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Lance,

I recall when you visited our house in Lubbock, you gave at least a dozen unsolicited suggestions of what we should do to our house. Perhaps you thought you were being helpful, but I thought you were being insulting, pointing out every flaw you saw in our home. Our home wasn't quite right from your standpoint, so you told us what you thought we should do. I wonder if you were equally generous with your suggestions to your five ex wives.

I will continue to include descriptions of our year's activities in our Christmas cards. Whether you approve or not is not a matter of great concern to me. This was my favorite passage from this year's letter:

David is still a finance professor and continues writing about three articles per year for a journal for financial planning practitioners. His teaching/research load is quite manageable. He’ll probably retire at the end of the spring 2021 semester since he’ll hit the big 7–0 over the summer and doesn’t want to be one of those doddering old professors who dutifully takes his yellowing, time-worn notes to the wrong classroom with his fly undone. No worry about that for spring 2021 since all of his teaching will be remote. Remote. Hmmm. Mexico is remote, right?

You are very clever with an exceptional ability for turn-of-phrase, and you have many interesting comments to share. But sometimes you may not realize that your comments often come across as rather mean-spirited. Or maybe you do.

That said, the list of your church activities is very impressive. I'm glad you shared it with us. Keep up the good work.

Meanwhile I will withhold my suggestions about how you should live your life.

01/11/21 09:22 PM

#19977

Why did Jimmy Stewart keep his actions and involvement in WWII a secret?

Not sure about this. It comes from a site called Quora and it sort of fits in with some of the discussion on this site. I don't think Jimmy Stewart tried to hide anything about his service since he stayed in the reserves for twenty years after the war, reaching the rank of Brigadier General. Anyway, Stewart is one of my very favorite actors.

Brent Cooper (author - a lawyer in Arlington)

He suffered PTSD and guilt from what happened in the war. He continued to suffer for many years following the war.

“Jimmy Stewart suffered such extreme PTSD after being a bomber pilot in World War II that he acted out his mental distress during 'It's a Wonderful Life'.”

“Stewart played George Bailey in the classic movie and channeled his anger and guilt into the scenes where he rages at his family.”

“Stewart was haunted by 'a thousand black memories' from his time as an Army Air Force commanding officer that he took with him back to Hollywood after the war.”

“Pilots who flew with him said that became 'Flak Happy' during World War II, a term to describe what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.”

“Stewart wrestled with the guilt of killing civilians in bomb raids over France and Germany including one instance where they destroyed the wrong city by mistake.”

Actor Jimmy Stewart, pictured in 1945 after World War II combat ended, was haunted by his memories from his time in the Air Force

Before entering the military, Stewart earned his commercial pilot license so that he could join the Air Force. (Not from DMC: I don't think the Air Force existed at that time. I think it was the Army Air Corps.) Pictured above, a base intelligence officer shows Captain Stewart (right) maps before he begins a mission in WWII

Stewart suffered such extreme PTSD from WWII that he acted out his mental distress during 'It's a Wonderful Life'

He would would channel his PTSD while filming scenes for the film, including the above scene on the bridge

“Stewart felt responsible for the death of his men and especially one bloodbath where he lost 13 planes containing 130 men who he knew well.”

“Stewart's anguish is laid bare for the first time in author Robert Matzen's Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the fight for Europe, published by Paladin Communications.”

“Stewart never spoke about it, even to other veterans, and bottled up his emotions that came out in the acting parts he chose when he returned to Hollywood.”

“He acted it out during It's a Wonderful Life, where character George Bailey unravels in front of his family - the emotional core of the film after a lifetime of setbacks, including being unable to go to war while his brother becomes a decorated hero.”

“Films like Shenandoah and Winchester 73 allowed Stewart to explore his dark side which was never there before he went to war.”

01/11/21 10:33 PM

#19978

Bob, D.,

Bob, that was not the Troop I was in. I was in Troop 90 which was organized near the corner of 34th and Western in Amarillo at the fire station. One of our Scout Leaders was a fireman and the other was a Marine Reserve officer. It was kids from David Crockett Junior High in Olsen Park that fed into Tascosa High School. That area now feeds Amarillo High School on the Potter/Randall County Border between Canyon and Amarillo.

On the feral hogs, then you know what I am talking about. Don't try to eat an old boar. It is tough as nails and tastes like a cross between a Sasquatch and a Grizzley Bear.

I also have the distinction of being David Cordell's roommate at the Pi Kappa Alpha house and a member of the Castillian 10 from 1969. I had a philosophy class in one of those huge freshman amphitheaters where they try to whittle down the class in Philosophy 101. I left that and went for Engineering Drawing where I had trouble doing the work because nobody had a room big enough to work in and it was early enough to interfere with my fishing schedule. After my attendance sufferred at U.T. in that class my Professor took me aside and told me that it would be best for me to give up my 2S draft card and join the Marines until I had matured a few years in Vietnam. I still regard that as some of the best advice I ever got from a U.T. professor. Circumstances failed to permit that when they instituted the lottery when I was 1A and they would have taken 95% of able bodied men in America before they came to my number.

01/12/21 12:40 AM

#19979

David,

I heard Jimmy Stewart being interviewed on TV one time, long ago, about how his father had given him a copy of the 91st Psalm, to keep with him as he entered WWII. He said he folded the small paper and kept it in his shirt pocket the whole time he was overseas, reading it often, and gaining much strength from its promise. He still had the worn paper for years afterward, and pulled it out of his pocket as he was interviewed.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corp when he was 32 years old. He had also taken flying instructions for commercial airliners before he enlisted, but upon entering, he was trained as a bomber, and flew 20 missions over Europe.

I read recently that he earned an Architectural degree from Princeton, after high school graduation.

I always admired him, thinking he was an extraordinary gentleman, as well as a gifted actor. My Dad liked him a lot too, laughing at his funny way of telling corny jokes.

01/12/21 01:00 AM

#19980

Kurt,

I agree with your summation about what happened during the Capitol fiasco.

01/12/21 04:37 AM

#19981

Kurt

Your post was right on. I have been exploring and reveling in the new freedom I have since the Democrats have taken control even before the inauguration. I have found that I cannot board a United or Frontier plane if I wear a shirt or cap that identifies me with the Conservative cause. I find that I am going to be discriminated against in executive positions if I am white and heterosexual. I have the freedom to look for a new search engine since the Democrat sanctioned oligarchs of Facebook, Google, Twitter and Amazon do not want views that are not in line with the Democrat thinking so have shut down the unbiased platform Parler.. I have the freedom to stay in another hotel besides Marriott because they are not going to tolerate renting rooms to conservatives. I am free for awhile to keep arms ,but will report a burglary soon because all my guns were stolen this week. They are even prioritizing vaccines for people of color over whites because they have been downtrodden so long. The President is leaving office in 7 days and has promised a smooth transistion of power, more than he received by the way, but they want to kick him while he is down out of pure vengeance. That is pure Christianity in the forefront, if you forget that God said Vengeance is Mine. I am free to eat at a restaurant and have an Antifa member or Black Lives Matter proponent take a drink of my drink and smash the contents off the table along with our meals in front of my kids and family. The Democrats say they are justified or as Pelosi said "that is just what people do." I am free to understand that anyone that just wants to walk up and punch me in the nose is a patriot because I am a Trump supporter. I am also free to have all the news censored prior to me watching it so that no information indicating bad press about Democrat criminals or fraudsters ever gets out. I am free to flee from the tormentors by shutting my mouth and realizing the First Amendment is no longer valid.

I guess America needs to change the name from Land of the Free to Land of the Fleeing.

01/12/21 06:51 AM

#19982

Lowell Tuttle

Looks like we can have our next reunion event in the night or early AM.

I wonder if there are any Freedom friendly venues open 24 hours.

01/12/21 09:27 AM

#19983

Bob Davidson

Jimmy Stewart is one of my heroes. Years ago I read a biography of him and remember that he was a major movie star when he tried to enlist to fight in the war. He was rejected by the Air Corps because he was underweight. He took private flying lessons and went on a program to bulk up until he was accepted for pilot training.

I seem to remember that he flew two tours in Europe, one in B-17s and one in B-24s, ending up as a colonel. If you've seen Memphis Belle you know that even surviving one tour without cracking up was quite an accomplishment. Stewart volunteered for a second combat tour. It would be amazing if he didn't have PTSD after that. There is a wonderful just after the war movie, Command Decision, about the effects sending men out to face likely death has on the commanders.

01/12/21 11:37 AM

#19984

Well here it is America!

Republicans are being cancelled!

74 million folks are now persona non grata, and even the ACLU is concerned about us. HA!

Did we not predict that Socialism takes away rights?

Did we not say that tyrants are ruthless?

The chief lawyer for PBS said today that Republican's children need to be sent to re-education camps! It's true! Read it on WND! Now our children need to be indoctrinated by the atheist socialists; the tyrants drunk with power!

Biden says he will be the uniter. (Did anyone believe that statement at all?)

Ha, ha, ha, ha!

Also, read if you dare, in the Washington Examiner today..."Biden CIA pick led secret 'back channel' negotiations for Iran deal".

01/12/21 11:49 AM

#19985

Wayne,

I have another complication that has arisen about having a target shooting day at my house for the immediate few weeks. One of the people in my addition armed his grandsons at Christmas with new rifles and pistols and they started out one morning shooting towards the freeway at about 6:00 a.m one day and did not let up until afternoon when I and another neighbor who has an invalid wife who needs her rest confronted them and their grandfather with a copy of the deed restrictions for this area which specifically forbids such activity. There is not a problem if someone shoots a couple of varmints or snakes or sites in a new rifle, but prolonged target practice is not what anyone of us want out here right now. As I said, before, let things warm up a little and let me get my vaccine shots and we can meet up someday for chicken at Babe's and some target shooting somewhere.

01/12/21 04:00 PM

#19986

I turned on our computer and a picture of a baby cheetah was there, sitting in some tall grass.

The little kitty is so adorable! Just makes me want to pick the rascal up, squeeze and kiss him!

I'm gonna tell Charles I want a Cheetah Baby for Valentines Day!

I can bet I get a nice, litte stuffed animal....

Baby critters always steal me heart! Cuteness overload, absolutely!

Have you ever seen newborn pygmy goats? They're so sweet, precious and instantly entertaining with the way they jump and frolic! So full of play and joie de vivre!

01/12/21 05:04 PM

#19987

Janalu,

You want a cheetah baby? Maybe Stacy Abrams will let you hold her kid.

01/13/21 12:23 AM

#19988

Our only child, Kate-- formerly the child from hell--finally matured, finished school later moving to southern California.

Among the values I worked beyond the point of exhaustion to pound in her head: “Go to school. Get a good job. Make a difference. A woman should ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS be financially independent." Did she listen? Of course not. Not until recent years.

Earlier this evening she called saying “Mom! You should see the sunset tonight. It’s beautiful! I’ll text pic when we hang up.” Little over an hour later she texted. Couple of hours after I shared with her father who looked at pics, read texts and turned to me saying “um…maybe you should have stopped at ‘ a woman should be financially independent.’”

01/13/21 12:45 AM

#19989

Our beloved little reluctant bride. Please join me in keeping the hopeful groom in your thoughts. Thank you.

01/13/21 01:02 AM

#19990

Whoa......just scanned last few posts. Think I'll stick to helping rescue kittens, haranguing predatory health care providers and worrying every day for the rest of my life, maybe the father of my only child is right: maybe I should have left it at "a woman should be financially responsible."

01/13/21 10:42 AM

#19991

Lowell Tuttle

Stan Dixon FB'd this amusing cartoon.

01/13/21 05:46 PM

#19992

I was just listening to Brett Baier speak on his daily evening news broadcast where he was talking to Frank Luntz, a well known pollster, who said that 48 hrs. ago, his team called Trump voters with some polling, fact-finding questions. Luntz said 78% of people they called who had voted for Trump, still say that they think the election was rigged, no matter what the mainstream press has said.

Did you guys hear Pelosi say earlier today, that "It breaks my heart," as she was about to continue with the impeachment proceedings?

What did you think at that moment?

01/13/21 05:52 PM

#19993

I began this story several days ago.

I went to Subway a few nights ago and saw a woman who, while waiting in line, was pouring over three very long store receipts that had obviously come from somewhere else. I started a conversation.

Turns out that she buys stuff for cheap from various stores, getting large discounts, and distributes it to needy people, often through Catholic Charities, although she is Jewish. I kept asking questions, and she kept talking. As a child, she had been abused by her mother. She had three children, two of whom had special needs. Her husband abandoned her. She still suffers from severe bouts of depression. At one point in her life, she had to rely on charity. She sees herself as "paying it forward."

After a few minutes, I asked if I could take her photo, showing the receipts. Then I started video-ing, unfortunately after she had told much of her story.

Note: the video is not ready for prime time, and you will have to turn the volume way up. It is a story of a woman -- Joan -- who has suffered much and who has given much.

I have shared this video with six people. Two have said I should post it, and two suggested that some readers may want to donate money to Joan's activities. I have retained her card and I plan to make a donation, although Joan doesn't solicit donations.. If you would like to join me, email me at cordelldm@aol.com.

Again, Joan told part of the story before the video began, and that part was interesting enough for me to take a video. You'll need to crank the volume all the way up.

01/13/21 10:52 PM

#19994

David,

I hate to change the subject from politics, but Hull and I would like to let the class know that Texas Tech just beat Texas in Austin 79 to 77 in basketball.

01/14/21 12:28 AM

#19995

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.

---Harry S. Truman

01/14/21 02:14 AM

#19996

Lance,

With all due respect again, there is no criticism, instead hope of mitigating weaponization of the bible and vitriolic response to someone sharing a story elucidating the power of kindness, at the same time serving to inspire.

My story of Daniel, a former Marine, first responder, a man honorably discharged after serving in Viet Nam, could have been any one of our classmates, reportedly men who know all too well the struggle of alcohol addiction (past or present) but not all know PTSD specific to military veterans. Never will they know the war rendered night terrors; survivor guilt; vivid flashbacks; intrusive thoughts; unpredictable sweating, nausea, trembling. chronic depression, constant state of fight or flight and sense of hopelessness.

Neither will I. But at least I'm willing to try and help instead of pass judgement. I shared the story of Daniel to illustrate how dangerous it is to pass judgement on others; to believe oneself “Godly” because he/she can recite bible verses.

I also shared the story of Daniel in hopes of helping better understand a concept. Helping someone two-legged or four, is more than just performing a favor. Its privilege. Only if one wraps his/her head around a simple concept is there hope for others.

As for not yet having time to finish Daniel’s story, I have a life outside the forum. Busy people prioritize. Busy people nap. Busy people do not sleep. I enjoy both forums but God, my husband, daughter, cherished friends, my art, investigative work and advocacy for others will always come first.

Among classmates on both forums are those wonderful and cowardly. The cowards think they’re so clever. Reasonably intelligent but not intelligent enough to figure out they look like a single car clown train run amuck with a a keyboard. Too often their inept attempt at humor explodes in someone's face after which they grin and pat themselves on the back.

I’m only 5’4” 100 lbs. but upon witness or credible report of any form of abuse, you can count on a fight. You can also count on only one of us will be left standing and it won't be the other guy. Ever.

With affection, Queen Svetlana

01/14/21 09:07 AM

#19997

Steve,

Obviously you are used to talking to Techsters. We Longhorns don't need to be told twice.

01/14/21 10:08 AM

#19998

Bob Davidson

We are trying to hire a competent legal assistant to replace a lovely lady who retired and moved to South Carolina. I've been going through resumes to set up interviews and noticed something I've never seen before: all of the people who got out of school in the past three or so years have a section labeled "pronouns" where they say "she, her, hers" or "he, him, his" -- if they want to tout their bilingualism, they add "ella." I asked our law school attending intern about it and he says it's what they are told is necessary at school.

No one over 25 does it. I'm feeling bumfuzzled. Have you all seen this before?

01/14/21 10:30 AM

#19999