The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

Although politics and religion are not completely off-limits, classmates are asked to be positive in their posts and not to be too repetitive or allow a dialog to degenerate into an argument. 

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Hollis Carolyn Heyn

Wayne Gary

David, Bob

I understand you feelings.  I have a company supplied "Dumb Phone" (I refuse to call them a smart phone because they are dumbing America down) I use it for phone calls and text messages and an occasional picture.

Several years ago a major medical school did a servey of ER rooms and found the number one cause of injuries resulting in and ER visit were caused by walking and messing with their phone.

Two very good examples happened in Dallas

1: Dallas police oficer Amber Geiger left work and started texting and talking to her boyfriend all of the way home where she drove to the wrong parking level then went to the wrong apaartment on the wrong floor and ended up shooting and killing Botham Jean.  I flying we call this because of her messing with her phone she lost positional awareness (She got lost)

2: Two weeks after Amber Geiger was convicted am off duty Dallas Police Office at 1;30pm (middle of bright sunny day) while messing with his phone in downtown Dallas stepped in front of a DART train and was run over and luckey to only receive minor injuries.

Wayne Gary

Bob, David

I may have put this on the site before.

Several years ago the Texas A&M engineering college went to the math department and had them prepair a math evaluation test for all incomming freshmen in engineering to see what level of math skills they have.  About 75% if the kids passed the evluation but a lot of them were struggling with the math classes.  The asked if the kids were allowed to have phones and the answer was yes.  The engineering college said don't let them have the phones as there were apps with the answers. The first year the kids were not allowed to have their phones 50% did not pass and had to start in remedial math classes to get them up to speed. Thus is one reason I call them "Dumb Phones"

David Cordell

This is the hallway that my classroom is on. I took this photo at 2:20 PM on Wednesday, between my class that ends at 2:15, and the one that starts at 2:30.

Bob Davidson

Last night we went to our favorite neighborhood Mexican restaurant, Teotihuican on Airline.  I love the place and go there about once a week.  There was one of those menu squares on the table, and the waitress brought us a menu, which hasn't happened since they reopened after the Chinese virus shutdown.  We don't need a menu since we know what we like, but it was nice.  Terry said she thought we got the menus because we are old.

When I thanked the waitress for the menu, she said that the manager told them that one of the biggest complaints they get is from people who hate looking at the menu on their phones.  She said that the only ones who like doing the little squares are "bolillo hipsters" or "eepstehrz."   She didn't seem to say that as a term of endearment. 

Incidentally, the clientelle is about 70% Mexican-American and Spanish is the usual language; the staff 100%.  I usually speak Spanish to the ones who seem uncomfortable in English -- my favorite waiter likes to make jokes about my favorite order -- the Tejano -- "un orden del Tejano por el Tejano." 

"Bolillo" is Mexican-American slang for Anglo-Americans -- it literally means the whitebread rolls they use for tortas.  

My secretary is a third-generation Texan of Mexican ancestry; she was unfamiliar with the term "Anglo" for white people.  Our non-hispanic Boy Scouts are afraid to use the word "Mexican" -- they always say "Hispanic" -- like "we went out to Ninfas and had Hispanic food last night." They think it's racist -- their parents often say "Latinix" which sounds like mispronouncing paint.  The Hispanic kids call themselves Mexican or Mexican-American or puro mexicano with pride except for the Cubans. 

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Bob,

That's quite an interesting little restaurant you have there.  Around here, people will ask, "Do you want to have Tex-Mex tonight for dinner?"

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

I was just reading online about how "60 Minutes" aired an interview on their Australian TV program this past weekend, that contained an interview with Tara Reade, the lady Biden sexually assaulted back in the late '80s, but that CBS decided NOT to 'air' in the US, just wks. before our election.

Why did CBS think Australia would want to learn of this lady's accusations, but that we, here, did not need to hear of it?

Talk about jounalistic integrity or impartiality in reporting!?

I was also reading about how Mark Kelly, the former astronaut, running as a Democrat against Republican Martha McSally in Arizona, is NOT speaking anywhere, as he campaigns, about how he is going to introduce strict gun control legislation once he is in office, if he wins.

Most folks in Arizona have guns, since their area is known to have need for their citizens to have defense weapons for protection on their properties, so Kelly is apparently not being honest about his intentions upon reaching office.  In addition, Sen. Schumer is giving boatloads of money to the Kelly campaign.

I'm shocked!

Lowell Tuttle

Janalu, I assume you realize who Mark Kelly is...husband of Gabby Gifford, wounded congresswomen who lead  anti gun legislation, and an astronaut...

There are Republicans in favor of gun legislation.  jfyi

Bob, that area is where my CPA offices.  I was just over there.   Also, my brother in law lives on Euclid in Woodland Heights.  

Lyerly is where her co habitor is. (my CPA)

Quite an eclectic area...

I just broke a 6 month string of no eating out.  Ate on the patio of 3 Amigos on 290 and Fairbanks and at on the porch/patio at Lupe Tortillas here in Champions.

Both Tex-Mex but completely different. 

I had enchilads/taco combo at both.   Also Queso.

Speaking of Queso.  Best in Houston is (IMHO) at Velvet Elvis on Washington...There's coconut in it believe it or not...

I am marinating fajitas at this moment...

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Yes, Lowell,

I know that Mark Kelly is Gabby Gifford's husband, but I still don't know why he wouldn't want to divulge the info that he intends to begin gun restiction legislation.

Actually, I do know.  Why do YOU think he wouldn't want to talk about his intentions?  Could it be that he might not be given much consideration by Arizona voters if they knew?  It could very well be that they DO know what one of his main objectives will be, so they are probably wiser than we think, and way ahead of us, with good common sense and able minds nor fried by the heat of the day.

Do you marinate your fajita meat in Coca-Cola and garlic?  Do you make your own guacamole to slather on top after the meat is done?  Do you cook your onions on the grill too?

Um-m-m-m-m!  Yummy!

Wayne Gary

Lowell

Here is the testimony before the Texas Legislature by Dr. susan Gratia. a suvivor of the Luby Cafetera in Kileen.  Very compelling

Bob Davidson

Lowell,

Euclid is parallel to my street, Merrill, but five blocks south.  For the past ten weeks I've been taking the dogs, seprately, bike riding around the neighborhood every evening.  I have a different route with each dog.  Euclid is one of the streets the standard poodle and I go down. 

Part of the charm of Near-Northside of Houston is the interesting interactions of working class Mexican-Americans with upper income Anglos, particularly the trustifarians.  The traditional residents are being squeezed out by rising taxes and rents; they don't like that and blame it on wht they think of as the rich hipsters.

Teo's has my favorite queso -- it's like Ninfa's, yellow goopy cheese cheese.  I've never been to Velvet Elvis or had it with coconut. 

Debbie Cathey (Havens)

Debbie Cathey (Havens)

Wayne Gary

Debbie

During the debate when trump asked Biden about the socialist planks in the Dem Platform his response (lie) was I am the party and platform and I don't go with the socialist planks.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Biden is trying to put as much distance between himself and the Socialist/Marxists as he can, but the ugly little secret is, he can't!!  They OWN him and CONTROL him!  He's just a convenient puppet used to fool the Senior citizens into thinking he is a centrist or moderate, as well as the snowflake women who are scared of their own shadows or dying of Covid.  The scaredy-cats can't seem to understand that 98-99% of people who get Covid recover.  Besides, we've all been told that all you have to do is wear a mask and distance, so if you do that, what's the everpresent FEAR about?  Most of you younger folks can go to work wearing a mask, and scoot your desk over in the corner away from you colleagues.  If they approach you, shoot them with a squirtgun!

Lowell Tuttle

Janalu.  For the record it is about 2.2% of the population so far who have had Covid 19.

2.8 percent of them have died.

The percentage is much higher amonst elderly and health risk individuals.

The long term effects of even mildly symptomatic covid cases have only just now begun to reflect damages to the heart, lungs, and brain functions over a lifetime.

We are only six or seven months in.

The 2.8% figure is assuming all who now have it will live...and some will not.

Lowell Tuttle

I was curious about the Tampa Bay Rays, MLB team and their name.

They used to be the Devil Rays.  

They used to be terrible. 

A new owner in 2007 changed (for marketing) the name dropping Devil and making the team logo a "ray" of light.

The next season they went to the world series.

Now you know.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Lowell,

It has been revealed that many who have died recently, may have had Covid symptoms, but did not die of Covid.  Rather, they died of pneumonia, kidney failure, cancer, diabetes complications, heart problems, obesity complications, etc., (mainly because they were elderly and already afflicted with health issues that weakened their bodies) and they were put into the Covid death column, as a way of purposely inflating the Covid column numbers, just so Democrats could use the supposed number of "Covid deaths" as a way to smear and demean Trump as election day grows closer.  The total number of actual Covid deaths is being reviewed currently, so in time, we will have the true number of Covid-caused deaths.  Since you only listen to or read the mainstream media, and refuse to listen to conservative news which you consider false news, then of course, you haven't heard what I am telling you now.  We Conservatives have known now, for some time, that the actual number of COVID DEATHS, is much, much lower that the number the mainstream media is reporting each day, with great haste and fervent 'we-told-ya-so' smugness, as they continue to present Trump to be evil, (and just like Hitler).... disgusting, and a cruel man, who has no regard for his fellow American citizens, since he does not wear a mask very often. (He doesn't wear a mask very often because he wants to, as I said, present a symbol of fearlessness and strength, not only to Americans, but to foreigners who are watching. He KNOWS that all who enter his 'area' have been screened, so he KNOWS that his risk is low, and he can safely be mask-less, in most instances.)  It is simply a lie of the media you embrace, that he is portraying a person who doesn't care about others.  Instead, he has told others to wear a mask for safety, or assume risk to personal health, and the health of others.  Trump has wanted to portray a symbol of optimistic strength to his country as its leader, rather than a defeated, fearful guy, cowering in his home, unable to come outside to face the day with a Communist-lab-manufactured virus purposely released into our atmosphere to cause us fear and economic upheaval, while the Communists sit back, laughing at the results of their evil deed.

Lowell Tuttle

Janalu, that's quite a spin.

I went to CDC on the internet for my figures.   Just the facts mam, please.

We brew a strange kind of conspiratorial side of politics down here in Texas.  I find it amusing.  Actually, an article on just this subject today in the NY Times.

Graphs on pols showing wide margins of Trump's own boomer's leaving his ranks due to the Covid understated affects he maintains. 

I know pols lie, or rather are misleading...sometimes.

Bob Davidson

Janalu and Lowell,

It looks to me like they are mixing up people who died with COVID and people who died of COVID.

Debbie Cathey (Havens)

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

As for the Covid deaths, I know of two people who have died from Covid.  Both are relatives of my son's girlfriend.  My cousin died of the flu a couple of years ago.  Both are dangerous viral infections.  When you know someone whose had the virus, or you know of someone who died from it, it becomes real.  Very real.  If you are over 65, you are at greater risk of not only dying of Covid, but have complications that last for weeks and possibly for months.  If you are overweight, have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or have a compromised immune system, you are at an even greater risk of death.  I take the numbers very seriously, and by that, the number of deaths, and infections.   I don't think the numbers are inflated one bit.  I would even go a step further and say, that particularly in Texas, the "officials" have gone out of their way to underplay the infection, death rate and recovery rate.  The algorithms they use keep changing and are questionable.  The last thing we need is to spread the word that it is a version of the flu and it is nothing to fear.  A healthy respect for the possiblity of death or years of complications sounds like a more sensible approach.  Wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands and stay away from large confinded groups of people in areas not well ventilated.
 

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Bob,

You, Debbie and I agree completely, and we have come to our conclusions without the NYT, which reports the Democrat spin every day, instead of the truth.

Steve Keene

Bob, Janalu and Debbie and especially Sandra,

The release of the documents by the government today reveal the extent of the criminal coup attempted by the FBI, the CIA, Hillary Clinton, various high ranking generals,the media and the former Vice President and President of the United States against a lawfully elected President and beginning when he was a just a potential candidate.

Evidence shows that Hillary Clinton hatched the scheme to divert attention from her destroying of evidence including hard drives, servers and phones that were used by her to conduct illegal business with foreign governments in exchange for donations to her family beneficial "charity" or for exhorbitant fees for speaking engagements for her husband.

In most countries in the World, which the Democrats want to be more like and actively try to cede control of our due process to their global government, failed coups are rewarded with executions for the perpetrators for treason.  I think this punishment is too harsh for all but the leader who hatched the idea.  Now that the truth has come out, the more pressing question is knowing that this was going on and that the Russian collusion was a complete fraud, how did Joe Biden and Barrack Obama sit idle and do nothing to stop this miscarriage of justice for four years?  The bigger question than that is now that the facts of the whole fraud are out, what kind of individual could actually vote for lying, conniving Joe Biden knowing these facts?

We need to have an election on November 3rd, but the election should be for which Federal Institution gets to confine Joe for the rest of his natural life.  They do not execute individuals of diminished mental accuity.

David Cordell

Can anyone provide a review/analysis of the debate tonight?