last, but not least, I must also express my everlasting gratitude to President Bush, who is striving so arduously to make the Department of the Treasury a benevolent arm of the U.S. Government.

Comments:
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In Memoriam

2006-05-29T16:06:00.000-04:00

This is a most solemn day for America. Today, we memorialize our soldiers who died in all of our nation’s battles. But, strangely, we do not memorialize our wars.

In today’s NY Times, there is a particularly moving OpEd by Owen West, a Reserve Marine. It is a must read and I exhort the Editors of the Times not to ignore it.

It starts with this quote from Lincoln’s 2nd inaugural address: “Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease.” Eleven percent of the adult American citizenry at that time, were soldiers and one out of seven died in the war. Those are awesome figures, especially if viewed from the perspective of our present population (300,000,000). Is it any wonder that Abe Lincoln of that day, like George Bush today, was reviled by The NY Times?

Owen West goes on to say, that the political acrimony which keeps polarizing and vitiating our understanding of the conflict in Iraq, is not only seriously hampering our efforts, it is befuddling our population about how crucially significant this mission really is. Whereas the Civil War started with the secession of the southern states from the Union, the issue of slavery eventually rose to take its rightful place as the quintessential core of the conflict. And whereas this war in Iraq (and Afghanistan) was ostensibly started to deal mortal blows to individuals like Osama and later to Saddam Hussein, we now realize that we are gravely threatened by a particularly determined and militant sector of Islam. And let’s not deceive ourselves, until fundamental political, cultural and religious changes occur in Islam, this war we are waging “against terror” will continue unabated, indefinitely.

All of us, West, East, North and South, have distanced ourselves too far from those natural human instincts with which we were originally endowed. And tragically, we are finding that our “collective intelligence” is simply not up to the task of separating ourselves from the animosities we keep generating, in such never ending profusion.

In Memoriam

Comments:
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Have a Ghiacciato!

2006-05-27T04:10:00.000-04:00

Martini Ghiacciato al Arcangelo Gabriele

>I< This photo was taken prior to placement in the freezer

Left click on it to enlarge it

Ghiacciato, Italian for “frozen” is pronounced ~ Gya-CHA-toe ~ the G is hard and the accent is on the CHA.

A Martini requires an olive and a Gibson a small cocktail onion. But a Ghiacciato demands three onions and three olives speared separately on small cocktail sabers. My own divinely inspired name for this cocktail, is Martini Ghiacciato al Arcangelo Gabriele. You can find it nowhere but in the privacy and intimacy of your own home ~ and this is how it is made:

Pour 7 ozs of your finest gin into a measuring cup and add 2 ozs of Martini Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth. Now, gently impale three onions and three olives onto their respective sabers and place a pair into each glass. Fill the half-liter stainless steel decanter with ice cubes. Then, after pouring an ounce or two of the mixture into each glass to wet the olives and onions, pour the contents of both glasses and what is left in the cup into the decanter. Cap it and after shaking it well, place the decanter and the two glasses in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator.

If you are having a home cooked evening repast with your beloved spouse, or in her stead a befriended femme fatale, make certain your mixed drink has been in the freezer for at least an hour. When ready to dine, take the frosted glasses out of the freezer and holding the ice-clad decanter with a towel, shake it a few times and pour about an ounce of the slushy cocktail into each glass. Clink your toast and sip a palate moistening bit at a time. As your dinner proceeds, munch on an olive or an onion, but keep what remains on each saber immersed in the drink. If poured, sipped and nibbled judiciously, the remainder of your elixir will sustain both of you in a protracted state of bliss, throughout your entire meal. Salute! (Sa-LOO-teh, as they say in Italy)

If this posting is being read by a woman, please reverse the genders of each noun and pronoun to make it gender proper. I would be delighted to accept the invitation of any woman reader, except Maureen Dowdy of the NY Times. But should I be imprudent enough to accept an invitation from her, you may rest assured I'll be wearing a steel reinforced jock strop.

Comments:

mailto:domgab85@aol.com

Be a blogger!

2006-05-25T17:17:00.000-04:00

Pondering his new laptop

To blog or not to blog, that is the question!

Whether ‘tis nobler to phrase our thoughts

Or let them drift unmorphed, into oblivion

My dear Family and Friends,

What will it take to get you to start your own blogs?

In ever increasing numbers, people here in the United States and all over the world are now happily blogging away. They are discovering that keeping a cyber-journal is a dramatically effective way to communicate with themselves as well as with others. They are also finding it clarifies their thinking and their use of language(s). With access to dictionaries, thesauri and encyclopedias only a key stroke away, composing a blog can facilitate filling those myriad gaps in our education. What a remarkable learning tool it is for the young; and what a nearly fail-safe way it provides for the elderly, to stem the tide of cerebral entropy.

Although blogs are public websites, they can be as personal and as intimate as a hand inscribed diary. Not surprisingly, some bloggers have several cyber-journals, depending on the content they want each to contain and the readers they want each to reach. The programs are awesomely comprehensive and yet quite easy to learn.The most popular ones are free.

Imagine how much more William Shakespeare would have bequeathed to us, had there been an internet and had he been able to acquire and use a computer!

Please! Don't tarry! Send me your blogsite ASAP

Dom Gabriele

Comments:
mailto:domgab85@aol.com

Dear Dom, You are right! Oh what I would have given to tap my immortal words into the glorious infinitude of cyberspace. Thoughts tend to be intricately intertwined with feelings. Before they can be expressed precisely, they must first be separated from passion and then very honestly examined. How fascinating that process is! ~ Bard of Avonx

Dear Dom, Would that all the great writers like Milton, Francis Bacon, and yes even the more modern men like Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi, etc. were able to Blog. What a trove of stimulating education we would now possess. I hope to join you in cyberspace as time permits. In the meantime continue Blogging ~ Tony Correoso

Surgical Reprieve

2006-05-22T22:34:00.000-04:00

Ectropion Surgery Deferred

After an assiduous course of eyelid hygiene and nighttime application of an ophthalmic ointment, the inflammation in my left eye subsided and the swelling receded substantially. As of now, my lower lid no longer droops as it did before. The burning and grittiness I felt are also gone. Hallelujah!

Actually, although I dare not disparage the therapy I just described, I do believe that my eye turned around dramatically, when I began taking long, hard, swan’s-eye looks at Leda (Check Correggio’s painting of her in the post below)

Eyelid hygiene should be done regularly, whether we have an affliction or not. I am impressed with a product called Eye-Scrub. It is a plastic sealed gauze pad that is saturated with a soothing, soapy, non-burning, ooze. I recommend that before retiring, you rub both eyes with it and then rinse them with warm water. Women will find these pads very useful when cleansing their eyes of makeup. Most drugstores carry this product. But sorry, guys, I don't know where you can find that sensual portrait of Leda.

>I< Incidentally, if you have never done so on our previous postings, try left clicking on the photo above. You will be amazed by the clarity of the magnification. Then, to return to this post, left click on the left pointing "Back" arrow at the upper left corner of your screen.

Comments: mailto:domgab85@aol.com xxx

Hi Dom, I'm glad to learn about your surgical reprieve. Maybe ogling Leda had a curative effect. The story about the Emperor Penguins was very informative. I hope Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth doesn't change things for those marvelous birds ~ Tony Correoso Tcorre12@aol.com

Da Vinci's Leda Code

2006-05-21T20:00:00.000-04:00

Leda and the Swan ~ her secret is bared

( I updated this post, which first appeared here in November 2004 )

Leda, spouse of King Tyndareus of ancient Sparta, bore him two mortal children, Castor and Clytemnestra. The latter grew up to become the wife of King Agamemnon, who commanded the Greek forces in the Trojan War. Upon his return from Troy, Clytemnestra, with the assistance of her lover, killed him while he was bathing. After Leda bore her first two children, her marital fidelity lapsed. She allowed Zeus, Lord of the Sky, to come to her in the guise of a Swan. And together, they produced two immortal babies, Pollux and Helen. The latter was later to figure in the Trojan War.

It is an established mythological fact that Helen, the most beautiful woman ever created, is immortal. She is the daughter of Zeus! But where and how does she spend her time? My guess is that she keeps incorporating herself into the persona of various women with whom she knows she can resonate. She could be reposing in Britney Spears or perhaps also in Hillary Clinton. Indeed, I have reason to suspect that she visits at my house and tarries happily with Lenore, my beloved wife. And now that the youthful and vivacious Dr. Barbara Fuchs has moved to Heritage Hills, this ubiquitous goddess may even decide to blend with her. (A preeminent educator, Barbara is now with the Putnam Valley School System. Google makes several extended references to her)

The first major painter to depict Leda with her lusting Swan was Leonardo Da Vinci. So awesomely beautiful was his painting, it was immediately purchased by a French aristocrat. But so disturbingly erotic was its effect upon him, his wife tore it from the wall and burned it. Although we can never know what Leonardo’s painting really looked like, Da Sesto did copy it just before it was sold. However, for this post, I chose the more sensual painting by Correggio (1531).

In our misguided efforts to keep mythological goddesses and gods out of our everyday lives, do we not deprive ourselves of a unique source of fascinating melodrama? Why must we settle for the banality of TV Soap Opera?

Comments: mailto:domgab85@aol.com

Dom, As you know, I am Zeus's wife, and as you are already aware, there isn't a woman my husband looks at that he doesn't try to copulate with. I remember the night well when he came home from visiting with Leda. He was covered with white feathers, and he refused to explain. I am the goddess of marriage and the protector of married women, but Zeus defeats me at every turn. Helen should never have happened. While I will keep trying to make Zeus stay home, don't expect too much. He's too much! ~ Hera, Queen of Gods

Dom, You surprised me when you described Zeus as being over-sexed and that he appeared to women in different guises. I thought you were about to blow my cover. I too live on mountains and like Zeus, I love hurling thunderbolts. I am unfindable when you search for me and I am indestructible. But why, you may ask, do I walk up and down these hills with such a tall walking stick? Who am I, really? ~ Osama

The Emperor Penguin!

2006-05-15T23:36:00.000-04:00

An absolutely “must see” documentary

( It will make you ponder the human condition )

With the perpetually frozen waste at the South Pole in need of an infusion of life, the creator decided to inoculate that frigid region with a special and very durable colony of feathered creatures, Emperor Penguins. These are aquatic birds that cannot fly. They prefer to swim in icy waters and walk or belly flop on the snow and ice.

This fantastic documentary illustrates how at the beginning of each Antarctic winter, these birds join in a slow march from the water's edge to a solid surfaced breeding ground. The distance some have to travel could be as much as 70 miles. But mind you, this migration takes place during six months of polar darkness at temperatures lower than 50 degrees below zero and while the winds howl at speeds greater than 100 mph. And what do they do when they arrive at their destination? They pair off, they copulate and they bring forth a chick (or two).

What follows, is also astonishing. The mother passes off the hatched chick to the father to tend and protect while she returns to their swimming grounds, where she dives into the water and quickly gulps all the fish she can swallow (penguins can dive more than 1700 feet and remain submerged for as long as 15 minutes). Finally, engorged with food, she starts her march back to the rookery. When she locates her mate and offspring, she slowly regurgitates the contents of her gizzard into the little one's gaping and peeping mouth. Temporarily relieved of his paternal duty, the starving father, having had no sustenance for four months, begins his own return to their habitat. Following waveringly in his wake, the mother and their growing chick waddle after him.

The devotion, the dedication, the tenderness and the (sans lust) love that these aquatic birds exhibit are beyond belief. By comparison, the faults and shortcomings of the human race are glaringly conspicuous. The penguin's serenity and equanimity, its balance, its determination and its incandescent clarity of goal and role are in sharp contrast to the human being's unrelenting violence and self-destructive dissonance? But what is it that a species really needs, to survive and be at peace with itself? It would appear, from viewing this documentary, that perhaps greater reliance on instinct than "intelligence" may be the answer.

Please Note: This fascinating film describes a specific colony of Emperor Penguins, whose abode lies along one of the coldest coasts of Antarctica. There are about 17 species of penguins and they are distributed widely along the southernmost tips of Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand and even the Galapagos Islands. Although all penguins may look alike, each species has its own distinctive physical and behavioral characteristics.

Comments:
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Aversa ~ RIP

2006-05-03T21:18:00.000-04:00

May 3, 2006

Alphonse R. Aversa, MD
Mt Kisco Medical Group
90 South Bedford
Mt Kisco, NY 10549

Dear Al,

It was with great sadness that Lenore and I read your father’s obituary. We hasten to convey to you and your family, our heartfelt condolences.

My own father, who died many years ago also had a pharmaceutical background. He was the son of a pharmacist in a small town in Abruzzi. But unlike your father, mine had a mischievous streak in his system. Unbeknownst to his parents, he used to make small bombs in his father’s pharmacy. He loved exploding those bombs in the local river and when he did so, he never failed to bring home a rich harvest of fish. He also had a penchant for purloining fruit from the town priest’s orchard and he became the object of many a sermon, in and out of church. But eventually he met my mother here in New York and when they had me, he straightened out.

Interestingly, your father, who was 10 years my junior, served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, at about the same time I was there. What a pity that our paths never crossed. But I’ll always be grateful that the fates arranged for my wife and me to meet you and be under your care.

Be assured, as has always been the case, your father continues to be in good hands.

Coraggio,

Dom and Lenore

Readers, please note: A funeral mass is scheduled to be held on Friday at 10:00 AM, at the Holy Innocents Church in Pleasantville, New York, where Rocco was a communicant and a Trustee.

Senilitas

2006-05-01T00:05:00.000-04:00

Ectropion ~ I have it

Overview: (From website of St. Luke's Hospital, NY)

Patients with ectropion have a sagging lower eyelid that leaves the eye exposed and dry. It is caused by a lack of tone of the delicate muscles that hold the lid taut against the eye. Excessive tearing is common with ectropion, but wiping the tears away only causes the lid to sag more. Ectropion is most common among people over the age of 60.

Signs and Symptoms:

Irritation, burning, gritty sandy feeling, excessive tearing and a red, irritated eyelid.

Treatment:

The irritation can be temporarily relieved with artificial tears and ointments to lubricate the eye, however, surgery to tighten the lid is usually necessary to correct the problem. (The arrow points approximately to where the surgical "tuck" is taken in)

During my recent eye checkup, I prevailed upon Dr. Michael Cohen, Mount Kisco Medical Group's ophthalmologist, to perform a "system restore." Later this month, with his surgical skill and my waning recuperative reserve, we will endeavor to repair my dysfunctional eyelid. Closing note: Dr. Cohen's staff is quite impressive. One cannot help but notice that his receptionists, his aides and his assistants are an efficient, well-trained and exceptionally gracious group of people.

Comments:

mailto:domgab85@aol.com

Hi Dom, Sorry to learn of your Ectropion. I am sure your surgery will be uneventful. Michael Cohen is also my ophthalmologist and I am pleased with his efficiency and competence. Your blog is very educational to all who read it ~ Tony Correoso

Ethiopia revisited

2006-04-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

Serving God and humanity

Coincidentally, while working on Lux Dominum, in which I verbalized some of my thoughts about religion, I received a letter from my very dear friend, Sister Mary James, a Good Shepherd nun. She is a peerless and supremely dedicated social worker. I was privileged to work with her while I served as the Clinical Director at St. Germaine’s in Peekskill and Madonna Heights in Huntington, New York.

For a number of years, now, Sister James has totally associated herself with the Good Shepherd Mission in Ethiopia, a region of Africa that suffers from interminable wars, famine, pestilence and lawlessness. She and several other Good Shepherd sisters from Ireland are now deeply immersed in the travail of this forsaken land. Like the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dike to keep his country from being flooded, these nuns too, are doing everything possible to stem the rising tide of unabated suffering in Ethiopia.

The alleviation of suffering everywhere should be the prime dynamic force of all humankind. It is primarily in helping each other where our core religious energy should increasingly and unceasingly flow. But for Caritas Mundi to be a reality, we must feel ourselves to be an integral part of creation. Just in case we’re not sure, let us at least be thankful that there are always some among us who do actually devote their lives in the true service of God and humanity. And our saintly Sister James, is most assuredly one of them.

The Mission's Address:
Good Shepherd Sisters, P.O. Box 6558, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Comments:
www.domgab85@aol.com

Lux Dominum

2006-04-17T17:28:00.000-04:00

More light, less fury!

How many (if any) of our planet’s religions were actually divinely established by God? And if each of them was, then why has He created so many? Is He being capricious? Is He just not satisfied with what He has thus far wrought? Or, heaven forfend, is He running ungodly amok? On the other hand, if all of our religions, organized and tribal, were created by men who felt divinely inspired, then has it been they who have been running impiously, hither and yon?

But would God endorse religions which emphasize that its adherents are "we" as opposed to others not of that faith? As a common hen makes no distinction between the chicks in its brood, surely God must feel the same about each of us. Therefore, we must take particular exception to those religionists who not only believe they are favored by God, but that they also have His sanction to persecute and kill those who are adherents of other faiths.

Further, whereas no fish, fowl, plant, insect or other animal appears to be observing any formalized religious tenet, why do we? But that is a question I hesitate to plumb. However, without equivocation, I believe the woe that human beings perpetrate against each other is sheer and unforgivable blasphemy in the eyes of the creator.

Perhaps all of humanity should revisit the religious drawing boards? But if it is more illumination we need, should we not be asking God to please raise the wattage and lower the fury?

Comments:
www.domgab85@aol.com

Unfortunately, raising the wattage would require raising our "rates" or should we say our "rites." ~ Chrissy Stelmack

Karl Marx said, "Religion is the opium of the people" I say, religion is man's need to reach out to a power greater than his humble self. But in the name of religion, man has done some awful things and they wrongfully ascribe their behavior to God. As I write this, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson come to mind. ~ Omar Khayyam has said, (freely translated) "That inverted bowl we call the sky, lift not your hands to it for help, for it rolls hopelessly by, just as you and I." ~ As for me, I do believe in God and I seek and find solace when faced with difficulties ~ Tony Correoso

I see that you have a long-standing love affair with the written (or spoken) word! (Something that we share). Blog on! The world deserves you! ~ www.SONEPerky@aol.com

A New Dawn?

2006-04-11T22:04:00.000-04:00

Outsourcing ~ Globalization

Who needs it? Don't knock it!

It may be our salvation!

I just received an ominous advisory from the IRS which states that I under-reported my 2004 income by $25,000 and that now, including penalties, I owe the government $8,998. It turns out that I had neglected to file a Schedule D to indicate that I had redeemed a note for $25,000 and that I had acquired that security several years ago for the identical amount of money. Mea culpa!

To undo the error, I needed to access my 2004 TurboTax Disc. While attempting to do so, instead of the Tax Program an error message appeared. It succinctly stated that my disc was outdated and it cited a phone number to call. I called and soon found myself wandering in cyber-limbo (Dante's 21st century Inferno). With no Virgil to guide me, and after much conversation and aimless downloading, I was eventually handed off to a gentleman in India.

With a tone and demeanor that exuded reassurance right from the start, he said, "Please go to the time and date section of your taskbar ~ Change the date to April 2005 ~ Now place the Tax disc in your CD drive ~ A "welcome" window will open ~ It will direct you to type in your Installation Code, just as you did last year." I followed his instructions and Eureka! Pandora’s box opened wide. Seldom have I had occasion to express such heartfelt gratitude.

Ergo ~ Though my local support was inexcusably ineffectual, in no time flat and from half a world away, my disc problem was quickly solved. And it was done with only a hint of an Indian accent. What needed to be sent to the IRS, I speedily dispatched. What remains now is for that agency to be compassionate and forgive my peccatum.

Ponder: With the internet expanding rapidly and business rooting itself everywhere on the globe, is it not conceivable that humanity will finally come of age? Are we not on the verge of discovering that we can survive and prosper without political and religious divides? Is there not reason to expect that the inter-relatedness and mutual dependency fostered and required by global business will bring us the harmony and mutual respect we seek? Let us pray that this new dawn that seems about to break will also illuminate the way for Islam?

Comments:

www.domgab85@aol.com

Dom ~ I just read about your encounter with the IRS and I hope Uncle Sam gets off your back. It is truly wonderful that we now live in a world that is "flat." More and more, I can appreciate the benefits of interchange between countries. As you already know, I am overwhelmed with personal obligations. My life has changed radically, but I must play the cards I’ve been dealt. My regards to Lenore ~ Tony Correoso

God be praised!

2006-03-30T23:34:00.000-05:00

Michelle, with Divine help, we got you safely aboard

While composing my post on Scalia, AOL cheerily announced, "You’ve got mail!" I invite you to read the letter I received.

What Ms Sinnott refers to, happened when I was working for both Church and State. While rendering psychiatric services at the Catholic Charities Institute, I also served as an Assistant Director at a NY State, Department of Mental Hygiene, After-Care Clinic, in Manhattan. Though I crossed that Church/State divide repeatedly, the Boston Herald never interviewed me about a possible conflict of interest. Too bad, I would have enjoyed using that traditional Sicilian gesture.

Dear Dr. Gabriele:

It’s a rare day when I get to goof off at my job but I am this afternoon. I too saw you on the cover of the suburban magazine, Journal News, last year and was truly delighted, but for a reason other than golf.

You were my psychiatrist at Catholic Charities Guidance Institute in Peekskill, NY. I was that overweight, withdrawn, lonely high school girl from Ossining. You were truly the first adult in my life who cared enough about me and took enough of an interest in me to help me get into college. You actually drove to Harriman Junior College to check it out. You helped me get a scholarship and off I went.

My previous high school grades were around the low 50’s (no kidding) but you saw a potential in me that I didn’t know I had. I graduated college with a BA in psychology, a minor in philosophy and history and a gpa of 3.9. Thank you!

As an update I have been working as an accountant for the past 25 yrs. and I am still grateful for my education. I did decide to drop the humanities and go with something more compatible with my ocd personality and I discovered how neat and exact numbers can really be.

I have been married for 25 yrs. and I have a 23 year old daughter (who has special needs). I live my life every day to try and be the best person I can be. I try to love and help and to comfort those in need. I guess I am just rambling but my point in this is that I think of you every once in awhile. I was delighted, as I said, to see your story last year but regrettably, I put off, whatever the reason, writing you.

I am glad you are well and I thank you for helping me.

Love,

Michelle (Carlson) Sinnott,
www.msinnott@rmcdev.com

Dear Michelle,

Many, many thanks for your heartfelt gratitude which you so eloquently expressed in your letter. But know this, my dear, whenever I do manage to help someone in need, I like to feel that I have been guided by God’s favorite angel, Archangel Gabriel.

Comments: www.domgab85@aol.com