Message Forum

Welcome to the Watterson High School Message Forum.

The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum.


 
go to bottom 
  Post Message
  
    Prior Page
 Page  
Next Page      

07/08/19 11:05 PM #5687    

 

David Mitchell

I don't suppose you could be referring to someone who had his rich dad buy his way out?  

4 damn times!

 


07/09/19 12:30 AM #5688    

 

David Mitchell

I was going to post something last week about a very serious topic, and then held off. I know we get enough of that and you area tired of hearing me rant about stuff.

But now I cannot keep quiet about this. I was inspired to post this tonight after some dialgoue with Bob Berkermer on his Facebook page earlier today - something we both argee on. And we both expect to see the story below get MUCH bigger in the coming weeks and months. And it should.

The story that just broke a day or two ago about the arrest of the well-known finanicer, Jeffrey Epstein, on charges of operating a sex traffic ring. The details of the story are utterly appaling and may connect to other very important people.  

It gets incredibly twisted as one gets into the details of his prior sentence (in about 2004 or 06?) for the same crime - and the shocking, and partly illegal light sentence he received form then Florida U.S. Attorney Alex Acosa - now Presidnet Trump's Secretry of Labor.   

This "Issue" hit the front pages in a big way a few months ago when New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was caught up in "massage parlor" scandal - a trial that still goes on. And this follows a couple of articles from Portsmouth Ohio about a Lawyer who appears to have been running a drug, prostituiton, and sex trafficking ring - for years - with the help of a constantly drunk judge (also a recent news story filed by a couple of Columbus newpaper reporters). Meanwhile, almost buried under these headlines is an arrest a few days ago of three "Chrsitian" pastors in Toledo, charged with sex trafficking and abusing young girls in their church. (golly, haven't we heard a similar story  somewhere before?)

I am sure we will hear more on this Epstein thing (some of the details of the first settlement in Florida years ago will give you chills. Tonight, a U.S. Attorney from Southern District of New York appeared on PBS news calling some of the terms of that earlier setlemet from Alex Acosta "clearly illegal" - hiding the names of the co-conspiritors from the victims! ) - but I am ahead of myself on the story that prompted me to open up about this in the first place.

A few weeks ago, a South African woman Medical Doctor (Dr.Tlaleng Mofokeng - and I believe she has now come under investigationrecently published an article saying that she thought becoming a "sex worker" (new world-wide code word for prostitute) was a valid carreer choice for young girls!!!!

But it gets worse. Unblieveably, Vogue Teen Magazine has published this article!!!  Vogue Teen is no longer in hard copy, but is pulbished on-line, and has a circulation of a couple million readers - not all young girls. It is owned by Conde Nast, the popular travel magazine who recently had a staff member arrested for soliciting sex with minors, and during his deposition admitted an ongoing sexual relationshop with an 11 year-old!  (Conde Nast also owns a numbe of other pubications such as Home & Garden, Architectural Digest, Bon Apetit, Brides, Glamour, Golf Digest, The New Yorker Vanity Fair, and Wired to name a few.

 

*** So I have something I would suggest you take a look at if you have a few moments. I have recently discovered a web site called "Exodus Cry". It is an organization in Missouri that is devoted to exposing, and campaigning against, Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficing, and Prostitution all over the world. The web site has almost too much infromation, but if you search around they cover some amazing stories from around the world on these subjects. They actually have groups who help young women escape the slavery of prostitution, give them safe shelter, and even help them find jobs. They are in contact with similar groups all over the globe working at the same task of exposing the trafficikng, and locating and assisting those who wish to escape. 

They have run fascinating articles: one about the "Nordic Experiment" which has allowed Sweeden to reduce prositution by about 40 percent. They have gone into the "sex factories" of Thailand, where parents actually sell their 9 year-old daughrters into sex slavery - nine year olds!  I was shocked to larn that Prostitution is legal in Israel, and that Tel Aviv is the number one sex slave trafficking city on earth! The stories go on and on if you can find your w ay around this complex web site.

One might consider this a worthy cause to contribute to if you are looking for something to  "invest"  a few dollars.  google "EXODUS CRY"

And brace youselves for some real fireworks as this Epstein story unfolds.


07/09/19 01:16 AM #5689    

 

David Mitchell

I stand corrected. I just went back on the Exodus Cry site and was reading back in their Blog. Israel has now banned the "purchse of sex". I didn't read any more details. There are far more serious articles on the site's Blog that caught my attention. 

Caution: some of the articles are revolting. (A new "Porn" Univesrity in Columbia - not kididng)

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

Sorry - but I cannot keep this one quiet either. This just seems too important.

I stumbled onto another article you should be aware of - but are not going to like - at all. 

Californian Senator and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is sponsoring a bill in Californiato de-criminalize sex work. And her main supporter in this effort is one John Stagliano, which the blog reports is one of the porn industry's leading producers of violent torture sex videos. The bill will de-criminalize prostitition, pimping, and brothels. Some of the description of Stagliano's film work is quite sickening, and ties in with a new law in England that is also quite sickening - that killing a woman (or man) during sexual torture is not a capital offense - as long as the perpetrator can claim it was "consentual". There is already one such case in England where a famous guy got off. Imagine!

 

I thought Harris claimed to support "womens rights".

Why hasn't this come up in the "debates"?  


07/09/19 11:19 AM #5690    

 

Michael McLeod

Jim:

If you watch Hannity on a regular basis I can bite my tongue and still be your friend.

But knowing that you watch Hallmark movies -- I'm going to have to get back to you on that.  


07/09/19 11:30 AM #5691    

 

Mark Schweickart

Tim -- well said. I couldn't agree more.

Wow, Dave, that's sex trafficking post is bit much to wrap one's head around this morning, so on a lighter note, so if you don't mind, I think I will just go back to Mike's comment about what he most likes about being retired. Let me offer this clip from the CBS Sunday Morning show about a 97 year old guy who loves to bag groceries. Reminded me more of my Big Bear highschool days than my future, but who knows? I especially direct your attention to the point where the interview starts (around 50 seconds in) for one of the funniest moments I have experienced in awhile. You can just imagine this charming old guy sitting there with the camera crew buzzing around in the background, everything getting set for him to be interviewed, and then when the interviewer  shouts his first question at him (was he hard of hearing?), the old guy responds with ... well, I won't ruin the line for you. And then later,  when asked what he did after after his first job as a shoe shine boy at age seven, he says... again, no time for a spoiler. Anyway, I thought the whole piece was quite charming, and those two moments in particular to be quite unintentionally hilarious.




07/09/19 01:27 PM #5692    

Timothy Lavelle

Geez, Mark, Benny for president!

Late yesterday I made a discovery. It was about the time that I first heard that Trumpy the Worsty had a sitdown US government paid dinner with Krafty the Perv. Krafty the Very Rich Perv.

Q. to self: How can Jim, a doctor who has had to figure out more than one conundrum in his life, support Flubber the Trump? Assumption: Since Hammy the Doc cannot possibly admire a man so sleazy as Gee Don, he must have some ulterior motive. 

A. Jim is gaming us. Backed into a philosophical corner, he has chosen the Alamo defense. Better known in chess as the "God, I haven't got a prayer but I will fall on my sword rather than admit a mistake," Jim just takes your words and answers with "Nya, nya, did not, did not, you can't prove that" to provide support to a man he knows us a buffoon.

Jim, Jim, Jim, all is forgiven. If some women can still make themselves believe that Bill Clinton  was a proud bearer of the country's moral high ground as President, you can surely be forgiven for thinking Trump is something more than a stupid monied bully. Jim, I will read everything you say with a new-found glee as you continue your "O my god, what has the ass done this time" defense.      


07/09/19 01:37 PM #5693    

 

John Maxwell

Dave,
Going to begin referring to you as Mr. Sunshine. So many happy memories.

07/09/19 03:07 PM #5694    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

In the old days I preferred Chuck Norris and Steven Segal action movies. But the action flicks of today are often computer generated with ad nauseum violence and contain more f-bombs than gerunds, adverbs and adjectives combined! Now that I am in MY older days, I find Hallmark movies relaxing and entertaining with great scenery from British Columbia. (I do, however, not care for the "girl falls in love with and marries a prince" themed ones.)

Tim,

We agree on something: Benny for president! After that, well, we both live west of the Mississippi River.

As I have stated on this Forum in the past, I support candidates who campaign on issues - and the sides of those issues - with which I agree and then keep their promises. That to me is the most important factor. Again I will make the medical comparison that I prefer a surgical procedure be done by a good surgeon with a bad bedside manner than a bad surgeon with a good bedside manner.

And when I fall on that sword I will be wearing body armor!

Jim

07/09/19 04:38 PM #5695    

 

David Mitchell

Jack, and all,

Yes, I get it.

Although I much prefer to go the lighter side on this Forum, this topic has sort of overwhelmed me lately. And my reading of Bob B's post on FB yesterday morning really lit a fire under me. It's something I rarely do on this site but I just think the issue is so important that it needs whatever added attention we can give it. It's huge and it's flying completely beneath most of the public's radar. And I suspect this Epstein story is going to burn people on both sides of the political aisle. An older friend told me today at lunch that he has contacts in our state Attorney General's office that suspect that Trump and Clinton (and many others) are in this deeper than we may ever know. He also told me that this same source claims that "human trafficking" is teh number one crime in South Carolina - and nobody - I mean NOBODY seems to know it.  Or care!

And lastly, I just thought the mention of the EXODUS CRY website was the most positive way that I could end my post. They are trying to bring bit of light into the darkness - to coin a phrase. They are doing good work and can use any support they can get.

 -----------

 

My favorite thing about retirement is hoping I live long enough to experiene it - LOL


07/09/19 09:23 PM #5696    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Sorry, but this was just too cute not to post. Besides, photographing these fawns during morning coffee is part of enjoying retirement!

Jim


07/09/19 11:26 PM #5697    

 

Michael McLeod

They have no idea how gorgeous they are.


07/10/19 11:40 AM #5698    

 

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

LOVED the fawn picture, Mike. Also, someone mentioned Erma Bombeck a while ago. I really miss her!! Kathy  Wintering


07/10/19 12:28 PM #5699    

 

Michael McLeod

I think, Jim, that if I had a surgeon who had no training in his field, and who went to great lengths to hide whatever grades he got over the course of his education in whatever the hell he was studying, and who had a clearly-stated antipathy for established science, I'd get another surgeon. 

I mean, if Trump was a surgeon he'd still be using leeches and blood-letting.

Hey, got any more metaphors you want to run past me? I warn you dude: I'm an English major. I have the home court advantage. I'm trained to use these things. Kids. I'm a professional. Don't try this at home. 

 

 

 


07/10/19 01:15 PM #5700    

 

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Wonderful picture, Jim.  Thanks so much for posting it.


07/10/19 02:08 PM #5701    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

I will never challenge you on metaphors! But in regards to medicine:

The training of surgeons is a long and demanding process (same for us internists but in different ways). Surgical skills are acquired from mentoring and techniques that are learned from those experienced in those techniques. The more times a procedure is performed by a surgeon, the better that he or she becomes at that operation and the better the outcome for the patient - supposedly. As with any profession, some surgeons just don't get that good at certain things. It does not necessarily have to do with intelligence or grades. On the other hand, the "art" of medicine - which includes bedside manner - cannot be taught and involves personalities and other factors in that doctor's life.

As for leeches: they and maggots - the gnotobiotic kinds - have been used in chronic, non-healing wounds as a debridement "tool"! Maybe you should keep a few in your medicine cabinet 😜! Bloodletting has limited usefulness, perhaps in hemochromatosis patients.

Kathy and Jeanine,

Thanks, glad you liked the little fawn picture!

 

Jim

 

 


07/10/19 04:04 PM #5702    

 

Michael McLeod

I knew I could count on you for an informative lecture. Jim. 

I think we should take this show on the road.


07/10/19 05:51 PM #5703    

 

David Mitchell

Will there be slides shown with the talk?


07/10/19 06:14 PM #5704    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

Another point on which we agree:we both like to teach!

Dave,

Slides? But, of course! Maggots, leeches, seeping wounds and fawns!

Jim

07/11/19 12:06 AM #5705    

 

John Jackson

In case you missed it, here’s a quote from leaked comments by the British Ambassador to the U.S. back to his superiors in London:  'We don't really believe this Administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept.'

The ambassador also likened the never-ending conflict within the Trump White House to “knife fights”.

The British Government has confirmed the authenticity of the leaked material and Trump, for his part, has also confirmed it by calling the British ambassador “wacky” and “a very stupid guy”.

From a follow-up article by David Sanger in the New York Times: “Ask members of the Washington diplomatic corps about the cables that Sir Kim Darroch, the British ambbasador who resigned Wednesday, wrote to London describing the dysfunction and chaos of the Trump administration, and their response is uniform: We wrote the same stuff.  “Yes, yes, everyone does,” Gérard Araud, who retired this spring as the French ambassador, said on Wednesday morning of his own missives from Washington.”

After a rough patch a couple hundred years ago, the Brits have been our oldest and closest ally – we saved them from being overrun by Hitler and they are the only nation we are said to have a “special relationship” with.  And this British ambassador is hardly a flower child – he was appointed by a Conservative (party of Margaret Thatcher) government.

Likewise, we have devoted enormous effort to creating and shoring up NATO and the EU since the end of WWII not only as obstacles to Russian expansion but also as a way to bring the Europeans together so they would stop fighting each other (and luring us into World Wars).  Until Trump, this has been an utterly bipartisan project supported without reservation by both parties.

Judging from the remarks of the British ambassador and other European diplomats, after 30 months in office Trump has pissed away most/all of the good will and confidence in our country that his predecessors, Republican and Democratic, have gone out of their way to nurture over the previous 70 years.  

But, to be fair, I have to concede that Trump gets along swimmingly with Putin and Kim Jong Un.  Heck of a job, Donald!


07/11/19 10:57 AM #5706    

 

David Mitchell

But John,

Those last two names are a couple of great guys, along with Jeffrey Epstein. We gotta keep our priorities straight. 

 

(In case you haven't followed the story, the latest details of the FBI search of Eptein's NYC mansion are quite chilling! And the comments coming out of St.Thomas about his home on little St. James island are even more disturbing. Local islanders refer to it under therir breath as "pedophile island". This story isn't going to go away anytime soon.)


07/11/19 01:49 PM #5707    

 

John Maxwell

Go fish. There are more important things to talk about.

07/11/19 02:12 PM #5708    

 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Ok Jack, happy to oblige you!! laugh




07/11/19 03:02 PM #5709    

 

Michael McLeod

Hard to pick a fave out of the five.

But practically speaking I gotta go with the type 1 diabetes cure.

That is a horrible disease with a way of getting you one way or the other.


07/11/19 04:04 PM #5710    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

Wish it were true but, for the present, Type 1 Diabetes can neither be cured nor reversed. Lots of research is in progress regarding prevention (interrupting the autoimmune process once a person with genetic pre-disposing factors is identified) and treatment (more effective ways of delivering insulin like the normal body does) but a cure is not available.

Jim

07/11/19 06:27 PM #5711    

 

Michael McLeod

Yep. I was afraid you were going to say that, Jim. Because something that significant would have been picked up in other publications and I'd seen nothing about it. 

 


go to top 
  Post Message
  
    Prior Page
 Page  
Next Page