The road to Eritrea

Rich Welsh's B-day, 30 December 2009, San Francisco

2010-01-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

Redd & Yellow turned five today

2009-09-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

A civil exchange

2009-09-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Clint Bolick
To: John LaRocca
Sent: Tue, Sep 8, 2009 10:49 am
Subject: RE: Today's piece on President Obama

Greetings,

I did not recall that. That would have been one of my few moments of agreement with Gephardt.

However, it is very different to broadcast a speech at a school to which the president presumably is invited, and which broadcast will not be telecast into other schools unless they choose to air it, than where the president is making a broadcast directly to students in the nation’s schools, whether invited or not. Unlike every other place where one might see the president, students in schools are captive audiences.

Best,
Clint

______________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this message is privileged and confidential. It is intended only to be read by the individual or entity named above or their designee. Any distribution of this message by any person who is not the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, do not read it. Please immediately notify the sender and delete it. Thank you.
From: John LaRocca [mailto:jjlarocca7@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 10:11 AM
To: Clint Bolick
Subject: Re: Today's piece on President Obama

Mr. Bolick:

For your information his (below link) is to what I was referring. It is but one of two sources I have reviewed in the past 24 hours. Thank you for your prompt reply. I remain an Independent.

h ttp://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/09/03/flashback-1991-gephardt-called-bushs-speech-students-paid-political-a

Regards,

John LaRocca

480-239-7375 m

-----Original Message-----
From: Clint Bolick
To: John LaRocca
Sent: Tue, Sep 8, 2009 9:54 am
Subject: RE: Today's piece on President Obama
Mr. LaRocca,

I do not recall any president deciding, unilaterally and uninvited, to address all the nation’s schoolchildren. That is quite different from20being invited to a school; having students in a voluntary forum; or speaking on prime-time television when each individual can flip a switch. Schools are a coercive setting---listening to a political figure always should be a voluntary act. The lesson plans ice the cake. As a litigator who has sued more Republicans than Democrats, I would feel the same about anyone doing this…it seems Big Brother-ish to me.

Best regards,
Clint Bolick

______________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this messag e is privileged and confidential. It is intended only to be read by the individual or entity named above or their designee. Any distribution of this message by any person who is not the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, do not read it. Please immediately notify the sender and delete it. Thank you.
From: John LaRocca [mailto:jjlarocca7@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:42 AM
To: Clint Bolick
Subject: Today's piece on President Obama

Mr. Bolick:

0A
Unprecedented? Really, In what way? I recall Presidents Reagan and George H W Bush also spoke to our school children. In fact, President G H W Bush also asked the school children to help him to get his agenda to succeed.

I enjoy reading Goldwater Institutes articles. I'm confused by this one. I would appreciate knowing more about your fact based perspective.
Regards,

John LaRocca

480-239-7375 m

oldwater Institute Daily Email

[ add to contacts ]
To:
john@creditpointe.com
Cc:

Date:
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 08:16 am
Subject:
Building the Cult of Obama, Starting with Kindergarten
Attachments:
Text version of this message. (5KB)

< table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%" id="201179" height="400">

Goldwater Institute Daily Email
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September 8, 2009
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Clint Bolick
Goldwater Institute

cbolick@goldwaterinstitute.org
Building the Cult of Obama, Starting with Kindergarten
by Clint Bolick

When his public approval ratings are plummeting, what's a president to do? One possible answer: address a captive audience of millions of highly impressionable young minds, and follow it up with educational "lessons" that induce a po sitive image of the president.
That is what is happening today with President Obama's unprecedented address to the nation's schoolchildren. Preaching personal responsibility and perseverance--positive qualities, to be sure--the speech nonetheless contradicts them by disrupting the school day.

=2 0
The =2 0 blitzkrieg approach to the national message caught parents and school officials unaware. Some districts are leaving the choice whether to air the speech to individual schools. Others are allowing parents to opt their kids into alternative activities. Still others, including the Tempe Elementary School District, are offering no opt-outs at all. My son's charter school, Benchmark School, is telling parents if they want their kids to see the speech, they should TiVo it: math and reading will be taught during the school day instead.

While many view the speech as a useful civics lesson, others such as Arizona Superint endent of Public Instruction Tom Horne aren't so sure. Horne helpfully posted the lesson plans put out by the U.S. Department of Education to precede and follow Obama's speech. Discussion points include:
"Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us?"
"What resonated with you from Pre sident Obama's speech?"
"Why is it important that we listen to the President?"
"What do you think it takes to be President?"
"What other historic moments do you remember when the President spoke to the =2 0 nation?"
Civics or indoctrination? For once, a Latin phrase I learned in law school comes in handy: res ipsa loquitor--the thing speaks for itself.

Clint Bolick is director of the Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.
20

Learn More:

CNN: Educators take heat over Obama school speech

Arizona Department of Education: Obama Speech Guidelines

2009-09-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

The road to Eritrea: Our Labs,

2009-09-06T23:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=679808&id=1144468587&ref=mf

Our Labs,

2009-09-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

Polly & Goldie born, October 5, 1992

Polly, January 17, 2008

Goldie, September 4, 2009

Redd & Yellow born, September 28, 2004

My favorite cousins, 06 August 2006

2009-09-06T13:23:00.001-07:00

John McCain on Health Care

2009-09-06T00:13:00.000-07:00

Mr. John Larocca

13371 E. Sorrel Lane

Scottsdale, AZ 85259-6315

Dear Mr. Larocca:

Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts and concerns regarding health care reform. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

Our nation's health care system affects every aspect of American life and every component of our nation's economy, accounting for approximately a sixth of our nation's Gross Domestic Product. Also, as you are likely aware, health care spending has risen dramatically in recent years, far outpacing inflation, leaving countless families with difficult decisions about providing care for loved ones. Even Medicare, the vital safety net program for 45 million seniors and disabled individuals, is facing fiscal insolvency and higher out of pocket costs for beneficiaries.

This is simply unsustainable. Health care costs are rising and, if left unaddressed, will undermine Medicare and private insurance. Private insurance currently covers about two-thirds of all Americans and if these programs are undermined or eliminated, it could potentially add to the 48 million Americans currently without any form of health insurance. While the prospects of health care reform are daunting, it must be done, but done right, and in a truly bipartisan fashion.

I believe that there are four pillars that should help guide reform: affordability, portability, access, and quality. No one piece is more important than another, but taken together, I believe that we can create a health care system that can provide affordable, quality health care coverage for all Americans.

Our reform efforts should create a system that enables people to access affordable health coverage that includes high quality health care. Americans want to be able to choose their doctors, coverage, and care, and to have the freedom to seek employment that is not dependent on whether or not insurance coverage is provided. I believe that we can reform the current system to achieve this goal without turning to a government-run plan which would lead to rationed care, creating delays in treatment and eliminating consumer choice.

An increasing amount of our health care dollars and resources are directed towards treating chronic conditions such as heart disease and obesity. Therefore, any new reform must also encourage prevention initiatives that work. Medicare and Medicaid payment systems must also be reformed to promote prevention.

In addition to improving medical care and reducing costs, I believe our health care system should use health information technology to improve efficiency and quality in health care, and that we should find ways to reduce the number of medical malpractice lawsuits, which drive up the cost of health care and make coverage more expensive.

During the recent mark-up of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's health reform bill, I supported an amendment which would prevent health care providers from being required to participate in abortions if doing so would violate their personal moral and ethical convictions. As you may know, I have consistently opposed measures which encourage or lead to more abortions, including the use of any federal funding for abortions.

I was also a strong proponent of an amendment that would have required Members of Congress to participate in the proposed public health plan if one is enacted into law. If the health care reform legislation that is being considered becomes law, it would force millions of people to give up their current forms of health care coverage and participate in the government run program. I believe that Members of Congress cannot expect these individuals to participate in this new public program if they are not willing to enroll themselves and their families in the same program.

On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved the Affordable Health Choices Act on a party line vote of 13-10. I voted against the legislation because it does little to actually lower health care costs and still leaves 34 million people uninsured. The actual final cost of this legislation to our country and its taxpayers is still undetermined, but the Congressional Budget Office has stated that the bill substantially expands federal responsibility for health care costs without addressing the critical changes necessary to reduce the anticipated federal health spending. While I understand the need for reform and will continue to support meaningful measures that will lower costs, improve access to quality health care and expand coverage, I cannot support this bill in its current form because it spends too much, taxes too much, leaves too many people uninsured and does nothing to drive down health care costs.

Again, thank you for sharing your views on this important issue. Please be assured that I will continue to keep them in mind as Congress considers legislation to reform our nation's health care system. Feel free to contact me on this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

John McCain

United States Senator

JM/dmm

A Steak less dinner with friends

2009-08-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

Willy, Ava, Vanessa, Alexander, Andreas and Rich, August 11, 2009

Joe and the boys

2009-08-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

ELA Annual Conference, Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, AZ, October 30, 1977. HP's Sales Finance (Leasing) Division management team.
back row-l to r, Ed Brown, Ed Oliver, Ron Dopke, Tom Mahaffey,
front row, Ron Bannerman, Mr. Joe Barr, John LaRocca

absent, Steve Thrower

Irena Sendler

2009-08-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

A friend Kath wrote today about this remarkable woman.

http://www.irenasendler.org/

A view from the office

2009-07-18T15:49:00.001-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/li92503/

CDHS_HOF_Invitation_what_a_honor

2009-07-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Cardinal Dougherty High School
6301 N. Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19120
www.cardinaldougherty.org

June 17, 2009

Dear Friends,

Congratulations on your induction and acceptance into the Cardinal Dougherty Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Committee is proud to honor you for your commitment and dedication to Cardinal Dougherty. The 1966 Championship Band, Drill Team and Color Guard definitely helped to put CD on the map.

You will be honored at our Communion Breakfast and Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 25, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at Cardinal Dougherty High School. Through Joe I will be sending out an invitation packet to all the members, but if you have any other family or friends that you would like to receive an invitation packet, I would ask that you complete the attached form and send it to me via e-mail or through regular mail. We ask that you return your “Guest List” by July 17. Those on your guest list will receive an invitation, ticket order form, and our ad and sponsorship form. I f you should have any businesses you think would be a sponsor or give an ad, will you please give us a person to contact. Your bio and a recent photo are not due until August 12. If you have any questions, please call the Hall of Fame Information Line 215-276-2300 X 228 and I will get back to you as soon as possible. My e mail address is cdrummond@cardinaldougherty.org and my mailing address is

Miss Charlotte Drummond
Cardinal Dougherty High School
6301 N. Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19120

Our time line of information is as follows:
July 17 – Honoree returns “Guest List” form to Charlotte Drummond – Development Office.
July 18 – Announcement of Inductees at Annual Cards Soar at the Shore.
August 20 – Invitation letter sent to Inductees’ guests.
September 14 – Ad Book forms due.
October 18 – RSVP’s for the event are due.
October 25 - Hall of Fame Communion Breakfast and Awards Ceremony.

We look forward to honoring you for your accomplishments and for your contributions to Cardinal Dougherty High School. Our hopes are to make October 25 a day you will long remember.

Sincerely,

Charlotte Drummond
Coordinator for Special Events

Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ St. Vincent Shelter

2009-06-19T23:38:00.000-07:00

Back from Orlando, it is a moist damp heat there. Every breakfast buffet was nothing but fat killer food to 1,000 many significantly weight challenged credit professionals. What could the planners be thinking who put together the menu?

Still recovering from the 3:45 AM EDT (12:45 AM PDT) wake up call on Thursday. Two full SWA fights back went smoothly. Depart at 7:00 AM Saturday morning with Betsy and Sean to volunteer at the homeless shelter with a group from the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale..

good night all.

John

NACM, Credit Congress, June 14-17, 2009

2009-06-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

I leave for Orlando on Sunday morning. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making a few new ones. I'll be back in Scottsdale at the end of the week. Stay well. Smile, find a reason, forget the reason, hug someone. All the best, John

Anne Marie Kennelly

2009-06-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Anne Marie Kennelly Jan. 11, 1949 - June 8, 2009 Anne Marie Gilles Kennelly, 60, lost her valiant battle with pancreatic cancer surrounded by family and friends at her home in Menlo Park, California. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Raymond Catholic Church at 10 a.m., Friday, June 12, 2009. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park. Anne was a pioneer. One of six women in her class to graduate from University of San Francisco Law School in 1972, she was the first woman lawyer hired by Hewlett Packard (HP) Corporation. Anne spent 37 years with HP, working as Corporate Counsel, up to a few months before her death. She handled corporate credit structuring and collection and had extensive international legal experience. Her entire legal career was spent at Hewlett Packard. At the same time, Anne was the mother of two beautiful girls, Margaret Anne and Maureen, and loving wife to her husband, Dennis. Together they lived in Palo Alto and then Menlo Park for 31 years. Anne loved to travel, golf, gardening, read voraciously, graciously entertained family and friends. She was a beloved aunt, daughter and sister. She knew more about history than most people and loved a spirited debate. Her faith was very strong and she took great delight in participating in the St. Raymond's choir and as a Lector. In her final days, she was comforted when the choir came to her bedside to perform her favorite songs. Anne is survived by her husband, Dennis and daughters Margaret and Ted Hazelrig of San Francisco and Maureen Kennelly of San Francisco. She is survived by her mother, Margaret Gilles of Palo Alto; Sister Paula and Tom Maurano of Menlo Park, brother Mark and Mary Gilles of Menlo Park, sister Teresa O'Rourke of San Ramon and sister Kathleen Gilles of Menlo Park. Her nieces and nephews, Matthew, Stephen and Megan Maurano; Paul and Francesca Gilles; Todd Yuhanick and Lydia (Yuhanick) Travelsted, as well as her sister-in-law Kathleen Yuhanick. Anne will be remembered for her fi erce intelligence, honesty and grace. Donations can be made in her name to the American Cancer Society or the Religious of the Sacred Heart, Oakwood Community, Menlo Park, California 94025. Arrangements are being handled by Spangler Mortuaries in Menlo Park. For more information contact their website spanglermortuary.com.
Published in San Jose Mercury News on 6/11/2009

Our HP reunion schedule for May 23rd is postponed until August 8th

2009-05-08T00:25:00.000-07:00

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Good Day All:

I hope this note finds each of you doing well. Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances Andrea’s wonderful idea of our reunion for Saturday, May 23rd needs to be postponed. We both apologize for this inconvenience. However, through the heroic efforts of Margaret Capriles we are able to reschedule it for Rengstorff Park for Saturday, August 8th. I hope for those of you in the Bay Area it will be possible for you to attend. We will provide food and refreshment. You need to bring smiles, memories and cameras. Family and friends are of course welcome. All are welcome from those days when a sense of place is remembered fondly. Please spend the afternoon with old friends if you can.

Kindest regards,

John

480-239-7375 m 480-275-5432 o, jjlarocca7@aol.com

Original message of February 9, 2009
Greetings All!
The years have flown by since our great times working together. Who can forget the Worldwide Credit Steering Committee or WWCISYS or PCDO's Bad Debt Write-offs? Many of us have moved on to other companies, jobs and even the sweet life of retirement! So, John LaRocca and I have been thinking, (which certainly is dangerous), that it is time for a WW CC/AR Reunion!
Here are some initial thoughts:
Who is invited? Anyone that worked in or with the Credit, Collection, and Accounts Receivable functions at HP, from all geographies
Where: NEW DATE AND NEW LOCATION: Rengstorff Park on August 8th
We are open to your ideas, so please send us your suggestions, recommendations, and, of course, "Credit approvals" (haha). Also, the more involved, the merrier, so let us know if you are interested in helping with the event(s).
We want to reach/include as many people as possible, so we are hoping you will help us by forwarding this email to those you know. Or let me know their e-mail addresses and I will be sure to send along an invitation. We look forward to seeing all of you again very soon!
Please reply to this message to let us know if you are interested.

Warmest regards,

Andrea Dunn & John LaRocca

N.B. Due to multiple distribution lists and time limitation some may receive this twice. Others who should receive it may not. Please share liberally.

Eugene and Phil, my favorite cousins...

2009-05-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

Father Harold (Thomas) Purcell

2009-05-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

almost my most important hero slightly behind mom and dad: http://www.cpprovince.org/archives/biographical/purcell-harold.php

Father Harold Purcell - Former Passionist
1881-1952

Father Harold Purcell, C.P.
Editor of The Sign circa 1933

Dominic Anthony and mom Alex

2009-05-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

Great Niece Alex, and Great, Great Nephew Dominic Anthony
who was born Friday May 1st 2009, @ 11:57 AM,
5 Lbs 12 Oz 20 ½”,
Everyone is doing great.

Missing from photo, proud Grand dad, Jeffery...

Also on Twitter...

2009-04-28T00:08:00.000-07:00

http://twitter.com/Li92503

April 28th, 1949-2009

2009-04-28T00:05:00.000-07:00

Well Carl, to that kid who left St. Raymond's in fifth grade just because he couldn't do the math, is 60 years old in the morning. Happy birthday 'Gahl' and many, many more to come.

Many happy returns of the day,

John

480-275-5432
480-239-7375 m

PS Mrs. Wahl, I was only kidding about Carl's math skills. You raised a real nice young man. You are three for three in that category.

2009-04-24T16:00:00.001-07:00

Asmara (English) (Ge'ez: ኣስመራ Asmera, formerly known as Asmera, or in Arabic: أسمرا ‎Asmara) is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people. At an elevation of 2,400 meters (7 874 ft), Asmara is on the edge of an escarpment that is both the northwestern edge of the Great Rift Valley and of the Eritrean highlands. Textiles and clothing, processed meat, beer, shoes, and ceramics are the major industrial products. Asmara started with four villages, to being a regional center under Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia, to "Little Rome" of Benito Mussolini's unsuccessful second Roman Empire, to being a provincial capital under Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and lastly a national capital of Eritrea.

2009-04-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

Italian men at Bar Ugo in Eritrea (circa 1970)

2009-04-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday James T.

2009-04-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

Jim, we started this a long time ago... may we have a road yet to travel... from Boyertown to Kerkrade may we do it all again...

Talking

2009-04-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

with ones adversaries should be encouraged...