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09/27/19 07:34 PM #6216    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Serenity

"The serenity of a clear, blue mountain lake..."

      - A line from "Rocky Mountain High"

Have a great Autumn Weekend, everyone!

 

Jim

 


09/28/19 11:23 AM #6217    

 

Michael McLeod

Gotta tell you, Frank, a word like "libbers" - a slur, a personal attack -- just reminds me that you are the kind of guy that compares a beauiful woman of color to an ape.

And it's yet another reason for me to regard you, and anything you say, with the knowledge that it's coming out of the mouth of a hateful human being.

I keep hoping we can address each other with respect here. You make that very difficult.

 


09/28/19 12:36 PM #6218    

 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

For my OLP friends:

https://youtu.be/YReP8tDMp8s


09/28/19 01:34 PM #6219    

 

David Barbour

Thank you MM.  Can't help but remember Father Foley and Sister Maccaria.  It'll be a little while

to erase those images.  What about it, Dave M.?

DB


09/28/19 01:46 PM #6220    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

I meant to give some kudos to Larry for those excellent close-ups of the flowers and that dragonfly (nice bokeh behind that critter). And your detailed sketches were also very artistic.

MM, cute video! Great promo for Catholic schools. You OLP'ers should be proud of your Alma Mater.

Bob, my sympathies on the death of your father. Another of the Greatest Generation has been lost. 

Jim 

 


09/28/19 01:57 PM #6221    

 

David Mitchell

Thanks Mary Margaret,

What a sweet video. Brings back memories - good and bad. The bad was the frighteneing horror of Father Foley and his violent temper tantrums. To the good side were the Tom Litzingers, the John Jacksons, Keith Groffs, Kevin Ryans, Tommy Swains, and always laughing Mike Del Bianco, and shy quiet David Barbour. And somewhere in the middle we "tolerated" those yucky, dumb girls like Nina, and Barbara Boggs, and Kathy Shannahan,,,,,,and her captivating, freckles. Oh, those gorgeous freckles!   

 

Back then we were all-white, had mostly Dominican nuns, and no such thing as personal computers.

 

Told this before: I remember when the present church was finally built. The parish had to start over raising funds from scratch after it was learned that Father Foley had sent all those years of Sunday collections to be invested by his (stock broker) brother in Boston. And his brother had cleaned out the account and "retired" in the Bahamas. It was assumed that that was what induced Fathr Foley's fatal heart attack.

What you see shown briefly as a Gym was the ugly church I grew up with. But even before that, our church was a quansett hut down near the front of the property on High Street. 


09/28/19 02:20 PM #6222    

 

David Mitchell

 OLP memories - almost forgot . 

How that parish got by with that one stupid nervous kid serving early Mass. The one who fainted all the time.

I repeat - ALL THE DAMN TIME!

I think between 5th and 8th grade I actually fainted on the alter while serving Mass about two dozen times!  I am not making this up. Maybe John Jackson can see this and verify it. My list of witness "references" would include, John Jackson and Tom LItzinger, Kevin and Kerry Ryan, Jim Shannahan, Dave Monfort, Jim Rivers, Jim Chubb, Jerry Staluka (now Father Staluka), two of the Donley brothers, and Jerry Cox, who once deleiberately got me sick by swinging the incense under my face at a Holy Thursday service. 

One time I was serving with Janie Connor's oldest brother Dan, a big tall guy who was in high school at St. Charlels at the time. I went plunk on the carpet while we were serving communion. Father Grimes had noticed me beginning to wobble. He quickly grabbed the patton out of my hand before I went down.  When I hit the carpet he said under his breath to Dan, "just get him out." Dan reached down under my waist, lifted me with one arm, and carried me like a sack of potatoes into the sacristy and laid me in the floor. 

At a yearly banquet dinner for all of the Alter Boys at the end of 8th grade, Father Foley patted me on the back and said, "Mitchell, you've done a fine job. We won't be needing your services in the future." (high school alter service). I was being given "early retirement". 

 


09/28/19 03:28 PM #6223    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Dave M.

I knew a WWII B-26 Martin Marauder pilot who memorized the visual chart in order to pass the eye examination when he enlisted. What I am wondering is how, with your medical history of recurrent and frequent syncopal episodes, did you ever qualify to fly helicopters? Did they not do "Past Medical Histories (PMH)" during physicals on recruits in the Viet Nam era? Even flat feet disqualified some from service back in those days.

Curious minds want to know...frown

Jim


09/28/19 05:05 PM #6224    

 

Frank Ganley

here is a list of all the electoral votes for each stat. If a candidate were to win only the 12 largest states and their electoral votes, they are:
California 55
Florida      29
Illinois      20                            as you can tell the count is 12 states out of 50
New York 29                             thanks Bull for the history lesson but this is why they came out with the
Penna      20                            college. If we had not had a ectoral college Bubba Clinton lost the popular 
Texas       38                             vote. Each state is it's own voice. That's one reason we are a Republic,
Mich         16 
Georgia    16 
New Jer    14 
 N.Car       15
Virginia      13
mass          11
total          276

The table provides a list of U.S. electoral votes by state.

Total: 538. Majority needed to elect the president and vice president: 270.
Electoral votes by state
state number of votes state number of votes state number of votes
Alabama 9 Kentucky 8 North Dakota 3
Alaska 3 Louisiana 8 Ohio 18
Arizona 11 Maine 4 Oklahoma 7
Arkansas 6 Maryland 10 Oregon 7
California 55 Massachusetts 11 Pennsylvania 20
Colorado 9 Michigan 16 Rhode Island 4
Connecticut 7 Minnesota 10 South Carolina 9
Delaware 3 Mississippi 6 South Dakota 3
District of Columbia 3 Missouri 10 Tennessee 11
Florida 29 Montana 3 Texas 38
Georgia 16 Nebraska 5 Utah 6
Hawaii 4 Nevada 6 Vermont 3
Idaho 4 New Hampshire 4 Virginia 13
Illinois 20 New Jersey 14 Washington 12
Indiana 11 New Mexico 5 West Virginia 5
Iowa 6 New York 29 Wisconsin 10
Kansas 6 North Carolina 15 Wyoming 3

This article was most recently revised and updated by John M. Cunningham, Readers Editor.   

To Mr Mcleod, I don't use libbers as a slur its a class of voters but you who must be politically correct etc, I apologise for a slip. In reference to a beautiful black woman my brother is married to one of the beautiful black woman, forget she's black, 2 masters and a mba. so as far as that comment goes it holds no water. As far as a reference to a former first lady, nothing will change my mind as to how low of a person I think she is. A forum is where ideas and thoughts are exchanged not villified. All those on this forum who hate our GREAT president, all your remarks are so unfounded and biased, hateful is beyond belief. Your opinions will not change!, Your disregard of the laws and workings of our great country you wish ruination of the USA. Open borders, anyone can vote, no voter id required. One of the most precious gifts of this country is the right to vote. One vote but with no voter id how can we not have fraud. And then your parties view on abortion, disgusting. As vile as you find me I am amazed. I have supported this forum both with participation and a large cash donation to help ensure that it would and could continue. So to my friends of the class of '66 I bid you a fond adieu, to those that find me disgusting and hateful thank God He is my judge and there fore no more fodder for you outpouring of hate. 


09/28/19 09:20 PM #6225    

 

John Maxwell

We're all hippos rolling down river, sometimes we can't touch the ground. Like hippos sliding in the water sometimes we're messin' around.

09/29/19 09:13 AM #6226    

 

David Mitchell

David,

Wow, I forgot about Sister Macaria. It was only about 15 years ago that I learned from Kathy Burk, that the little bottle of "holy water" that she kept in her desk drawer and took occasional sips out of, was actually Vodka.

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

Jim

Good question. I actualy fainted several other times from the sight of blood. Then in basic training in "Fote Poke" (Fort Polk) Luzianna, I fainted while standing at attention. I begged the doctor not to put it on my record - told him I was gong to flight school. That also happend again in pre-flight school in Texas. After a very hot day playing basketball on an outdoor court, we heard Taps come over the post loudspeakers and that means stop everything and come to attemtion. While standing at attention, I wilted like a flower in an oven.  (and layed there until taps was finished and then the guys helped me inside)

So Jim, I really think it must have been my charming personality. I assume when they saw me in my flight suit and helmet they were so captured by the dashing figure I cut, that they just could not resist me. 

On a serious note, I never once fainted flying in the Delta, not in 18 months and over 1,400 flight hours, mostly pretty high stress stuff, with some pretty wacky type of flying - at times like a circus clown. I did describe (way back in the Forum) how I got sick at my stomach during my first three days in training in the "observer" seat of the cockpit. That was mostly due to all those noises and gryrations but without being at the stick (not being the one at the controls).

I did faint once during a non-flying incident. It was something gross that happened to one of my buddies one night in one of our "regularly scheduled" monthly mortar attacks. He got hit. Seeing him like that got to me - I fainted and got sick - 'nough said.  

I Just realized nothing I have said here answered your question.

Okay, it was tests, tests, and more tests. They sent me and two other guys out to Lockbourne AFB for a full day of testing, mostly visual stuff.  A lot of it in the form of comic books (seriously) - with page after page of "quizzes" and "puzzles" about visual acuity, depth perception puzzles and -- it went on for hours! There were also many live excercises to gauge our reactions. Lights and sounds and guys suprising you by waving  something from behind you, in front of you, beside you. All designed to distract us while doing a task. Finally they diluted our pupils for an eye exam and when they had finished, they gave us these super dark sun glass "thingys" and made us stay on the base for two more hours before they said we were free to drive home. I think we were there for about 10 hours.


09/29/19 10:34 AM #6227    

Lawrence Foster

Thanks to you all folks who commented publicly and privately about the Kenilwoth Aquatic Gardens photos and sketches I posted recently.   Over on the User Forum I just posted 14 more photos from that visit I made there back in 2013.  There are more dragonflys, a turtle and a frog - Oh, my! - so I hope you enjoy. 


09/29/19 12:47 PM #6228    

 

Michael Boulware

Dave,

You obviously have a love for U.S. History and are knowledgable about the subject as well. You are accurate about the fiscal policies of Jefferson and Hamilton. Their political differences evolved into our two party political system. Hamilton favored a federal bank, strong central goverrnment, government should help stimulate business because strong businesses provide jobs for everyone, trade with England, and his support centered mostly in New England. This political philosophy became the Federalists.

Jefferson favored staes' rights; a loose union of the states, he favored an agrian society, the more direct elections (pure democract) the better, he favored trade with France, and his support came from the south and west. This political philosophy became the Anti-Federalists.

New immigrants sided with the Anti-Federalists. In order to survive, the Federalists passed the Alien and Sedition Acts that extended the time for citizenship to 14 years9Alien Act), and if you spoke against the government (sedition) you could be prosecuted. Eventually the Supreme Court declared these laws unconstitutional. 

Lets see, Federalists did not like immigrants ( 'Build a Wall"), and we should not say anything against the government (" Fake News, Witchhunts") . History repeats itself ?


09/29/19 02:16 PM #6229    

 

Mark Schweickart

Frank's bidding us all a fond farewell is why earlier I had lobbied to keep our political views to ourselves rather than expressing them on this Forum. I feared it would degenerate into hard feelings, and so it has in his case. It's not that I am going to miss Frank's rants, not at all, but my point was that it was clear to me early on in our political discussions, way back when, that none of us were making a dent in the opposing viewpoints, so what was the point beating that dead horse? It is not that I embrace censorship, it's just that there is plenty of room on Facebook to do that sort of arguing, whereas, when this Forum sprang up a few years ago, it gave us a nice place to reconnect, reminisce, plan future gatherings, etc, so it struck me as being a bit of a shame when we let our angry, political selves into the mix. On the other hand, I suppose without Frank's particular form of abrasiveness present to make our heads explode, maybe the rest of us can continue to argue our positions without it degenerating into personal attacks that result in hurtful name-calling. 

Speaking of future gatherings, is there truly interest in a number of us meeting in Barcelona next year? I have never been to Spain, so I would certanly be interested. I read somewhere recently that Barcelona is so inundated with tourists in the summer that there is talk of actually instituting a tourist tax to try to keep the crowds down during the summer. I am sure Donna can speak to this. If this is correct, what would be a good time of year to visit?

 


09/29/19 02:31 PM #6230    

 

David Barbour

Thank you, Mike, you're a gem.  Don't ever leave us.

DB


09/29/19 06:43 PM #6231    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Relax and Take a Walk in the Park(s)

If you have not yet checked out Larry's other photos of Kenilworth Aquatic Garden in D.C. which he posted on the User Forum, I recommend you do so. They are some of the best close-ups I have seen. Tom McKeon did and suggested it looked like a nice place to take a walk. I agree!

We all have the need to refresh ourselves away from the stresses (and politics) of the day and I think a nice communication with nature is a good way to start. Those of you who live in the Columbus area have some beautiful places to accomplish this and the best time of the year is in October: not too hot, not too cold, not too rainy and those deciduous tree leaf changes are fantastic. Although not true this year, I have found myself in Columbus in the fall several times in the past few years and visited some of my favorite places with camera in hand. So, take a deep breath of that fresh, crisp autumn air, forget about what irritates you the most and visit these places. And they are all FREE!

 

(Unfortunately this gallery of pictures did not hit at the precise peak of color, but they were close.)

 

Indian Run Falls Park in Dublin

The vegitation here is so thick that you feel like you are in a jungle.

 

Highbanks Park

The paths lead back to a 100 foot drop down to the Olentangy River (which you can barely see through the yellow leaves in the first picture below).

 

 

Hayden Falls Nature Preserve

A gem of a ravine that empties into the Scioto River. If it is wet the wooden staircase that leads down to the walkway can be slick. We old people need to be careful!

I will add something about Hayden Falls: it is my most visited of these three places. I have had the opportunity to photograph the falls itself during various seasons and  everthing from zero (dry), frozen, full flowing and soft flow. I have shared some of those images with you on this Forum in the past. One of my favorites was chosen by NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees) to be on the cover and the month of June in their 2020 calendar. I entitled it "Teardrops".

Since this calendar was distributed to NARFE members across the country, in a way I hope more people can discover this Preserve but, on the other hand, it's solitude has always been one of it's best attributes.

And, while you are seeking out the colors of fall, don't forget those Clintonville Ravines from Overbrook on the north to Walhalla on the south!

Jim

 

 


09/29/19 11:53 PM #6232    

 

David Mitchell

Mike B,

Your post was terriffic! You gave much more clarification on these two men and the heritage they each left to us.

I was not taking a position, only trying to relay my understanding of your earlier post. 

 

Without going in too deeply, or without getting too political, I strongly oppose buidling a wall.

(In fact, I think it's simply nuts - an utter boondoggle!)

As I mentioned almost a year ago, I think the money could be far better spent to combat the "problem" by realistic an practical assistance at the very sources - such as the desperately poor Hondurans of the northern provinces of Honduras (mostly Mayan descendent minorities -  who are neglected, mistreated, and almost completely unrepresented by their own government.

(added later - AND HUNGRY!)

 

And today, there is so much power in the hands of the local gangs, that those people live in nightmares not unlike thoe of Syria and Iraq - only the type of weapons and the scenery are different.

One young congressman has argued that both sides of the "wall issue" should shut up and just go stop the gangs. Worth pondering.

 

It's my understanding that Honduras, Guatamala, El Slavador, and to a lesser extent, Nicaragua have become such poor, crime-ridden, corrupt, and violent cultures because of generations of our own meddling in their socio-political economic systems. Back in the early 20th century, we let companies like United Fruit Company deal ruthlessly and without regulation in the raping and profiteering of those people for the priviledge of making profits from the banana trade. I beleive we actually assised in assasinations of freely elected leaders (whose only crime was to want their own country), and helped place the control back into the hands of Mafia "Robber Barron" families like the Samozas of Nicaragua - who did nothing more than rape and pillage their own countires - under the guise of being "opposed to Communism". 

But as a reaction to that, we have left the door open for the left-wing guerilla movements of those areas, such a s Daniel Ortega, the former Sandanista leader, who, as the present leader of Nicaragua, (who also fought a corrupt and violent right-wing goverment) now poses as a "democrat", but holds power over the entire governemental apperatus.

 

I have a good friend who is in and investment group that plunged a lot of money into a real estate development in Nicaragua back when peace had "broken out" (when was that? back in the 80's? - the lady in the wheel-chair that got freely elected ??). He tells me how the Ortega Goverment has blocked almost everything they try to do. They have come to a complete standstill and had to lay off hundreds of well-slaried employees. And meanwhile Ortega pays for hundreds of buses to bring the poor people in from the rual villages, feed and house them for a few days during the elections, and surprize, surprize - re-elect him. He has completely strangled the economy, while he resides in a huge mansion in the capital. 

 

In these countries, we see examples both on the left and on the right, all serving themsleves at the expense of their own working class citizens. 

It is my opinion that politics and power can be so corrupt - on either side -  that merely trusting the so-called "party line" over facts and real solutions, will ultimately lead to more severe division, more government waste, and failure. I have always felt that somewhere between the extremes of "Left" and "Right", exists a hundred small points of truth that might actually be worth trying.  

In case you have misunderstood me;

I think I have made myself quite clear in past posts (trying to get away from that topic), I have no respect for, or allegience to, a narcisistic "whore-mongering draft dodger". I may lean somewhat to the conservative side on most issues (not all) - and less so than I once did before a man named Cheney broke my trust. But my fundamental principles of basic morality are not for sale, not even for "thirty pieces of silver".

Not even if it means "winning".


09/30/19 12:09 AM #6233    

 

David Mitchell

Larry,

I also enjoy your art work. But as I suggested before, I think your black and white line drawings are superb - somehow more powerful than the paintings.

There is just something about them?   


09/30/19 06:54 AM #6234    

 

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Beautiful work, Jim.    Larry's photography shots and yours are a treat to the senses. Thanks for sharing.

Mark, if some of you decide to visit Barcelona next year I would be happy to help organize it from this side.  October is usually a good month for the weather and fewer tourists.

 

 

 


09/30/19 09:01 AM #6235    

Lawrence Foster

Thank you to all the folks for your kind words about the Kenilworth pics.  I was fortunate to be in a beautiful place and I do enjoy sharing the beauty of this world as I come across it.   

Dave your feedback about the pencil sketches (which I appreciate) and Janie's also from over on the User Forum are prompting the following.   

There is something about the pencil sketching that also resonates with me as it does with others.  I do struggle with colors at times when painting.   Originally I started doing sketches as a sort of rough draft so that I could then duplicate it with colors.  But over time I think that what I like about sketching is the amount of control I have over the pencil and how the lead forms distinct shapes on the page.  Paints are harder for me to control and blend and shape.   (Sidebar:  If anyone just started doing a Freudian or Jungian psycho-analysis of that last statement about how I may be trying to understand and control things in my life (past and present) you can save yourself the time.  I have been down that path lots of times over the years and I still do go down the path now and then!  For me it's a fun journey and I am still learning.)  Okay moving on now...  

A couple months ago I had a thought about how artists might see their creations.  I have always enjoyed Impressionist painter Claude Monet.  His loose painting and interpretive colors cause the viewer to make adjustments with their eyes and with their brains to understand what the image is showing.   As a result the viewer becomes interactive with the painting and it "speaks" to the viewer.  Next time you go to an art exhibit realize you are doing a lot more than just standing there looking at a painting.  Not all paintings will be ones you like but you will be having a "conversation" with it.  And with just a slight touch of the A.D.D and "Senioritis" that we all are developing it could be a fun conversation!  

Another artist I like is photographer Ansel Adams.  To me he is very much the opposite of Monet.  Not just that his images are in black and white but also that they are so very sharp and distinct - not like Monet's soft blending of shapes. 

So my A.D.D. kicked in and I wondered, "What if Claude Monet had the artistic vision that Ansel Adams had?  What would his paintings look like?"  And from that thought I made the following two sketches of Monet paintings.  And I will likely do more.  Once I have maybe a half dozen sketches I will flip the coin and look at Adams' black and white photographs and try to paint them in Imprerssionist colors and style. 

First is Wheatstacks (end of Summer 1890-91) and then is Tulip Fields, Rijnsburg Windmill.   

Wow...what a trip this has been so early in the morning.  For me this has been a great way to start the day.  Hope you all have a good day today - and everyday.  

 

      


09/30/19 10:43 AM #6236    

 

Michael McLeod

Really good work Larry. I think this is the most impressive work I have seen you post.

I have just finished a chapter of a book I am co-writing after working on all year long, and I have the strangest feeling of freedom being somewhat of a disconcerting shock - like I am a critter just released from a cage, blinking in the light. 


09/30/19 12:08 PM #6237    

 

Mark Schweickart

Donna – October would work for me. Janie, Clare, and you other organizing-type folks, what do you think? Any takers? (Obviously, not this October, as in tomorrow, but next October. Or will we all be too panicked by the upcoming election in November to be able to enjoy ourselves?)

Mike – What's the book about that you have been working on?

Larry – Good sketches, although I have to admit, I was taken aback by the way one of the windmill propellers seemed to be oddly bowed. I googled the Monet painting I saw that it was done this way as well. I think that in the Monet, maybe this is done to try to give a sense of the propellers spinning, and it works (sort of) due to his use of color in the air around the various blades. No doubt, this would be harder to duplicate in black and white.  Do you think this is what is going on, or is there some other explanation for that one blade being so oddly shaped?

Apropos of nothing – If you haven't been following the Ken Burns documentary on PBS about Country Music, I would highly recommend it. Boy, when that guy tackles a subject, consider it tackled. The visuals he comes up with from his deep dive into old photos and film is amazing, and of course the music incorporated is terrific (assuming you are not put-off by country music, that is).
Another recommendation is in theaters now -- Judy, starring Renée Zellweger. I know it has gotten mixed reviews, but I thought it was quite powerful, especially the way Renée performed the songs (apparently not only doing her own singing, but her songs were filmed live, not to playback). Very impressive, the way her old songs (not that she wrote them) seemed to speak to the pain of the moment. It's not a happy film, but quite a good one in my opinion.
 


09/30/19 12:18 PM #6238    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Larry, 

As an Ansel Adams and Larry Foster fan, I think you should do (if you have not already done so) pencil sketchings of his Yosemite photos. His images of El Capitan and Half Dome would be great subjects for your medium.

Jim ​​​​​​


09/30/19 12:34 PM #6239    

 

David Mitchell

Larry,

Dear fellow A.D.D.er

Monet, and Adams. You are checking all the right boxes with me. 

I believe Adams either invented (or at least advanced) the "Zone System" of photography. He learned to manipulate the dynamic range beween the highlights and the shadows - both from the camera and in the darkroom (which is all done digitally in camera now). I got to study his work in some photograpy classes years ago (before digital cameras). Love what he did.

* (perhaps the "Zone System" was the brainchild of Matthew Brady in his brilliant - if brutal - Civil War photography? I'd have to go back and check.) 

As for Monet and his French Impressionist bros, it's all my favorite choice of painting. But I would throw in an  American Impressionists. Have you ever seen any Winslow Homer? Well, he's really sort of half way between Realism and Impressionism - if there is such a thing.

 I love his sea coast stuff - both in the boats, and girls waiting on shore. 

Here's a bit of his own humor. Most of his stuff is serious.

 


09/30/19 01:25 PM #6240    

 

Michael McLeod

Mark: It's a series of profiles of Rollins College graduates over several decades who have gone on to fame and fortune, or at least have some sort of interesting life-story material to talk about.

Nothing too fancy but the money was good.


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