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Joe and Dave,

The people we know with VOIP seem to have problems with it. It also goes out whenever their internet service does.

We almost always use our land-line when at home as it is so clear and reliable. After the Waldo Canyon Wildfire of 2012, some cell towers had been destroyed in our surrounding foothills and cell service at our house was suboptimal and never recovered completely. We bought a network extender gizmo from Verizon Wireless which works very well, but, being true dinosaurs in many ways, we still love our land-line.

Jimosaurus

01/24/19 06:10 PM

#4646

Reassuring Jim.

Now if I can just get somebody to explain how to program my VCR I'll be all set.

Do you suppose I should let go of my 8 track player? I mean, I still have my "Jerry Vale's Greatest Hits" cartidge.

That, and an Ames Brothers album that is just killer.

Oh, and a whole collection of the Baja Marimba Band.

( I sure managed to screw up my story on #4656 didn't I? )

01/25/19 11:38 PM

#4647

Hmmm...here it is about 2130 hours out here in Mountain Standard Time, and as I check the Forum I find total silence for this 25th day of January, 2019. Wow, did not any of our classmates do anything exciting - fall off a roof, break a leg, see another movie, get raided by the FBI - today?

O.K., today I got a haircut.

Top that one! Please, anybody??!!

Jim

01/26/19 01:10 AM

#4648

I know there has been talk here about the Green Book movie.

Here is a very brief NY Times documentary about it. I mean not the movie, the Green Book itself.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/opinion/green-book-black-travel.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

01/26/19 02:33 PM

#4649

Timothy Lavelle

Janie,

Looking out on a foggy, cold morning here in the PNW and just noticed your sunset photo on the homepage. My jealousy and general evilness allowed my imagination to add a huge mushroom cloud on the horizon. Yeah, one sick old man....

(Your welcome, Jim!)

01/26/19 03:38 PM

#4650

Tim,

Did you say that you imagined a huge mushroom cloud in Janie's beautiful sunset picture or that your imagination was clouded by a huge mushroom?

A group in Denver, "Denver for Psilocybin", is trying to get legalized psychedelic mushrooms on the May, 2019 ballot. (Denver is the polar opposite of Colorado Springs in many ways!)

Do I sense some Deja vu?

Jim

01/26/19 04:11 PM

#4651

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

Mike,

The video about the "Green Book" is powerful stuff. I met a man who works at the Savannha airport who's dad still has his copy of teh book from the 1960's. I saw the film twice and would gladly go again.

The video brings up so many feelings from back in our teenage years, watching the Civil Rights Movement from our "lilly white" neighborhoods, to my first time in the south (basic training in Lousiana, and flight school in Texas), to my present day life in a small southern town. We have come a long way, but then, we have a very long way to go.

----------------------

But I opted to go see "A Star is Born". I really liked it - a lot - but I wonder if I am the only one who had a nervous feeling of foreboding as the film progressed. Great acting, (especially Bradley Cooper) great directing, (also by cooper), some great songs by him and Kady Gaga (what a voice). But tough ending!

Sorry if this is a spoiler alert, but it's been in the theaters for a month now. Still hoping to get to see "If Beale Street Could Talk" but i'ts getting late and only playing miles away now. Lott'a good films out this time of year.

01/26/19 10:34 PM

#4652

1-26-19 Bonnie, SO GLAD that you are feeling better! Kathy Wintering

01/26/19 10:52 PM

#4653

Timothy Lavelle

Jim,

I cannot imagine, and despite anything I might have said about marijuana here on the forum, I cannot believe or recommend that psychodelics be made available to the general public.

The Whitehouse, YES, but not the general public.

Surely there was a band, at some point, called The Psychodelics?

Went to see The Favourite today. Don't normally go for period pieces but liked it all but the ending. The actress who played queen Ann should get an award.

01/26/19 11:13 PM

#4654

Tim,

We agree on that 95% (the exception being the White House comment 🙄)! And, of course, I do not mean to imply that you are or were a psilocybin advocate, but rather to use a little humor to reference something that may be starting up again in Colorado which was a disastrous problem in the '60's.

Since CO was the first state to legalize recreational MJ and Washington was second, I would hope that this does not happen with "magic mushrooms".

So, to all classmates: Tim is not a psychedelic hippie!!!!

Jim

01/26/19 11:23 PM

#4655

Since politics is off limits here, I think that shifting to a group movie critic's column is a good thing. That and Joe's off-beat geography quizzes.

Yeah, I think I like it. This way, we don't have to come up with any of our own original thoughts.

Golly, maybe that qualifies us to run for office.

But then, that takes us right back to pollitics again. Oh hell !

01/27/19 09:31 AM

#4656

David Barbour

And I nominate Clare a PRINCESS of th forum for post number 4575. You just sum it up completely!

Of course Janie remains our exalted QUEEN!

Bless you, Janie

01/27/19 11:32 AM

#4657

Saw Hamilton a couple nights ago. Wrote a very brief review which I will send along when I get a chance -- I had covered so much ground in the essay I wrote before the show that I figured I'd give readers a break and keep it short.

What's more important to me is how much fun it was to orchestrate the coolest date of my life to go see the show with my significant other. I had been prepping her for the experience for weeks. She is a wonderful listener and is a great sounding board when I am trying to figure out a complicated story - helps to talk about it. I got her the Hamilton soundtrack, fingers crossed that she'd like it as much as I did, which she did -- she began playing obsessively, listening to it on her way to work and back. The music is just wonderful and the lyrics have so many nuances that she was utterly engaged and charmed. For Christmas I bought her the book by Ron Chernow that inspired the musical -- it's an engaging read but quite long and involved -- so there was that. And then there was the matter of just getting tickets. People down here were going crazy - many were on the phone for hours when tickets were first released, and they sold out quickly. Good tix were being resold for hundreds of dollars. We got to watch that from the sidelines and just enjoy the growing excitement because as a reviewer I'm guaranteed seats. Last week when showtime finally came we had dinner across from Orlando's new, spectacular performing arts center and watched an amazing show from the third row.

One of the greatest thrills and richest experiences of my life, on many levels. And I know I have said this before but if you are interested in seeing the show just be patient. It will be around for quite some time and in a couple of years you'll be able to see it with the original cast,as they filmed the Broadway production and will eventually release it.

01/27/19 12:24 PM

#4658

Timothy Lavelle

Whoooooaaaaa there Jimmy!

I did not say I was against magic mushrooms. I would have to say that at one time I fit the description you used...psychodelic hippie...but far far less than some folks that may even be reading here. Those experiences, while entertaining, were too discumbobulating for serious pursuit.

Time out...Jim, if I can be ruthless, could someone else be ruthfull...are we born with a degree of ruth in us?

Back to the show...I am against legalization of psychodelics. Humans have proven very vulnerable to so many different substances, whether for pain or mood or mind altering, that I just believe almost all of those substances should be difficult to get. From liquor to laudanum we are a weak species. To me, marijuana is far less harmful than cigarettes and liquor - but I do understand many people fearing it, especially in the hands of the young.

O, and yes, I've checked all the proper sources this morning and made many follow up calls to verify. Trump still sucks.

01/27/19 01:14 PM

#4659

"ruth" be known, we are actually getting prepared for the State o' da Union speech to be delivered here in Bluffton next week. (A last minute change thanks to Aunt Nancy). The main topic will be border seguridad. Our borders here in South Cackalatchie are very porous. We have a steady flow of them damn yankees flooding in from the North and thousands of great golf courses to keep them from leaving. It's sad.

We also have a problem with our southern border as many of those "Ahia" and Michiganders who first went to Florida, found out how much they hate the rain and humidity, and become "halfbacks" - people who move half way back to the home states. (thankfully most of them go back up to Asheville NC)

I am calling for an increase in the budget for more "shrimp and grits", and "low country boil" to battle this tidal wave before we are overcome by these people.

The address will be given at our local "Squat and Gobble", so unfortunately, seating will be at a great premium.

It's very sad.

01/27/19 03:17 PM

#4660

Interesting and rather selective sense of decorum you have, Dave.

You think of politics as being to racy to bring to the forum, and yet, when it comes to visuals......

01/27/19 03:29 PM

#4661

Ahem! "..... to racy to bring to the forum...."

And what publication do you write a column for?

Sister Constantius is so ashamed of you right now.

01/27/19 03:49 PM

#4662

sorry. Two racy. And listen mister you obviously don't know SQUAT!

01/27/19 06:47 PM

#4663

Frank Ganley

I recieved an email from the eminant Fred Clem concerning lunch or dinner in the opening days of Feb. i replied but i don’t think it went through. I will be in attendance but St Pete works great for me. On to another subject briefly elusidated by the learned gentleman from mossey creek. I still am a semi mind altered hippie as at times while camping with my degenerate musical partners have indulged in the use of mushrooms and lsd. I can not speak for all but there have been no bad experience in their use. I found everything to be amazingly funny and while playing guitar pure genius was captured. I do not think they should be legalized in the same way weed is but perhaps in some weird RX may be possible. In the past 30 years i have boarded the haapy flight maybe 6 times. Always fun and enjoyable but not for daily weekly monthly use. For some do not go near, for others well maybe. For me i’d say another trip in about 5 years. Till then to semi quote Tom Petty lets roll another joint, though i find that wastefull i prefer a good old fashion bong.

01/28/19 10:59 AM

#4664

Sheila McCarthy (Gardner)

ok -- this is, I swear, my last "Hamilton" post.

I know I have been bending your ear about it but it truly is one of the most important Broadway shows -- maybe THE most important Broadway show -- of the century, so far.

http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Blogs/Metropoly/January-2019/High-Five-for-the-10-Man/

01/28/19 11:05 AM

#4665

Mike: Loved it!

01/28/19 11:35 AM

#4666

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Frank,

I have a much different perspective regarding the use of any mind-altering substances (chemical or plant) as a means of recreation. IMHO, recreational use can, for all too many unsuspecting, vulnerable people who have a propensity (whether genetically or emotionally) for addiction, lead to broken relationships and broken lives. In my extended family, we have experienced, and sadly are continuing to experience, the devastaing effects of substance abuse. Whether the substance be cigarettes, alcohol, or some current drug of choice, my family has witnessed, first hand, the disastrous effects of addiction. As you know, Crick lost his battle with small cell lung cancer at the age of 63. Small cell lung cancer is a cancer directly related to cigarette addiction. His mother battled smoking related cancers of the throat, larynx, and esophagus for 5 years before succumbing to these diseases at age 69. My brother lost a years long battle with alcohol at age 55 and another brother is presently following the same self-destructive path. I have too many nieces and nephews who have been, or are currently, addicted to drugs of one kind or another. These addicitons are taking from them a life of purpose and fulfillment. One niece has been into the drug/alcohol scene since her late teens, she is now in her early 40's. Her parents, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, at age 75, are currently raising her 3 children (ages 3-13). My daughter and son-in-law have been fostering a sweet, innocent 16 month old boy since last May b/c of his parents' addiction related life-style. Because of the sheer numbers of family members on both the Clark and Schultheis side, we unfortunately, have a personalized view of the effects of our nation's addiction cirisis.

I have stressed over and over again to my own children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews that...........no one, NO ONE.....purposefully sets out to become addicted.

I, therefore, respectfully ask that prayers be said today for all who are suffering the effects of their devastating, life-altering addictions, and for all those who love them.

01/28/19 11:49 AM

#4667