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.

David Cordell

This isn't anything earth-shattering, but I thought it was sweet.

Previously on these pages I have mentioned that you might see some old man and all you see is, well,an old man. You don't think about what he might have done, or what he might have been, when he was young. This video is of a 102-year-old woman who had been a dancer in her youth, seeing herself on film for the first time.

David Cordell

We subscribe to the following streaming services.

• Amazon Prime (doesn't really count because of other services included)
• Apple
• Netflix
• Hallmark NOW
• KERA/PBS
• Acorn
• Disney Plus
• Discovery Plus
• Britbox
• Fox Nation

It seems like overkill.

We watch more Britbox than anything.  What am I missing on Netflix that I should check out? It's the most expensive, and we hardly ever watch it.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

David,

On Amazon Prime (or Fox Nation) did you see the program on Education, narrated by Fox News reporter and host, Pete Hegseth?   Charles and I watched it about six days ago, thinking afterward that maybe we should have our daughter watch it too, since we were thinking that possibly our grandson should be enrolled in a charter school, rather than public school, to avoid some Progressive ideas for which we weren't pleased.

It's actually titled "The MisEducation of America," and tells of the history of our public schools.  It's a good, informative program to watch, which includes the teaching methods the US has been influenced to adopt, arising from Horace Mann's influence, John Dewey's influence, some other Progressives, and some sectarian pormoters.  It's really an eye-opener.  At least I thought it was.

On Netflix, we have been watching the newest chapters of  "Ozarks."  We watched the first part of "Ozarks" before the pandemic shut down their filming for a while.

We have also been watching "1883," which is interesting.  It may also be on Netflix, but Charles is the one who controls our remote, so I'm not sure of how he is flipping around, from program to program. The program may be on Paramount.  I can't keep all of our various remote gizmos straight.  My mind is not wired correctly, I'm convinced

Bob Fleming

Hi Jim.  Thanks for your post.  And thanks for the update, via David, on your health.  My prayers and best wishes; your posts sugest you have approached your illness with both courage and spiritual fortitude.  That alone speaks for your integrity.

What i am suggesting to you is that political discourse must be civil.  Discourse that is not civil - is not politics.

Politics is the recognition - in fact it is the methods men and women invented - to deal with the reality that human beings have often irreconcilable differences.  This is because we all have different experiences in life; different perceptions of the same realities; different interests; different needs; different economic statuses  . . . and on and on and on.

Without politics - we are left to deal with these differences only by violence or domination.  One side imposes and then enforces its will be force.  As I say, this is why we invented politics, to avoid that hell.

We can say that politics is the method we use to maintain peace.  Since we are human . .  all solutions we come up with are flawed and temporary and reversible . .  which is a good thing . .  but what is constant is the willingness to engage in politics to seek answers.

When you deny any worth to the other sides' point of view . .  as you did even in your last post . .  you are not speaking politically.   You are speaking another language which we can correctly call the language of domination or violence (at least implied).  I recoil against any politician who speaks - right or left -  this way.

I have posted several times with you over the years and feeback always comes in the language I have tried to describe.  i don't have this experience with David . .  or with Janalu . .  or Wayne, etc.  I'm not trying to convince you . . . or them .  . . of anything.  Don't expect to.  But I do want to understand them and them to understand me.

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Bob,

Here is hoping we can all bring balanced discussions about politics on this forum in the future.  Hope.  When you have personal experience or passion for an issue, it is difficult to remain open minded and reply without sounding like a bully.  

David,

It was reported on  CNN  that 100 bags of Fentanyl  that was found in the bedroom of a 13 year old who died from presumed exposure to the drug, while at school.  They also found more bags at his school and others were hospilized due to exposure.  His parents have told police they knew nothing.  How this stuff got in the school unnoticed baffles me.  It was also stated in the article that the Biden administration has 4 billion in the Covid Relief package toward combating overdose deaths. 

I am not defending Biden on this, or how the money is being spent and by whom.  The pandemic has made overdoses worse, why I don't know.  Possibly because addicts can't get medical help due to overwhelmed medical facilities.  Just a guess.  Overall, the war on drugs has failed, miserbly, in my opinion.  Now these drugs come disguised as other drugs.  People are taking drugs that they think are one thing and are something else which is lethal.  If only we could come together and tackle this problem without making it a divisive issue meant for political, or power gain.

Steve Keene

Bob F.,

What I really don't understand about the two camps in our discussion is how people like Sandra or Tommy will completely refuse to watch another point of view on a site like Fox News.  I watch NPR, Colbert, the Atlantic and a variety of left wing stations like MSNBC and CBS.  I look for things that let me read between the lines.  When 19 outlets the same day use the same specific term to denigrate one of the other camp it is telling that they all got the same memo that morning.  I look for evidence backing up the author's contentions and see for myself if it supports the narrative.  When I see things on Fox, I am also suspect unless given evidence.  A case in point is the immigration story with people being flown around the country.  At WestChester NY airport a reporter and photographer video 100's of illegals getting off a plane at three in the morning.  The airport closes on curfew at midnight.  An obvious Democratic operative tells the reporter on tape that he needs to keep this on the downlow.  Busses pick the people up and transport them to a nearby Costco where they are met by individuals in vans and cars.  A similar event was documented at the Kingwood Airport in Houston.  On NPR you hear that illegals are no longer kept in caged facilities.  They haven't built any new ones since the Trump era, but they refuse to let reporters go on the scene when it was open in the Trump era.  These things are telling.  All you here from one camp is "look the other way there is nothing going on here."  The other camp shows the videos.

I am reminded of Aldous Huxley's famous quote:  You shall know the truth, and it will make you mad.

By the way Sandra, when Tommy tells you he got scammed selling his $25,000.00 Airstream.  Look closely.  He never owned an Airstream.   His girlfriend who he lives with for free rent owns one.  He did not lose $4300 as he claims.  He allowed his girlfriend to lose the money..  To my knowledge Tommy owns a house in Round Rock he purchased with funds scammed from the PPP program on fictitious future earnings of his "thriving" real estate sales business.  I think he sold three houses, two of which were friends or relatives.  He does not even drive a car he purchased for himself.  He drives a 10 year old car given to him by his girlfriend.  You got to love a guy that lives the lie he accuses people like Trump of committing.

Jim Bedwell

Thanks, Bob F, for you post. As always, like David C, as I told him yesterday privately, like he is, your posting is mature, measured, quite a nice fellow. Please remember, I've never claimed to be a nice person or even well behaved, I don't think. I bet everybody can agree that socially I am a work in progress!! Hahahahaha!!! Again, can I disagree with any of what you posted? Thanks again.

By the way, none of the people you last mentioned are ex-liberals. I'm not trying to justify or excuse any of my behavior; you just might want to keep that in mind. Finally over time I've come to realize I have a New York personality, not a (genteel) Southern one - those 2 years in NJ as a kid really molded me. I was the only one of my family who didn't want to move back to Texas - I had tears rolling down my eyes as we pulled away from the house in 1963. So while I really can't stand to hear all the ignorant liberal opinions, I really don't mind that much how obnoxious people can be, including our MARVELOUS ex-Prez the Orangeman.

Steve Keene

Lance,

You fail to mention that I owned 51% of Bambouche', the operating company was Amalgamated Properties owned by me.  I used my connections and credit to get us an SBA loan to complete the store after Royce gave $25,000 of my money to a contractor prior to his starting the work and he dissappeared.

My demeanor may not be all lovey lovey like Bob F., but sometimes you have to tell the truth to keep from drowning in all the bullshit that has been up to my neck and rising lately.

Lowell Tuttle

David, we just finished Ozark season 4 last night.   Quite a binge.

Outlander

Stranger Things.

Bosch is excellent series

More as time permits.  We have binge watched 2022 in total

Steve Keene

Lowell.

Bosch was one of my favorites along with Your Honor, the Mayor of Kingstown, Sneaky Pete, Hand of God, Men from Shiloh, Yellowstone, 1883, Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad.

The Son was good, too.

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Steve,

If you reread Tommy's post on the Airstream you will figure out that he was not scammed.  He scammed the scammer.  No one lost money, except for the scammer.  The bank caught it before any attempt was made to deposit the check.  Further to that end, Tommy wagged the scammer around with the shipping fee.  He never sent that either. 

Sigh.

Frankly I don't care who owns the Airstream, or what year car Tommy drives.  That is a non issue, and none of my business.  I don't care about who he lives with or what happens between two adults in the privacy of their home either.  I fail to see why you felt compelled to point any of this out to me.  Are you trying to put a wedge between my friendship with Tommy and me?  

Let he who is without any dirty laundry, point out the best detergent to use.

Wayne Gary

Being Sunday i

I was reminded of this song by Gay Stevens, The vedio is realy funny.

Wayne Gary

Lance and others

I just discovered Haas  Motorcycle museum at 1201  Oak Lawn.  It is a private museum open to the public with 230 cycles.

Would someone like to go with me? for more info go to their website. They charge $7:00 for us old farts.

https://www.haasmotomuseum.com/the-museum

Steve Keene

Lance,

You don't know me very well, but I am an avid supporter of Texas Tech University and want everyone to know it.  Therefore, when I found out my last name was available in a Texas Tech plate that matched my truck I bought them.  You can think of them as an upgraded Longhorn or Dallas Cowboy bumper sticker.  I have kept the goriest details of my Bambouche' experience with Royce off the forum.  One of the cruelest things I received was my best friend who I financed failing to give me any credit as being his partner, acting instead as if he owned the place all by himself.  There are worse things about the experience that I will keep private.  Despite all that, I remained his friend until the very end, overlooking the past.  

Sandra,

Oh to go through life ignoring what you want and accepting what you want as facts.  The last time I checked on Psychiatrist and Psychologist rates for a professional with a Phd, they were in the $100/an hour range, and that was before the huge inflation Biden caused this past year.  So read through Tommy's story and add up the working hours he spent getting the best of the crooked spammer.  If you do that, and take into account Tommy's hourly rate, who really got the best of who?  You can be friends with anyone you want.  If you knew the scoundrels, cheats, incarcerated, and need to be incarcerated friends on my list, you would shutter your friend list in embarassment.

Wayne Gary

Steve,

One thing I have learned about TT is it appears he reads this site to get information that he can insult us about.  Several times I have confronted him about his insulting and asked what in all of his trainig getting his "PHD" did it teach that you insult and bully people you want to have as a friend. Both times he avoided the question and made the remark "when did you stop beating your wife". It appears that he does not get the name calling and derogotory terms he uses when talking about a consertative is not being friendly.  It appears he has never used any of the insults toward Sandra and she has ignored all of the insults Tpmmy has thrown at all of the consertatives. I have now decided that I will not adderss any posts to him.

Sandra

Keep posting here. I like your posts.  I hope your mother is doing better.

David Cordell

Lance,

That was Martha's car with the "M and DC" plate. My car had a "D and MC" plate. Easy to remembr both!

David Cordell

Geez, is that a working hearse, or was it purchased by gangsters?? If the former, seems like a joke in poor taste.

Kurt Fischer

I received an email from the Dallas Morning New food critic which contained an interesting challenge.  She has a list of Dallas restaurants older than 50 years and wants to know of any additions her readers might have.  There is also a weblink, so take a look and let her know of any ones not on the list.  The list brings back a lot of memories of places I've been, but not lately.

https://link.dallasnews.com/index.php?action=social&chash=317d0c7aacb6d6cb0480d6e0f464f9d5.22584&s=571196a146f197e9633e4144f6f03fab

Wayne Gary

Kurt,

I e-mailed her about Del's Charcoal Burgers at 110 S. McKinney in Richadson.  A small joint 1 block South of Main St,  I remember it in the early 60's

Bob Fleming

Wayne,

Del's in Richardson is the best.  At every reunion and any time I return home, Del's is a must and must be visited before returning to Houston.  I hope it outlives all of us.

Kurt Fischer

When I worked at Fossil at Spring Valley and Central, I regularly visited Del's for lunch.

Hollis Carolyn Heyn

I love Del's also.  Chili cheese onion burger for me, please.

David Cordell

This is too cute. Sent to me by a lurker.  Obviously reminiscent of the Marx Brothers routine, shown below. Also below, a riff with Harpo and Lucy.

David Cordell

Remember, next time you hate your life, it's all about perspective. I have a friend who reads 2-3 books a week, works out twice a day, and has people who want to have sex with him all the time, yet complains about how much he hates prison.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

David, 

Did your friend graduate from RHS?

Or maybe I should ask, "Did your friend attend RHS?