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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Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Gee Whillikers!

I hear there are 15 Democrats who have lined up phone calls to Prez Biden.  Wow!

Et tu Brute?

Jim Bedwell

David C,

Yeah, I figured months ago that the Dems would have to replace Biden (formerly just Joe Defecto, now Joe Defecto-Demento) on their ticket. But, like you, I hope he can fend that off!!! Thank God Michelle Obama has zero interest in being President, or else we might get the final fatal blow to the republic in the form of Obama IV.

And the Dem voting base is still rock solid. About a third of our country in always going to vote Dem, maybe up to 40% - Biden's totally inexplicably-understandable approval rating in polls is still in the mid-30's. The Dem voters will remain loyal to the 24-7-lying Pravda-esque corrupt legacy media, no matter what happens; they're all in bed together, just not bed-well - their voters need to be-dwell elsewhere obviously, rather than in their longstanding house of cards.

David Cordell

Yes, should Biden withdraw, the only person whom Black people would accept as his replacement nominee would be Harris, unless Mrs. Obama is willing to serve. Not likely, but I think she would beat Trump.

Here is a very remote possibility and a scary thought. Biden withdraws and resigns early enough to allow Harris to be president before the election. Independent voters think, "Well, let's give her a chance for a full term." She polls better against Trump than Biden does.

Yikes!

David Cordell

A post from one of my 28 first cousins

Paul Petersen had an enthusiastic stage mother who pushed him into show business. He began performing, as an eight-year-old, as one of the original Mousketeers on "The Mickey Mouse Club" in 1955.

At age 12, Petersen was cast as Donna Reed's son on her popular sitcom, "The Donna Reed Show". With Carl Betz as his highly practical doctor dad and Shelley Fabares as his older pretty sister, the foursome became the ideal nuclear family for late 50s/early 60s viewers. Paul and his alter-ego, Jeff Stone, literally grew up on the show. By his teens, the good-looking, dark-haired lad had become a formidable heartthrob. Fan clubs sprouted up everywhere. So popular were both Paul and Shelley that they spun off into recording careers, groomed to become singing idols despite their modest voices. She scored with the #1 hit, "Johnny Angel", and he had a few minor hits with "She Can't Find Her Keys", "Keep Your Love Locked", "Lollipops and Roses" and "My Dad".

The fun ended, however, after the show's demise in 1966. His All-American teen typecast didn't fit the bill as the dissonant Vietnam counterculture took hold. Feeling lost and abandoned, Paul eventually was forced to give it all up and went through a period of great personal anguish and turmoil. Wisely, he enrolled at college and started writing adventure novels (penning 16 books in all). For 10 years, he ran his own limousine service. His biggest accomplishment to date, however, has been to give back, selflessly, to an industry that unceremoniously dumped him. In essence, "A Minor Consideration" is an outreach organization that oversees the emotional, financial and legal protection of kids and former kids in show business. Among the issues Paul deals with are better education, and stricter laws regarding a 40-hour work week. For those who have "been there, done that" and are experiencing severe emotional and/or substance abuse problems, he offers a solid hand in helping them find a renewed sense of purpose. Today, Paul is rightfully considered "the patron saint of former child actors". (IMDb)

Happy Birthday, Paul Petersen!

David Cordell

Tommy, you added the word "all". Most people understand generalizations and the concept of voting blocs. Besides, I know of some prominent Black people -- Republicans -- who won't vote for the Democrat nominee, no matter who it is.

David Cordell

By Sarah Bahari

A sacred piece of American history is tucked into the seventh floor of the downtown Dallas Public Library.

One of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence rests behind a glass display case at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. It is the only known copy west of the Mississippi River.

But how, exactly, did Dallas acquire the prized document?

On the evening of July 4, 1776, printer John Dunlap produced an estimated 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence from his Philadelphia shop. Over the following years, most copies were lost; in fact, just 26 known copies exist today.

In 1968, one copy was discovered in a backroom box of the shuttered Leary’s Book Store in Philadelphia. That print may have languished in storage for more than a century, according to the Dallas Public Library. Because of that, it is often called the “lost copy.”

Soon after it was found, the document was auctioned for more than $400,000, according to a 2014 report by KERA. The highest bidders were a pair of Dallas executives, Joseph Driscoll and Ira Corn, Jr.

In 1982, with the help of 15 additional donors, the city of Dallas acquired the document, which was first displayed at Dallas City Hall before moving to its home at the library, KERA reported.

“It is not going to perish. It’s going to be around. And it’s free,” Dallas’ former city manager George Schrader told KERA.

“And it brings to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access an enormous amount of information and services,” Schrader said of the library. “It is, and maybe this is something that I want it to be, it’s the corporate memory of this community.”

On its website, the library thanks the Friends of the Dallas Public Library for its permanent display.

“This is the fundamental legal document that established the United States of America,” the library wrote. “As such, its importance cannot be overemphasized.”

What does the Declaration of Independence say?

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Holly Hobby

Forty-three years ago today, RJ and I laid eyes on each other for the first time.

Exactly one year later on on the same July day we were married.  According to him, “The biggest, most difficult accomplishment of my life was convincing Holly to marry me.”   While I would never agree his biggest accomplishment was convincing me to marry him, in part, it is true.  I had no interest in marriage. Especially not to some hottie young lawyer with an ego bigger than the Antarctic Desert.

Floating above my head was cartoon bubble where I imagined myself at the wheel of a station wagon packed with overly excited, impatient, insolent, quibbling, screaming children, at least two them threatening to kill each other. In that same cartoon bubble was the image of a woman with whose hair appeared straight out of mug shot (with a face to match).  A bedraggled, rapidly aging woman with no time for a career of her own.  A woman married to a man clearly married to his job.  I just couldn’t.  So. For eleven months and twelve days I kept the poor guy twisting in the wind; at the same time overwhelmed with guilt. I loved dating him. I loved being with him.  I just didn’t want to get married.  Since then, a thousand times plus I've thought "what an idiot!" Not him. Me. 

Reminding me of that temporary delusion yesterday was the inadvertant stumbling upon a long forgotten photo album in the attic; one neither RJ or I even knew existed.  It was that old.   You know, the kind  whose photos continue to withstand  decades of extreme temperature and lack of attention.  The kind replaced by digital storage ; the kind , so ancient, your kids gasp saying something like, "that's hilarious!"  The  kind whose brittle, yellowing photos remain  permanently stuck to flimsy, cracking  yellowing plastic page insets holding each image within. 

I watched RJ stare at  (the attached ) pic of me, kindly trying not to laugh. ” WHAT was with your HAIR!?”    "Well, your's  doesn’t look much better, bro.”   

Speed forward to earlier tonight over dinner with friends when one asked, “what do you think is the secret to a happy lasting marriage?”  Without missing a beat, RJ purveyed his sage wisdom:  “even though you’re married, no matter how rough it gets, always treat each other as though you’re dating.”   Clearly, every one of our friends were greatly impressed. Inspired, even. 

Once I stopped choking on a sip of champagne I said, WHAT?!   I’M the one who, 43 years ago, agreed to marry you ONLY if YOU  PROMISED,  "no matter how rough it gets we will ALWAYS treat each other as though we’re dating.”  (And we have).  That got a laugh, mainly because, busted, RJ shrugged his shoulders and laughed, “okay. Okay.  She’s right.  The woman has me so well trained  (no matter what it is) I end up convinced  I’m the one who thought of it!"

David Cordell

Tommy,

Have you never heard political pundits refer to "Black voters" or "woman voters"?

Have you never heard one say, "The abortion issue is going to hurt Trump with woman voters"?

Did you hear anyone say that Biden's illegal gambit to "forgive" student loans would help him with young voters?

All women voters? All young voters?

You're just trying to stir up trouble.

Wayne Gary

I just got to laff at Linked In

I got 2 messages from different colleges stating the could help me complete my college degree. They would give me credit for work experience and credits from other colleges.  I got my BS 50 yrs ago from a better school than the 2 trying to recruit me.  The schools were Texas Tech and Arizona State. 

Wayne Gary

I just got to laff at Linked In

I got 2 messages from different colleges stating the could help me complete my college degree. They would give me credit for work experience and credits from other colleges.  I got my BS 50 yrs ago from a better school than the 2 trying to recruit me.  The schools were Texas Tech and Arizona State. 

David Wier

"In the absence of any modifier, "all" is understood."

The way I read it, "in general" was understood.

When I hear "Black Voters", "Women Voters", or "Young Voters", that's the way I hear it also. I don't believe that anyone could possibly understand "all" in that use.

To me, the only thing Trump stands for that I totally agree with is his stand against abortion. There are also other items I lean toward, but this whole political climate, as it stands, really has me shaking in my boots. The Supreme Court's ruling of immunity can easily be understood as "leaning toward" making the president a king and/or dictator. Who's (the court) to say what is an official or non-official act?

I wish I had downloaded the cartoon/meme I saw yesterday to post it here. It was Joe Biden calling Seal Team 6 and saying "Do you hear that, guys? I'm immune. Take him out". The president does have to protect our republic at all costs. Anyway, it made me smile a little.

A humorous post much less direct than that, on Facebook, a couple of years ago, caused a MAGA Republican friend of my wife for 20 years, to block us both and dumping us as friends. I mean, after all, we were the kind of people who are ruining our country (she said).

Of course, non-political me - what do I know? (Please excuse the rambling)

OK - soapbox down.

:)

Wayne Gary

With the Presidential Immunity the one thing that is overlooked is impeachment by House and conviction by Senate.  That still stands.

David Cordell

Tommy,

Here is a great video of a story about Trump told to a Black woman (Sage Steele) by a Black man (Congressman Wesley Hunt, R-Texas) with another Black man (Congressman Byron Donalds, R-Florida) listening intently. The two Congressmen are not among the "all" Black people concept that you inferred. I am pretty sure that they won't be influenced if the Democrats choose to jettison VP Harris.

This video might might horrify some Democrats with delicate sensibilities. 

Trump story

David Cordell

Watched a Netflix movie last night -- Family Affair -- with Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman. Fun movie with a nice moral.

Note: Efron's face has changed. Lots of speculation about how and/or why. Plastic surgery? Accident? Steroids? 

Kidman looks fabulous for 57 years old, or lots younger.

Jim Bedwell

David C,

Amen on the trouble-maker. The left always nitpicks, usually inappropriately while not understanding and also stubbornly never learning the truth about the real issues related to macroeconomic, geopolitical and historical realities.

I saw that same clip with the Congressman Donalds & the other guy who told the story. What Trump did was exactly the only type of thing that our mortal foes in the world will understand and react to properly; contrast this Trump instance with the current box-checking fools running the national government. And after Vivek, my 2nd choice for VP would be Donalds. Donald & Donalds!!!!! YEE HAW!

Holly Hobby

You guys are so funny.  RJ asked to read my post fromlast night, so of course, I logged in. Said he enjoyed the post but something puzzled him...?  

"Is this an this an anomaly ?"  I took a quick glance.  "No, it's pretty much the norm." 

"You're kidding, right?"  

With affection (for you guys) I laughed, replying  "yeah, except for the more insightful posts,  "This R Us..."   A handful of the remaining class of RHS1969.  At heart, most of them good guys, who simply cannot resist slugging it out."  

Jim Bedwell

As Lowell or David Weir (can't remember who) discovered, David Mercer is listed in Austin as Frank Mercer since his name is Frank David Allen/Alan Mercer.

David Wier

To me, this epitomizes 1967, before the heavier rock music started, with Cream, Jimi Hendrix, etc.:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm8LH3bHClw
Arthur Conley and Sweet Soul Music -- I remember many times taking a date to the Studio Club in Dallas and to the dances after the RHS games, dancing to this song. I loved it.

Lawrence (Lance) Cantor

David Cordell

Can't believe it. Walked my dog at 5:00 and it was only 85 degrees.

Watching Hurricane Beryl. Take care, classmates along Gulf Coast. It may generate some rain in Dallas. I can remember 1961. My father drove me to school over Newberry, and the rain from Hurricane Carla was coming down in sheets.

Going to a Frisco Roughriders game tonight. Drove to stadium parking lot last night to watch fireworks. The platform is in a field south of the stadium. Tonight we are actually going to the game, and there is another fireworks display. Hope they aren't just the leftovers.

Won't watch the Stephanopolous interview of Biden. Won't make any difference to me. Crossing my fingers that Biden stays in the race, although I think he is mentally unfit for office right now. 

Wayne Gary

I just watched the Biden interview.  The first question spoke volumes. Q: did you watch the debate? Biden" "I don't think so.  Simple yes or no question.

It reminded me of this song from "Best whorehouse in Texas"

Lowell Tuttle

Lance, I am sure your Captain has it well in hand.   Sunday, 7 pm it will be equal to Brownsville.   The latest landfall somewhere between Corpus and Matagorda, which puts Houston and Galveston on the dirty side...The storm has slowed down both in windspeed and forward speed.   They say the slower it is, the further North it will "drift?"

You may end up in New Orleans... Galveston might be shitified...at least for cruise schedules, for a few days.

David Wier

Tommy - 

Now that I think about it, 1967 was what I would consider a pivotal year for not only music, but our culture. Surrealistic Pillow was released in February. Sweet Soul Music was released in March. The younger crowd at the time was being takin in multiple directions through music.

That seemed to be the year a lot of music changed toward the 'heavier' sound. It was like a slow change, though. Pop music stayed the way it had for years and kept going, while the heavier music slowly spread throughout the younger crowds, exploding that year. Sunshine of Your Love, from Cream, was released in 1967, and Jimi Hendrix's first album was released in May. The Who's first concert was in May, and while all that was coming of age, in June, Otis Redding wrote Dock of the Bay. 

So I can see why both of us thought and posted what we did.

Lowell Tuttle

I had this album and wore out the cover, as well as the record itself.   Lost somewhere in the 70/80's.   I tried like hell to find it again.   It's selling for 20.00 used on Amazon... Thinking about it...

Lowell Tuttle

Lowell Tuttle

Some Heights memoris

I used to dream that when I got to school, I had forgotten to put on my pants.

Mr. Simms used to read to us after lunch, but, first he would just leave our classroom completely empty, which for the group there, was quite risky.   Where was he?  I am pretty sure he longed for Ms. Craft's kids, because he would go there and tell them stories before he came into our class...One book he read us was The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck.   Probably banned now...China story.

In Ms. Halliburton's class, we used to play Jacks.   It was a craze.   That was the only time I ever took up that sport.

Each class room used to play softball against each other.   I don't think we had gloves, but I remember we were the Lomax Losers in 4th grade.

At random football scrimage would evolve sometimes on the playground.  There would be 20-30 receivers on each team, a center, and a quarterback.   The two quarterbacks were David Grant and Bobby Fleming.  I don't think anyone kept score, or won any game.

Our classrooms had somewhat of a library.   I remember reading biographies, Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, as well as Children of the A Bomb.   I think that one's banned now too.

In 5th grade, the whole Heights class wore red or white, or blue shirts and we all lined up in the shape of the State of Texas.   We sang The Stars at Night, and Texas Our Texas.  I know we practiced in the Heights gym, but it was too small for a performance.   For the life of me, I can't remember where we performed the show.   I may have been sick for it.   (edit) We also sang Big D...and maybe Rag Time Cowboy...

Living basically in the middle of the 700 block of Newberry, there were two directions I could go home.  I would walk down Floyd to Newberry and then left down to 727, or I would cut through someone's yard on Ridgedale, and head down the Newberry alley...Or, I would exit the Height's playground/property on the NW side, where there was an alley cut through.   Those folks who lived on that part of the street, Weatherred, hated kids going through there...But, we would head N on Weatherred to it's end on Ridgedale, and we would cut through someone's hard to the alley to get to the back yard of my home on Newberry..

I got into one of my only two fights with Wade Atterbery scheduled by us to be after school near that playground exit point.  We both showed up for the fight and a few kids were there to wach it, just like in the movies.   But, we didn't fight, we made up, and actually walked over to my house arm in arm, lovey dovey...

I fisted Bobby Cedarberg one time, but as I did I became very scared as he got extremely mad and started chasing me...I turned and ran home.  

That was the only time I ever hit anyone, other than by brother.]

I had a few short term friendships at Heights during the three years I went there.   Bubba Bostick Stan Dixon, Bobby Kirkpatrick, Steve Healy (though that was longer timer,) Cedarberg, Wade A., Steve Sturman, 

Lots of sports stuff with YMCA football, summer baseball (I was on the Rebels with younger guys...Randy Talley, David Darr, those guys...Also the Rinky Dink Lions guys...both Heights basketball as well as the Richardson sport stuff basket ball with a bunch of kids including Cedarberg, Ben Wallace (his dad coached us) 

We would also go play touch football over at Duane Anspon's house...There was Gentry, Mike Marks, Duane, and more...

Maybe I'll think of some more stuff.   Girls started being friends with me in 6th grade, but i was very shy...and I am even shy talking about it now...The girls from Richardson were so pretty...sigh...

Trying to think where we "cut through" someone's yard on Ridgedale, to get to the alley, and our back yards on Newberry.   Folks didn't lock their gates, and frankly, I think, it was accepted that cutting through was a valid way to get home.