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David Mitchell

Please don't misunderstand my input on this. I grow weary of people contiually arguing from what I call the "all or nothing" school of thought. That is, when people say it won't completely fill all of a certain need, or it won't solve 100% of the problem, so it's not worth doing at all. I strongly disagree.

What if something solves 70% of the problem, or say, 30% of the problem, or even just 15% of the problem. I consider those partial solutions worth pusuing. Nobody is expectling electric cars to be used for anything but local travel - not yet anyway.  

(just as nobody is expecting me to learn how to spell anytime soon)

Don't forget, the rest of the world has enjoyed high speed trains for some time now. A straight shot across flat open plains terrain from Chicago to Denver might take just 5 or 6 hours instead of 18 or 20 hours. I think we may see teh use of some limited short-haul electrick trucks sooner than you might expect.

Remeber Jim,

A train trip from the heart of New York City to the middle of D.C. takes just under 3 hours. A flight takes about 45 minutes, but  you can spend well over two hours getting to and from the outlying areas where the airports are located. If you are going to teh suburbs it may be easier in a car, but if you are a business travler going to a city center, a car presents a lot of disadvatages. 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mr. Maxwell I forgotto mention that last week the Wall Street Journal did an article on, wait for it.  Detroit Pizza, and then made mention of Buddy's, that fabuolus spot you took the group to for dinner, after Greenfield Village, in Dearborn .   Then the sad news, Pizza Hut is rolling out a Detroit style pizza.

Just thought I would warn you.  I mean once a national chain gets their hands into things it goes downhill.  I mean look what chains did to Chicago Pizza.

Joe

David Mitchell

I travelled to Hong Kong twice on R&R's a long, long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away)

Just when I thought it was safe to go on another one of my lecturing rants tonight, I just saw something on PBS that has humbled me. I was wathcing a travel program with Burt Wolf. Yes Virginia, there actually are other travel programs on PBS besides Rick Steves - whom I also enjoy.  Burt was traveling throughout the city of Hong Kong and did a bit about three particular Michelin-starred restaurants. One was French, one was Chinese, and one was a Steak House. The steak house owner was showing him that they had 12 or 15 different types of mustard, and 9 different types of salt.

Good heavens! It occured to me that I had been there just about 55 years too early.

Timing is everything!

Has anybody else enjoyed those calm late morning rides from Kowloon across the harbor to Victoria on the "Star" ferry line? With those impecably dressed professional "touts" who would size you up from behind their newspaper, and then come over and sit down on the bench next to you (knowing you were an American soldier and tourist), and try to talk you into visiting his uncle's restaurant, or his brother's taylor shop?   

I actually did take one of those business cards and visit one of those taylor shops - whole 'nother story.

David Mitchell

p.s.

Joe, I found a really good Pizza place in Kowloon. 

Michael Boulware

Our neighbor reported that is was easier to get a front row ticket to a Bruce Springsteen concert than to get an appointment for the covid vaccine! Sue got her Pfizer vaccine in Galloway, I received a Moderna vaccine at Krogers two days later. Does that mean we have a mixed marriage? We finally found an open spot for my sister-in-law in Zanesville!!!!

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

Kinda' feels like a lottery prize when you land a spot, doesn't it, Mike?  If anyone is trying to find a vaccination site, here's the number I called :  614-688-8299.  It's through OSU Wexner Hospitals.  Everything was pretty easy.  Had my first on Monday at the Schottenstein Center.  No problems AND I got to ptetend I was there for  a long-missed basketball game with the Buckeyes!!!

Stay well & safe. 
Clare

Michael McLeod

I wonder if it would be possible for you poor frozen folks up there to come to Florida and get some sunshine and a shot.

Bet you could.

They are shooting up folks 65 and over right and left down here, no questions asked.

I could smuggle a bunch of you across the border. Drive a truck up to Columbus, pile a few of you in the back, slip across the county line in the dark of night, turn my back yard into a refugee camp and put you up for a month for a small fee so you could get both your shots.

It's gangsta, sure. But that's how I roll, bitches. 

Michael McLeod

David Mitchell

I just read where Christopher Plummer died. That touches another fond memory. 

When I was pretty small we traveled east, and on the way visiting friends and distant reatives in New York, Boston, and Maine, we spent a few nights in Stowe Vermont at "Trapp Family Inn". I just barely remember Maria was an old white-haired lady and the two kids from the second marriage were teenagers. 

Before that, my Dad had bought their record album - from a concert he saw them at in Columbus.

So in 1965, they released the film, "Sound of Music". I was sceduled to go on a flight with a bunch of students from Central Ohio to Salzburg for a summer langauge program. I decided to take Tess Warrick - (McKeon) to see the film just before leaving. We loved it and my anticipation grew.

I spent a wonderful 8 weeks living in an apartment with a great roommate from Mansfield Senior High, going to German class 5 days a week, and exploring this gem of a city on our own time. It was fun to see the city up close that I had just watched in the film. When I got back, I took Tess to see the film again and this time commenting almost every moment about the locations I recognized in the scenes. Tess had to keep telling me to "shush" becasue I wa bothering the other viewers in the theater.

That summer of '65 in Salzburg is one of the fondest memories of my life, and watching a video clip from the movie really strikes a nerve in me. 

(The hilight of my summer was buying a pair of "Kastle Riesen-slaloms" (slalom racing skis) in a really cool ski shop.)

This is a shot I took from the ridge above the old city. The castle is primitive and virtually empty inside, but still creates a dramatic setting for the city below. 

Every Thursday nigth with students from all over the world at the "Augustiner Bruestuble" (huge beer hall in the basement of the Augustiner Church and Monastery - "soaking up the local culture".

Michael McLeod

Gorgeous part of the world, not far from where I was stationed.

Janie Albright (Blank)

Michael McLeod

Ha!

I'm two for two Janie. But it was a lot more fun bragging about the tickets. Kept my stub as a memory. With the vaccine I'm looking forward to the time when I can forget them, when it's no longer a brag. Can't wait till all of us put this thing behind us.

Historically, positive changes occur after pandemics, the most famous example being the Italian Rennaissance, which followed the ring-around-the-rosie, pocket-full-of-posies black plague. We could certainly use a blue-skies equivalent of our own once we're out of the woods. And I think we'll have one. Let's have the boomers go out with a boom.

Joseph D. McCarthy

Just wanted to give an update on one of the pictures I posted in Post #8574.

According to an editorial in this mornings "Press Democrat" (our local paper), in an article by the Master Gardners those Big Green Balls of leaves in many trees, oftern called Squirrels Nests are in fact European Mistletoe (for our latin scholars Viscum album).  It is a plant parasite introduced by Horticulturalist Luther Burbank.  He originally attached the plants to apple trees and they have spread from there.  It is spread by birds who eat the seeds.

Joe

James Hamilton, M. D.

Joe,

An invasive species! Does it kill the trees? 🤔

Well, I guess it is beats having a Burmese Python hanging above you on walks around the neighborhood. Or a virus invading your cells.

Is there a way to eliminate them? 

Jim 

Michael McLeod

I have balls.

I just walked out my front door to get a better look at them.

I can't speak for the rest of you guys but lots of us have them here, down south.

As long as there aren't too many of them in any one place they just dangle there, festively, and do no harm.

You, of all people, Jim, should know that.

Bonnie Jonas (Jonas-Boggioni)

Jim & Joe:  It does kill the trees!  We had a few "nests" - that the squirrelies loved - like that...they sucked the life out of the middle!  Had the have the entire tree chopped down, and the stumo ground!  I cried!  Beautiful shade on the front porch swing!

There is a girl scout troop that goes around town collecting them at Christmas and sells samples for a fund raiser!

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Good Sunday Morning!  I came across this article today and would be interested to know if this columnist's views reflect the views that most Democrats hold of anyone who supported the re-election of Trump.  

https://news.yahoo.com/column-trumpites-next-door-110012354.html

Michael McLeod

Bonnie:

There is one good thing about hurricanes: it blows all the parasite plants out of the trees.

Then again, not all the trees survive, so the cure is in some ways worse that the disease.

MM:

The animosity between right and left is more dangerous to us, and far more difficult to alleviate, than the virus.

And since it's Sunday - time for comix! You'll find the answer to your question in the link below.

See ya in the funny papers.

https://www.bpib.com/kelly.htm

James Hamilton, M. D.

Bonnie,

Losing a tree is, indeed, an emotional experience. They become part of homes and families much like a pet.

We have several different types of pine trees on our lot: Ponderosas, Mugos, Blue Spruce, Piñon and one which was commonly known as an Umbrella Pine (but actually a Tannenbaum Pine).

The winter of 2019-2020 had some days where the temperature dropped rapidly from the 70's to single digits which stresses coniferous trees and the poor Umbrella Pine died that following spring. All its needles turned brown and and the branches were hardened and void of any moisture. It had to be removed.

Have not yet decided what to do with the space. 

Mike- do you have any plastic pink flamingos that you can spare?

Jim

Michael McLeod

I don't think they'd do well where you live, Jim.

PS

My  dear dear friend is headed home from the hospital, finally.

Thanks again for helping me out on that. 

Joseph D. McCarthy

I wasn't aware that Colorado  Springs had two World Class Museums.  I guess a certain Doctor wants to keep it all to himself.  I have been to the American Numismatic Association Headquarters and Museum and I enjoyed it immensely.  Soory Dave the Philatellic Museum and Headquarters are in Pensylvania.

However, a friend just sent me a YouTube video of the "Dragonman's Military Museum" that is unbelievable. The video is about 12 minutes long as the Owner quickly walks though the museum and talks about what is in each display.  Among the items are about 26 Half-tracks, more than a dozen different jeeps, and uniforms from World War I through World War II, Korea, VietNam,  Afghanistan, Irag, etc...

From what you see the building must be immense.

The listing I got was:  HTTPS://M.ouTube.com/watch?vf9hUl5Fe1JOe

But try to find it on you tube if you can.

Joe

James Hamilton, M. D.

Joe McC,

Have not been to either of those but our fair city has several museums. One of the best is the National Museum of WWII Aviation. Been there twice and it still is expanding. They not only have almost every US  plane from that war, but also restore them to their original glory and - get this - fly them!

The newest museum, just opened a few months ago, is the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, housed in one of the most gorgeous and modern buildings in the world, built for this purpose.

And for those cowboy types, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame gives a glimpse at that sport and the cowboy's way of life. It is actually in our neighborhood.

Soon to be completed (and that has been quite an engineering and architectural feat) is the new Summit House atop of Pikes Peak. Glassed in with panes that can withstand 200 mph winds and treated with something that deters large birds (eagles) from flying into them and killing themselves, this is going to be one of the best places to visit here in Colorado Springs.

Check out all their websites. 

Jim 

​​​​

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Inspired by Catholic education at Bishop Watterson, students find new ways to help others

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/02/08/columbus-bishop-watterson-high-school-catholic-education-volunteering-covid-pandemic/4376432001/?fbclid=IwAR1WCb1M8-VUc7VBbkPmi0PKZYJRQEHe_0Vq3xXrT0UaXewE1-o9aj8-VlA

David Mitchell

Mary Margaret,

Wonderful article abou the kids from Watterson. 

It reminds me to suggest that all of us could be doing something. A really good way is to locate a nearlby food bank and simply take them some grocery suppies on a regular basis. I am really proud of my own church that is feeding about 240 families per week - all contributed by our fellow parishioners - mostly can goods and diapers. Lines of cars form every Monday and a group of fellow parishioners simply loads the cars as they drive through. 

But get this, I was sort of bragging to a new friend, the pastor of one of our all-Black churches, and asking how well his church's food donations were going.  

"We're doing prety well", he said . "Right now we are feeding close to 1,800 families per week". 

I was stunned!   And humbled.

David Mitchell

WARNING: This has nothing to do with anything, but I just feel like sharing.

Life is sweet !

About 6 or 8 years ago, (on my part-time driving job) I picked up a guy frrom Mexico named Carlos at Savannah Airport to bring back to his sister's house here in Bluffton. He needed to live cheap while he recovered from hard times. He had been a Major, and a pilot flying fighter jets in the Mexican Air Force (which I never even knew existed), but quit and retired because he refused to fire on indigenous people in the Mexican Government conflicts in the far southern reaches of rural Mexico. (I think those conflicts have been going on almost forever.) 

He got a job flying 747's for the Unitd Nations with food and medical supply shipments to Africa - making good money. They moved to Californian and opened a restaurant that his wife could run while he was away for long trips to Africa. Then she left him and didn't disclose that she had never filed business tax returns for the restautant. He was in deep financial trrouble. He was going to live here as cheap as possibe wiht his sister and brother in law, and sell cars at a local Toyota dealer till he could get back on his feet.

He was such and engaging guy and we sort of hit it off talking about flying. I felt sorry for the guy and took him out to dinner a few times at a local Mexican restaraunt. We coud have been good friends but we just gradually fell out of touch. 

Now get this.  After all these years, Carlos just called me from Mexico. He is back flying again - hauling a Mexican state governor around in a Falcon (French-built) exeutive jet. And he has a friend who has just offered him an even higher paying job flying Gulfstreams for some corporation. Meanwhile his daughter has graduated nursing school and is practicing in Califonria, and his son just graduated flight school in Mexico. 

We just had the best conversation. We admitted that we had actually both been thinking about each other for a few months.

I am simply stunned!   Ain't life a kick in the pants?