“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha As we all know, present life is so fast-paced that it is difficult for us to enjoy the moment or live in the present. Matthew Killingsworth noted in his 2011 TED talk, “Mind-wandering is likely a cause, and not merely a consequence, of unhappiness.” His…
My father, Paul Nicholas Luvera Sr., was born on March 25, 1898, and died in Anacortes, Washington, on November 4, 1990, at the age of 92. You can see more details of his extraordinary life at https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/11/dad-1.html . Dad was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. His father and oldest brother left for Canada, where they worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad installing tracks until they earned enough to send for his mother, the…
I’ve been asked for advice about the position of Washington State Supreme Court Justices. Lita and I, even though we are attorneys, had the same problem because, without being in current touch, we couldn’t make reasoned choices. The only exception was the race involving Debra Stevens, the incumbent, over Ted Bloom. We knew she was an excellent justice on the bench and should be re-elected. For the other positions, I consulted attorneys I trust for advice. The response I’ve received…
President Trump’s speech to the United Nations was full of flagrant, total lies that every American, Republican or Democrat, knows from their own daily life are totally false. He told the assembly: “Less than two years ago, the American people gave us a mandate to save America. And in 19 months, I’ve delivered on every single promise I made, and I think I delivered on far more.” Here is the truth about just some of Trump’s broken campaign promises: End…
My view is that this nation has both the right and the responsibility to regulate immigration and to remove individuals who are legally subject to removal, particularly those who commit serious crimes. But that authority must be exercised through the rule of law—with due process, fair hearings, and respect for individual rights. Effective immigration enforcement should focus its greatest resources on people who pose a genuine threat to public safety, rather than treating every undocumented immigrant as a criminal. What…
That’s what Senator Everett Dirksen, the Republican Senate Minority Leader from Illinois, said about government spending sixty-four years ago at a Republican leadership press conference. It has been pointed out that “A government that spends more than it takes in eventually discovers that math doesn’t vote.” Our federal government and the Democratic Party in the state of Washington will experience the reality of that quote unless they change their approach to government spending & taxation. As a lifelong Democrat, it…
My firm’s partner, David Beninger sent me an article from The Bulwark https://www.thebulwark.com/ an independent media company featuring good-faith, fearless journalism and committed to defending liberal democracy. Kim Wehle, in the August 3rd edition, wrote a piece entitled “A Blistering Critique of the Roberts Court, From Hawaii’s Supreme Court.” Excerpts will give a flavor of this excellent article: “THE HAWAII SUPREME COURT issued a stunning opinion last month that said explicitly something that many other judges across the country have been thinking:…
I’ve decided to avoid writing as much as I can about the Trump administration after the outrageous lies excusing the Reflection Pool total fiasco. Probably due to my age, I have been thinking about some past memories that give me pleasure to recall. I’d like to share a couple of them as I remember them. Northern State Hospital in Sedro Woolley was an important part of Skagit County for sixty-one years until its closure in 1973. After graduating from Gonzaga law…
Two people I loved died in the month of July. My mother, Mary Babarovich Luvera, and my paternal grandfather’s father, Nicola Luvera. One on the 4th of July and the other on the 7th. Here is a brief summary of both these unique people MARY THELMA BABAROVICH LUVERA On an early Friday morning, July 7th, 2000, my mother, Mary Thelma Babarovich, died in her sleep at the San Juan Care Center. Her death was not unexpected. After all, she was…
Life can be difficult. We are all faced with trials and challenges. It’s helpful to study other people’s life experiences in order to be encouraged to continue on with perseverance through all of what life throws at us. Here are a few thoughts about that subject, which might be of help. In 1954, Roger Bannister became famous for becoming the first person at a sanctioned track meet to run a mile in under four minutes. That was one of the…
