JERUSALEM -- Because of Israeli roadblocks and travel restrictions in the West Bank, more than half of Palestinian mothers give birth at home instead of risking a ride to the hospital, according to a human rights report released Monday.[Source:Newsday]
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Several dozen Palestinians -- including at least seven newborns -- have died because of delays at checkpoints, B'tselem said.
Sometimes you just have 'em. I could see this one building up during the past week.
We've had visitors for the past six weeks. I love having visitors and am thrilled that more people are getting the opportunity to experience Rio. But at the same time, it was nice to have some family time, and then, on Sunday, to have essentially a day to myself.
Sunday morning, wake up at the (relatively) late time of 7:30 [there's no such thing as sleeping in with young kids], get dressed and out the door by 8:30. The weather was perfect - blue sky and lots of sun. I rode my bicycle to mass in Botafogo this morning along the lagoa, Rio's beautiful "lake", and then after mass I finished my circuit of the lagoa, probably about 7 miles in total (it was hot and I was practically melting out there).
Then, home, a shower and out for a stroll along the seaside in Ipanema with wife and daughter and the rest of Rio on their Sunday passeio. We walked up to the point at Arpoador, then stopped for lunch at a seaside restaurant. I had filet mignon and chips and a couple of beers.
Then, home, a change of clothes and off to a football double-bill for the last weekend of the football season. First, Fluminense-Juventude at the Maracana, in a match that mattered (for Flu). They were spared relegation by winning 1-0. Then on to Sao Januario for Vasco vs Santos in a match that didn't much matter but was fun to watch and finished in a 1-1 draw.
Then back to Ipanema, a couple of pints in the Irish Pub and then home and to bed, tired and happy, by 10:30.
"In a society that lives ever more frenetically, often deafened by noise and distracted by the ephemeral, it is vital to rediscover the value of silence."
- Pope John Paul II
Source: Zenit