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. 

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

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Bob D.,

Unbelievable!   I have a brother who is an attorney, but the cases he tells us about are not nearly as interesting as your cases.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Ron,

Marjorie was delusional to say those idiotic beliefs.

She should adhere to the truth of what the Republicans believe.

She is hanging by a thread, and she had better get her act together, or she is toast, and will be going home to Georgia.

Don't believe everything you read, and only half of what you hear.

Read the official Republican platform dictate.

David Cordell

Bob D.,

I've don't think I have deleted more than a couple of posts per year, the most recent for deliberately using language that I had specifically discouraged.

I have deleted, or asked the poster to delete, posts that were too insulting to another poster. On many occasions I have asked the poster to edit what they wrote. I once deleted a post by the late Royce Herndon because I knew that he was unaware of something about another classmate, or he wouldn't have posted what he did. I contacted him immediately after the deletion. He understood and thanked me.

One person incessantly made abusive ad hominem attacks against Trump. It wasn't liberal versus conservative, though. After numerous futile private attempts to get him to ease up, I temporarily suspended his posting privileges in hopes that he would back off a bit. He reacted by demanding that I remove him from the site entirely. I warned him that the website host (ClassCreator) automatically deletes all posts of someone who is removed from the website, but he insisted. Thus, all of his posts were deleted because of his own decision, not by my decision. (I have an email trail on that.) I think I have only temporarily suspended one other person, not for anything liberal, and he came back.

Regarding liberal versus conservative, I'm happy for anyone to express their reasoned opinions, but I strongly discourage ad hominem attacks. liberal or conservative. In answer (finally) to your question, no, I don't consider liberal opinions to be inherently abusive and deserving of deletion. Ill-conceived, of course, but not necessarily abusive. Lowell posts lots of liberal thoughts, and he is always welcome. Sandra chimes in once in a while also. Royce was the king, though. He was very knowledgeable and presented his thoughts well. Mainly, he was also relentless. You can run a search on his name at the magnifying glass at the top of the page if you are interested.

I stand by the message at the top of the Message Forum page. In short, let's be nice.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

I just heard on the news that 3,500 illegals have come to our southern border today.  Many of them are gathered in the Rio Grande area, and the Border Patrol is trying to place them in holding barracks.  The Patrol says many of them will be given ankle monitors and released, probably within a few days, since the Patrol tells us others are on their way, ushered up here by 'Coyotes' and drug cartels, who take money from the folks who have been promised utopia. (A lie!)

Right now, the Patrol says the folks entering into Texas will most likely be released, since that is what the Democrat Party is looking forward to, as they want to turn Texas "blue,' in time; in short time if they can manage it.  They want our state to be "blue" to benefit their selfish desire to gain our large number of votes during elections.  The Dems want to control the way that our voters are influenced to vote, rather than allowing our state to determine whatever our state shall decide on our own, in the ways we inform our new residents; the ways we introduce them to the Texan way of life & our building of blended TX traditions.  They are FORCING us to turn "blue" with demographic changes that they inflict upon us, against our will to take in illegals en masse, with no say as to what they are doing to our state.   

We want our state to gain immigrants through LEGAL immigration.  We want immigrants to be placed equally, divvied up among all US states so that no one state is over-burdened, and we desire that the immigrants enter our state with an eager desire to assimilate.  We don't want hoards of foreigners to be forced into our state, remaining in enclaves where assimilation often does not occur. 

Forcing Texas to become "blue," is not an American tradition that we Texans agree to!!  It is a foul, despicable effort of Democrats, and it is disgusting!!!  The Democrats are "madly driven" with their newly gained win, and are drunk with power of "running over" Texan citizens they consider to have no voice or rights to determine the development of our own state.  We have seen what absolute power does..... 

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

If we're not suppose to seek midnight snacks, why is there a light in the refrigerator?

Every year in the middle of February something sweet and wonderful happens!

Lots of yummy candy goes on sale for half-price!

Wayne Gary

Janalu and others

Here is a link to a list of all of the bills pertaining to gun ownership in the Texas Legislature.

Some needed some bad and some insane.

New Texas Gun Law Proposals for 2021... (uslawshield.com)

David Cordell

What is an assault weapon?

Wayne, what is the significance of "centerfire" in the definition below? I don't know much about firearms, but I think centerfire ammunition can be reloaded, i.e. you can re-use the brass casing of the bullet. Is that right? Is the author discouraging this? Seems like sustainability to me!!

I can see including a grenade launcher in the definition, but some specs seem to me to be ergonomic improvements to rifles, e.g. pistol grip.

Anyway, House Bill 142 sponsored by Terry Meza of Oak Cliff defines assault weapon like this.

Sec. 46.055.  UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OR TRANSFER OF ASSAULT WEAPON. 

(a)  In this section, "assault weapon" means:

(1)  a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine that has:

(A)  a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the firearm;

(B)  a folding or telescoping stock;

(C)  a thumbhole stock;

(D)  a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand;

(E)  a flash suppressor; or

(F)  a grenade launcher or flare launcher;

(2)  a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine that holds more than 10 rounds of ammunition;

(3)  a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches;

(4)  a semiautomatic shotgun that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine;

(5)  a semiautomatic shotgun that has a folding or telescoping stock and has:

(A)  a thumbhole stock; or

(B)  a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand;

(6)  a semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has:

(A)  a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand;

(B)  an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

(C)  a threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer; or

(D)  a shroud that is attached to or partially or completely encircles the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned;

(7)  a semiautomatic pistol that has a fixed magazine that holds more than 10 rounds of ammunition;

(8)  a revolving cylinder shotgun; or

(9)  a conversion kit, part, or combination of parts from which an assault weapon can be assembled or with which a firearm may be converted into a weapon described by Subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8).

(b)  For purposes of this section, "assault weapon" does not include any rifle, shotgun, or pistol that has been rendered permanently inoperable.

(c)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:

(1)  possesses an assault weapon; or

(2)  sells, offers to sell, or otherwise transfers an assault weapon.

(d)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(e)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor engaged in the conduct while engaged in the actual discharge of official duties, or directly en route to or from the person's place of assignment, as:

(1)  a peace officer; or

(2)  a member of the armed forces or state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code.

(f)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (c)(1) that the actor lawfully possessed the assault weapon on August 31, 2021.

(g)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.

Bob Davidson

David,

Thank you for your response.  I personally like to hear people's opinions, especially the ones who disagree with me in a well-reasoned, polite manner.  Royce was like he was way back when -- fun to read, even if I thought he was misguided.  Wayne I don't remember from school, but he expresses opinions in a reasonalble and enjoyable way.  Janalu I also don't remember, but she is passionate and very articulate and fun to read.  Steve K is smart and still has his amusing touch of sarcasm I remember from our youth. Lowell I remember as a nice guy and doesn't seem to have changed; he is always thoughtful and worth reading even if I don't agree with him.  Sandra is great about citing what she thinks is superior authority, I enjoy hearing what she thinks -- even though no actual conservative believes that her fact checkers are anything other than liberal propagandists.  Bob F is somewhat funny and interesting, again like I remember him, if often wrong. Kurt was someone I thought was smart in his youth and is still.  Lance is the same old Lance we fondly remember from high school and college.  You are thoughtful and reasoned.  I have a provocative streak and sort of can't help it, but always enjoy the non-abusive postings. 

Bob Davidson

David -- centerfire is probably to distinguish larger calibre weapons from .22.  (.22 is rimfire, with the pimer in the rim of the cartridge; most larger ammo is centerfire with the primer in the center, so that the firing pin strikes there.)

All -- I've been watching a TV show I really like on Amazon Prime the last few weeks.  New Tricks is a British mystery-comedy about a group of retired detectives called back to investigate unsolved murder cases.  It's funny, I like the characters, and the mysteries are interesting to keep me watching.  I think we are the demographic it is aimed at.  The theme song: 

It's alright, it's okay,
It doesn't really matter if you're old and grey.
It's alright, I say, it's okay,
Listen to what I say.

It's alright, we're doing fine,
It doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine.
It's alright, I say, it's okay,
We're getting to the end of the day.

High tech, low tech, take your pick,
Cause you can't teach an old dog a brand new trick.
I don't care what anybody says (at the end of the day).
There's a place that I can't find find,
A drink or two to ease my mind.
Golden days.

It's alright, take your time,
Everybody thinks that you've passed your prime.
It's alright, it's ok,
You've still got plenty to say.

Lowell Tuttle

Bob, Susie and I watched New Tricks all the way through a finishing a few weeks ago.   I could enjoy re watching a lot of them.

Moving here to Houston in 1978, I hung out downtown (Shepherd at Kipling...Rudyards) and began darting.  A lot of Brits from all over UK.   Plus, my nextdoor neighbor was Liverpuddlian.   For years I hung out at the Richmond Arms and darted with all kinds of British, Aussie, Irish, Scottish, New Zealand type accents and brogues.

Being a port and heavy energy town, Houston brought a lot of UK'ers over the past 40 years.

But I have to admit that even with my Smart TV tuned in loud, I had a hard time understanding those BBC shows, especially when the speaker had a deep tone. 

Recently, we did The Expanse (five seasons) and really enjoyed.   A lot of differene t accents in that show too.

Also, we did Poldark,  Outlander,  and others where sometimes the broughe (sic?) gets so thick we sometimes got lost in the dialogue.

New Tricks seems like it migh be good to go back and re watch a few.

Wayne Gary

David,

The only rim fire cartiges are the 17 WRM and 22 LR, Short, Winchester Mag.  17 and 22 refer to the diameter of the bullet indecimal inches.  22 LR is .22" dia.  There are centerfire like the 223 Winchester which is the same as the 556mmNATO .  This is .223 " dia and has a heavier bullett and higher muzzle velocity.

There are several manufacturers that make an AR15 style rifle in 22LR which people get dress up.  The AR platform gets referred to as the "Barbie doll  for shooters" since ther are som many accessories available.

He mentions suppressors/scilencers.  They are regulated by the Federal Government as well as fully automatic guns.  Texas allows hunters to use suppressors while hunting. 

The bill is trying to autlow many guns used for home protection and sport and hunting. The AR15 style in either 556mm/223 or 30blackout are the most popular guns used in wild hog hunting. This bill follows the Clinton gon uontrol bill which was a complete failure and abolished.  It was supossed to reduce crime but had almost no effect.

All of true "Assult Weapons" are fully automatic.  In Texas you can own a fully automatic firearm if you have the Federal License.

In order to have a fully automatic firearm or silencer you have to file a form withe the ATF along with fingerprints.  They do a background check then send the information to the County Sheriff who then does a background check and if everything checks out and you are a good citizen with no criminal record you can then buy and posess the gun or silencer. You cannot sell or transfer the item except through a Class III firearms dealer. 

David, Give me a call and I can go over more details.  I am still willing to give you some instruction.

Wayne Gary

Bob and Lowell,

New Tricks is a fun show and KERA ch 13 (PBS) is now running the series for about the 3rd or 4th time.There is another show on KERA called "Death in Paradise" It takes place on a Carribean Island.

Wayne Gary

David,

There are several cases headed to the US Supreme Court over other states outlawing these guns and attachments.

The AR 15 (looks like the military M16 or M4) has become the most popular rifle in the US as well as most police departments issue them to their patrol officers.

I think both of your pistols would fall under the definition. 

If passed the bill does not mention buying back the outlawed guns .  The AR style guns can cost between $600.00 and $4000.00 and ther are several million owned by honest citizens in Texas.

The folding or collapsing stock is very handy.  I have a AR15style with a collapsing stock which makes it easy for me to shoot with fully extended or partially collapsed if I am in heavy coat or like when I took Lance and his son shooting.  By collapsing the stock it then fit Christopher.  The 223 is capibatable of hunting deer and has a low recoil so a 10yr old can shoot and hunt with.

Wayne Gary

Here is the e-mail I sent to Angie Chen-Button, my rep

I am in favor of the following House Bills dealing with guns and related laws.

Guns are Essential during a Disaster: HB 26, HJR40, HB340, HB629

Red flag : HB336, HB579

License to Carry”: HB 821, HB 825

Constitutional Carry : HB 1238

Expansion of Defense Rights : HB796

I am against the following bills:

Gun Sales: HB 52, HB218, HB 213, HB760, HB118, HB 606, SB 242

SB162, HB 347, HB880, HB883  Already federal offence

HB 227

LTC HB 1101, HB603

Carrying of Firearms HB127, HB213, HB791

Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Magazines: HB172, HB231, HB241, HB178, HB234

Firearm Storage: HB185, HB693

Self Defense: HB196,

Repeal of Campus Carry: HB201

Statutory Preemption: HB238

Wayne Gary

David,

To clear up some misconceptions.  AR15 does not stand for assult rifle 15.   AR stands for Armalite, Inc rifle model 15 (semi-automatic).  Armalite sold the design to Colt to supply the US Army a fully automatic variant called M16.

Wayne Gary

Bob and Lowell

In case you missed the pilot here is some background.

Sandra was leading kidnap rescue when she shot a dog.  As a result she was punished by starting UCOS. Her fathyer was a policeman who was killed in the line of duty.

Jack Holford is a retired Dective Superentendant whose wife was run over in a ganster retrubution

Brian Lane is a recovering alcoholic with and excellent memory of things.

Jerry Standing is and old fasioned cop.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Hey Lowell,

What are you cookin' up for the Super Bowl Game?

Are you grillin' huge, juicy beef ribs, or short ribs out on your backyard pit?

Are you gonna' have one of those pretty, footed trifle bowls with a multi-layered dip for scarfing with pita chips or crudities?

Or are you about to prepare a nice homemade onion dip that every America enjoys with some ice cold cerveza?

I'll bet you have something new to try out!  

Clue us in, if you don't mind, okay?   We enjoy new things to try out, with our guests....

Did you find some recipe online that gotcha' interested?

Have you ever brewed your own beer with one of those little homemade brewing kits?  Do those really work?

Just curious.....

David Cordell

Bob D and Wayne,

I watched the first episode of New Tricks on Amazon Prime tonight. Enjoyed it. Small point. I recognized the guy who plays Brian, but the reference is pretty obscure. There was a 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Mis in London's Royal Albert Hall in 1995.  We have the DVD.The guy who plays Brian in New Tricks (Alun Armstrong) played Thenardier in that concert, and he also originated the role in the West End. He was especially good in Les Mis.

Steve Keene

Janalu

I brewed beer back in my drinking days.  The problem was you spend hours and hours with all kinds of procedures to brew beer and have to buy the bottles, buy the caps, mix and ferment the ingredients and then wait forever.  As I recall we drank ten cases of Keystone Red Beer in the tall cans before we got the case of beer brewed.  The beer tasted like beer, but more like 409 brand or Mickey's Big Mouth slightly watered down.  From my drnking buddy's and my point of view, it was way more trouble than it was worth.  I think he tried to brew a second batch with a Craft Citrus Flavor theme, but I had him beat with a Lime in a Corona.

You can relate it to making your own carmel on the stove top and melting it in water and then carbonating it with a spritzer bottle and thinking it is going to taste like Coca Cola.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Steve,

That's what I figured.

It's much more logical and economical to just go buy a brand that you like, and save yourself time and money.  Not only that, but you'll get a beverage whose taste will be pleasantly anticipated, instead of hoping for something tasty, that just doesn't hit the mark in any way.

Have you ever seen a hillbilly still contraption?

I wonder how many hillbillies have died drinking a bad batch?

Lowell Tuttle

Trying fo copy paste...

Janalu, luckily that hillbilly progeny has survived enough through the years to produce such a good bloodline as the Keene family.   So easy to say that name.   With that quick roll off your tongue pronunciation and that good Kentucky brewing eye, wouldn’t you say hillbillies have gone very far in this American heritage?  I jest, yet, I know Steve is very proud of his lineage.

No plans for just the two of us for Super Bowl other than a good queso (I wish I could duplicate Velvet Taco’s) and some tenderloin beef on the grill.  I wanted to get a lobster, but wife said no.  We have a Hong Kong market on Stuebner (Veterans’) down here which sells 5 and 7 pounders.   You have to use a sledge hammer to open the claws the shell is so thick.

On Queso, I prefer using Velveeta blanco, about a teaspoon of chipotle chili powder, about two tablespoons of cumin powder, two or three chopped up jalapeno’s, maybe a drained can of rotel,  and spinkle in cayenne papper to taste.  I throw in chopped up cilantro to dress it up a bit.   I use a hot plate, non stick container.

My chips of choice recently (value required) are Calidad white corn.   Not the corn corn, the white corn. 

Susie likes the blue corn.   They are ok, but too thick for me.

Velvet taco puts cocoanut in their queso.  It tastes very good, but I don’t know the approach for that, so I leave it alone.   Hate to waste a good Velveeta.

Steve, I am known as LT as well as asshole, with an exclamation mark on the golf course.

Wayne, your interest in the gun legislation is similar to my interest in insurance legislation, which stems from my membership in Independent Insurance Agent’s….as well as my past participation in some other smaller insurance lobby groups.   I got in on a few statewide committee meetings where our hired lobbyist gave us reports.  

Basically for comparison’s sake it takes about 1 million dollars to “block” legislatioin in Texas and it costs about 20 milliion to pass a bill.  Cynical?  Maybe.

You know the proof of auto insurance being on line for your auto registration and for police stops giving tickets?  That was my group (defunct) Auto Insurance Agents of Texas.   Though, other groups claim it was them, that was our initiative, as well as the fines people had to pay for no insurance, too many tickets, and (for the Texas driving Insurance plan fees,) the dwi fees.   Folks got so far behind in those fees their driver’s licenses got suspended for non payment of those fees.   Thousands and thousands of poor folks and ignorant of that law folks who forgot to change the address on their licenses got suspended without even knowing it.

Far reaching implications of legislation are never quite thought out. 

The latest I have seen in insurance legislation is (another,) Bill of Rights for insurance policies given to consumers.   They have done this about four or five times in my 49 years in the business.

Wayne Gary

David,

I have been thinking about the Assult Rifle laws.  The people writing the laws just do not want any guns.

I can relate it to you buying a VW Bug and getting as Farrari fiberglass kit and putting it on.  Just because it looks like a Ferrari does not make it drive and perform like a Ferrari.

The gun banners reminds me of the Oboma Fast & Furrious program.  Many dealers were not wanting to sell guns and reporting the people wanting to illeagly buy AR type rifles and the ATF told the dealers to sell the guns so ATF could follow the trail and make arrests of the big boys.  When the federal agent was killed, Obama wanted to punish the dealers and make it harder for law abiding citizens to buy this type of gun.

Kurt Fischer

Speaking of brewing beer....

When my wife and I visited our son at his house while he was working on his engineering degree at A&M, we were suprised at the contents of the house.  As an aside, he was living with three other engineering majors.

When you walked in the door to the living room, the first thing you noticed was the three tier elevated couches aiming at the gigantic TV and twin huge Bose speakers.  Not the kind of decorating my daughters did when they shared an apartment at A&M, but okay...

When you looked to the right, you noticed a wooden contraption with some form of hardware tool looking device on it.  On second thought, it was an ammunition loading center.  Obviously what every student needs.

Looking further to the right, there were a number (let's say six) beer kegs, each with lines running from them to a chest freezer with a six pull tap sticking out to the top. In addition, there were kegs in the freezer.  The young lads had wired the freezer's thermostat to keep the beer at the right temperature and had also implemented a recycling glycol mixture to keep the tap itself nice and cold. Cursed engineers...

Walking on the floor was difficult due to all of the power tools and regular tools everywhere and, on the shelves where you would normally find kitchen utensils stored, there were bunches more of tools and parts.

In the backyard there must have been 4 different grills and all sorts of sports eqiupment.

Finally, their method of rodent control was to load up the shotgun with rock salt, go up to the attic and wait.  Then they would shoot the rats.  Some collateral damage, but you have to break a few eggs...

Lest my main point be lost, they spent quite a bit of time brewing large quatities of beer of different natures and seemed to enjoy most of them.  Engineering must build a powerful thirst.

Wayne Gary

Kurt,

It seems 2 of  your kids decided to go to a good school.  Did Stephen get his degree in ET in 08? Sara in History in 99?

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Kurt,

Next time you visit your son's house, I hope you will snap a few photos to share.

The unique abode sounds like a deluxe mancave, of sorts, and possibly a creative style that a guy magazine might write 'a piece' about, or even advertise as a model home for others who might be interested.

Were the sofas arranged in a theatre or stadium-seating type of concoction?

I don't suppose there was any particular color coordinated scheme worried about...... or throw pillows or fern greenery......

Keeping the beer at a perfect temperature was/is genius!  My husband would love to stop by and check out that idea, I'm sure.

College days memories, huh?

I remember my brother telling me about how he and his roommate would each have a large can of Raid, and at night they would have roach killing competitions in the kitchen of their old, rented house.  They would measure the distances of the fastest roaches, recording how far the speed demons would flee in their mad dashes, before going belly up.