The Miracle of Marcelino is widely regarded as a masterpiece of religious and faith-based cinema. It tells the heartwarming yet poignant story of a young orphan boy raised by Franciscan friars who experiences a profound divine encounter.

 The Miracle of Marcelino  is widely regarded as a masterpiece of religious and faith-based cinema. It tells the heartwarming yet poignant story of a young orphan boy raised by Franciscan friars who experiences a profound divine encounter.

HOW TO WIN ELECTIONS IN MINNESOTA...betcha, 8 to 1 you won’t lose.

Excellent rant...but as of this moment, just useless words, for Mayor Wu (Boston) and Mayor Johnson (Chicago) are not in jail.

Preview of coming attractions. 

It was Judeo-Christian beliefs that were our common bond. Let’s not forget it.

Religion as a Bond of Union

 “The people of the city were not only united about a common citadel; they were also bound together by a common religion. Each smaller group – like the family, the gens, etc. – retained its own particular worship; but to be part of the city it must also recognize the common deity under whose protection the city was founded, and whose continual worship the city life was maintained. Religion was thus the sacred bond of union which held together the various parts of the community.” ~ From Outlines of Greek History by William C. Morey, Ph.D., D.C.L. copyright 1903 

One could make the claim that the above quote is the greatest un-learned history lesson of all time. I don’t know how many times nor how many history books that I ran across similar statements about the cohesion of the early city states. The use of Dr. Morey’s quote here was simply because it predates me…but also that I have the book in my possession. It should be noted that the sacred bond of union was one of mutually shared assimilation and not a dictate by the government for as soon as such authoritative force came upon the population then the decline of the city state soon followed; especially when that force was dominated by outside religious beliefs or no religion at all. 

Most indigenous peoples have a religion that guides there every day moral compass; those that do not generally have no morals and a particular observation is that lying comes easy for there is no law written in stone to guide them.  They have no conscience that disturbs the alarms that should ring when wrong dominates right. Such secular people usually have little in common with those of established faiths…though there is some toleration but usually for political trickery intents. So what is happening now in the once very cohesive United States? We have the influence of an unconscionable, authoritative leader that dictates policy influenced by non Judeo-Christian beliefs (mostly Islam and Marxism) backed by gangs schooled in the art of Saul Alinsky and deceit (is that a double negative? Alinsky and deceit).

Remember, it was Judeo-Christian beliefs that were our common bond. Let’s not forget it. This moment in time is your part in history for another generation to learn about so let’s prolong our bond before the United States of America becomes history. ~ Norman E. Hooben, June 2010

Ps: The New World Order crowd (Carter, Clinton [x2], Bush[x 2], Pelosi, Reid, Obama) never learned the above history lesson.

I once left my carbon footprint in the lava dust that dropped daily onto the streets of Belpasso.

I lived in Belpasso, Sicily in the late 70's.  Etna was always active and smoked daily while dropping her ashes on the towns below.  Lava dust gets into everything including those bedsheets you let dry on your Italian clothesline setting on your condo's balcony.  Just before I left for Germany, there was a news article about some tourist who was killed by a hot lava rock coughed up by Etna landing on the tourist's head.  When I was more venturous, I once climbed up to within a mile or so from the craters rim.  Overall, I don't have a lot of respect for volcanoes, I'm just scared to death of them. ~ Storm'n Norm'n 

The town of Belpasso is located roughly 9 to 12 miles (15 to 19 kilometers) straight-line distance from the active summit vents and upper flank lava flows of Mount Etna, though active flows remain high on the mountain and far from the town itself. [1, 2, 3]

Current Eruption Context

Lava Source: Eruptive activity and fresh lava streams stem from vents at high altitudes (between 1,900 and 3,000 meters) near the summit craters or into the Valle del Bove. [1, 2, 3]
Safety: While recent activity causes ash fallout in nearby communities like Belpasso, the active lava fronts remain confined to high, steep, and uninhabited areas of the mountain. [1, 2, 3]

Historical Context

1669 Eruption: The original site of Belpasso (Malupassu) was completely destroyed by a massive historic lava flow from Mount Etna.
Relocation: The town was rebuilt much lower on the plain at its present elevation of about 551 meters (1,808 feet), keeping modern residents safe from current summit activity. [1, 2, 3, 4]