WDHS Marching Band Color Guard 2010

When Kelsie announced that she was joining the WDHS (West Deptford High School) marching band color guard, I was a little nervous. This would require a great commitment from her and I wasn't too sure she really understood the breath of it.  I am happy to report that she has made her mom and dad very proud!  She practiced very hard and it has all paid off.  I am so surprised at the transition she has made.  It is hard to believe that it is her out there.  I will be taking many many pictures of her for you all to see :)

Opinion from Linda (my sister) entitled: Embryonic stem cell research is insanity

The Reporter Online (thereporteronline.com), Serving North Penn, PA

Opinion

Letter: Embryonic stem cell research is insanity

Thursday, September 2, 2010

In a recent column on Judge Lamberth's ruling on Aug. 23 which halts federal funding of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR), Bonnie Erbe opines that "… to oppose help for fully formed human beings who are very sick and could possibly be cured, to 'save' a frozen embryo that will most likely never be implanted in a womb and therefore become fully formed, seems like insanity to me and like the height of cruelty."

Is ESCR morally complicated?

It seems to me that this comes down to just one question: Is the embryo a member of the human family? If so, killing it to benefit others is a serious moral wrong.

So what exactly is an embryo?

According to Robert George, writing for National Review, "Your life began, as did the life of every other human being, when the fusion of egg and sperm produced a new, complete, living organism — an embryonic human being.

"You were never an ovum or a sperm cell, those were both functionally and genetically parts of other human beings — your parents. But you were once an embryo, just as you were once an adolescent, a child, an infant, and a fetus.

"By an internally directed process, you developed from the embryonic stage into and through the fetal, infant, child, and adolescent stages of development and ultimately into adulthood with your determinateness, unity and identity fully intact.

"You are the same being — the same human being — who once was an embryo. It is true that each of us, in the embryonic and fetal stages of development, were dependent on our mothers, but we were not maternal body parts. Though dependent, we were distinct individual human beings." (When Life Begins, National Review.com, 11/2/08).

In 1981, a U.S. Senate judiciary subcommittee heard expert testimony on when human life begins.

The subcommittee report concludes, "Physicians, biologists and other scientists agree that conception marks the beginning of the life of a human being — a being that is alive and is a member of the human species. There is overwhelming agreement on this point in countless medical, biological, and scientific writings." (Subcommittee on Separation of Powers to Senate Judiciary Committee S-158, Report, 97th Congress, 1st Session, 1981).

To fully examine Bonnie Erbe's point, let's look at a hypothetical situation presented by Scott Klusendorf in his book, "The Case for Life":

"Suppose you oversee a Cambodian orphanage with 200 abandoned toddlers. The facility cannot care for them any longer. Water levels are critically low, and food supplies are exhausted.

"It's only a matter of time before starvation and disease will set in. A scientist has offered to take the toddlers off your hands and use them for grisly medical research designed to cure cancer.

"He confronts you with hard facts: Many of these children will die soon, and there's nothing you can do to prevent it, so why let all those organs go to waste?

"Nonetheless, you refuse. You could never, even for a moment, consider turning the kids over to the scientist on grounds that 'these kids are going to die anyway, so let's put them to good use.'

"True, given your impoverished circumstances, you are powerless to save them, but you would never be complicit in actively killing vulnerable human beings, which is what ESCR does."

ESCR — seems like insanity to me and like the height of cruelty.

Linda Nichols is a resident of Harleysville.

URL: http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2010/09/02/opinion/srv0000009230409.prt

© 2010 thereporteronline.com, a Journal Register Property

Katie's move in day at Rowan! (8/29/2010)

Katie starts here college journey at Rowan. We were happy to be able to see her off and on her way to what hopefully turns out to be a wonderful and rewarding ride. Good luck Katie!

Here's TCaz's location, courtesy of Glympse

TCaz's location: http://www.glympse.com/ZPB-751

TCaz says: Bacon Headquarters

Glympse.com - Share your where

Let Go Phillies (for Maggie's sake)

Please please please win this game!  Don't let the Astro's take 4 out of 4 games in your OWN park!  My brother Chris is at this game with his daughter (her first game) and I would really appreciate a win for HER.

Matthew heads back to College today

Early this AM, Matthew and Anthony got the van loaded with Matthew's college things.  Matthew is going into his Junior year at Cabrini.  He has gotten into the campus apartments and he is very excited about that.  As a Finance major, he is starting to take more and more courses related to his major.  This year should be a telling one.  Good luck Matthew!  Your Mom and Dad are very proud of you.

A very special Mosaic

I put this mosaic together for a very special person: Katie Knoblock.  I printed a 27" by 40" vinyl picture for Katie's high school graduation gift and presented it to her last Sunday night at her graduation party.  The mosaic is composed of nearly 800 unique photos (each one including Katie) and a total of nearly 4000 tiles.  It took me about 15 iterations to get it to a point that I liked.  Anyway, I just wanted to share it here.

A tribute to Onion

You are missed greatly but all the people that you have touched.

http://www.wdeptford.k12.nj.us/high_school/App_Tech/wdtvvideo/Oniontribute.html

WDHS Choir/Band Picnic 2010

Nice shot of Anthony, Mommy and Katie today taken at the WDHS Choir/Band picnic down at Snoopy Island. Much food was had by all. Weather was a bit overcast but overall, nice day.

Kids are really looking forward to California/Diney trip coming up this week! Ta ta for now!

Anthony's Graduation Invite - Cabrini College
Class of 2010
Major: Graphics Design
Minor: Philosophy

Look what I ordered!

Created with PicSay on my Droid

Tony

West Deptford High School's White Christmas Musical 2010

West Deptford's theater department once again did an excellent job with their play this year. Kelsie was in the ensemble and did a terrific job. Mommy and daddy are very proud of her. The entire cast and crew put on a top notch performance. Congratulations!

Daddy's Saturday morning breakfast

Always love cooking breakfast on Saturday morning. Nothing too fancy, just eggs, bacon or sausage, toast and something to drink. My family always picks at my bacon pile before I have a chance to plate the food. I blame Kathleen's side of the family for this behavior. In any case...happy eating !

The Ant Man strikes again...1981?

This picture was sent to me by Jean. Apparently she's been the one who ended up holding on to it. I sketched it back in 1981. I completely forgot about this picture. Jean says that she is going to get a better scan of it to me soon. Happy Holiday's everyone!

Lyons 2009 Reunion - Outer Banks, NC

On our way down to the Outer Banks, NC (Kill Devil Hills, NC) for Lyons Reunion 2009. This picture taken at Cheesapeak Bay Bridge/Tunnel. Traveled down with Kelsie, Anthony and Katie.

Sunrise on way into work - Beautiful

There I was, just driving into work like many other people that day and then I saw it out my rearview mirror. Beautiful! Thank You God.

Matthew's hospital room board

Underwood Memorial Hospital. Filled with drawings from his proud papa. Today marks 3 weeks and 2 days! He appears to be doing better. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Matthew's Hospital Stay

It's been 7+ days for Matthew's hospital stay. He has Acute Pancreatitis and the treatment is IV fluids; nothing down his throat. He has also been taking pain medication every 3 to 4 hours. Overall he is doing well and the nurses and doctors have been great.

Kathleen and I have been with him around the visitors hour's clock and then some. They don't kick you out here. Matthew has had many visitors. We are hoping that he will be released on Monday but we will have to see.

Thanks everyone for all your prayers and well wishes!

Margaret "Maggie" Grace Casazza

A baby girl was born on Wednesday, September 2. Margaret Grace Casazza was born at 12:03 PM weighing in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces, with reddish blond hair with blue eyes. She was delivered at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Maggie was named after the grandmother's of Susan and Christopher. Congratulations mom and dad!

A wet Phillies Game

It was a very very wet night at Citizen's Bank Park last night. It was also Cabrini College Night. Kathleen and I took the kids and Katie to the game. The Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 4 - 2. We met Robin and Jean and introduced them to our children. The game itself had 2 rain delays and we did not get home until mid-night.

Kelsie and Anthony are on!

West Deptford Little Theater presents High School Musical 2 tonight and tomorrow night.  Anthony got involved because the guy playing the part of comic relief decided not to do it and they asked him to do it.  Anthony's girlfriend, Katie, is playing Gabriela, so this keeps him around her at all times.  In any case, the show should be good and Kathleen and I are excited to see them and many of our children's friends in the show.  Show time is 7PM at St. Matthew's School.  Break a leg!

Check out West Deptford Little Theater web site: http://www.wdltproductions.com/

Pat West Grad Party - June 2009

Fran and Joanne had Patrick's Grad party yesterday at Incarnation Church in Mantua yesterday. It was good to catch up with all the brothers, sisters, moms, dads, aunts, uncles and friends. Patrick is heading to Cabrini next year.

Just testing from Ping!

Need a central spot to post updates from? Try
www.ping.fm

My nephew Drew...making big strides in his life...Congratulations!

Drew writes:

"Greetings from sunny (not so much recently) southern california, the entertainment capital of the world and home to a brand new series on Discovery Science...Science of the Movies edited by yours truly!

It's a geek-tastic journey behind the scenes of various blockbuster films and TV shows, explaining cutting edge CGI and breathtaking stunts.  The host has a goofy sense of humor and does a great job (he's a pleasure to edit!)

OK that was the mandatory plug for the show.  Hope everyone is well and keeping busy, I've been working day in and day out for the last four months on this show and my first episode airs on Thursday night at  10 p.m.  In total there will be 6 shows edited by me, and all of them have been incredibly difficult to put together, while at the same time a whole lot of fun.  I work with a great group of people hailing from all over the united stated:  some are locals, a couple of people are from the philadelphia area, maine, boston, and even montana!

The editorial staff consists of myself and one other editor, we alternate shows and help one another out as much as we can.  I've been truly blessed to be so busy out here, editing shorts and working on graphics projects outside of work.  I've met some pretty cool people and seen my fair share of celebrities, although I still haven't learned to surf.  All in due time I suppose!

I've attached the postcard for our show, I hope you can all check it out!  It's for anyone who has ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of our favorite movies and TV shows...and it's great for the entire family!"

Linda and Don, I am sure, are very proud of their son.  Way to go Drew!  Congratulations.