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Michael McLeod

Thanks Jim. For that post in particular and for your generosity overall in sharing this sort of information with us.

Joseph D. McCarthy

Tim we haven't heard from you in awhile.  I hope you weren't riding your lawnmower when that masssive (by Ohio standards) quake struck near Seattle last week.  Hope you are safe and as sound as possible.  Remember that, according to "Fake News", Earthquakes are often a percursor to Volcanic eruptions and you live in an area of the continental U.S.of A. with the most active volcanoes.  

David Mitchell

Jim,

Yes, I stand corrrected - it is Simvastatin. Thanks for "spelling" that out for me.

Joseph D. McCarthy

And in case you missed it, an Only in Maryland Incident.  A professional league baseball player made history when he became the first person in baseball history, at least professional baseball, to STEAL FIRST BASE.

Yes it was only a minor league game, but it's still historic. 

And that's all the news that's fit to print; can't remember the exact quote or who said it.  A little help Fred.

David Barbour

Two views of mental health therapy, separated by fish.

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2019/07/lake-erie-walleye-booms-cause-is-a-mystery-but-no-one-is-complaining.html

David Mitchell

Oh David,

A topic so dear to my heart! I spent every summer of my life at my parents cottage near Port Clinton.  Actually right next to "Gem Beach" for those of you who know the Catawba Island area*.  We did have a small boat (for three years - until the pain-in-the ass maintenance drove dad to get rid of it). But Walleye or "Pickerel" as we called it, was one of the favorite catches. I just saw where the water is so high that Port Clinton Has had streets under water 4 times this year, and a photo of our old dock shows portions under water. 

We fished for Walleye and Perch and Catfish, and White Bass (when they came in in swarms in shallow water) off the dock and sometimes in the boat. Sometimes we caught Blue Gill, Small Mouth Bass, and a few less desireable species. Dad taught me to clean fish (and I learned the hard way how razor-sharp that top fin of a catfish was). And my mother would pan-fry them. Mmmmmm delicious!  

Port Clinton used ot have a sign on the edge of town calling itself the "Walleye Capital of the World"

* In case any of you have ever been to Gem Beach, that old 300 + foot long dock next door was my project to rebuild when we moved back to Columbus in the late 80's. It was the property of that small private colony of very old cottages known as "Little Pittsburgh" - built from about 1903 to the 30s. The dock was built originally about 1905 and had collapsed from earlier storms and winter ice movement. My dad bought one of the plainer, later-built cottages in1953 for about $5,000.

The words "Catawba Island", "Port Clinton", and "Lake Erie" are still magic in my heart. 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mr. Maxwell and I have had some recent exchanges concerning the best (easyiest and/or safest) route to take whn heading North ffrom Columbus to places like Detroit.  We totally agree that the normal directions would have taken you North of High Street (Rt. 23).  Then merging into Rt. 15 to head toward Findlay where you would merge into I-75 and head North.

I mentioned that throughout my teen years my family would take Rt 23 North, but instead of taking Rt 15 to Findlay to meet with I-75 (which didn't exist in the earlier years) we stayed on Rt 23 through it's turn North toward Fostoria and kept on going till we hit Rt 20.  Took Rt 20 towards Toledo and picked up the Dix-Toledo Highway which went to Detroit.

Then I mentioned to John that I have been using alternative ways for the past seven or more years as "High Street" (Rt 23) North of I-270 ecame a congested mess.  

I take I-270 toward Dublin.  Pickup Rt 33 / Rt161 as it heads West towards Marysville.  Staying with Rt 33, after   Rt 161 veers West, you come to an exit for Rt 42.  Take Rt 42 going East towards Delaware.  At the South end of Delaware you can pickup Rt 23.  Nice Liesurely drive through the countryside with light traffic and only about three traffic lights.  You also pass by the World headquarters for Select Sires and JEGG's Automotive.

The second alternative is to take I-270 to Sawmill Road and head North until you reach Rt 42.  The difference is a number of more traffic lights and at least three #^@%#&@ Round-a-bouts.  Did I mention that I don't like round-a-bouts.  I use this route when I pick up my younger brother, who lives on a street a couple miles up Sawmill, so that we can visit our Cousin, our Nieces and Nephew in the Detroit area.

If any of you have any other easyier directions please chime in, UBER drivers from South Carolina are excluded from providing directions.

David Mitchell

Anything happening last night in Dodger Stadium? No, not much.

David Mitchell

We all love our roundabouts - and I DON"T drive for uber (or lyft) !

Mark Schweickart

Just want to send out a thank you to Dr. Jim for answering my concerns about cholesterol both here and in private messaging here on the site. At one point I asked him if he felt put-upon when classmates (myself being chief offender so far) call on his expertise. He assured me that he did not mind fielding medical questions, even though I pointed out that our age those questions are sure to multiply. He says it helps keep his medical mind sharp to answer our queries occasionally. 

Jim, thanks again.

Mark Schweickart

Hey, what's going on? Who broke the site this time? Come on I need a cup of coffee and my morning Watterson fix to start the day, don't you? Let's have some commentary, folks!  Okay, I guess I'll shame you all into participating by inflicting another song on you. That'll learn ya.

This song uses loops from the country music selection in Apple's Magic Garage Band. This MGB selection has a real old-timey, heel-stomping energy to it, which made me think of a Bible-belt preacher baptizing in the river on a Sunday morning, who at the same time may have a certain proclivity to less saintly behavior on the  Saturday nights.

Michael McLeod

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Michael McLeod

For the educators among us.... especially early-ed educators.

Parents too, I suppose.

https://winterparkmag.com/2019/07/08/a-philosophy-day-in-the-neighborhood/

David Mitchell

Mike,

I loved your essay. Reminds me somewhat of an article Colleen Cotter posted a few weeks back on her Facebook page - about letting kids have more free play time and less forced structure in their early education years. My dad was a strong advocate of that idea - not just as a parent, but as a physician. I am now even a convert to the idea of doing away with homeweork in early grades. More family time, more fun time  - - BUT not to imply more TV time. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Maybe this could be our 55 year reunion song! 

https://dayton247now.com/news/offbeat/viral-video-acappella-group-breaks-out-impromptu-sing-a-long-at-tennessee-chick-fil-a-07-15-2019?fbclid=IwAR2FVpSKBGVmDhJ00mWjZF27nlqVyB_la9Ez6skIjzknZs5j3TYJ0Mpy8A4

Mark Schweickart

Mike -- Nice article. I can just see myself at that age, standing on the edge of the playground pondering the philosophical consideration bearing down on me at the moment : to pee or not to pee, that is the question.

Jim -- I won't be any help on this question. The only way I know is if the video is already on YouTube, then it's a snap. You just click on the YouTube icon at the top of the response page,and paste in the link. For videos not on YouTube, maybe someone else can direct you (us).

David Mitchell

From a story for our generation:

I don't know how many of you have been watching the current PBS series on the history of the NASA space program.Yes, it is rather slow moving and detailed, but it brings back a lot of memories and I am enjoying some episodes for the second time in two weeks.

Those were exciting times for us back then. 

Of course there is a lot of mention of Werner Von Braun, the brightest of the many captured Nazi scientists to be brought out of Germany atter WWII - most of whom were the nucleus of original NASA scientsts. I couldn't count the number of times we saw Von Braun on Walt Disney on Sunday nights. As a priviledgd kid who's dad had tickets to virtually everything on OSU campus (not just football), I got to see Von Braun (among others) give a live presentation at Mershon Auditorium*. 

But amidst all these fond memories, the PBS series gets into some not-so-pretty details. One of the most disturbing parts was a segment about a Black man chosen to be in the third class of astronauts. He was a bright, handsome young Air Force fighter pilot with 2,200 flight hours and an engineering degree. He was Ar Force Captain Edward Dwight. You can look him up and get an excellent NY Times piece (part video - part text) about the man.

But after entering the program Dwight ran into a legendary, history-making pIlot, in command of that part of the astronaut program - one Chuck Yeager - the most famous pilot of all times. According to the PBS program, Yeager told the rest of the pilots in the class that "Washington was forcing the N-word down their throats, and not to talk to Dwight - nor to drink with, associate with, or invite him to therir homes." He was basically just "ignored" out of the program. He gave the most humble and blameless answers (or non- answers) to a curious press interview, asking if he knew why he was dismissed?  (how diffently that would have gone down today?)  

But even more disgusting, at a formal press conference with the entire final class of that group of astronauts, they were asked by a member of the press, "Was there a negro boy in your group?" One of the young team members, Deke Slayton answered, "No" - clearly lying through his teeth!

I had never heard this story. I felt sick for this forgotten man.

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

* I had several other memorable nights at Mershon - two of which were musical concerts. One was a Peter Paul & Mary concert with Janie Connors (my class at OLP, and St.Mary's of the Springs HS - I'm told she passed away fomr alzheimers a few years ago).

And also a concert by John Williams?  Do I have his name right - help me Nina!   I just remembered at the end he introduced his entire band one by one with a funny dramatic finnish with the final member. "Ladies and Gentlemen, my drummer, and your favorite from the Mousekateers, Cubby O'Brien." The crowd loved it!

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

 Dave B. Beautiful sunset photo! We have so many trees around us I really miss watching the sun set!! KathyW.

David Barbour

Kathy, I'm not any better at communication now than in high school !  That's a sunrise on the the way

north to find fish to murder.  The second photo is returning with the aforementioned fish.  This year runs to

find fish are averaging four miles but in the not too distant past were more like 15 to 20 miles.  Often

from launch ramps 11/2 hours east of home.  Now we're running from Cleveland ( 25 minutes from home).

Life is good!  Fishing is crazy good, sometimes under 45 minutes to land 12 fish ( 2 man Limit).

The word fish means only Lake Erie walleye.

I have a sunset that Dave M. would recognize but, can't figure out how to load.  I'll ship it to you.

DB

Michael McLeod

The moon landing anniversary has indeed been wonderful to savor, in part thanks to numerous articles tied to it.

On the scientific front I love the stories about how much those moon rocks added to our understand of the evolution of the solar system - and I had not known that a specific kind of rock, one that could only be created under molten conditions. was the beginning (along with several other rock-sample clues)  of the very well founded theory that the moon was created by the debris that spun off into space and gradually coalesced  when a planet the size of mars smacked into proto-earth. 

I had a great conversation with my son about how awestruck we were, and how monumental a step -- one giant step, as the man said - that moon landing represented for the species. It was interesting trying get him to understand how mind-blowing it was. It's fun trying to think back at the sense of wonder we all shared and how that was indeed one of the rare moments -- I can't think of an equivalent moment, actually -- when human kind was united in wonder, however briefly.

David Mitchell

Mike,

I remember how awestruck I was to stand out on our dock at Lake Erie (in 1957) and look up into the night sky, as someone helped me locate a tiny little speck of light, moving across the darkness. It was Sputnik.

And how enraptured we all were at the series of rocket launches carrying men into space. It was all so new, so unimaginably exciting. And to think, how it must have affected our parents, who had "witnessed" (by newspaper account) Lindberg's flight over the Atlantic.

I wonder how many of you remember where you were when Apollo landed on the moon and Neil Armstrong  stepped down onto the surface? 

I was in an odd place to be able to watch it. If I recall correctly it was the middle of the night for me on the other side of the world. I think I was awakened momentarily for the touchdown and went back to bed - blurry eyed and sleepy. And then I missed the "walk" because we were heading for the flight line and could not linger in front of the little 12 or 14 inch TV screen in our hooch.

It was another day at "the office" for Comanche Troop pilots and crew. 

David Mitchell

Nina has rattled my memory and reminded me that it was John Davidson that night at Mershon.

But even more interesting that she and her family were also "Port Clinton" people for a week every summer. She brought up memeories of the dance hall at Gem Beach, Phil's (a hangout that I barely remember - my older sisters would) and the legendary store called "Cheesehaven" (she called it the Cheese House). That place had started when I was small as a roadside stand, and years later a virtual landmark of a shop for cheeses and specialty food acessories of all kinds. It was everything but a grocery store.

If any of you were ever at Gem Beach, you will recall they had a skating rink, the dance hall, and a penny arcade that was a throwback to my dad's youth. My older sisters and those teenagers a few years ahead of me spent a lifetime at that infamous dance hall. It was just a short walk through the woods from our cottages. By the time I was old enough to go, it had become less popular and there were very few girls my age (in our cottages) to go over there with. As is sat right next to our cottages, and was (partly) an open air facility, we could often listen to the rock and roll music till late at night - weather we wanted to or not.  

It was fairly clean back then, but my dad said in the old days it could get pretty rough. He used to be the guest every summer at the cottage of the Gordon family in Gem Beach (uncles, aunts, parents and grandparents of Tommy Weilbacher and Flip (Phil) Gorrdon (Watterson class of '65). It was once considered two places - Gem Beach and Terrace Beach. One was cleaner and more respectable than the other - and fights broke out between the two factions of teenagers. We used to call it "Gem-Terrace Beach" but eventually just Gem Beach. Inside that boat channel were numerous boat marinas. We kept our little 16'  "Shell Lake" outboard there for a few years. 

Loved that boat when we got it. Did a lot of water skiing. Loved it even more when we got rid of it!

Some of you may recall taking the ferry from nearby Catawba point to Put-In-Bay (South Bass) Island. We did that a number of times. Only went up in Perry's Monument one time. We could see the monument from our dock across the lake. We also flew the old Ford Tri-Motors across to the Bass Islands a few times - what an adventure landing on Rattlesnake Island, where the one family had to jump on or off while it was moving - too short of a runway to come to a full stop. 

We took our own little boat with friends over to Middle Bass Island where there is nothing to do but tour the winery - Lonz's Windery - and "enjoy" the samples. The adults got loaded one time and I had to drive the boat back.

Many trips into Port Clinton - shopping, an occasional movie, and Mass at Immacualte Conception church with the comical legendary pastor Father Brand (or Brant?)

And one more thing, the local peach orchard stands sold peaches that were straight from heaven.

Oh the memories that brings back. Thank you Nina for jogging my memory for me.

Lawrence Foster

With the anniversay of Apollo 11's actual landing coming up in a couple days I wanted to share this photo from 1997 of Buzz Aldrin, my daughter Becci, and me.  Col. Aldrin was doing a presentation and book signing here in Cincinnati.  A few months before my daughter had been to Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. with her school's "Young Astronauts Club" and I got to go as a chaperone.   

Col. Aldrin gave a 20 minute presentation, then took questions for 20 more minutes and then he was going to autograph books for those who had purchased one.  At the book signing we were in group "H" and there were 25 people in each group before us.   That means he had signed over 176 autographs before we got to him!    The store employees were hurrying people through to keep the line going and I could see that he was tired too.   I intentionally tried to be the last one in line.  As we approached the table I whispered to Becci "Watch this" and then put out my hand and introduced myself telling him that I was home on convalescent leave when I watched him walk on the moon.  Being a gentleman he put his hand out and shook mine.  I introduced my daughter by name as we went to kneel by the table.  I kept on babbling and he just nodded and grunted a few times, signed the book, and we all looked up for the photo. 

I thanked him again, put out my hand again and he shook it a second time and I got up to leave.  Becci had already stood up and walked behind him to exit when he turned to where she had been then turned and called to her, "Becci, come here."  He extended his hand to her and they shook hands.   That was so cool!  He never directly spoke to me and he only shook my hand after I reached out to him.  But through all my blubbering and yapping he did remember my daughter's name and he put out his hand to her!   I know I said it before but that was so cool!

Now, I suspect in his mind he actually could have been saying something like, "You poor girl, I hope your father doesn't keep on embarrassing you like this or your teen years will be really tough."  You know, something like that. 

As a result when he was on Dancing with the Stars a few years later I voted for him - it was the least I could do! 

Michael McLeod

You look like a scary stalker, Larry.

I'm thinking he pointed you out to security. I would have.