Merry Christmas

It's already 2pm Christmas day out here, and quite sunny. I imagine East Coast people are sleeping soundly. Anyway, have a merry Christmas, everyone.

Memories

I was skimming a touching article about a woman celebrating the 30th anniversary of her father donating a kidney to her (the kidney is still working, and her father, now 79, is quite well). I came across a phrase that I am sure Kathleen, Beth, and I all heard from Daddy's lips
"Fathers are the luckiest people in the world because they have daughters."

Maybe you will enjoy the article. I was flooded with remembrances of Daddy!
http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/transAction/pdf/tc_wi06.pdf

Love to all! Maureen

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I'm sure any of you who have lived outside the United States know that it's one of the hardest holidays to be away for. Most of the other big ones are pretty universal. Anyway, we're thinking of all of you lucky ones together in PA. Have a good one.
-Greg

Bonne anniversaire!

Happy Birthday, Kate. I hope the Port was yummy.
Love,
Daddy

Happy Birthday, Kate!!!

Happy 21st Birthday, Kate!! I am very glad to know Jenn has arrived safely and without too much travail.

Enjoy your birthday and the holiday tomorrow!!!

Interesting Story About MD Working With Amish

I'm sure all of us who read the NYTimes Sunday magazine enjoyed this article with great interest. It was Kathleen's idea to post it on the blog so others could see it as well. It's about an MD who left the more presitigious setting of academic medical centers to practice among the Amish in Lancaster County, trying to understand and treat some of the inborn medical problems seen in their families. I admire his work, after reading this; and I continue to admire the Amish, though I am more aware of the heartaches and problems of their life choices than I was as a younger woman. Love, Maureen

MAGAZINE | November 6, 2005
A Doctor for the Future
By LISA BELKIN
How a pediatrician working with the Amish is changing what it means to diagnose and treat disease.

Happy Birthday, Samantha!

I know it's November 5 in Tomosito, but just barely. I hope November 4 was a very nice birthday for you, Samantha! At least the Halloween festivities are behind you. Now, on to Thanksgiving. Ah the joys of being a purveyor of US culture......really!

Happy Anniversary, Beth and Jim

October 31, 1970. A beautiful fall day in Cambridge. And I hope it is a beautiful fall day in Tamworth this year! Thank you, Beth and Jim, for the haven you have always provided for my small family when needed. I hope we find our way to your haven again soon.

Happy Anniversary! Much love, Maureen

Transit Strike in Philly

Sounds like a good day to work from home! Hope you and Andy, Michael and Yachai can get where you need to without too much pain, David!

Tomorrow I start to "enjoy" public transit in Portland more than ever. November 1 is my first day of full-time at OHSU. I walk about 3/4 mile to a bus stop and then ride the bus for about 15 min up to work. The one sad part is that Jim and I will no longer share the ride to McMinnville every Monday. Wish us luck! Love, Maureen

Kitty (right) And Betty (left!)

Here you have it, my first attempt to post a photo...

I guess I can do this. These 2 girls were college friends, and they have lots of stories to tell. Last weekend, David and Yachai (and Rossie?) drove Betty up to Kitty Mum's for a visit. Betty has always lived in the Philly area.

Much love to all. Maureen

What A Weekend!!!!

Whew! So much has happened, just in the last hour, that I am dizzy.

Jim and I returned home from a Master Class to hear a message from Greg saying that Travelocity has tickets to Japan for about $400 round trip. So Jim and I both have bought tickets from Portland to Tokyo during Jim's spring break. So exciting. We hadn't seen anything under $1000 per person, so this is most wonderful. We will visit Greg and Samantha from March 23, I think , through April 4. The first trip to Asia for Jim and me.

Kate's spring break is 3 weeks earlier. So she will take advantage of these prices, too (though it's more like $800 round trip since she'll be leaving from Boston). March will be a busy month for Greg and Sam.

The other exciting thing this weekend is just watching the activity outside our kitchen and dining area windows. Dozens of chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches are very, very active from about 9 till 11 am. We have a plastic "house" filled with sunflower sees, mounted with suction cups on our dining room window, and this is a great attraction for the birdies. The competition is very stiff. Nuthatches, with narrow white bands at their eyes, chase away cute little Chicadees, who are very round with round patches of white at their eyes. SO CUTE! I think the 2 species are related. But they are fiercely opposed when it comes to getting the most sunflower seeds. It is amazing how much I enjoy watching this.

I hope everyone can feel the excitement!! Love to everyone. Maureen

Jim's blog

... is here

Carmina Beerana

Look at this Aussie beer commercial.

Football

Condolances to the Norte Dame fans (and students, alumni, etc). I have to (somewhat guiltily) admit to smiling at the outcome of last weekend's game. Not that I particularly like the University of Second Choice, but USC is the only school that's beat UO so far this season. It takes the sting out a little to know they beat the Irish too.

Pearls Of Wisdom From Badger

I always love Kitty Mum's word choices...and today's note on e-mail has several good ones. So here you have it, unedited. Much love to all! Maureen

Next Chapter

Awaiting the arrival of folks from Broomall. I believe trhe plan is for David and Yachai to pick up Betty McManus at her home; and the two chaps will come separately. Our weather was gorgeous yesterday. No rain today but glowering skies.

Kathy is afe home. David went to the airport and ppicked her up there. A crowd greeted her plane: turns out that about ten Chinese little ones were being picked up by adoptiove parents. Loys of emotion, Kathy said.

I talked to the Zapatas last evenong, and they're preparing to settle ijnto the rest of their lives. In a few days David will go down and help with a few things around the house. Possibly repair the house door that their neighbor had to force open to release Oliver before they returned to their house.

Butzi is planning on coming the first weekend in November for a visit. Kathy hopes to go to Ireland for a few days the next time David goes over. But she won't stay as long as he will. Very verhoodling to try to keep track of everyone. The smells of a pork loin dish are wafting through the rooms. Hope everyone will be able to partake. No dietary verbotniks!

The Misty Laners are out at South Bend. I believe that ND was vaquished in Saturday's game. Likewise Joe Paterno's group. Stocks will fall. GOD BLESS AND LUV MUTTI

Amy, Isabella, and the clan's newest member.  

The McCarthy Clan

Now we're hopping...!

I don't know how to make my heading a different color or size font, so Beth, you've already done something I haven't figured out yet.

By now everyone knows Emilio is among us. 1:12 pm, 8 lb and 7 oz. Apparently needs his nails trimmed already, due to the extra time he waited around before making this entry into our world. Long fingers of a master pianist according to his modest grandmother. Now I must also learn how to put a photo in one of these postings, because Kathleen sent several of them.

One more day of Fall Break for Jim and Kate--probably others in the family too. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I'm sure we'll stay in touch many ways. This is nice. Love to all.

Okay I'm finally here. Lots of homework to do though, so that's all you get for now.

The Clan, May 2004

Sam and I have been married for over a year now, but we just received our wedding pictures last month. And I just bought my scanner two weeks ago. Anyway, it's the family. Most of it, at any rate. 

Greg and Sam's Adventures in Japan

Modest---Not Me!

Well, this is really a reply to Samantha's comment that Greg was too modest in his posting about his long-awaited assurance of a diploma from U of O. But I cannot hide a comment such as this in a thread of replies. This may raise a ruckus......but......

Modesty is a quality of the McCarthys---except for maybe Kitty Mum. She is wonderful and confident and self assured, not necessarily modest. However, as a group, the McCarthys are modest. So maybe Greg's writing style as he wrote about his graduation status shows strong McCarthy traits. That's good, for sure.

Modesty is NOT a quality of the Diamonds, especially Dad, his mother, and -- forgive me--- Jim and Joe. So Greg's writing style cannot be that of a Diamond, if indeed he was modest as Sam believes.

OK. Enough. I've had a glass of wine, and a nice evening of capresi salad, good cheeses, luscious raspberries....so maybe I'm not responsible for my careless words. But, when Greg is modest, he is a McCarthy.

I send my love to all.

Type like a pirate

For "Talk like a pirate" day.

The McCarthy Clan

Saturday, Sept 17---hear ye, hear ye!

Saturday was Jim Alt's 60th birthday. Beth and Erica helped him celebrate with an open house for neighbors. Lots of goodies for all, I bet. Wish I could have been there!

Also, on Saturday, Kitty Mum was VERY happy to report that Amy, Socrates, Isabela and Oliver returned to their home. Stinky, yes. But home it is. Apparently Isabela's day care center is gone with the flooding. So Amy will be busy hustling up another arrangement for her so she will not fall too far behind on her illustrious social skills. We should all worry about that.

Elections in Germany. Thinking of Jesse--I'm sure we'll get a report at some point.

Kate seems happy back at Simmons. 2 Red Sox games under her belt---one win and one loss.

Hope to talk to Greg and Samantha later. I send my love to all. Maureen

More Pastafarianism

Brian Gilbert and I wrote a letter to the News-Resister

Thermodynamics law invalid on Earth system

To the Editor:

We have read with great interest the ongoing discussion of Intelligent Design (ID) and evolution in Readers' Forum over the past several weeks. Last week's forum contained two letters to which we felt compelled to respond.

In the first letter, Daniel Kouns argued that the second law of thermodynamics is inconsistent with evolution, on the basis that "nature always prefers chaos and will always move from order to disorder." While it is impressive that the writer is aware of the laws of thermodynamics, it should be noted that this is a common misconception typically found in introductory science textbooks, and is not what the second law states.

This statement is only true for a closed system, which the earth, with continual energy input from the sun, is not. The second law is only concerned with the dispersal of energy, and is not valid outside of the arena of thermodynamics. If Mr. Kouns would like to learn more about thermodynamics, we would be happy to have him attend our physical chemistry or general chemistry courses at Linfield College.

In another letter, Richard Reed states that "In the learning process, shouldn't the scientist consider all possible answers so as not to overlook the possible correct answer? It is the narrow-minded person who rules out anything that challenges his or her belief system."

We agree with Mr. Reed. The New York Times recently reported in "But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There?" that many scientists agree that ID by a Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM, see www.venganza.org for details) is just as scientifically valid as any other form of ID. These scientists include 100 percent of the physical chemistry department at Linfield College. In fact, we believe that, in an open society, it is necessary that all forms of ID, including FSM-ID should be discussed according to their merits.

Brian Gilbert

Jim Diamond

==============================================
Here is Daniel Koons' letter
-------------------------------------

Design theory explains Earth's disorder and order
To the Editor:
Why not Intelligent Design?

I am a 15-year-old Mac High student and as long as I can remember, I have been taught about the origins of life on Earth through evolution. I personally do not believe that any life on Earth is accidental, and I know many other students who have the same belief.

Since there is no alternative class for one's personal belief, students who don't believe what they are taught will simply tuck away what they've learned as a simple right answer for the next test or final.

Unfortunately, to many of us students, this doesn't teach learning. It teaches memorization of ideas that will be forgotten and dismissed as unimportant and needless when the summer comes.

If both Intelligent Design and evolution were taught in school as possibilities as to how our world came about, it would be a fairer way of educating youth. If Intelligent Design is not considered factual enough to be taught in schools (Readers' Forum, Charles Strong, Aug. 27), one should take into consideration the second law of thermodynamics that, in short, blasts the theory of evolution out of the water.

The second law basically states that nature prefers chaos and will always move from order to disorder. It is scientifically impossible for order to overcome disorder without Intelligent Design, which has allowed humans to establish the current way of life in our world. It is scientifically impossible for life to come from nothing, as it is for intelligence (order) to come from instinct (disorder).

My point is not to prove anybody wrong but to prove Intelligent Design has just as much, if not more, grounding in fact than the theory of evolution. Therefore, students should have the option of what type of science they are to be taught.

Daniel Kouns


Here is Richard Reed's letter

Intelligent Design should join evolution in school

To the Editor:

Ah, science, that wonderful learning process to understand all things unknown.

In the learning process, shouldn't the scientist consider all possible answers so as not to overlook the possible correct answer? It is the narrow-minded person who rules out anything that challenges his or her belief system.

If you want to believe in evolution as a means of explaining who you are, I see a problem. If there is not some form of Intelligent Design, why didn't your mother have a puppy instead of you?

Please don't take my "puppy" statement as a dig at your personage; it's not my intention. If a highly developed, one-celled "critter" got all this started, where did its built-in clock come from to allow NASA to time events to the smallest part of a second to arrive at a faraway destination on time? How do apple trees give only apples? Some may consider me an "oops," but I have characteristics that come directly from my parents and my grandparents. My children and my grandchildren didn't fall too far from the tree, either.

If something was not setting things in order, how do you explain the consistency of nature? I'm not afraid to listen to theories of creation that I do not agree with. I do not need to keep theories I do not agree with out of the schools. I am convinced that reasonable people, confronted with logic rather than theory, will come to an intelligent conclusion.

That may be why some deep thinkers try so hard to limit the field of thought.

Richard H. Reed

Those darn college kids...

This was posted on Linfield student news:

"Tonight, here at our beautiful college, someone pooped in the microwave in Anderson and then microwaved it. Was he the greatest man alive? I submit that he must have been. Thank you, that is all."

Oh that crazy bush family...

Where is everyone from back East?

If anybody needs help setting up an account, feel free to email me. Or, give me a call at (011)81-90-3962-3266 anytime between 5pm-11pm, Japan Standard Time (it's 14 hours ahead of the East Coast).

The McCarthy Clan

The McCarthy Clan

Oliver is with his family in Baton Rouge! Thank you, Traubi and Subaru, for your prayers. Don't stop now, though. The Zapatas still need to welcome the new baby, and they need to get back to their wonderful home!

Pastafarianism on the rise

The Telegraph reports that belief in the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" is the world's fastest growing religion:











In the beginning there was the Flying Spaghetti Monster
(Filed: 11/09/2005)

In recent weeks, a satirical attack on the teaching of Creationism in American schools has become the world's fastest growing 'religion'. The Noodly Saviour looked at the furore He had created and pronounced it good, writes James Langton...

A group of us in Wayland, from June '02. Back when Sam was blonde and I still had long hair. 

Hello everyone.

This was an idea from my mom and Beth. Seeing as we're flung far and wide on three continents and who knows how many states, having a message board to keep in touch seems like a good idea. I'll try to get it set up so that everybody in the family can post and edit.