TIGER .......ACT OF CONTRITION..........

I read " Tiger " Woods statement and I have the following observations;

1. He said he was embarrassed...........

2. He is not perfect..........

3.He would like to keep it a family matter even though he knows people are curious......

This afternoon he added that he was taking some time away from golf.

This appears to be an act of contrition and he stated he would prevent

it from happening in the future .........end of story.......

If he says anything else I would assume it would be due to "pressure " from his sponsors......

Even public figures have a right to privacy about matters that do not concern others......

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND THOUGHTS..........

So what's the story with the "squeaky clean" Tiger Woods.......He hit a fire hydrant and a tree outside his home and was rescued by his wife knocking out the back window of the car.......I assume she used a golf club...........By the way..........It happened at 2:25 am.........Maybe he was going to get in line for " Black Friday " shopping at Walmart, Target and Dick's Sporting Goods for new Clubs or golf shoes.............seriously I hope all is well on the home front.......He has been a class act....

Talking about " Black Friday " I don't get this waiting in line all night to shop except that.......The power of suggestion created by advertising is very powerful.............have you noticed the so called " pest power "created by retailers in which the advertising on TV children's program creates the marketing wants of the " little ones" who in turn drive the Parents.....sometimes to stand in the above lines.....in order to create the demand for "this years "hot item........The economy does not appear to effect this willingness to give the "kids "whatever they "desire "........We all fall into the "trap".........Maybe even "Tiger ".......

Have a nice Saturday........and don't get run over by the crowd at the Mall.......I will try to be courteous if you will also............

DIRTY ADAM......

Adam Lambert of American Idol fame is trying to make a "name" for himself,and he has decided how to do it...........use the lure of sex and " dirty moves "........He did this Sunday night........ on the American Music Awards which was live,prime time..........and available for every living teenager in the Country.......

I know that this does not " shock" people any more.........but it is not a good thing.........

Just my "THOUGHT "

CAPUANO AND COAKLEY......PILE ON......

It is my understanding that Senatorial hopefuls Capuano and Coakley who a few weeks ago were having a "spat " over who was the strongest and most trustworthy supporter of abortions..........are now trying to outdo each other over who disagrees with the Church THE MOST............WHILE SAYING INDIVIDUALLY THEY ARE BOTH CATHOLIC........ WHY ?

I have told you before "following polls" do not necessarily allow politicians to use common sense

and follow reason............and at the same time be politically correct..........

They should listen to the" experience" on their staffs and get on to the issues that are

going to effect the American Public into the distant future........and leave the running of the Church to the Bishops........Senators have enough on their "plate".......and as far as I know we still have Separation of "Church and State"..............I do not think the new administration has changed that yet..........unless it is in Senator Reid's 2,074 pg. Health Proposal.......

God Bless us all.........Catholic or not...........

PATRICK KENNEDY NEEDS ADULT SUPERVISION....

There are various Catholic politicians who have voted pro choice,but have avoided " open war of words " with Bishops and the Church in general........

Congressman Kennedy has seen fit to take his differences with Bishop Tobin to a new level by writing to the Providence Journal about the private "pastoral advise "given to Kennedy concerning his spiritual life ............

I do not know the Congressman's plan or his objective in this maneuver..........but my Thought

this morning is........He needs mature adult advise.......and if his Father" Ted" was around the issues may have existed but this battle would not be public in its present form........

I hope someone comes to his rescue......

FEEL GOOD.....STORY FOR SUNDAY NIGHT

"Co joined "two year old sisters from Australia had surgery to separate one from the other, and the 16 physicians who conducted the operation........related that due to its complexity that success would make the word " miracle" not STRONG ENOUGH......

On Thursday, TRISHNA awoke from her post operative coma and her weaker Sister KRISHNA

awoke on Saturday............The prognosis is "good " but guarded........

God Bless..........

SATURDAY NIGHT.......LIVE......HEALTH BILL....SICKNESS

A procedural vote had to be taken to allow debate on Sen. Harry Reid's Health Bill in the Senate.60 VOTES WERE NEEDED...............The vote was 60 -39 and accordingly Debate on the bill will press forward.......I am sure we will discuss the merits at a later date......

The 60 votes were not a given and one of the Senators on the "fence" was Mary Landrieu of Louisiana..............included in the bill was a provision for Medicaid subsidies ..........that was specific in that it would apply to States that.......had two criteria........

1. had been declared a major disaster area..........

2.had been declared " so" for the preceding seven years.....

Can you guess the answer as to which States qualified.......... "drumroll please".........

LOUISIANA...........COST...........100 MILLON " BUCKAROO'S ".....Oh...Senator Landrieu voted yes........

Everyone involved says" one has nothing to do with the other " OK WHAT EVER YOU SAY ....

Another night in Washington.........

SARAH P...........LOOKING GOOD......

I am of the opinion that Newsweek 's use of a photo (right) "lifted " from a story in Runner's World is sexist,however it does not hurt her and in fact is a "plus " since it points out............She is attractive and a runner who has made exercise part of her everyday routine.She demonstrates that we can be busy, productive, and live a healthy life style.....

She is a " role model " for the modern day Mother whether her critics except it or not...........

My "running partner " Brenda who can outrun Sarah and happens to be the Mother of Craig Lewin ( triathlete and swimming coach extraordinaire ) reminded me that Presidential Candidate Huckabee was featured and pictured in Runners World......... however "his gams" never showed up on a Newsweek Cover..............actually who would want to see them is my thought...........

It appears that the "pick on Sarah " strategy is not working...........and they may be better if they ignore her..........but she keeps "reloading " to quote Her Father........

Drude is reporting that Her appearance this week on Oprah drew the largest audience in years..........

KENNEDY PREVAILS BY 30 AT 3:33PM......

Judith Flanagan Kennedy has officially won the recount over "Chip " Clancy by 30 votes and his Attorney has acknowledged that their will not be any further appeals or legal proceedings in this matter.

It is sad for me personally to see the end of the Clancy tenure since I have always considered him a friend and a person who had to make tough decisions in very difficult times...........He was a "hands on" administrator whose interest was " the common good " for the citizens of Lynn.......

I have known Judy Flanagan Kennedy and her family for years and have sat on the Board of Directors at My Brother's Table with her.......I have found her to be of " kind heart " and always willing to help the poor and underprivileged along with her Husband and Children.....The "Kennedy " family is part of the "fabric"of this City as well as the "Clancy's"........

It now falls into the hands of the Mayor-Elect to reach out to the Clancy supporters and "mend fences "so a strong majority can work together to keep Lynn safe , fiscally strong, along with having schools that make us proud and are centers of learning for the children that are looking forward to a future of "pride and productivity " for good..........

BOSTON GLOBE ..HOUSE HAS DEAF EARS TO EDUCATION PROPOSAL.....

Is their any wonder that the Education proposal discussed in yesterday's "THOUGHT'S " fell on deaf ears in the House ?

They were listening to Gov. Patrick.......

I understand that strange things happen in the back rooms of the State House and deals are made and unmade........however Gov. Patrick seems to be unfocused and disorganized in his approach to government workings' on the hill......and does not make anything happen......not even close....Republican Governor's were more effective in dealing with the Democratic House

I noticed yesterday's Education proposal which has some merit in part is "lumped in" with MV licenses for Immigrants which is far reaching with long range security implications in the"War on Terror" and basically has nothing to do with children and education. It appears that the Governor was merely grabbing headlines and was not serious on the last day of the Legislative Session......A joint committee got a version of the legislation passed in the Senate yesterday.....and it is my opinion that the lack of leadership as discussed above.......left it in "limbo" for another time and day.

Stop the rhetoric and raising false hopes........is my Thought for the Day........

DEVAL PATRICK......PROBABLE SURPRISE SUPPORT......

I understand that Gov. Deval Patrick is going to unveil a plan allowing immigrants which I assume are illegal aliens to pay tuition and attend State Colleges.........It will be a revisit of a issue that was defeated approximately 3 yrs. ago by the Legislature.

I normally do not see " eye to eye" with his agenda and in fact do not understand" were he is going or where he came from "..............when it comes to the direction he is leading the Commonwealth........however.......

It appears that I will support his plan concerning the above tuition plan.........for two reasons :

1. Social Justice.....We have the means and ability as a "Commonwealth ", and it is the right thing to do ! ! Why do I say that ? hear me out on my # 2 reason......

2.I had the opportunity to teach a criminology course for a semester at North Shore CC a while ago from 6:30-9:30 pm each week and I had over 30 students in the class........my guess is that some had dubious citizen credentials (I am not sure...just a possibility).....however the point is that the large majority of the students were industrious, smart, prepared and a pleasure to be involved with....

They could have been at home or " out with friends"........but instead they opted to be in a classroom.......Any young person who has the "drive and determination " of that class deserves a chance......

NO ONE PICKS THEIR BACKGROUND OR ECONOMIC STATUS........ LET'S GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.......THIS IS HOW GREAT STORIES COME TO LIFE....

Once you have meet them and felt their " hopes and dreams"........You want to assist and keep them out of" harms way"........

WE ARE AT WAR......BUT WHEN IS A PERSON A " POW "

During the Presidential Campaign we heard how bad " Gitmo "was and how it was going to be closed........A year later it is still open.....It seems the President has had trouble keeping his promise to close the facility......since nobody really wants the " captives in their neighborhood "

One of the prisoners(POW ?) is Khalid Sheik Mohammad ( to the right are his before(tshirt )and after( beard ) Gitmo pictures ..........It looks like his captivity has agreed with him........What do you think ?

The Administration has ordered that he be tried in a New York City Federal Court as an ordinary criminal and not by a military tribunal as a prisoner of war (POW)............

The problem is that he is being granted all the rights affordable to defendants and therefore he and his lawyers will have a platform to defend his actions concerning 9/11.......and in my opinion make the trial a forum that will create a world stage for " extremists " along with security and additional trauma to the inhabitants of Manhattan.....who certainly have had enough of this " World Drama ".......Wonder if he will miss " Gitmo" while awaiting trial in a normal prison........

ANOTHER ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS......RIP

Gerry Titus retired Nahant Police Officer passed away this week......He served the Town for 32 years.He will be missed by his Wife, Ruthie ( Ward ) Titus and their Children , Christine and Lainey..............

He was a good athlete " in his day " and a "die hard" fan of Boston Sport Teams.I found him to be a very funny guy with a dry sense that would leave you a humorous thought that would linger and give laughs more than once......His name always left a smile.......

He was also a " stand up guy "who used common sense and tried to do the right thing.A trait that is missing many times in our automated and fast moving world........

RIP.....Jerry....God Bless.............

DICKIE GARDNER FANS......LISTEN UP.....

A reliable source has told me that he had 3 oz's of Steak the other night and all systems are "go"...........Can you imagine that after more than a year on a liquid diet......I understand that he has been driving his truck.........and gaining more independence each day........

Keep him in your prayers........He still has away to get there.........What a guy......What a story.....

UMASS.......NAME THE PROF'S WHO INVITED R.L.LEVASSEUR

I reviewed the UMASS,AMHERST website and I noticed that the administration issued a statement opposing the talk by Raymond Luc Levasseur, stating that a group of professors

invited him ,but did not name them individually or as a group.

I think it is appropriate to publish this information so that the Widow of the

slain NJ Trooper (Thought's 11/6/09 ),The Police organizations protesting the talk, and parents who have students that are basically captured in their classrooms know who they are.........

Changing the subject slightly.........and more appropriately for this day......Do you think any of the above prof's are veterans or know what day it is........

One other disturbing fact........One of the Boston News Stations asked Students about the speech and they only found one Student who knew what they were talking about......and that Student

was for it.....

GIORDANO BRUNO........NO CHANCE FOR A RETRIAL....

I understand that Giordano Bruno(right) had the idea back in 1600 or so that their was life in the galaxies or the stars (I am not sure what their lingo was back in those days)...........

Swing forward to our present day.........and the Vatican has held a meeting of leading astronomers and experts to discuss and explore the possibility of E.T. Aliens and the philosophical and theological issues that could develop.........Seems logical to me.........

Poor Giordano Bruno, however, was tried for his "heresy of the stars " and executed for his curiosities...........This does not seem logical..........

Power in the control of " human nature " can be scary.............on this Earth.....History is full of it.

MAYBE " ET" IS MORE ADVANCED THAN US .............THINK OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES INTO THE FUTURE.......

REMEMBER....DON'T JUDGE BOOK BY ITS COVER.......

A 5' 2'' former waitress was standing around waiting for her car to be serviced.......when she heard a commotion........She investigated and saw a man with a gun chasing another man while shooting at him......She fired at the gunman and missed the first shot...........He stopped...turned and a gunfight ensued........Both were wounded.......but the former waitress won in the sense that she stopped the senseless killings at 13 with 30 wounded. Reports say she was wounded in both thighs and wrist.

The "big bad Doctor "Hasan(not Smith as some wish) who allegedly master minded this Fort Hood,Texas shootout was taken off a ventilator after being listed as critical and probably will live to be given the opportunity to defend his actions......witnesses reported that he yelled " ALLAH AKBAR" Arabic for" God is Great" which has been commonly used by suicide bombers in the past..........

Well.....All I can say is "Thank God " Sgt.Munley 's squad car needed an oil change.............

ANONYMOUS COMMENTS.....

Anonymous comments are always welcome,and in fact are encouraged on "Thought 's "........however when you ask me a personal question about a person who has been a subject on this site and it appears that the request is of a derogatory nature or otherwise not tasteful., and not directed at the issues being discussed.....It will not be published AT MY DISCRETION.........I received one such request yesterday......and as such it will not be published.......In this case I suggest that the anonymous writer go and "look into the eyes of the persons he mentioned" and ask them the same question.....

HEY.......GOLD DIGGERS.......YOUR THOUGHT FOR A DAY....

While browsing the news I came upon this picture ( right).............

This is for all the "Gold Diggers " out there..........meet the real live diamond diggers from

Marange , Zimbabwe.............Does this take a "little of the glitter "off your stones ?

Maybe not........but think about it for awhile............

My thought for today......a "heart that sees "

HOW TO FIT 45......INTO 18......

A convicted terrorist is given a 45 year sentence and in 2004 and after serving 18 years is released .........

I guess he followed the rules in prison.......and proved himself to be a " good guy "and not a threat to the general public...........So what does he do now ?

Before we answer that let's talk about what he did to get himself in the " big house"

He was a member of the group.....United Freedom Front which today would merely be classified as a " gang" no better or worse than the inner city gangs that wander our cities without regard for the "common good"........whose only objective is to control the "turf " according to their way of life and well being.

GANG UFF and Raymond Luc Levasseur were involved in 20 bombings and the attempted murder of two Mass State Troopers back in 1982 according to reports........along with the killing of New Jersey Trooper Phil Lamonaco. One of the above bombings was at the Suffolk Superior Court House (right).I was scheduled to represent a person on trial that day and my memory is that he was ecstatic when we couldn't get in that day to face the wheels of justice.........

Swing forward to the present........."Ray Luc" was scheduled to give a speech at UMASS to have "meaningful exchange " with the students.........It was canceled after the State Police and the Widow of the slain New Jersey Officer complained and promised to "go public" and embarrass Gov. Patrick.........

Free speech is an American way of life,however, I do not believe a tax funded State University should allow a forum to give this person some type of credibility or faint reason why he and that group could commit mayhem, murder, and terror.............He can say and think what he wants,but not under the auspices of the State that he saw fit to destroy if he had been able....

20 YEARS FROM TODAY WILL THE FORT HOOD SHOOTER HASAN AND THE ALLEGED MALL TERRORIST TEREK MEHANNA BE ALLOWED TO" SPIN " THEIR LIFE STORY AT UMASS OR OTHER STATE UNIVERSITIES..............................AND JUSTIFY PLOTS TO KILL MALL SHOPPERS ......AND YOUNG SOLDIERS SITTING IN A WAITING ROOM ?

WOW.......LIKE THE OLD DAYS....27 VOTES

I grew up around politics and the first Tuesday in November was always an exciting time locally.I was born in Malden and My Father, and Uncles always had the "family favorite'. The counting was always by "hand" and went through the night and sometimes beyond........

The campaigns were contentious and sometimes just "down right mean "........I was always surprised as a "kid"that the candidates some how seemed to "bury the hatchet" and were able to stand each other into the future......how about Bill Clinton and George Bush ,Senior on the National level who have joined together and raised millions of dollars together for great causes.......Do you remember George Bush, Senior's LINE IN HIS DISCUSSION OF POLITICS;

"Keep your friends close,but your enemies even closer."...............

As I write this....The Lynn Item is reporting the following headline,

KENNEDY WINS CORNER OFFICE BY RAW VOTE COUNT................27 VOTES

I assume that the vote totals may be challenged....and no matter what the result that their will be some "hard feelings"........but most of the people involved in this political battle are of " a good heart " and will continue to work for the people of Lynn and the well being and stability of the City in these trying economic times......

SOMETIMES THEIR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANSWERS....

A man who has bipolar disorder, but by all accounts was otherwise a devoted Husband and Father to four children is shot and dies due to his unexplained attack on a Doctor with a knife.He is shot by an off duty Special Police Officer who is being called a hero by most......

The family has the funeral and prays for the well being of the Doctor who has still been unable to communicate days after the attack......The alleged attacker was a former Star High School Athlete, Graduate of Salem State and presently pursuing a Master's Degree at Endicott College according to news accounts. His Wife said he was outstanding in every regard.........His family( right) leaves Church distraught and without answers.........What am I missing.....So sad.......for all involved....

Then Halloween night during "trick or treat " time a ten year old is crushed by a falling tree........just by being at the wrong place at the wrong time......

So much agony ........... so many people who are affected by these events........Collateral Damage to "innocents"

We read the above stories, put it out of our minds and go back to our lives ...........while to the people in the story it is their life ..........

Pray that they survive the trauma they face ..........and can move on to "Peace in their Hearts "

Once again be Thankful for all the gifts in your life and do not" sweat the small stuff " tomorrow.............. which to some is the dreaded " Blue Monday"..............

TWO MADONNA'S AND ......A 2 FT PUMPKIN......

I had the pleasure of being in Marblehead last night with two Madonna's ( no singing thank you) and a two foot Pumpkin ..........not your average social event.The weather cooperated by being balmy and a little windy..........It was a fun time.......

I realize that you have to "savor these moments"since time is fleeting and they are teenagers before you know it .............. then they have more important things to do than hang with the "old folks".........A passage of time that is "just what it is ".....We have all been there........