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John Maxwell

David Mitchell

OMG!  You guys sound like you must'a gone to Catholic schools - (and paid attention to boot).

David Mitchell

Me, I'm still tryin't to figure out why the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides of a right angle triangle? (as opposed to a "left angle" triangle)

My how Sister Norbertine used to rage on about that!  

Down in these here parts we think it must be "fake news", designed to scare the "oystas" from reproducing.

Michael McLeod

Fake brains is more like it.

John Maxwell

Michael McLeod

I just remember a joke about the sentence-ending-preposition thing.

A pompous ass corrected a redneck who had asked "Where you at?"

And the redneck amended: "Ok. Where you at, asshole?"

James Hamilton, M. D.

Fred Clem

Dr. Jim,

Did we have food allergies back in the good old days?  I don't remember any conversations about things like peanut butter when we were in school.  They seem so prevalent today. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Fred,

We, indeed, had food allergies back then but I think the prevalence of them was less. Also they were perhaps less recognized by many physicians - except allergists like Dr. Mitchell. I believe one of our classmates almost died from such a reaction (anaphylaxis to an ingested aspirin) around our sohomore year (I won't mention names but if that person reads this post and wants to further comment or correct me if I am in error, please do).

I recall some studies done decades ago that found the incidence of allergies, particularly food allergies, was very low among individuals living in isolated countries and islands in the Pacific. When introduced to more modern ways of life and different diets that changed. The response of the immune system to different stimuli is both envionmental and genetic and today there is massive research occurring in the genetic field.

Peanut allergies are under intense investigation because of their severity, high mortality and the age group (children) whom are affected. The recent findings show that adding peanut products in small amounts to an infant's diet early in life can help prevent that allergic response. This is sort of like immunotherapy ("allergy shots") for some asthmatics and other atopic (allergic) conditions except this therapy is not in the form of injections but rather food or capsules, and may actually prevent the process from ever starting.

Maybe someday, in the not-to-distant future, airlines can bring back those honey coated peanuts instead of those tasteless pretzels they now serve!

Jim

Frank Ganley

I would like to ask just a question on school safety and pose a simple solution. I propose that all police stations and substations be relocated into every school, grade,  middle, high school regardless if they are a religion based school or a public school. With a police presence no one really would venture in with a killing rampage on their minds. its simple, cost effective and fast to accomplish,. any ideas to add.

David Mitchell

Jim,

You referred to my dad regarding allergies. My goodness, how many stories I heard over our dinner table while growing up! Frightening cases of near deaths from allergic reaction to dairy products, pork, peanuts, shellfish, bee stings and on and on.

Allergists were kind of considered low on the professional totem pole back in those days (still are). And some of it was deserved. Dad was constantly fighting the battle between overcoming the public suspicion of the handfull of complete wackos in the profession (a couple really famous ones that called a lot of attention to themselves publicly by "treating" famous celebrities), and the lack of respect the competent ones got from most other physicians. As the head of the Allergy Dept at Ohio State for about 43 years, he was contsantly striving to convince (and even invite) his young "junior year" students to enter the field, but almost always lost them to the other specialies due to pressure from fellow members of his own faculty, telling them that "Allergy is not really a valid field", "It's not really good science", "It's really for kooks".

I can share something now as all parties are gone on to their rest. Dad finally explained to me late in life that my wonderful father in law, an OBGYN and brother/patner to Dad's best friend from Med school, had mis-diagnosed and mis treated several long time patients for allergies himself. And that a few had finally come in to Dad's practice to get a second opinion. In almost evey case, Dad was stunned at the misinformation and incorrect treatment they had received and was able to correctly diagnose and treat these patients - in several cases, altering their entire lives for the better. 

David Mitchell

I know this is for the private discussion, but there was a great article in yesterday's USA Today about a school in Indiana that is considered the "Safest school in Smerica".

AND -- Without me going into any opinion whatsoever about firearms, it showed some very interesting and far-sighted thinking. I think you can find it by just googling "USA TODAY Safest School in America".

David Mitchell

Getting back to basketball.

I recall a lot of different nights and different gyms, watching the likes of Tim Pond - who shot lights out from  downtown. And there was Steve Ward, and Richie Stein(?), and then the class ahead of us with the group of Kaiser, Kelly, Morris, and McGarrity. Jim Kelly had one heck of a sweet jump shot. And of course our own Gene Rodgrs, Tom McKeon, Jim Hamilton and wild, elbow-swinging Steve Hodges, with that funny plastic nose guard device that made him look like he was from outer space. (I know I'm leaving some out - back to that in another post later).

But one game and one guy comes to mind. This takes us back out to the Fairgrounds Coliseum. If I recall correctly we had made it to the regional finals, still not high enough to be at St. John Arena, but never the less important.  I cannot recall one of the teams in this foursome, but the other three were Columbus East ("E-high"), Columbus Central - both very tough teams - and this all-white Cathilic School, Bishop Watterson (how the hell did they get in there?).

We were one of about 4 games played that day and night, and ironically, the game before us was Logan Elm vs. ??? (maybe Darby Creek, or Pickerington or ????). Logan Elm's starting point guard was my best buddy (one of 2 - Tom Litzinger the other). So I was there to watch Logan Elm and then most of them and their fans stayed to watch us in the next game. (And one of their cheerleaders later became my second wife (40+ years later)

We were playing Central and we were the underdog. And it was wild from the opening tip off. We were giving Central all they could handle. I seem to recall it was a close game all the way and the crowd - all of the schools but Central - were rooting for us. And the one guy that I seem to remember as the real hero was Dave Colonel. He was about 4 inches shorter than the Center for Central but he was giving the kid fits with his rebounding. He was a bulldog under the boards. I think we were all standing and screaming for most of the game and so was the rest of the crowd. We hung on to win and stunned Central. Wow it was an exciting night. 

The following night we went up against E-high and it started out great again. It looked like we were going to do it again, and again, the crowd was wild - for a while. I think we may have had the lead at half. But the dream ended. East came out in the second half and took our guys to school. We in the stands were crushed! They were just too much for a bunch of white guys. 

Does anyone else remember these games?

Janie Albright (Blank)

Miscellaneous thoughts on this Saturday morning. 

Dave, I definitely remember the plastic nose guard! 

I do not normally post anything controversial but I just posted a link to a very well written and thoughtful article about the damage done by an AK-47 on the special User forum. You might take a look. Click on User Forum on left. 

And then this very sad story from the Dispatch about a Watterson student who was missing and now body recovered. Apparently drowned. So tragic. 

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180220/police-recover-body-of-missing-bishop-watterson-student

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Dave, could the Kelly on that ´65 dream team maybe be Tom Kelley, aka my big brother?  

David Mitchell

Donna,

This is somewhere between so embarrasing I cannot beleive it - and so funny and I can't help but laugh.

In all these years, I did not know Tom (not Jim) was your brother !!!!!!!   Please forgive my ignorance. You have to understand, I've alwasy been a little slow.  (But my mother thought I was a nice boy anyway - other than the times when I was driving her crazy)

But damn, he still did have one sweet jump shot !  

( perfect overhead release with just the right amont of backspin )

Michael McLeod

I'm just curious: Is anybody else on here "not retired?" 

I'm not. I'll keep writing as long as I can. I am drawing ss and a pension and on medicare, etc. but still pulling in a bit of money teaching and writing for magazines down here, mainly about the arts, though when significant things happen - like the Pulse nightclub thing and the hurricane - they ask me to pitch in. .

I have a stationary bike in my office and a lap pool right outside my door so I stay in shape that way.

I check my blood pressure regularly since it's a family tradition to keel over from heart disease. 

I have a damn sweet tooth and drink a couple of glasses of red wine every day and ought to loose ten pounds or so and have a cataract that needs to be taken care of, but otherwise not so bad. Lots of friends. Amazing significant other - she is a hard-core early-childhood Montessori teacher with fabulous listening skills. I pinch myself.

So that's "retirement" for me. When I told my doctor how I'm conducting myself in these years, mentally and physically, he said: "Good."

Anyway my question was about employment: anybody else out there "not retired"? 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mike, I just wanted to add something in response to your question about working.  Actually I've been waiting for the oopportuntiy since I "left my last position".  ​​I am NOT retired, I'm just between Jobs; and I've never worked harder in my life.

​Joe

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Dave, you are right about Tom having a sweet jump shot.  It was fun to read the names you listed-Fritz K,  McG, Mike M etc.  They spent many an hour shooting hoops with Tom on our Clinton Heights´ driveway.  I am happy to report that Tom's love for sports has been passed down to his son Brennan and his two grandsons.  The "jock"  jury is still out about little 2 yr old Brooklyn.     

Mike, I am still among the gainfully employed group.  I figure why give up something I really enjoy doing. I have cut back some on my interior design workload but that isn't always possible.  We are now working on the design of a cafeteria which presents its own set of challenges. I think that is what I enjoy most about this work--the variety in the types of projects and the constant search of ways to combine form, function and beauty, often wearing a hard hat.  

Your writing is important to you so why would you want to give it up? You and Denise are lucky to have each other.  A perfect match.  P.S.  "Lose"  is written with one "o" unless you are talking about a minimum of 20 lbs. ​  Sorry, once an English teacher, always an English teacher.

John Maxwell

Michael McLeod

Thanks a lot for the crack on the knuckles, Sister Donna. 

And yep now I remember Denise telling me how impressed she was about you and your ongoing biz.

Michael McLeod

Oh, and just hearing "Clinton Heights" makes me nostalgic. Such a beautiful part of town. Even if it were not my old stomping ground I'd call it one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the world. Took a snowy walk down Walhalla in sub zero temps with my sister at Christmas time and ran into a lady who knew the history of many of those homes.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

You are so correct about the Ravines of Clintonville being a beautiful neighborhood. From Glen Echo on the south to Overbrook on the north those woodsy ravines and their brooks are fantastic places for a stroll during any season of the year.

You should write a piece on that neighborhood, a human interest story, a look-back at an area where many of us grew up and went to grade school. You could get some ideas from the stories that have unfolded in this Forum (using false names, of course!).

Jim

Michael McLeod

So, Jim. This opens up a whole other side of you. Let me get this straight. You'd only be interviewed anonymously about that charming little neighborhood of our youth? What, exactly, were you doing down there?

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

Nothing that broke any Commandments! Mainly exploring. I was one of those kids who was always bringing home gross things I found in those brooks - like leeches - and getting wet and dirty from falling into the water when walking on the thin ice in the winter. Those ravines were about as wild of places that you could find in the city, and still are.

Jim