The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum.

Janie Albright (Blank)

John, speaking of Germany teaching and owning up to their past, I was surprised to hear that my neighbor's 94 year old mother still receives reparation payments from the German government because as a teen she was in a Romanian work camp. Her late husband also got them for his own mistreatment under the Nazis. These benefits do not carry over to spouse or children.  As that generation dies off they split the proceeds of this fund among the survivors.  As an example, her mom gets about $200 a month but then last year her payment from the fund at the end of the year was $15,000. 

David Mitchell

 Texas Senate acquits A.G. Ken Paxton.

WOW! 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Oh man........bad call or not......I love this ref!! 

"I'm talking to America here."  

https://twitter.com/i/status/1703492455599919508 

Michael McLeod

That is hilarious, mm!

what's so fabulous about it is how gentle he is - the soft voice, the little hand-to-shoulder, "move-along, son" pat, like he's consoling some grade school kid who just lost his lunch money. 

Dave: Your word for the day is: "blatant."

David Mitchell

Uhh, can somebody please explain to me how you can lose one of these?

John Maxwell

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Dave....you probably already have learned this by now:

 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/19/marine-corps-fighter-jet-lost/70898403007/

David Mitchell

 Mary Margaret,

I was aware of the news of the sighting. Good thing it was in a rural wooded area.

These new Ff-35s are the single most expensive fighter planes ever made (north of $80 million apiece - about 90% over budget, and 10 years late). 

(And with 450 pages of deficiencies, somehow being written off in the final year of production???) 

And the loudest!

All of the pilot training for this plane is done here at nearby Beaufort Marine Air Station, and they fly overhaed now and then. Wow, if the noise itself could be used as a weapon!

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

Jack,

Seems to me I also recall a few times when equipment or supplies mysteriously appeared - or disappeared. Gee whiz - magic!

Joseph D. McCarthy

A couple of thoughts to interrupt this lively discussion.

Someone once told me that coins are like life.  You can spend it anyway you want, but you can ONLY spend it once.

Dr. Jim.  A couple of the greatest scenic road trips I have taken are out west.  Altrhough going home last week from Ohio I encounter something new.  When we left Ankeny, IA, a suburb now of Des Moines, the sky was filled with a layer of smoke.  That smoke layer continued through Iowa, Nebraska, and into Wyoming.

But back to a few scenic routes.

I-70 from Denver all the way to Utah.  I-80 from Evanston, WY till you enter Salt Lake City, UT.  I-80 from Salt Lake City, through the Bonneville Salt Flats, to Elko, NV.  Route 50 from I-70 in Colorado through Nevada into Laake Tahoe, NV.  That's a few for now,  Jim, what others can you think of?  I'd ask Mike, but I'm sorry, Alligator Alley is NOT scenic.

Aside.  Dr. Jim I may have said it before, but I'm saying it again.  You chose the wrong profession.  Dentists make a whole lot more money and don't have to deal with all the sickness.  They also DON'T accept most insurance.  Last Thursday I went in and fifteen minutes later I received the bill for almost $1,000.00.  Yikes.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Joe McC.,

Hmmm... scenic drives in Colorado.

There are a lot of those and I have been on quite a few but, I admit I have not covered some of the ones west of the Continental Divide. To me, the most scenic views of this state are from the 4WD roads that perforate the forests and some of the mountains around the central Rockies.

There are some spectacular views from many of the paved roads so here are a few that are my favorites:

US Route 24 from Colorado Springs west, over Wilkerson Pass and to Buena Vista:

This is a shot from the rest area at the top of Wilkerson Pass. It overlooks an area known as South Park (and, yes there is a small town by that name at the bottom of the Pass on which the cartoon was based). South Park is the largest of three (Middle and North Parks) grassy basins between the Central Rockies, in the distance, and the Front Range.

The "Peak to Peak Highway, State Routes 7 and 72 from Estes Park at the eastern entrance to       Rocky Mountain National Park and going south to the gambling cities of Blackhawk and Central City:

It is listed as one of the best autumn aspen viewing areas in the state but wildlife can also be seen along the route.

At the west end of US Route 24 there is another area that has great views of the Collegiate Peaks:

Along State Route 67 going south from Divide, Colorado to Cripple Creek there are some excellent vista views of grazing land in addition to forests and mountain views:

Some of the old railroad passes which were dirt roads have recently been paved. This is a view from Guanella Pass which goes to Georgetown at its north end.

Obviously, these are but a few of the the "non-interstate" roads that present some excellent views of the Colorado landscape. So, Joe, maybe next trip from CA to OH you may want to slow down and get off those 75 MPH freeways and enjoy something a bit more calming!

Jim

Michael McLeod

wow. it sure makes me want to go there. the better your pictures are the more I know there's something just soul-enveloping about actually being out there in those wide open spaces. Try as I may I can't feel it; I can only guess at what a kick in the pants it must be for your soul to breath it in.

Joseph D. McCarthy

I knew my question was just the taunt to get Jim to show some more of his fabulous pictures, especially of Colorado.

But my intent was to open up a discussion of, mainly U.S.A., scenic roads that classmates have, or still, travel on.  Can't anyone? Or do we have to open it to include Canada or Finland.

I know there are some other great scenic roads in Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and yes Michigan.

And once again Mike - Alligator Alley is NOT really scenic.

Michael McLeod

JOE: I posted a vaguely obscene retort to your message that I erased when I was in more of a grownup mode given that  even though you besmirched Florida as a possible scenic drive possibility I knew in my heart you were right about that. in years past, make that decades past, there were indeed seaside stretches that I might have nominated for your "see the usa in your chevrolet, america is the greatest land of all" list. 

I forget the rest of the rest of the lyrics of that advertising song, which is no great loss,  but as the years have gone by much of the wild Florida I once knew is gone, which is very much of a loss indeed.

There are times when I cheer the hurricanes on.

I can do that because I have the luxury of living in a single story, concrete block home in the middle of the state.

I think I may have posted this already but I'm still marvelling at the fact that we had hailstones a few nights ago and I sat on my back porch listening to them rattle on the roof and watching them splash into my swimming pool.

GO BUCKS BEAT ND!!!!!

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dear Honored Columnist living in that great state, which happens to have a looney toones leading it for now, Florida.

There are many wonderful and scenic roads and by-ways in Florida.  I just place Alligator Alley as something the state Bureau of Tourism should stop ever mentioning again.  Put more emphasis on the route through the Keys.  It is eye awakening.  There are otherslike the route from St. Augustine to Fort Lauderdale along the coast.  Yes it's probably got rush hour traffic now at 3:00 A.M., but I thought it was terrific.

On the other hand, or since before the deleted memo.  Mike, I read what you said, but when I looked at the moon, only half a moon showing through even the smoke filled skies, I wondered if you hadn't gotten to close to the wild life along Alligator Alley.  And I don't mean the Anacondas.

And by the way, you'll notice I didn't, YET, talk about roads in California.

Robert Berkemer

Here's a couple picture's for Mark Schweickart who I missed hooking up with because of my photo trip to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Sorrt Mark but I was thinking of ya. Maybe next year.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Bob B.,

Those are fantastic shots!

Looks like you were staying up late for that aurora photo and getting up early for the rocky shore one. Dedication to the art of photography!

By the way, do you have a website to view your images?

Jim

Mark Schweickart

Bob -- First of all, wow, spectacular photos! Secondly, our trip to the Minneapolis area got interrupted a bit this year, so I may not have had time to squeeze in a visit with you anyway.  We had a couple of physical setbacks. A gout attack hobbled my mobility for a while , but far worse was that my poor wife Maddy suffered a couple of gallbladder attacks that finally landed us in the emergency room for one long day.
So, as you said, maybe next time. 
P. S. The good news is that now that we're home my gout has cleared up, and far more importantly, I am happy to say that Maddy successfully underwent laparoscopic surgery yesterday to have her gallbladder removed, and was able to be discharged after only a couple of hours, slept well last night, and is and is up and around and recovering nicely today. That laparoscopic procedure is quite amazing.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Great Discussions!

Roadtrips, Scenic Drives, Landscapes and Photography, Wildlife and Gators, Western Theme Lunch Boxes, Gout and Gall Bladders, - all we need are some discussions on music and this could go on for many posts so I'll add some of that to this one.

I'll start with roadtrips and photos. As we drive along so many scenic highways and byways of this vast country we are presented with thousands of places that are "drop dead gorgeous" but we seldom have the opportunity or the time to stop and really examine and appreciate their beauty.

There are a lot of different types of landscapes in photography but those one sees while driving are often of the "grandscape" category. These are the type that you would see out in open areas or coming down a hill into a large area devoid of trees. Landscapes as such can be just about anything outside that involves hills, trees, mountains, water or mixures of these elements. Intimate Landscapes tend to focus on subunits of larger landscapes that are often not readily noticed by the casual viewer. Bob's image in Post #13192 of the water washing over some interesting rocks near the shore is a good example.

In Post #13188, Mike McL. used the term "wide open spaces" which brought to my mind cowboy music. There are many "Chuckwagon Dinner" venues out west and they are a hoot to attend. Cowboy music is usually a central part of these events after the crowds have dined on food and coffee cooked in the traditional way and served on tin plates and in tin cups. The Flying W Ranch - which was once a working ranch - still puts on these dinners and shows with the Flying W Wranglers providing the music and song. They are second to the Sons of the Pioneers in their notoriety for such music. Such music always includes some spiritual songs and the Wranglers do a great job on "The Place Where I Worship are the Wide Open Spaces Built by the Hands of the Lord". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfpzUUtYVqg

There are a lot of different types of Country Music and most times people will think about Appalachia and Nashville as the places it is popular. Western themed cowboy music is not as popular but we all grew up with it listening to Roy and Dale, Gene Autry and those theme tunes to the western shows on television in the '50's and '60's. Looking at those lunchbox pictures recently posted here makes one think of the music we remember from "Davy Crockett", "The Rifleman", "Jim Bowie" and, of course "Bonanza"!

Many of the artists that sang of the "Old West" and Southwest have passed on. Waylon Jennings, Marty Robbins and so many others are gone. But Willie Nelson is still doin' his thing! Remember the Redford/Jane Fonda movie "Electric Horseman" ? Willie sang the song at the end where Redford was hithchiking along a lonesome highway as the helicoptor camera backed up revealing a grandscape. That song was "My heroes Have always Been Cowboys", if I remember correctly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFDq0VMV-Vc

That's enough for now.I guess I'll pass on gout and gall bladders. I have had plenty of patients with these painful conditions and Mark described them well.

Have a great week,

Jim

Joseph D. McCarthy

Jim your discussion of Western Music reminded me of a set of CD's I picked up while in Columbus. 

A little background.  Whenever we visit Columbus, among the places we always visit is two to five of the Half Price Book store (a nattional chain of books, magazines, DVD;s, CD's & other).  My wife goes for books she wants to read and I end up drifitng over to the "Clearance" CD's.

One of the CD sets I spotted, and purchased, this year was a boxed set of five CD's for $5.00.  I figured I could listen to them then sell them, for $3.00, to a friend who likes all kinds of Country AND Western.  The CD's are the complete recordings from the "Father of Western Swing - Milton Brown and the Musical Brownies" (1932 - 1937).  One of the 1935 songs they recorded was "Down By the O-Hi-O".

Corrected.

John Jackson

Is it just me or do others find it just a tad hypocritical that Jim Jordan and the Republicans aren't falling all over themselves to denounce the Menendez indictment as yet another example of the weaponization of the Justice Department?

Robert Berkemer

Jim,   I actually enjoy being outdoors in the wilds in the middle of the niight. Makes me feel alive. Also, for me, the best times of daay for photos is either early morning or evening when the sun provides warmer colors and the contrast between light and dark isn't so great. Of course, there are those wet, grey Fall days when the color seems to pop. Maybe this week yet! ;-).  I haven't set up a flicker account yet. I mostly just post pics from time to time on my FB page or send them to close friends.

Robert Berkemer

Holy cow Mark!  Gout is miserable anytime but worse when traveling. I had one attack while winter camping on the south gulf coast of Texas and every since then I ttake a pill a day to help avoid that happening again. Hope your wife recovers quickly from the operation. As I recall, it's six weeks or so afterward that you can't lift anything so you're on deck! ;-). Maybe we'll crooss paths next year.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Bob B., ​​​​​​

Totally agree with those early morning and evening (golden and red hour) shoots. Works great with backlit autumn aspens and sunrises on mountain peaks. 

As I have said, you are more daring - and successful - than I with those nighttime photos. I used to do a little bit of that (when I was much younger) and it does produce some excellent and interesting photo opportunities. The first year I was in Colorado I drove my '73 Mustang a few miles up the Gold Camp Road - a dirt 4WD trail that goes from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek - late one night and did some flash photos of golden-leafed aspens in total darkness. Later I learned that area was quite a site for drug dealing at night. And here I thought critters would be my only danger!

Jim

Joseph Gentilini

The pictures are absolutely beautiful..  Thanks for sharing them, Jim.

On John Jackson post about the hypocrisy of Jim Jordan and the republicans, I totally agree!!

Joe

Michael McLeod

John:

Not sure what all the fuss is. What's a gold bar or two between friends? 

Makes a great paperweight.