Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Life is short

Sharing the following email with you:


BARBIE DOLL has her 50th birthday this year.......?



Tweety Bird is 60 years old!


And what about all our other ....

CHILDHOOD SUPERHEROES?

SUPERMAN...

Thor...

Wonder Woman (touch of menopause here I think?)...

Batman and Robin...

SPIDERMAN...


Life is short, break the rules, forgive sooner, love with true love, laugh without control and always keep smiling.

Maybe life is not the party that we were expecting, but in the mean time, we're here and we can still dance.....


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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

World Yogasana Championships & Yoga Training Courses

In case you are interested:

1. World Yogasana Championships Mumbai, India January 8th, 9th & 10TH, 2010

The World Yogasana Championships in Mumbai, India are organized by The Yoga & Culture Association of Maharashtra (Mumbai), sponsored by Life Mission, Gujarat, India and conducted by the renowned Lakulish Institute of Yoga of Gujarat State, India.

The World Yogasana Championships have been organized for the specific purpose of encouraging youth’s participation in Yoga. Why Yogasana competition? It is well recognized throughout the world that youth are both attracted to and highly engaged in competitive sports activities. Yoga is our cultural heritage gifted by God and the sages and it seems both practical and sensible that for preserving this rich heritage, Yoga should be propagated among youth as a sport activity. Yoga practices and dietary observances are an unparalleled means of achieving a disciplined body and mind and the Yamas and Niyamas are a way whereby youth can understand the importance of moral codes of conduct.

Why the World Yogasana Championships ?

While Yoga has its cradle in India, Yoga has, indeed, become universal. And while Yoga is not a religion, it is safe to say, that all religious prophets, irrespective of whatever religion they followed, unfolded the Truth from within through Yoga practice.

And yet Yoga is seen in the West, almost exclusively, as a series of deep stretching postures and physical exercise. Without reference to its historical and spiritual context, Yoga has been grossly misrepresented and it is therefore both timely and necessary to draw the attention of our youth and foreigners, alike, as to the real context of Yoga.

By first interesting and encouraging youth to engage in Yoga as a competitive sport and experience its benefits first hand, it is anticipated that ultimately they will be much more inclined and interested to delve into the true meaning and heritage of Yoga. India’s cultural heritage is also to be well exhibited at the World Yogasana Championships.

The Yogasana Championships are to be held in Mumbai January 8,9, & 10th, 2010 and the host organizers are providing foreign Yoga participants in the Championships free Mumbai hotel accommodation, free meals and free daily local transportation to and from the site of the Championships / hotels throughout the Championships duration.

Your association members are encouraged to send interested individuals to participate in the Championships. Full details for registering can be found at Life Mission’s website: www.lifemission.org.


2. Yoga Training Courses Offered at Limbdi, Gujarat State, India

Both Certified and Non Certified Training Courses are being offered in India by the renowned Lakulish Institute of Yoga in January, 2010 at Life Mission’s Rajrajeshwardham Ashram at Limbdi, India. The Certified Courses are three weeks in duration, the Non Certified two weeks:
January Three Week Certified Course: January 12th – February 2nd, 2010
January Two Week Non Certified Course: January 12th – January 26th, 2010

This is an exceptional opportunity to take in authentic India classical Yoga teaching as taught by the Masters; an unparalleled opportunity for profound inner transformation; and an opportunity to see and experience India The cost of the three week course, including room and board and local travel sightseeing trips is only $1200 U.S funds. The cost of the two week Non Certified Course is $900 U.S. Funds.

Course attendants are strongly encouraged to attend the World Yogasana Championships in Mumbai, India January 8th, 9th &10TH, 2010 as they are both informative and entertaining.
Training Course attendees are being offered free room and board in Mumbai during the Championships to enable them to view the entire event before embarking from Mumbai to Limbdi.

For more details : e-mail Dennis konchak: lifema@telus.net or Telephone Dennis at 250-954-0073 in Canada. Also, see Life Mission’s website: www.lifemission.org. for full details.

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Monday, September 28, 2009

University of Toronto-News from Religion in the Public Sphere

In case you are interested:


RPS LUNCHTIME READING GROUP: FALL 2009
Noon-1.30pm, Room 318, Jackman Humanities Building, 170 St. George Street – Pizza lunch provided
  • Thursday 15 October: "God's Zeal: The Battle of the Three Monotheisms", by Peter Sloterdijk. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are now called upon to adjust their relations from peaceful coexistence to dialogue: zealous collectives must become parties in a civil society. [More details…] [Download poster]

  • Friday 20 November: "Why I Am Not a Secularist", by William E. Connolly. Many liberal secularists reject any interaction between politics and religion. Connolly argues that secularism’s pursuit of freedom and diversity too often undercuts these goals through its narrow and intolerant understandings of public reason. [More details…] [Download poster]


RPS FACULTY FELLOWS – CALL FOR PROPOSALS: ART AND THE PUBLIC CONTESTATION OF RELIGION
Submission deadline: 9 October 2009
Music, drama, visual arts, and literature are among the most ancient of media for the staging of religious questions and controversies. Newer technologies—radio, film, video, digital media—have multiplied the avenues for artistic expression in public spheres while also fuelling religious imaginations. At a day-long workshop in March 2010, the four RPS Faculty Fellows will foster interdisciplinary conversations about how the arts, across diverse eras and traditions, have made space for the public contestation of what counts as religion, heresy, and 'secular' critique. [More details…] [Download poster]


RPS SERVICE-LEARNING INTERNSHIP COURSE: RLG492H, WINTER 2010 – ENROLMENT OPEN
For third- and fourth-year undergraduates, from any discipline, who are interested in the study of religion. Students will experience first-hand how religion enters the public sphere in such areas as non-profit organizations, education, public policy, and health care. Goals of this public service are to have students participate in developing policy, communications, and programming in public, professional settings where religion is a focus (or at least an element) of the work at hand. Students will critically reflect on their experience of working with professionals and their "clients" in public settings where religious diversity is at play. [More details…] [Download poster]

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins

Sharing the following email with you:


Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins

1.
Every person as cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2.
Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3.
When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4.
When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional
deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5.
To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6.
Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also
destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7.
Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8.
Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9.
When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10.
Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to
spread to other sites.

11.
An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply..

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better
alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with
unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is cidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which
are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is
a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.


12.
Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic build-up.

13.
Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14.
Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells.. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15.
Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16.
Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.


Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed ArmyMedical& nbsp;Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Cast le Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners,instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.


This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

DDMBA Ontario: Chan 3 Day Meditation Retreat, October 9-12

In case you are interested:

DDMBA Ontario: Chan 3 Day Meditation Retreat, October 9-12


Dear Friend,

Dharma Drum Mountain (Ontario) Buddhist Association is pleased to announce that Chan Teacher Venerable Chang Wen will be coming to Toronto to lead a 3 Day Chan Meditation Retreat. The retreat will take place at Mount Alverno Retreat Centre, starting from Friday evening October 9 until Monday afternoon October 12, 2009.

This 3-day retreat is an excellent and important opportunity for individuals to deepen their practice of Chan together, including periods of sitting and moving meditation, Dharma talks, walking meditation and work periods. Surrounded by nature, Mount Alverno Retreat Centre is also an ideal setting for Chan practice. With streams running through the compound and walking trails among the trees, it is tranquil, serene and awe-inspiring, especially during the season of Fall colours.

Please note that registration for this retreat is required. Retreat costs, including meals and accommodation, total $180 per person. Retreat applications can be found on our website, http://www.ddmba-ontario.ca. Retreat Application and payment should be received no later than Wednesday September 30, 2009.

A deeply transforming experience for your body and mind - Don't miss this rare opportunity! Suitable for any level of practitioners.

**Please watch for other Chan events guided by Guo Xing fashi and Chang Wen fashi from Oct 8 - 13. Details coming soon…****


Amituofo!

Chan Buddhism 3 Day Retreat
When: Sat. Oct 10 - Mon. Oct 12, 2009
Where: Mount Alverno Retreat Centre, Orangeville, ON
Cost: $180
Transportation: Carpool Can Be Arranged
Language: English (with occasional translation to Mandarin for clarity purposes)

About the Teacher: Venerable Chang Wen is a resident teacher at the Dharma Drum Retreat Center and monastic disciple of Chan Master Sheng Yen. Although a Westerner, he lived in Taiwan before and is fluent in both English and Mandarin.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

DDMBA-Introduction to Basic Meditation classes

In case you are interested:

Dear friend,

DDMBA Ontario is pleased to offer a series of Introduction to Meditation Basics classes. The first of this series will be conducted on Saturday, Sept 19 from 9am to 12pm in English and Sept 26 from 9am to 12pm in Chinese. The class will cover fundamentals of sitting meditation, including proper bodily posture, relaxation, and basic methods of concentration. There is no pre-requisite for this class, only a desire to relax and calm our minds.

Part II & III will follow in October and November time frame respectively. They will cover various methods of sitting, walking, sleeping, yoga exercises, self-massage, theories and obstacles in meditation, and stages of meditation. Watch for more details to come later.

Please invite others who may be interested. There is no cost to these classes.

To register, please email to meditation@ddmba-ontario.ca.

Thank you.

Join palms,

DDMBA Ontario

Website: http://www.ddmba-ontario.ca

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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Setting the side mirrors at 90 degree

I wrote to my friends:

"Can someone please tell me if this setting the side mirrors of the car at 90 degree is a good advice or not??? As per attached powerpoint"


Stephen
's advise:

"I believe a shoulder check is the safest practice of all in the case of lane-change. Otherwise, I don't think it matters much."


LP's advise:

"Never heard of it and still don't understand it even from looking at the slides twice.

BTW, if someone sends you an attachment such as word doc or powerpoint - don't open it if you don't want to catch a computer virus or something. So it is best if you don't forward it either.

All images / slides should be viewed from some website."


Sam's advise:

"This is similar to the way I set my mirrors. I think it is good idea."


The morale of the story: DEPENDS...

Friday, September 11, 2009

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

LIFE IN THE 1500s

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* LIFE IN THE 1500s *

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be Here are some facts about the1500s:


Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water.

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying. It's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realised they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ...dead ringer..

And that's the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring ! ! !

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Monday, September 7, 2009

Religious and Linguistic Freedoms Essay Competition

In case you are interested:

religion.publicsphere@utoronto.ca is pleased to circulate the following information on behalf of Irmgard Coninx Stiftung, Berlin.

Berlin April 2010
Cultural Pluralism Revised: Religious and Linguistic Freedoms Essay Competition - Conference - Workshops - Research Grant

Workshop participation in Berlin
Up to 40 successful applicants to the essay competition will be invited to discuss their research with prominent scholars at two of Europe’s leading research institutions. The workshops will take place at the Social Science Research Center Berlin, 7 – 11 April 2010. Workshops will be chaired by José Casanova (Georgetown University) and Fernand de Varennes (Murdoch University).

Deadline for essay submission: January 15th, 2010

Irmgard Coninx Research Grant
An international jury will award two three-months fellowship to be used for research at the WZB, the Humboldt-University Berlin and the State library Berlin. The Grant includes a monthly stipend of EUR 1,000 plus accommodation and its winners will be invited to join a follow-up workshop in Berlin in 2010/2011.

For the finalists of the essay competition the Irmgard Coninx Foundation will cover travel to and accommodation in Berlin.


For details please visit our website: www.irmgard-coninx-stiftung.de

For inquiries please contact us: info@irmgard-coninx-stiftung.de

Dr. Sabine Berking
Irmgard Coninx Stiftung
c/o Wissenschaftszentrum für Sozialforschung Berlin
Reichpietschufer 50
10785 Berlin
Tel: 0049 30 25491 411
Fax: 0049 30 25491 684

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Sunday, September 6, 2009

Thank you note from my nieces

To all my family,

We know we are a bit late in sending this out, but it is better late than never. All the cousins have said it all in their email messages. Thank you family for making this trip possible. We had a great time. It was lots of fun. We liked:

* the desserts that the girls maded - they were yummy
* the delicious meals by Su 姐姐 and Auntie Nancy
* the campfire made by Bob Smith - it was lots of fun
* the fun games and cool prizes from ULP
* the sibling game by Toni, Chrispy Chrisp and Max
* canoeing and swimming with everybody
* watching the rope swing and pool
* playing the cousins' DSs (thank you for lending them to us)
* hiking on the trail
* exploring with Su 姐姐 near the railroad track
* spending time with all of you

Thank you all for the good memories. We saw Matthew's and Natalie's pictures and videos - they were great. Su 姐姐, I can't wait to see your pictures. Thank you Su 姐姐 and Uncle Laurie for coming to this trip with us.

It is back to school for us tomorrow.

Leigh-Ann and Morgan

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Friday, September 4, 2009

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche - Oct 3, 2009

In case you are interested:



Toronto's free all-night contemporary art thing
Saturday, October 3, 2009
6:55pm to sunrise

Toronto's all-night contemporary art extravaganza, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, is just over a month away. With 130 projects by close to 500 artists, it's impossible to see it all in one night. Visit the event website for details on all 2009 art projects and start planning your evening now.

www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca

COMING SOON!
New for 2009, the event website will feature interactive tools to help you better plan your night.

My Night - Personal Itinerary Planner
Plan ahead and create your own personalized list of must-see projects, build your own maps and share your itinerary with friends.

Night Navigator App
Enhance your event experience with innovative technology in the palm of your hand by downloading the ultimate event navigational tool available for iPhone or BlackBerry and explore Scotiabank Nuit Blanche.

Mobile Event Site
Mobile-optimized web content will adapt to any handheld and give you access to all details while you're on the go.

As a subscriber, you'll be the first to know when all interactive tools are available! Follow sbnuitblancheTO on Twitter for event updates and just-released info.

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is a signature event produced by the City of Toronto.


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Thursday, September 3, 2009

Condolence to the Leung Family

Mr. Leung Fat(梁發老先生), my uncle-in-law passed away in Hong Kong last week.

Our condolence to the Leung family.

May Uncle Leung be reborn into a realm that is full of Bodhisattvas and Dharma.

May the Triple Gems be with him always.

Boundless blessings...

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Two stories, both true and worth reading

Sharing the following email with you:

STORY NUMBER ONE

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed 'Easy Eddie.' He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocities that went on around him.

Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.

And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.

He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al 'Sacrifice's Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.

Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.





STORY NUMBER TWO


World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare.

He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.

He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.

His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet..

As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.

The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.

Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 calibers blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.

Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.

Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.

Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942 , and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.

A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.


SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?


Butch O'Hare was 'Easy Eddie's' son.

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