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David Mitchell

The thing that ticks me off so much about this dang Forum is trying to compete with all you people who are smarter than I am.

Jeesh! 

David Mitchell

But we can all draw comfort from this one news item from this morning's USA Today.

"Kim Jon Un brings his own toilet to the summit." 

 (Surley there is  a God after all?)

(No, I can't spell very well - but I can always go back later and correct here and there) 

James Hamilton, M. D.

John Jackson

Jim, my previous post was a little unclear - I wasn’t asking if you’d trust a loud-mouthed surgeon to remove your brain tumor – instead I was asking if you’d trust Trump.  He obviously feels he can do anything without preparation.  And I’m not sure which sleazy Democratic presidents you’re referring to, but at least they weren’t afraid to release their tax returns.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Fred Clem

Well said Doc Jim........

David Mitchell

I think we need more Cowbells!

Daniel Cody

So the good doctor plays the race card on Obama’s birth place? Really maybe Obama’s fault is not inviting self admitted child molesters into the oval office?  Iran? You talking about the nra president trading arms for hostages and diverting money to the contras. Laws be damned!  Btw there are no good nazis or klan members!

Timothy Lavelle

Fred,

I see your Doc, and up you a priest. 

Give 'em hell Father!

Mike M: your short post had me howling AND jealous of your skill.

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Mike, John, Dan and Tim--Thank God for your coherent thoughts.  I am saddened that many know so little about our government, its structure and its protocols...and the destruction that is currently under way.  You are my heroes!

David Mitchell

Thanks to Bill (and Janie) for the notice about John Roach. May he rest in peace.

This is happening all too often lately. Time is a gift. 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Thank you Janie for posting the very sad news about John Roach.  "May his soul and the souls of all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen."

I have been reading with interest the comments regarding the negotiations being attempted in Singapore between the US and North Korea. It makes me wish even more that Crick (Jim) was still around, especially regarding this topic of discussion, as he spent 2 years on the DMZ during the Pueblo incident and then spent 9 months in 2004 in Kosovo working in a civilian affairs capacity with the National Guard.  As a retired military guy, who wore his love for his country on his sleeve, I know he would have many opinions to offer, and would most likely have purposefully played the devil's advocate just to lure me into an argument!!  LOL  He would often draw me into a discussion whenever a documentary was shown on the History channel concerning the Korean War, about how we Americans did not have a very knowledgeable understanding of the war and the aftermath that produced the division.  Anyway, I read an article today which linked to the Ettinger Report which I am sharing as some food for thought.  While I do not offer it as my own personal view of the current matter, I do believe that it provides some historical context of previous nuclear agreements and suggests that,  "any agreement with North Korea should be treated with the same skepticism one would have when dealing with Satan himself."   

These days, I choose to stay away from cable news altogether in order to keep my BP down. Two years ago, concerned about the 2016 election, a small group from IC decided to pray the rosary at the grotto of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.  We have met every Sunday since then to pray for the preservation of our nation and our freedoms.  I find much greater peace and comfort in placing my trust in Mary's promise to those who recite her rosary, of her special protection and powerful armor against all evil, than in placing my sole trust in any one imperfect human person, political party or goverment entity.  

Peace out

http://www.theettingerreport.com/Iran-and-MidEast/The-USA-North-Korea-Iran-strategic-interconnection.aspx

James Hamilton, M. D.

Michael McLeod

Yes Jim, I would indeed be surprised by any evidence that Trump had a depth of knowledge about arms negotiating, based on his demonstrated lack of literacy and depth elsewhere and his comments that made it sound like he saw the whole thing as something akin to a speed dating event.

Daniel Cody

Jim do you really think the birther conspiracy is anything other than to delegitimize our first african american president who is the son if an american mother and a army veteran grandfather? Check the requirements!  Btw is sleeping with and paying off porn stars while wife three is at home not within the definition of yuk! For long time right wingers to endorse his bromance with Putin and other dictators i find that puzzling.  Btw being the editor of the Harvard law review is not the result of any affirmative action program.  The refusal to condemn the charlottesville nazi klan parade speaks volumes of trump’s values. Not concerned about taxes?  Maybe he will be bankrupt again? No I do not endorse any marital infidelity regardless if political affiliation.   Also is attending a “state” university a form if endorsing socialism????

James Hamilton, M. D.

Dan,

I would hope that none of us endorse infidelity or hate groups. It would seem that infidelity is a common trend among several presidents. Unfortunately not many saints run for the presidency. If I am in error please let me know which saintly person you prefer.

It is on the basis of their proposed agenda that I support most candidates for elected office. And, when they keep their promises, which is rare, and produce results that are good for our country I shall continue to suppport them. Perhaps you will share what you seek in a candidate.

I am a bit confused by your last sentence about "state" universities and socialism. Please explain what you are trying to say there.

Jim

David Mitchell

What if all of us skeptics were all wrong and something good DID actualy come out of this?  I'd probaly be the last to beleive it but the first to congratulate.

(Not that I find Trump to be the least bit trustworthy) 

But there seems to be something going on behind the scenes in North Korea. One of them is that the little fat maniac has lost most of his nuclear testing capacity. Sometime last year or early this year, their last test was so big that it apparently imploded the entire tunnel complex and the mountian above it. It seems they even lost key scientific personel in the massive implosion. I remember reading this in the news as if it were an insignificant back page story. But Russian scientists have recently confirned the seizmic readings were enormous. There is some speculation that he may not actually have many "bullets" left in his gun.

* Note; This is not his "Launch" capability - which still exists - but his testing capability. 

(--I'm not refering to the the more recent staged-for-the-press explosion of one of their testing site tunnel entrances. If you saw those videos, where they had invited a lot of world press and photographers, it had a little bit of a "staged" appearance about it, and was long after the major implosion I am referring to that occured months earlier) 

And also speculation (and that may be all it is) that he is intelligent enough to see the writing on the wall - that is of the near total collapse of his country's sustainability - and that he could become a new kind of hero to his people with some dramatic policy change.

One can only dream,

and hope,

and pray.

Frank Ganley

Tim, its early in the afternoon and i am still watching my grand daughter. We ( natalia and I) have such a great time together, whether it be going to art classes at the mall, golfing, bar hopping, swimming or playing music together. If any of our classmates are given the opportunity to babysit, teach, mentor a grand child do not let that opportunity get away from you. While modt of us are parents and what a joy raising your children is, there is no greater joy than raising a grand child. The old joke about grandchildren is you give them back to their parent is pure balderdash.  The difference is at our stage in life most of us hopefully have been successful and not struggling to pay the bills and can do things that were impossible to do because you are at work. As much as i loved what i did for living, golf pro, most retire to play golf everyday but i retired to raise Natalia. My job is going to last at least another 5-6 years as our daughter Nicole is once again “in the family way”. To say that my wife and i are thrilled beyond words. The baby is due in the first week of October. Nicole and jason having been trying for a few years to add to the family. Nicole was suffering from a bad cold and cough so she went to her doctor who did a blood test as the cough wasn’t responding to the meds very well so he did a blood test. When she returned for a follow up exam , the doctor told her she was fine with the cough but he added , you’re pregnant! He also told her that the baby has downs syndrome. When she came home there were tears of joy and tears of the unknown. Nicole and jason also had already made the decision that we hoped we would hear in that it is a gift from the Lord abd he decided to bless them with a child. A friend of mine described a downs child as  an “ angel disguised  as a baby. We are so excited but i am asking for your prayers for the baby as it has some heart problems , two holes in her heart which the neo-natal dictor told them is somewhat normal but the aorta is on the right side and another artery wrap around the wind pipe. Needless to say we are nervous so I am asking my friends here 

Frank Ganley

Please say a prayer for the baby. I have been calling the baby Esperanza . I don’t know if that will be the final name but for those that have not mastered spanish such as myself ( yea right) it means Hope. These doctors Nicole now has are incredible, and have been giving us as much informance and comfort is beyond words.  We thank you all, my dear friends from Watterson in advance for your prayers.

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Jeanine, I so agree with your remarks . No need to reiterate.It is nice to see John on the fotum.Wasn’t he the smartest guy in the class?,

.

Timothy Lavelle

Frank,

I ask for Drunk Uncle and instead I get Wonderful Grandfather. You know you can count on those who pray to do so and for me, I will think the best thoughts for Esperanza.

This forum has been a great exercise in first amendment rights. In this case, everyone using their right to write.

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Frank...congratulations on the news of a new granddaughter!!!  She will most certainly be loved and cherished by all of you. While there are sure to be special challenges, there will also be immeasurable joy.  I have a 22 yr. old niece who was born with an undeveloped hand and no fingers, only a stub where the thumb should be, who just graduated from OSU; a nephew who was born with an extremely low IQ, but who was mainstreamed into the local school system, graduated from high school six years ago, eventually passed his driver's test and who can now drive himself back and forth from his parent' s house to his job at Walmart.  Another nephew who just turned 30 yrs old, was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder which rendered him completely dependent and requiring nearly 24 hour/day in-home nursing care as he can neither speak nor walk and is fed through a  feeding tube.  Our family has been blessed to witness the positive impact that these three family members have had on, not only their parents and immediate families, but also on our large extended families and on the wider communities in which they live.  Interestingly, just this afternoon I was surfing through my youtube channel  when I discovered this short video I put together a while ago after reading a very poignant article titled "God Lives Under the Bed".  Prayers for a safe delivery for Nicole, and that your granddaughter will have a team of caring, competent doctors waiting to care for your granddaughter's special need

https://youtu.be/DKc2ZzieeOQ    

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Yes, Mary Ann, he was.  Hope no one is insulted but the truth is the truth.

Bill Reid

Frank, I read your post about your yet-to-be-born grandchild with Down’s Syndrome with great interest. I don’t think many of our classmates knew it, but my older sister was born with Cerebral Palsy and she was mildly mentally retarded. A “special needs” person, to be sure – but also a “special gift” person. I had some difficulty with her disabilities when I was young, but when our parents died I became her “special advisor” (her nickname for me) through the end of her life 5 years ago. I took on a special role with her and it was so rewarding for me. I have discovered that those we consider “disabled” might really be the most “enabled” of us all; they have few barriers and they see the world through eyes that we can only imagine. My sister was a special gift to me, especially later in her life, and being present when she died was an especially holy moment for me. I’ve been a “lurker” on this group for many months; I appreciate reading others’ comments but have felt inadequate to express my own. Your post about your new grandchild awakened something with in me, and I had to let you know. God is good, all the time – your new grandchild will be a blessing to your entire family. May God continue to bless you all!

David Mitchell

Some of this just makes me realize what a ridiculously lucky stiff I am - in more ways than you would know. And I love the description  "Down syndrome are just Angels disguised as babies". So true! 

Frank, I am a bit jealous. Two of my grandkids (10 and 8) are in Bangor Maine, and one (9) in Portland Oregon. They are cute as they can be - and FUNNEEEE!  But I only get to see them about one every year. Like the saying goes, If I had known how much fun grandkids would be, I would have had them first.

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

So comforting to see us all in such a congenial mood. Trump - Kim - "birthers" -  and all that pleasent stuff we all love to disagree on. I think this calls for a "soft story" to lighten the burden. As we spoke above about Bobby Kennedy, I have a personal Bobby Kennedy story that is not so heavy and sad as my previous one.

I mentioned a long ways back about the comical incident between Bishop Issenmann and one of my older sisters, Jeannie, at Lorretto Heights College in Denver many years ago. Well, Jeannie hated the place so much she begged my dad to let her transfer back closer to home and to a co-ed shool. Dad insistd it be a Catholic University and they settled on Marquette up in Milwaukee. When she graduated we drove up for the weekend. Jeannie had become good friends with another classmate, also from Columbus. Her name was Patty Winchester - one of six kids, two of which were twins my own age - named Carolyn and Dennis. The three of us met for the first time and spent most of the weekend running around the hotel together and having a good time. It was cool to form these new friendships knowing we would be in the same class the next fall.

Sorry, I digress. So the day of the graduation ceremony comes and we all file into this big old basketball arena - maybe 8 or 10 thousnad seats. We are seated way up high with my sisters fiance and in-laws to be from Chicago - including a very German father-in-law to be, who had made reservations for dinner after the ceremony at the famous old landmark German restaurant, Karl Ratch's (spelling?).

The ceremony that day was to include two honorary degrees. One famous Doctor, who was also to give a speech, and one Robert Kennedy, who was to receive the other degree, but not give more than a brief "thank you". But it seems nobody at the University had told Bobby. It was a large class and a long program, but lengthened considerably by two very long speeches. The ceremony went for about five and a half hours!

We were more tha two hours late for our dinner reservation. My sister's rather wealthy and strong minded German future father-in-law called the Maitre 'd over and slipped him $200 cash (and this is in the 60's), spoke some very strong German words in his ear, and we were somehow miraculously seated at a very nice table. 

P.s. I never got over how awful that long ceremony was, and it was the driving reason I deliberately skipped my own graduation ceremony at the University of Denver (about 8 years late), which would have put me in a line with several soon-to-be famous skiers, NHL hockey players, and one miss Condi Rice - yes, that Condoleezza.