In the latest news, Eugenio Scalfari, co-founder of La Repubblica, says that Pope Francis told him in an interview that there is no hell. Scalfari is an atheist and a long time friend of the Pope. 

 

Scalfari is known for not recording or taking notes when interviewing his prey, I mean interviewees. Although this would on the surface tend one to believe anything the guy writes is suspect to the truth, he is a long time friend of the Pope. Besides, the reporter quotes the Pope as saying, "They are not punished, those who repent obtain the forgiveness of God and enter the rank of souls who contemplate him, but those who do not repent and cannot, therefore, be forgiven disappear. There is no hell, there is the disappearance of sinful souls."     

 

The Vatican poo-poos this as pure mierda, and reminds all that the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, 'eternal fire.' The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs." (1035)

 

What a relief. The Catholic church that hides pedophile priests and charges families to hold mass for their loved ones have publicly denounced the quote! All is once again pure nirvana again.

 

So let us all raise our glass and propose an Irish toast to Satan and his minions, also known as, politicians. 'May your soul be in Heaven an hour before the Devil knows you're dead'.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stanford Students Protest......

Earlier this month students at Stanford protested that Apple is not doing enough to prevent them from constantly checking their phones for things like Facebook and Twitter and other apps that they have downloaded! The leaders of the group protesting are computer majors! These unsupervised college kids want the company that makes the devices to help them stop using them too much. COME ON!!! Do you buy a car and then blame the car manufacturer when you wreck it due to your negligence?.

 

Isn't this the epitome of people's lack of responsibility? Whats next? Protesters carrying signs insisting that toilet paper makers insert directions in each package as to how to use the product and establish a 24-hour toll-free hotline to read said instructions to the user! Or better yet, provide a step by step video that they can see on their cell phones. Afterall, they already admit that their life is useless without the device attached to their free hand.

 

 

 

I stated this before and will emphatically do so again...

 

I have had about all the stupidity I can handle in this life!

 

 

   

 

 

   

Julias Ceaser

 

I was talking recently with a friend and the conversation somehow turned to a life experience I had with a very smart little pug mix that we named Vini. The above picture is not of her but is a very close facsimile. That is except for what appears to be a male appendage extruding from the hind parts.  

 

When her name was chosen we had no idea that she would live up to it so well. She came to us through my mother who had a pug that mated outside of her breed. No one really knew who the father was. She saw that she was to live a very good life in an upscale neighborhood with a big fenced in backyard and owners that showered her with loving, a bottomless food bowl, and every treat under the sun. Then she conquered every kid within a three block radius. Every munchkin in the neighborhood knew Vini. They would come knocking at the door and ask, "Can Vini come out and play"? We would ask her if she wanted to and if she did she would jump up and bark and we allowed her out. If she wasn't interested she would lay down and whimper and leave it to us to disappoint the munchkin. Disappointment did not come often but when it did we soon learned to temper it with a lollipop to send the munchkin away with sadness in their eyes but a sugary treat in their mouth. So in a way, the dentists loved Vini too.

 

We got a blonde German Shepard later and Vini made it clear that SHE AND SHE ALONE ruled the household. After a few nose scratches and other aggressive behaviors, the shepherd quickly fell in line.

 

Unfortunately, we discovered that Vini was missing from the backyard one day when we arrived home. We put out the word through the munchkin grapevine but never heard or saw Vini again. I can only hope that wherever she was taken that they realized that they had a true gem of a dog. But then, knowing her personality, she conquered them too!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever happened to dependable journalism? Remember when a reporter actually had principles and exercised them. Or at least made an honest effort to report both sides of the truth. But what is the truth? Isn't it simply what you as an individual have concluded to believe is right? If this is so don't you need all available information to make a truly informed decision? 

 

The explosion of the internet and more specifically the unfettered growth of blogs and self-proclaimed "news" sources have given birth to an individual right?? to plaster their opinion all over the globe and use misinformation and partial information to push their agenda be it good, bad or simply self-gratifying. The worst part of this is that sheeple, and you know the type, take this as the truth and harness themselves to the bandwagon and go full out with guns ablaze to convince people of the truth with the attitude of don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up.

 

Social media throws gasoline on this truth and fans the flames like a wind tunnel on steroids. Then the sheeple choose a side and start breathing fire like the mythical dragon not realizing, or caring, that so much that they are parroting is as real as that mythical dragon. Then talk about how messed up and despicable the world is. Never realizing that THEY are a big part of the problem and no part of the solution!

 

So in my humble opinion until the mainstream media, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, NY TIMES, etc. stops reporting with only the information that they want you to hear and gets back to having real principles and doing their due diligence and reporting ALL SIDES of an issue nothing has a chance to improve. Don't get me started about the bloggers and independent journalists that post for clickbait or just to garner as many sheeple's to their flock as possible. As my wise grandparents used to say,

"They aren't worth the gunpowder to blow them to hades".     

 

 

  Pay no attention to them. 

Their opinion does not count.

 

 

 

 

 

Politics are funny.? The leaders? Provide their form of entertainment? Are we back in grade school on the playground watching fellow schoolmates bicker as they watch us from the corner of their eye smiling inside and saying to themselves, "Gosh darn, I'm the baddest and this proves it. Look at all the kids WATCHING ME! Here, let me show 'em!     

 

One-up-manship is for children and bullies. Not for the people that are supposed to be our leaders. The very people that are being paid by us to spend their time and energy solving problems and doing the right thing to help make sure that our future is securely laid with the right stepping stones for our prosperity and overall well being. 

 

There is always the old saying, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em". SO.......... 

AND

 

 

 

 

Ben Beagle

1928-2018

Ben was a columnist for the Roanoke Times from 1954 and semi-retired in 1992 from the grind of daily reporting. He did continue to write for the Extra column section till 2010. His writing skills were unique and always entertaining. I was always left feeling a little warm glow from his humorous style, somewhat like the one I got from

Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes fame. 

Ben passed away on Saturday, March 17. He had suffered a stroke and spent his final days in a rest home in North Carolina.

 

For more information about this fine fellows life click here. 

 

 RIP

“Old No. 36”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Week in Costa Rica

Next week is Easter week here in Costa Rica, March 25-31. That means that if you want to be in the spirit you and your family, friends, take 2-3 days off or all week and head to one of the many beaches. If decide to stay around the homestead you'll be in the minority and find traffic and crowds to be delightfully scarce.

 

There have been some changes to the way the holiday is celebrated here. When I lived here in the 90's we shut down our manufacturing facilities for the week as many companies did and for those that qualified it was a week of paid holiday. Now as then each employee earns one day of vacation for each month worked by law. Most manufacturing has left the country and been replaced by call centers for banks, insurance, other financial businesses. Due to their 24/7, 365 day needs it is harder for workers to acquire the full week so they settle for the 2-3 day option.

 

Another change. Businesses like shopping malls and restaurants stay open the entire time. Before many closed for the week and in many ways they just rolled up the sidewalks due to lack of people around. 

 

Back then there was nothing to do anywhere in the cities and towns so I found myself at home watching TV and playing pool, billiards, and drinking at my bar. I was new to the country and had no desire to explore. Due to poor infrastructure and no GPS I had no desire to go out and get lost for days in a country that I did not speak the language. Thank goodness my bar was fully stocked and I had cable TV and a large swimming pool in the backyard.                                                               

 

This being a predominately Catholic country there are numerous religious processions, parades, with people dressed in the traditional garb of the time when Christ was here on earth. There are the three wise men as well as the Virgin Mary and Jesus statues carried in the

streets with somber people following behind. I have seen several of them and I can attest to the fact that some of the parade-goers did not have virgin margaritas before arriving for the activity. But then Jesus's first miracle WAS turning water into wine.        

 

There are many beaches here to visit and all are only a 1-2 hour drive. The bus service to 90% of them is very good. You can book a package that is all-inclusive at the hotel and does include the bus fare. Or you can stay at home and entertain the grandkids for most of the week. Chasing them around the park and planning day trips to keep them happy and get some education at the same time. Just make sure the bar is stocked for your recovery in the evenings when you put them to bed and collapse in front of the TV.  

 

footnotes:

The tradition of Easter baskets and hiding Easter eggs does not exist here.  

Since there was no clear winner in the presidential election,

 the runoff will be Easter Day this year!!