Who is the Holy Spirit?

Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is a Burning Spirit.
It Kindles the hearts of mankind.
Like tympanum and lyre it plays them,
gathering volume in the temple of the soul.
Holy Spirit is
Life-giving-life,
all movement.
Root of all being.
Purifier of all impurity.
Absolver of all faults.
Balm of all wounds.
Radiant life, worthy of all praise.
The Holy Spirit resurrects and awakens
everything that is.
(Meditations with Hildegard of Bingen)

FIDEL CASTRO DEAD, 90

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/26/americas/fidel-castro-obit/index.html

Fidel Castro, 1926-2016

CNN has reported that Fidel Castro, the Cuban despot who famously proclaimed after his arrest in a failed coup attempt that history would absolve him, has died aged 90.

Castro's brother and the nation's President of several years, Raul, announced his death Friday on Cuban TV.

At the end, an elderly and infirm Castro was a whisper of the Marxist firebrand whose iron will and passionate determination bent the arc of destiny.

"There are few individuals in the 20th century who had a more profound impact on a single country than Fidel Castro had in Cuba," Robert Pastor, a former national security adviser for President Jimmy Carter in the 1970s, told CNN in 2012.

"He reshaped Cuba in his image, for both bad and good," said Pastor, who died in 2014.

Castro lived long enough to see a historic thaw in relations between Cuba and the United States. The two nations reestablished diplomatic relations in July 2015 and President Barack Obama visited the island earlier this year.

President Raul Castro -- who took over from his ailing brother more than eight years earlier -- announced that breakthrough to the nation, but observers noted Fidel's silence on the matter.

Castro's stage was a small island nation 90 miles from the underbelly of the United States, but he commanded worldwide attention.

"He was a historic figure way out of proportion to the national base in which he operated," said noted Cuba scholar Louis A. Perez Jr., author of more than 10 books on the island and its history.

"Cuba hadn't counted for much in the scale of politics and history until Castro," said Wayne Smith, the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba from 1979 to 1982.

Castro became famous enough that he could be identified by only one name. A mention of "Fidel" left little doubt who was being talked about.

What day did you sneeze?

"Do you know how helpless you feel if you have a full cup of coffee in your hand and you start to sneeze?" -- JEAN KERR 

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- While standing in a long line at the Bank of America ATM machine in Jackson Heights, Queens on Thursday morning (a Thanksgiving day, November 24, in the United States), I sneezed twice.
An elderly Latina woman in front of me turned her back and sighed, "God bless you."
"Thank you," I replied.

"Today is what day, honey?" she snapped back with a smile. "Ah Thursday. Something better will happen to you because you sneezed on Thursday. If it's Friday, you sneeze for sorrow."
She continued: If I sneeze on Wednesday, I will receive a letter. On Tuesday, I kiss a stranger. On Monday, I sneeze for danger. On Saturday, I see my lover tomorrow.  On Sunday, the devil will have me for the rest of the week. Oh lala.
She was being superstitious. I don't believe in superstition but I thanked her nevertheless.

PUBLIC

In the bus, train, shopping centers, coffee shops, among other public places, I sneezed in the past and people were apt to say, "God bless you" or the German expression, "Gesundheit," or the Italian word, "Felicita."
In the old practice, they would clasp their hands and bow toward the one who sneezed, which is popular in Near and Far East until today.
The custom of asking God's blessing started when early man believed that the essence of life--the spirit or soul--was in the form of air and breath and resided in one's head, according to authors Claudia De Lys and Julie Forsyth Bachelor.
A sneeze might accidentally expel the spirit for a short time or even forever, unless God prevented it. 
The act of bowing toward the sneezer was also reportedly counter-magic. For it meant, "May your soul not escape."

SPIRITS

There were some ancients who believed that evil spirits which had previously entered the body jumped out when one sneezed. This meant danger to others for such spirits might now enter their bodies.
So the expression or blessing was to protect others as well as the one who sneezed. So serious was a sneezed considered in the Middle Ages that even today people speak of certain situations as "not to be sneezed at."
We know today that a sneeze is one of our unconscious reflexes. However, medical men consider it almost as harmful to others as some of the primitive people did, explained Lys and Bachelor.
For, instead of "evil spirits," sneezing expels harmful bacteria and is one of the most effective ways of spreading disease. So our best counter-charm, say the doctors, is to cover a sneeze with a handkerchief so our germs won't jump down someone else's throat.

Alex P. Vidal Quotes (Goodness)

"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
--HENRY DAVID THOREAU :

"When the ethical and behavioral patterns of some people around us are showing signs of rapid decline, we need to save and invest more in goodness. Our moral capital gains are secured when we maintain a good relationship with others."
--ALEX P. VIDAL

'U.S. Navy submarines will save the world'

"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim."
-- Edsger Dijkstra

By Alex P. Vidal

GROTON, Connecticut -- It's normal for the United States (U.S.) Navy not to talk about some of the nuclear-powered attack submarines especially if the story involves the national security, but some basic information that are not classified can be accessed even in the internet, a retired US navyman recently disclosed.
Reynaldo A. Amuan, who retired in 1976, said the U.S. Navy submarines are called as "silent service" because they can save the world from rogue states that occasionally threaten to trigger a nuclear world war.

Amuan, 82, a Filipino-American, said "the U.S. Navy submarines are the most powerful and sophisticated in the world today. Everything is powered by nuclear."
"Our submarines are now cleaner, more sophisticated and don't need diesel fuel unlike what we have some 50 years ago," said Amuan, who was "CPO/E7 Reynaldo A. Amuan" during his active years in service from 1956 to 1976.
Amuan added: "The U.S. Navy submarines were the lifeblood of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) during the World War II."

VOLUNTEER

Amuan, active member of Connecticut-based New England Filipino-American, Inc. (NEFAI), said anyone who wants to be enlisted in the U.S. Navy must be willing to act as volunteer first and should have a good moral character.
"The most important is he must be mentally stable as he will undergo a one-year observation or study duty to be able to familiarize the vessel and learn its basic operations," Amuan quipped. 
When he was enlisted in the U.S. Naval Base in Sangley Point, Cavite, Philippines in 1956, the requirements and qualifications were not as rigid compared today.

"It's because times have changed. There is no more recruitment in the Philippines as the U.S. Navy doesn't have a military base there anymore," explained Amuan, who finished radio operator from a technical school in Iloilo City, Philippines prior to applying in the U.S. Navy.

SUPERPOWER

America, considered as military superpower in the world, reportedly has 43 Los Angeles-class submarines on active duty and 19 retired, making it the most numerous nuclear-powered submarine class in the world.
It was learned that the class was preceded by the Sturgeon class and followed by the Seawolf and Virginia classes. Except for USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), submarines of this class are named after U.S. cities, breaking a Navy tradition of naming attack submarines after sea creatures.
The final 23 boats in the series, referred to as "688i" boats, are reportedly quieter than their predecessors and incorporate a more advanced combat system. These 688i boats are also designed for under-ice operations: their diving planes are on the bow rather than on the sail, and they have reinforced sails.
The National Interest reported that the Navy doesn’t like to talk about its submarines. 
"After all, a sub’s biggest advantage is its stealth. And of the sailing branch’s roughly 70 undersea boats, Seawolf and her two sister vessels Connecticut and Jimmy Carter are among the most secretive," it stressed.

GOOGLE

If readers will Google the names of any of the Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines, "the most numerous in the fleet, and you’ll get hits: Navy statements and photo releases, the occasional news article. But try to look up Seawolf-class vessels and you’ll get next to nothing," it explained.

The National Interest disclosed that it's official website is blocked. The last time Seawolf’s exterior appeared in a Navy photo was 2009, it said.
"That’s because Seawolf and her sisters are special. Newer, bigger, faster and more heavily armed than standard attack submarines, the nearly $3-billion-per-copy Seawolfs have been fitted with hundreds of millions of dollars in unique equipment and are assigned to their own special squadron in Washington State," the report added.
Amuan named Chris Tibus, a Fil-Am Navy liaison, who was considered as "the godfather of the Filipinos" for his role in helping Filipino guerrilla fighters in the Philippines during the World War II.

An affair to remember...in Connecticut

"If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down." -- Ray Bradbury

By Alex P. Vidal

GROTON, Connecticut -- If the story of her love affair with a fellow Ilonggo that began on board a commercial vessel in 1956 would be told, Aida Castro-Amuan, 80, wanted to compare it to Leo McCarey's 1957 classic film, An Affair to Remember.
Aboard a Manila-bound ship from Iloilo City one summer in 1957, Aida met Reynaldo Adrias Amuan, 82.
She was 20 and he was 22. Aida was scheduled to enroll in a nursing school in Manila, while Reynaldo was on his way to Cavite for physical examination at the U.S. Base Naval Station in Sangley Point. 

"A true friendship was built aboard the ship like in that movie before we hit it off romantically," recalls Aida, a native of Ajuy, Iloilo, Philippines and now resides here.
While the ultimate romantic tearjerker chick flick starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr ended in a tight embrace atop New York City's Empire State Building, the love affair between Aida and Reynaldo continues until today, or 60 years after they got married.

                LOVE
"We are still very much in love with each other until now," Aida exclaims shyly, her eyes flicker while stealing a quick stare at Reynaldo, sitting on her right side in the buffet table in a breakfast.
Aida calls Reynaldo "darling" and credits him for encouraging and accompanying her when she "reports to office" everyday so she won't get sick and bored at home.
Her "office" is the poker table in the Mohegan Sun, a casino hotel in Uncasville, a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River.

"I noticed that if she stayed at home for three days, she became weak. So I goaded her to go to 'office' so she can move and exercise her body," Reynaldo volunteers with a timid smile.
When they "report" to Aida's "office", they bring only credit and reward cards, a few one dollar bills for tips, and a bag full of maintenance pills.
Aida admits she is not a good player and only plays to kill time and keeps her mind busy.

Mohegan Sun gives Aida privileges like free buffet meals, tickets and access to entertainment shows and sports events, use of facilities like swimming pool, and hotel room from points earned in a reward card. 

If the points are so high, they invite friends "to share their blessings" especially on buffet. 
Unlike Grant, Nickie Ferrante in the film, a well-known playboy and dilettante in the arts, Reynaldo had been "engaged" only with one woman before he met Aida, daughter of an affluent family in Iloilo's fifth district.

SUITOR

"I wasn't engaged yet," sighs Aida, "but I had an insistent suitor who wanted to fetch me in the pier (when the ship arrived in Manila). I tried to avoid him (the suitor) but Rey told me to treat the guy nicely."
To make the long story short, explains Aida, "I rejected that suitor and married Rey."

"One thing I like about Rey was his honesty. I was immediately attracted to him because he was frank and honest when he told me he came from a poor family," narrates Aida. "In all our married life, he never gave me a headache."
After being crowned as municipal queen of Ajuy in 1952 at age 16, Aida had attracted hordes of suitors, mostly coming from Iloilo's influential and moneyed families, "but I found my true happiness with Rey because I knew he would never take advantage of me."
She describes her future husband as "guwapo (handsome), soft-spoken, sincere, and simple."
Aida considers their two children--Fern Boivin, 55, and Sean, 53, and their six grandchildren--as "our real blessings."

VALUES

"Their values and the values of their respective families--the husband, wife and children--are exceptional," Aida boasts. "I think it has something to do with how we raised them and how they raised their own children. Wala na kami sang ipangayuon pa sa Diyos. (We have nothing more to ask from God)."
Fern, an engineer, is married to Mark Boivin, president of Northeast Wood Products. Sean is a pilot at American Airlines with international routes, and a 1985 graduate in the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. They were both born and raised in the United States.

"Everyday we call each other to say hello. If they can't call us, we call them vice versa using FaceTime (a video call in Smart phone)," reveals Reynaldo.
Seconds later, Reynaldo dials his iPhone: "Hello, son what do you have for breakfast this morning?" Son Sean replies in video call: "I'm having a bagel (bread) right now, dad."

iPHONE

Aida takes Reynaldo's iPhone and intones: "Hi darling, how are you doing today?" Son answers: "I'm fine, mom." Aida: "Are you going for golf today?" Son: "Yes, mom." Aida: "Okay, you take care my darling."
Grandchildren call their grandparents from time to time vice versa to say hi and hello. Grandpa tells a teenage female granddaughter in video call, "No holding hands with your suitor or boyfriend, please." Granddaughter replies with a smile.
"This is our life. This is how we spend our life here in Connecticut as retirees. This is where we get our simple joy and happiness. And our children and grandchildren are very supportive of what we do and where we are," Reynaldo hisses, holding Aida's left hand as they saunter the vast, 34-story casino, hotel and entertainment complex that features Native American-style decor.
Reynaldo, a native of Divinagracia, La Paz, Iloilo City, Philippines, retired from the US Navy in 1976 after 20 years of service. He was detailed in the nuclear submarines. 

Like Hillary, Kovalev wins but loses in the judges' 'electoral college'

"As much as I love boxing, I hate it. And as much as I hate it, I love it." -- Budd Schulberg

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Bad news for Vladimir Putin. Good news for his "favorite", President-elect Donald J. Trump.
We have boxing's version of the puzzling "electoral college", the decrepit system that denied Hillary Clinton the presidency despite besting Trump in the popular votes in the recent election.
We respect the judges' verdict, an identical 114-113 unanimous decision in favor of American Andre Ward (31-0, 15 KOs), but the night belonged to dethroned Russian world champion Sergey Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) in the battle for WBA, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight belts on Saturday night (November 19) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With 84 percent KO in his ledger, the 33-year-old warrior, born in Kopeysk, Russia, should have prevented a "hometown" decision by finishing off the 32-year-old challenger from Oakland in the early rounds.

RESCUE

But orthodox Kovalev allowed Ward to be rescued by the judges when he failed to put him away for good after scoring a second round knockdown which was worth 55 electoral college votes in the presidential race.
But unlike Clinton who gamely accepted her upset defeat, the Russian KO artist could only complain: “It’s the wrong decision. I don’t want to say my opinion. The witnesses are here – they saw it. It’s my job. It was a fight of my life. I am disappointed in the judges’ decision. He got maybe a few rounds, I agree with that. I kept control. I lost maybe three rounds the whole fight."
He added: "Of course, I want a rematch and I will kick his ass. I want to show good boxing. I am against here it is the USA and all the judges were from the USA. He is a boxer. It’s a sport, don’t make it politics. It’s a sport and I won the fight!”

'NOT SURPRISED'

Ward, who earned my admiration when he blasted to smithereens the incredible Chad Dawson for the WBC and WBC super-middleweight crowns in 2012, believed he won the bout: “No, I was not surprised when I heard the decision, I don’t’ know where you got that from. I know it was a close fight – the crowd you can hear they thought I won…I have been a champ before I knew it was going to be a tough fight – it was the first time in my career I was dropped."
Ward added: "He did everything I expected him to do. He started to show up as I expected he started to fight like I expected. My coach did a great job…It’s hard for me to call myself great. At the end of the day I am a two-weight division champion. Of course, I would do a rematch. I am not going to negotiate a fight right now I will go home and relax and see what’s next.”