Satanic Yoga?

Are they serious?!
I seriously question how these people get to be any sort of authority in any capacity. I know you will join me in shaking my head in disbelief after reading the article that follows.

Enjoy....

(NaturalNews) The successor to Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican's former chief exorcist for 25 years, has come out in condemnation of fantasy novels and yoga, declaring both to cause demonic possession. Speaking to The Independent (UK), Father Cesare Truqui explained how the Roman Catholic Church has seen a steady uptick in reports of demonic possession all around the world, and that popular culture pastimes like reading Harry Potter novels and engaging in Vinyasa are largely to blame.

The popularity of many modern television shows, movies and novels that glorify "demonic" creatures such as vampires and magical wizards has apparently led both young and old alike to engage in certain activities that the Vatican says summon satanic spirits, claims Professor Giuseppe Ferrari. Ferrari recently attended a meeting in Rome where Catholic authorities and delegates discussed how to deal with this alleged demonic possession crisis.

Demonic characters in shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries are often portrayed as beautiful human beings with desirable characteristics and superpowers, which may lure the unsuspecting into dabbling in the occult. Father Cesare says he's seen many an individual speaking in tongues and exhibiting unearthly strength, two attributes that his religion says indicate the possibility of evil spirits inhabiting a person's body.

"There are those who try to turn people into vampires and make them drink other people's blood, or encourage them to have special sexual relations to obtain special powers," stated Professor Ferrari at the meeting. "These groups are attracted by the so-called beautiful young vampires that we've seen so much of in recent years."

Is yoga about worshiping Hindu gods, or is it about engaging in advanced stretching and exercise?

At its roots, yoga is said to have originated from the ancient worship of Hindu gods, with the various poses representing unique forms of paying homage to these entities. From this, other religions such as Catholicism and Christianity have concluded that the practice is out of sync with their own, and that it may result in demonic spirits entering a person's body.

Others contend that yoga practice is really more focused on advanced stretching moves and physical exercise, and that it can bring about healing and improved well-being such as improved core strength, better circulation and reduced stress. The intent of the person doing yoga, rather than yoga itself, in other words, is what defines the extent of how the practice influences a person's being and soul.

But Father Truqui sees yoga as being satanic, claiming that "it leads to evil just like reading Harry Potter." And in order to deal with the consequences of this, his religion has had to bring on an additional six exorcists, bringing the total number to 12, just to deal with what he says is a 100% rise in the number of requests for exorcisms over the past 15 years.

"The ministry of performing exorcism is little known among priests," stated Father Truqui to The Independent. "It's like training to be a journalist without knowing how to do an interview."

At the same time, Father Amorth admits that the Roman Catholic Church's notoriety for all kinds of perverted sex scandals is also indicative of demonic activity -- he stated that it represents proof that "the devil is at work inside the Vatican."

"There's homosexual marriage, homosexual adoption, IVF [in vitro fertilization] and a host of other things," added Monsignor Luigi Negri, the archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio, about what he says is evidence of the existential evil in society. "There's the clamorous appearance of the negation of man as defined by the Bible."

Sources:

http://www.independent.co.uk

http://sputniknews.com

http://www.bbc.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/049612_Vatican_exorcist_yoga_Harry_Potter.html#ixzz3ZauBLEve

Let Me Go

Everyone on this earth is born. And we each much also die. It may not be convenient for those left behind to mourn, but it is something that we all must do.
I do a lot of services for people whom have lived long and full lives. Those services are truly a celebration of life. Unfortunately, there are services for people who's lives seem way too short and often it seems unfair that it has come to what appears to be an untimely end.

Recently, CBN televangelist Pat Robertson proclaimed that "God has given us the ability to raise the dead, we just aren't using it."
And now there is a group called "The Dead Raising Team" that claims that they have performed a dozen resurrections. And finally, a family in Hamilton Ontario Canada kept their dead husband and father in their home since March, praying that he would be brought back to them. Here's the story from Caleb Wilde of Confessions of  a Funeral Director.

I know everyone loves me. But I have one request.
Be it 50 years from now or tomorrow, Let Me Go.

Going Out of Business

According the skeletal old man, Pat Robertson, from The 700 Club, you, me and everyone else on the planet has the power to raise the dead. We just aren't using it.

This came as a response to a question from one of Robertson's viewers who asked:
"Do we have the same power that it took to raise Jesus Christ from the dead? If so, where is it in the Bible?"

Robertson (who has the power to raise the deceased from their eternal slumber) responded:

"He gave his disciples the authority... to raise the dead. That was part of our power... God is almighty... That power is there, we just aren't using it."

So, all this time we've been dealing with this pesky death thing, building an industry around helping people cope with the loss of a loved one, we could have been bringing them back to life. I think he's trying to put me out of business!

The Death of a City

I recently found myself driving the limo again for some wealthy clients. One is a real estate monster in our little corner of the world who is married to a nationally recognized sculptor. Another is a top judge in our area and the other is head of a major manufacturing organization and son of a former baseball star in Detroit. They went for a birthday celebration to a play in Detroit, at the Fisher Theatre in the Fisher Building. The theatre is located on Grand Blvd in Detroit just down the boulevard from the famous Hitsville USA Museum where so many Motown records were recorded.









It all sounds very nice. But as I know everyone knows, Detroit is experiencing some pretty tough times. Right along side of these historic landmarks that look so wonderful in pictures, are abandoned houses and businesses, vacant lots where only the ghost of a lively Detroit now resides. Burned out buildings from arson or rouge fires from homeless people trying to stay warm during our cold winter nights. The news would have you believe that it's the economy to blame. The people blame the businesses and the businesses blame the people all over the world because they buy products from places like China or Mexico. But what really happened to this once great city? The city that put the world on wheels.

This beautiful theatre was built with money from the automobile business. A business that seems to have left it behind in a decaying neighborhood to fend for itself. What, if anything, could save this historic sample of industrial architecture? Detroit is putting on a brave face and trying to show the world what it has to offer. There are a few investors doing their part to revive what they can and try to hold this sinking ship together. But I feel that it takes more than money and advertising. It takes more than a new stadium for the Tigers or the Lions to play their sports in. It takes more than a face lift at the convention center. It takes a change in attitude. And we're talking about an attitude that is 40 to 50 years in the making.

A recent article that I read, stated that the people in the suburbs say "Let it fall apart, we don't need it." But then the article argues that without the city, there would be no suburb. That a central city is essential to the life of a sprawling metropolis. Without one, the other could not exist. I believe that this is antiquated thinking. It's a new global world and if a city is to survive, it needs to keep up globally. Not just locally. Detroit is proof that a city can not exist basing it's entire structure around one industry. It was insanity to think that the auto industry would last forever. It was insanity to think that the workers could keep making more and more. Did they not see that retirees would live longer and essentially be retired longer than they worked? Unions did a lot for getting workers fair wages and safe working conditions. Once those things were regulated by the government, the unions pushed for more. We have unskilled workers living the American dream and college graduates working minimum wage jobs. Detroit is a not-so-shiny example of what is wrong with the American society and doesn't seem to see a problem.

My clients for the day left their posh homes for the day to go to the theatre. Driven in a limousine to a overly gilded landmark and escorted by me back home. The occasional glance out the window with an off-handed comment about how someone should clean up this neighborhood. It is sad to see the blight. To think of all the lives and dreams that passed through that city over the last hundred years and to know that it is all gone is very disturbing.

Friday night I found myself in the Ferndale/Royal Oak area. This area is along Woodward Ave just outside the Detroit city limits. It's an area that once was a poor working class area. The small homes were barely big enough to turn around in let alone raise a family. 30 years ago a momentum was started there to give metro-Detroiters a place to go where they felt safe. The homes were refurbished and added on to. The downtown areas were slowly given face lifts. And with the increased traffic, people felt safer. They felt a sense of community that they could not get from Detroit. Today it is a thriving community with healthy businesses on every corner. A person feels safe to walk to the store or restaurant. One woman that I buried recently had never known a reason to leave her beloved Ferndale community. Never got a driver's licence. It was her home. A home she loved very much. And that my friends, is what Detroit is missing. It's missing people that love it enough to stick it out when times get tough. People that take care of their homes and watch out for their neighbors. People that raise their children to respect other people and love their community. People that welcome new people regardless of race.



So what does the real Detroit look like?
This is what you see driving along the freeway....







And if you dare to exit the freeway and go into a residential neighborhood, this is what you will find...

My good friend Aimee, over at Alchemy Photographic took these two photos at the old Packard Motor Car plant. One would think that it had been bombed. This old plant is next to an old cemetery in the heart of the city. Not only have the people all left the city, we are seeing more and more bodies being dug up and moved to better neighborhoods for the families to visit their loved ones.

 The graffiti is everywhere. I drove past a convenience store and car wash that had so much graffiti on the front of them that I barely noticed the sign for the business itself.

In 1968 Detroit experienced race riots. The whole world heard of the violence that was happening here.
I was too young to remember any of that. But I do remember always being afraid of Detroit. It would seem that the Black's won the race riots as the Whites moved further and further out of the city.
A Black mayor was elected and it began to get worse and worse.

Let me be clear that I have never been racist. But I know where I am not wanted. If a white person drove down the wrong street, they would have rocks or worse thrown at their cars. The violence worsened and the corruption grew. It escalated to a point that even the blacks didn't want to live there, and who would blame them. As one family would abandon their home, the block would become blighted with homeless seeking shelter or drug/sex shops taking over. Recently, someone I know stopped at a red light in Detroit. They were pulled over by a police officer who told them not to stop at any more lights and to get back on the freeway. This is real-world 2000's! Happening right now. This has been 50 years in the making and it's not going to be fixed over night.

Again, there are investors trying to turn things around. Recently the large casino where my brother works added on a hotel. The whole complex is very nice. But it is right next to the Brewster Projects that has been closed for many years, leaving a series of high-rise apartment buildings in a condemned state waiting to be torn down just outside the hotel windows.

People are not willing to move to the city because there is no place to buy groceries or to enjoy a night out. Stores are not willing to open new locations in areas that the crime and theft levels are so high.
A local television station has a new slogan Detroit 2020. They are setting their sights on the next 7 years.
The cycle must end now. The old city of Detroit needs to be laid to rest, a monument honoring it's history erected and then we all need to move on to the next phase. The New Detroit.

It's time!

Triumph !

On my mind today is the people stranded on the Carnival Cruise ship, Triumph, in the Gulf of Mexico. With limited power on board and many luxury services  halted, these poor people are stuck out on the seas. Food is being rationed and there are lines at the restrooms. One woman reports having to eat an onion and cucumber sandwich. People with cabins that do not open onto the sea air, are pitching tents on the top deck to avoid the sweltering heat down below.
The problem started with an engine fire that was quickly extinguished. It did however, cause a loss of power and the ship is operating on emergency generators and is virtually dead in the water. Drifting slowly to the North, it was decided to continue that path with the help of a couple of tow boats to get it to port in Alabama. The situation is far from ideal. For some, this vacation is something that they have saved for years to be able to afford. Now, being stranded at sea, they will have to change travel plans and possibly be late returning to work. No one would ever want to be in their shoes.
As I plan my big vacation this year, I have to recognize that I am booked on a Carnival Cruise. On the ship that replaced the one that is stranded at sea.
This year, my Eddy is celebrating a rather large birthday. A milestone, without a doubt. So in celebration of reaching this point in life, we decided to take yet another cruise. This time, we will be starting our trip in Boston, Massachusetts. We'll be visiting ports north of there in Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. I won't give too many details at this point, just to keep you in suspense. But I must say that we are both looking forward to the trip. Along the way we will be meeting up with new friends and old. And putting faces and voices to some Internet friends too. We'll experience some thrills and get some much needed rest.
To relate that to the ill-fated ship in the Gulf, no matter what happens, I know we'll make the best of our trip. I also recognize that we will be traveling in the same waters that the SS Titanic was traversing back in 1912. And I am confident in modern technology to get me home safely. I know that if anyone on that ship was in real danger, the US Navy and Coast Guard would be there in an instant to save them. Is it uncomfortable? Yes, I think it must be. Is anyone in any danger? NO! Only inconvenienced. I hope that they arrive in Alabama sooner than expected and all in good spirits. And a note to anyone on that ship; if any of you don't want your free travel vouchers, email me and we'll work out a trade.

Another Bullying Casualty

It pains me to see stories like this in the headlines. This story is taken from the website MLIVE which is based right here in Michigan, reporting local news that effects us all. I know it's made national headlines too.
Perhaps with more coverage, people will be more aware of how cruel they can be perceived as. I believe in many cases, people don't even realize how hurtful they are.
I hope that more schools can see the importance of help lines like are mentioned in the article. It's sad that it takes something like this to make it happen. But I am glad to see that they are doing something to help prevent any further trouble.

FENTON, MI – Linden High School junior Josh Pacheco had a heart for theater and an infectious smile, but above all else he cared for others, his family said.

“My son was very funny and exceptionally sensitive and loving to other people’s feelings,” said Pacheco’s mother, Lynnette Capehart.

Pacheco, 17, committed suicide Nov. 27. His parents believe bullying is to blame.

Pacheco was part of the Fenton-based Kidz Theatre Kompany, worked at Tim Hortons, loved his advanced placement politics class and called his four siblings his best friends, Capehart said.

Pacheco also was gay, which led to him being bullied both inside and outside of school, said his mother, Lynnette Capehart.

He told his mother he was gay just two months ago, but Capehart said she wasn't surprised and she said it made no difference to her. She loved her son just the same.

Pacheco was always smiling and entertaining friends and family -- and he loved a random mix of music from The Beatles to One Direction. 

"A young man with an old soul," even as a child he was always comfortable talking with adults, especially about plays, history and politics, Capehart said. 

Although he never got into sports -- "it just wasn't in him to be aggressive," said his mother -- he loved to go out on the boat, go tubing and swimming.

As the middle child, his siblings - Alicia, 20, Tiffani, 19, Grant, 14, and Haylee, 12 - were his best friends, Lynnette Capehart said.

Lynnette and stepfather Michael Capehart said they didn't know until recently that Pacheco was bullied. 

Capehart said her first indication that there was a problem came after the homecoming dance on Oct. 6. She was out of town, so she called to see how the dance was. It was the only one he attended this fall. 

Pacheco was upset and crying, but wouldn’t tell her why, Capehart said.

After his death, she found out from students that her son had been pushed into lockers and teased at school. It wasn’t surprising that he didn’t tell many people about it, Lynnette Capehart said, because Pacheco never wanted to make anyone else upset.

“He was having problems with bullying. He didn’t really want to tell us very much,” she said. “It was very disheartening to me.”

The weekend after Thanksgiving, Pacheco talked to his sisters, questioning life and his future -- comments that worried his parents. His mother talked to him that Sunday and on Monday, Nov. 26, set up an appointment for him to see a counselor on Wednesday -- even though he seemed back to his normal, "quirky" self.

Around lunch time on Nov. 27, Michael Capehart saw Josh's Facebook status, quoting a line from Bilbo Baggins, a character in the "Lord of the Rings" movies: "I regret to announce that this is the end. I'm going now, I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye."

It immediately worried Michael Capehart. Pacheco was home sick that day, so Capehart called his neighbor to check on Pacheco. He was found unresponsive in his truck, which had been running in the closed-up garage.

He left a note in the truck: "I'm sorry I wasn't able to be strong enough."

After news of Pacheco’s death had spread around the school, Lynnette and Michael Capehart said they received calls from friends and parents saying Pacheco had been bullied. 

“We had just lost one of the gentlest spirits God had ever created,” Lynnette Capehart said.

At the funeral, teachers had also mentioned that they believed he was having problems with bullying at school, they said. It upset Lynnette Capehart that she was never notified by the school of the problems Pacheco was facing.

Superintendent Ed Koledo said no bullying had ever been reported to school officials.

“We weren’t aware of any specifics. There’s been a lot of stories that have turned up over the weekend that we are looking into,” he said. “We are trying to put new programs into place, so (students) feel more comfortable (talking to administrators).”

Something that was already under discussion was a bullying hotline — which students can use to text bullying they witnessed or experienced. School officials accelerated plans for the Eagle Hotline, which can be reached at 810-373-2131 -- after Pacheco’s death

The district is also discussing bringing in speakers to talk about bullying and suicide. Administrators will also be talking with staff about what is considered bullying and what to do about it, Koledo said.

Just because there were not reports that Pacheco was being bullied doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, Koledo said. But sometimes it goes under the radar, and the district is working hard to address bullying and make students more comfortable, he said.

“That’s another thing we are looking into. What type of issues (teachers) are taking about and why they aren’t saying anything. That’s a concern,” he said.

Communication is key, Koledo said. A few students have come forward to speak with school officials -- but some students also posted accusations on Facebook, not all of which were true, he said.

“The more communication we have, the better. More lies getting figured out. Communication is the key to unraveling the issues,” Koledo said.

Michael Capehart said he will be in constant communication with the school until some action is taken with students who were involved in the bullying. He said he has contacted an attorney to possibly create a better state law to prevent bullying in the future.

“After years of bullying, look what it can do to a life,” Michael Capehart said.

Lynnette and Michael Capehart say more than anything, they simply want the bullying to stop -- and that includes any bullying of students who others may think were involved with bullying Pacheco.

At least 400 people attended Pacheco’s funeral Saturday. Students and teachers from every school he attended -- including Redford and Fenton, which he attended before transferring to Linden in seventh grade -- were there.

And at the funeral, person after person, family and friends, spoke about Pacheco and how he made a difference in their lives. About 30 people spoke -- and many more wanted to speak but there wasn't time.

Linden High School students also have planned a vigil for 6 p.m. Wednesday (today) at the Mill Pond gazebo to gather, talk about and remember Pacheco

Birds hold "funerals" for dead

By Matt WalkerEditor, BBC Nature

Some birds, it seems, hold funerals for their dead.

When western scrub jays encounter a dead bird, they call out to one another and stop foraging.

The jays then often fly down to the dead body and gather around it, scientists have discovered.

The behaviour may have evolved to warn other birds of nearby danger, report researchers in California, who have published the findings in the journal Animal Behaviour.

The revelation comes from a study by Teresa Iglesias and colleagues at the University of California, Davis, US.

They conducted experiments, placing a series of objects into residential back yards and observing how western scrub jays in the area reacted.

The objects included different coloured pieces of wood, dead jays, as well as mounted, stuffed jays and great horned owls, simulating the presence of live jays and predators.

Alarming reaction

The jays reacted indifferently to the wooden objects.

But when they spied a dead bird, they started making alarm calls, warning others long distances away.

The jays then gathered around the dead body, forming large cacophonous aggregations. The calls they made, known as "zeeps", "scolds" and "zeep-scolds", encouraged new jays to attend to the dead.

Continue reading the main story

The jays also stopped foraging for food, a change in behaviour that lasted for over a day.

When the birds were fooled into thinking a predator had arrived, by being exposed to a mounted owl, they also gathered together and made a series of alarm calls.

They also swooped down at the supposed predator, to scare it off. But the jays never swooped at the body of a dead bird.

The birds also occasionally mobbed the stuffed jays; a behaviour they are known to do in the wild when they attack competitors or sick birds.

The fact that the jays didn't react to the wooden objects shows that it is not the novelty of a dead bird appearing that triggers the reaction.

The results show that "without witnessing the struggle and manner of death", the researchers write, the jays see the presence of a dead bird as information to be publicly shared, just as they do the presence of a predator.

Spreading the message that a dead bird is in the area helps safeguard other birds, alerting them to danger, and lowering their risk from whatever killed the original bird in the first place, the researchers say.

Other animals are known to take notice of their dead.

Giraffes and elephants, for example, have been recorded loitering around the body of a recently deceased close relative, raising the idea that animals have a mental concept of death, and may even mourn those that have passed.

BOGO

INDIANAPOLIS-
It's a buy-one, get-one free sale- at a cemetery of all places.

Memorial Park Cemetery on Indianapolis' far east side was offering plots at the bargain-basement price in one section of it's grounds.

It's not another telling sign of the recession. General Manager Mark McCronklin says it's a promotion the cemetery has run for several years around Memorial Day in May.

McCronklin says it's just a closeout sale on one section and the cemetery is doing very well.

Signs along the street outside the cemetery also advertise that no one with bad credit will be turned down.

Sports Funerals

In our business, we constantly get  request of all sorts. 

We see these sorts of request as commonplace almost.

But evidently others think it is rare. ....

I remember the one in the recliner. It was all over the internet.

As long as they don't want the funeral at home, we can do just about anything.

We'll personalize your memorial any way you like.
After all, it was a life well spent and we want to celebrate it too.

Till Death Do Us Part

‘Til death do us part

Published 11:25am Wednesday, June 6, 2012

My sister serves as a chaplain at a hospital in Alabama and knows some of the people interviewed in this article. She sent it to me and I am passing it on to my friends here because it really speaks about how and why we do, what we do....

By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

When a loved one passes away, funeral home directors step up and can become a stabilizing force for grief-stricken families.

For many Shelby County morticians, they see their profession as a ministry to the community.

Cody Caldwell has been a funeral director for 11 years at Rockco Funeral Home in Montevallo.

“You see a lot of different aspects with how the family deals with loss of a loved one,” Caldwell said. “What we’re here for is to serve the family. We help start the grieving process for the family.”

GETTING STARTED

To become a funeral director, the profession requires a two-year associate degree in funeral service education.

Funeral directors come into the profession for different reasons.

Caldwell went to school with grandchildren of Rockco’s former owner, Billy G. Rockco, and so became familiar with the profession.

Bob Beavers, general manager at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, worked as a coal miner before joining the funeral home vocation.

“It’s what I decided I wanted to do,” Beavers said. “It’s a job where you actually help people.”

Lauriann Loveless, a funeral director at Charter Funeral Homes in Calera, worked in a cemetery with her parents, and decided to go to school to become a director.

“I think God puts you where you need to be,” Loveless said.

Loveless was one of the first female funeral directors in the county.

Ed Burdett, a funeral home director with Charter for four years, began his career in 1966. He was one of Shelby County’s first emergency medical technicians, and served as coroner for four years.

Burdett’s coworker, Larry Gilliland, started his funeral home career at Charter in 1964.

“I had never been in a funeral home before I started working here,” he said. “I try to help my fellow man.”

Gilliland said his family was raised in the business.

“Mine wasn’t,” Loveless said. “My first dead body was my first autopsy (during a college class). They were laying bets if I’d pass out on my first day of clinical.”

Caldwell said he and the funeral home staff take time together to talk about loss to “cope with sadness,” he said.

“I look at it as a mission,” he said. “To cope with it, you have to go through the good memories the families give you. If you sit and dwell on it, it’d bring us all down.”

Gilliland, Loveless and Burdett said even after years in the profession, they still need time to cope with certain funerals.

“Little children get to all funeral directors,” Gilliland said.

“It breaks my heart every time,” Loveless said. “But with babies and children – whew!

“You’re there to add structure. If you break down, you can’t provide structure,” she added. “With babies, I won’t say I don’t break down after they leave.”

Burdett said sincerity is important.

“As long as you don’t let emotions handle you, as long as you’re sincere, you help someone because they need help and are sincere about it,” he said.

TRENDS OF THE BUSINESS

“People are going to more and more cremations. A lot of local cemeteries are full,” Gilliland said. “Being cremated, the family can do anything with the remains.”

Caldwell said cremation leads to more options, and can be thousands of dollars cheaper than a traditional funeral.

“It’s more financial with cremation,” he said. “You can have the funeral when you want to. You can have the memorial service whenever.”

Gilliland said one of the biggest changes he has seen in the funeral business is the one-day service, where a visitation, service and interment occur on the same day. Caldwell said the same.

“It used to be, you could count on a nice visitation and the service the next day,” Caldwell said. “Now, you see it more on the same day. It’s the expense and you don’t want to prolong it.”

Southern Heritage offers a celebration of life room, in which the family can tailor a memorial service to the loved one.

“Instead of the sad funeral, they have their friends in there and are telling stories about the loved one they’ve lost,” Beavers said. “It’s a big help to people. We do themed events for them, if they’re an Alabama fan or Auburn, ice skating, pretty much everything.”

Another trend in the funeral home profession involves the weather. Both Charter and Rockco funeral directors agreed a rise in funerals follows the weather changing.

“Some (people) hang on until a symbol, like a birth date or a wedding date,” Caldwell said.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Once a person passes away and the family contacts the funeral home, the funeral home director takes the body into a room full of chemicals, tools and hair supplies such as hairspray and a curling iron.

“Behind the scenes is like you’re stepping back in time,” Caldwell said. “All the aesthetics are for the public.

“We keep everything sanitized and clean as we can keep it for our own health,” he added. “It’s like an operating room.”

Funeral directors prepare the body for the funeral, which includes setting the features and adding hair and makeup in some cases.

“We fix their features, the mouth and eyes, bathe them down and make the incision in the right carotid artery (collarbone area),” Gilliland said.

“Back when I started, gloves were non-existent, but with diseases, now we wear gloves and protective gear,” he added.

Caldwell said the chemicals change every three years.

“It’s a more natural appearance,” he said of the current chemicals. “You won’t have to use as much cosmetics. They look like they’ve fallen asleep.”

Gilliland said they measure the body from elbow to elbow to determine the casket size, and 23 inches across is the standard size.

Charter offers the only on-site crematorium in Shelby County.

According to Burdett, the crematorium can reach temperatures of 1,600 degrees or hotter and burns for approximately three hours.

While embalming is an “art within itself,” Caldwell said, the profession’s impact involves community involvement.

“Being in a community and involved with people, you relate back to those actions throughout life, and it makes you a better person,” Caldwell said. “It helps me with closure. I know that person and am glad they chose us because I can facilitate what the family wants and needs.”

Loveless said it’s a tough business, as it runs “Monday to Monday.”

“Wherever we’re needed, we’re there,” Gilliland said, “even if they live here and want to be buried 100 miles away.”

Caldwell said he sees people joining the funeral home business for financial reward.

“A lot of people are getting into too much business and losing the personal touch,” Caldwell said.

“It’s about servitude,” he added. “You have to have that mentality. We’re here to serve, not to dictate. We’re caring for families and making a difference.”

Name Change Not Allowed

Before you read this article, How kewl is it that they got married in a cemetery?

When Stephen Hill and Joshua Snyder went to the courthouse to officially hyphenate their last names together, they ended up pulled aside in a room with the magistrate.

The Columbus, Ohio, couple were celebrating their one-year anniversary after having been married in Washington, D.C.

Snyder says "it was kind of humiliating" to expect a name change would be no big deal and have it turn out so differently. "They basically told us to lie. They didn't use the word 'lie,' but they basically said if you use the word 'marriage,' it will get denied."

But Hill refused to lie any longer, having served in the military for two decades under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. And so the couple filed their request to change their last names with marriage clearly labeled as their reason.

A news report about the couple's request for a name change added to the anticipation for today's hearing. A judge heard their request today but opted not to issue a decision, instead promising to mail it to them. Changing a last name in Ohio would require a 10-page application, printing their names in the newspaper, $138 each, and then an appearance before the judge who normally renders a verdict on whether to let the name change go forward.

Some might remember Hill as the soldier booed by an audience during a Republican presidential debate for asking whether the candidates would try to reinstate "don't ask, don't tell." And he and his husband are also part of a lawsuit from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network that is seeking to get the Defense of Marriage Act ruled unconstitutional.

Watch the news report on the couple and their request.

We've never given much thought to changing our names. We'll both answer to either. Our marriage was to tell each other that we are committed to each other for a life time. We don't need anyone else to justify that.

But I would hope that if we decided to make that sort of public commitment, that we would be allowed by the law.

Are you ready?

Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and concerns for my family during my sister's brush with this devastating brain aneurysm.

Today, we have good news. While it will take a long while for things to return to "normal", the hospital is releasing her to go home today. This of course is great news to her. However, the rest of the family will need to pitch in now. She will need round the clock observation for even the most mundane things while she relearns to do the things in life that we all take for granted. Of course, if you recall, she was the one that was primary care giver for our father too. So now, we have the two of them in the same house. Its' going to be tough organizing for someone to be there with them all the time, but we will manage.

One huge lesson that we all learned from this is that we need to protect ourselves now, for the unexpected. Because it's unexpected, we can't plan for it. We can only be prepared the best we can.

When this happened three weeks ago, we had no idea if she had any arrangements made for power of attorney, a living will or even a will. Where insurance papers are. Nothing. Come to find out, that there is nothing of the sort. Looking at our own situation, we decided that we need to be more prepared than we are. Although we were legally married in Canada, the state of Michigan sees us as nothing more than roommates. We've put each others names on all bank accounts and listed each other as beneficiaries for insurance purposes. But the house is in my name. The business is in his name. And our private cars are also in one name each. The fact that we are life partners, business partners, etc., means nothing to the state. If something should happen to either of us, there would be a lot of issues raised that we should be taking care of now. 

Of course, as this video suggest, a lot of things would be taken care of automatically, if our marriage was recognized. I guess we've been holding off hoping that things will change. The fact is though, right now, this is  how it is. I know I suggested this a few weeks ago. But after viewing this viral video and dealing with all that is happening around me right now, I think it's time to make it happen and get the paperwork in order.

And next time it comes up for a vote where you live, make it happen. 

And furthermore, if you are straight and living with someone, the same holds true. When my father-in-laws girlfriend of 30 years died a few years ago, her children took over everything and he had no say in it. And also my sister-in-law left her house to her son, leaving her boyfriend of several decades begging to stay in his home.

Sorry if this is not my usual brighter side. But this is a big issue that should be addressed.

Yes Shane, we're listening.

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Kony 2012 - Stop at Nothing

I know this video is long at 29 minutes. But if you have the time, please check it out.

Kony 2012

There are things going on in this world that most people never hear about. But if this were happening for even one night in or near a town that any of us live in, it would be all over the news. Does it really matter where we live if there is an injustice happening and no one will do anything about it. Check it out.

Thanks.

Speed Limit

This was all over the news around here about a week ago.

I'd love to meet the people that approved this sign. And although they have "fixed" it after all the attention, it still is a little extreme.

The following article is from the Oakland County Daily Tribune...

Two signs that listed six separate daily times during which drivers were to slow to 25 mph near schools in White Lake have been replaced.

Greg Smith, a resident who complained about the sign, said the sign on Bogie Lake Road now lists two times for drivers to slow — between 6:49-9:07 a.m. and between 2:03-4:29 p.m.

“I’m relieved,” he said.

Smith complained that the old sign, which was erected Jan. 12, was so complicated, he was considering posting a list of times on his dashboard.

The old signs instructed drivers to slow down to 25 mph between 6:49-7:15, 7:52-8:22 and 8:37-9:07 mornings and 2:03-2:33, 3:04-3:34 and 3:59-4:29 afternoons. The rest of the road is posted as 45 mph.There are three schools along that stretch of road are Lakeland High, White Lake Middle and Lakewood Elementary schools.

Road Commission for Oakland County crews replaced the sign as an “interim step,” said Craig Bryson, spokesman.

“We're hoping the school district will agree to help fund the flashing lights as the preferred solution,” he said. Two flashing lights would cost upwards of $50,000.

Smith, who lives near the schools and regularly travels Bogie Lake, said because the three schools are “bunched together,” traffic is “pretty crazy in the mornings and evenings with parents picking up kids.”


____________________________
There is no way, traveling at 45 mph that anyone can make sense of this sign. And let's hope that your clock isn't set wrong.

Time for a new car

Thousands of mourning North Koreans turned out for the memorial to say farewell to their long time leader Kim Jong-Il Wednesday morning.

The three hour procession was led by Kim Jong-Un, who walked beside his father's coffin as they traveled through the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, where dead North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung is entombed.

We are yet to see what may transpire in North Korea with their new leader. However if I were leader, one of the first things I would do is replace those 1970's limousines with something a little newer. Some fine cars come from Japan, South Korea and even China. And the best they can do is old Lincolns?!


Sources: Associated Press and www.rawstory.com

The Case of the Loud Cemetery

A Councilman in Louisiana is so upset over colorful tombs in one cemetery that he is proposing a ban on them entirely.

Alvin Tillman, a councilman from the town of Terrebonne, is proposing a law to restrict the color a tomb can be painted. Included, the law would also require the colorful tombs be painted white. 

"We want to stop this before it gets out of hand", Tillman said. "Before you know it you'll go out there and the cemetery will look like Mardi Gras."

(Photo Credit: Christopher/Augafel)

A public hearing on the proposed law will be held on January 11, after the local Developing and Planning Committee approved of the proposal. If it passes, anyone who breaks the law would be charged with a misdemeanor.

I may be wrong here, but isn't it the job of the government in America to represent the people of the area that you are governing? If that's the case and the people that have family in this cemetery all seem to agree that they like it more colorful, then shouldn't the cemetery be painted this way. I don't see anything wrong with this at all. I'm just wondering if a cemetery like this one operates the same as the ones in New Orleans. As you know, we recently visited the St. Louis Cemetery #1 in New Orleans. There, the cemetery is run by the Catholic church and they do have rules about what color a grave can be painted. And the rule is white. There seems to be one local artist that has painted his family grave a funky blue and they let it slide. And there are still others that are not painted at all. But at least there, the rule is if it is painted, then it must be white. 

I can see how a white wash would be easier to maintain over time. And maybe that should be the default color. But to tell so many people that have put so much effort into this craft that they can not do it, seems a little unamerican.

Sources: The Associated Press and www.rawstory.com 

Post Post:
I had no idea until after I posted this that there is a cemetery here in Michigan named Loud Cemetery.

Sorry about any confusion. 

Blue Fridays

This is being passed along to you from my sister, who is now retired from the US Air Force where she served in the first and second gulf war as well as many other campaigns that few of us know about.




National Picture of the Year:


First Place:

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said. 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.' 


Second Place:

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted'. 


And finally, A photo that is very hard to look at...

Blue Fridays. Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority.' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is: 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.