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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David Cordell

Today is the 40th anniversary of our late son Rob's birth. Our two surviving sons and their spouses are coming over for dinner, and we're serving Rob's childhood favorite dish - chicken spaghetti - one of Martha's mother's recipes. Then we'll have a ten-question quiz of facts about Rob. All is good.

Steve Keene

Sandra,

I more than scanned the article.  I read it very carefully and picked up on the Darwininian bent of Mr. Dawkins as he discussed DNA and the accident of being born and how lucky it was.  
I must admit I whiffed swinging the bat on the pampered issue.  Again, it would be nice to have someone in my life to make me want to cleanup some days and make me walk with her and go places with her.  Alas, it is probably not to be with the incessant work and the paperwork and computer challenges that make me want to pull my hair out because of slow internet connection within 1/2 mile of I-35E.

Kurt Fischer

Sandra and Steve:

Richard Dawkins is a very well known evolutionary biologist.  He is at times almost evangelistic in his critique of of the creationist position.  He is one of the most familiar faces in discussions between the evolutionist and creationist camps.  

Sandra, just as a point of information, most individuals who hold to a "young earth" viewpoint would also agree with you that we can observe changes/evolution within what they refer to as a "kind" (similar to a species, but in line with the Biblical description of animals reproducing "after their kind").  We see moths change from white to black to white based on environmental situations.  We see dogs evolve into different breeds.  We see monkeys evolve into different breeds.  But they are all still moths, dogs and monkeys.  They term this "micro-evolution".  But they differ on the notion of a continuium of evolution.  This they term "macro-evolution".  This would mean all creatures have evolved in a continuium of small or a series of massive changes (referred to as punctuated equilibrium by Stephen Jay Gould).  This is the precept of the standard evolutionary argument.   Young earth creationists would argue that we don't see this smooth/incremental system of transitional change in the evidence of nature.

I don't wish to unleash the kraken and stir an evolutionist vs. creationist debate, but thought it would be helpful to reflect on the differing beliefs and volcabulary used.

Thanks for listening.

Kurt Fischer

By the way, I officially started back to work on Friday.  I'm now doing what I did for Fossil, but doing it for Simmons Bank.  Working for an old friend from Fossil.  I'll initially work close ot full time, but will cut back to part time down the road.  One consequence of this will be delayed responses to comments you might make on the forum.

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Lance,

I agree.  We wasted a bit less and recycled more 65 years ago.  Too bad we can't turn back the clock.  It will take a bit of sacrifice, hard work and change of business strategies to go back to bottle recycling, and drinking tap water, for example.  You can't drink the tap water at my house.  We use reverse osmosis to drink and cook with.  The water out of the ground contains radiated particles.  Over long term, it will give you bone cancer.  Not kidding.   How I wish I could just run the tap water and drink it without a bit of concern.  Not only is it bad for you, it is extremely expensive.  Insult to injury.

Kurt.

Young earth versus old earth.  I am an old fashioned science kinda gal.  I believe the earth is 4.5 billion years old.  I believe life evolved slowly.  I like Richard Dawkins, Charles Darwin, Steven Hawking, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, and numerous others.  In short, I am not a creationist.  Not even close.    I just thought Dawkin's short essay on the luckiness of death was interesting and a comforting thought.  That is all.  

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Did someone throw out Hunter's soda straw and his finger paints?

I haven't heard of any more paintings being created by the new age Picasso, nor have I heard of Hunter receiving any more 'half million dollars" from the Chinese art investors.

What has scuttled the genius' budding artistic, creative offerings, I wonder?

Did Hunter fall and break his fingers?

Additional note:  Hurray for Elon Musk!  What an amazing guy and all around wonderful citizen for us to welcome from South Africa!  Gotta love this man's abilities and gumption!

I also just heard that Biden is calling the "Most dangerous man in the world," to be none other than Rupert Murdoch!

What?  Rupert?

Rupert is married now, to Ms. Jerry Hall, Mick Jagger's cast off wife of many years and four children as well.

Come on, man!

David Cordell

Janalu,

Apparently Musk now owns about over 9% of Twitter -- four times as many shares as Jack Dorsey owns. 

Whenever I look at Twitter, I just get angry. Maybe there will be more balance in the future.

Nine percent of a large corporation is huge because so many shareholders do not vote. 

Maybe he will try to change things up, e.g. put Trump back on Twitter. That will cause a lot of employees to quit. If so, good riddance. Maybe he can find conservative or at least neutral people.

Hollis Carolyn Heyn

Lowell Tuttle

Hollis, my CPA and I were rehasing how we both came up (insurance and accounting) office technology wise from back in the day.   I started with a manual Typewriter, but quickly switched to a 1200 dollar IBM selectric with a ball...no calculator, adding machines...We used paper or cardboard rate guides.   Each customer had an account card   As we handled each account, we had to have the account card in the file.   We manually rolled the account card into the typewriter and debited and credited, notating payments cash or check, onto the account card   The file clerk separated the file from the account card and put them back.   An accountant would review the account cards each month and reconcile with the bank deposits.   

Most transactions were net check to the company, or to a premium finance company, less agent commision.   Some companies ran an agent's 30-60-or 90 day account current due for agents to pay net for all policies written. 

We finally got calculators, push button phones, word processors (or accounting programs with word processing interfaced..._ about 1977 or 78...We had software finally installed onto a hard drive with menu driven software (before windows) about 1979 or 1980...

Around 1990 Progressive and Americna Financial  (Infinity/Windsor) started credit scoring on insurance rating and they figured they could do it without the agent.   GEICO chimed in the same way, copycating Progressive.  They now spend upwards of 4 billion or so in advertising.

Interesting, the agent side of business with Progressive does about 5% better than the direct side.   You can see it by looking at Progressive's financial reports, available under PGR via Yahoo finance.  They report their SEC financials monthly...

PS   You can still grind your own beans at most big grocers...I like the smell too...but remember A&P in Terrace Shopping Center, though my mom mainly went to Safeway nearby for their meat quality

David Cordell

As I recall, there were three grocery stores in Richardson in the late 50s/early 60s. Wyatt's in Heights Shopping Center, and A&P and Safeway in Terrace Shopping Center on the east side of Greenville Avenue, a block or so north of Belt Line.  Seems like A&P was in the strip, facing west toward Greenville Avenue. (Is that right??) As you faced A&P, Safeway was to the right in a separate building facing north. My brother was a checker at Wyatt's -- probably about 1961-1963. Early on, we favored Safeway.I recall a half gallon of milk was 44 cents. We never had a milkman.  My father ate Lucerne ice cream almost every night. 

Unrelated: What happens when you stop having sex.

Kurt Fischer

Thanks for your reply Sandra.

My expectation was you are a firm believer in evolution. I wasn't trying to change your mind, just offering a bit of information about "the other side".  It seems like most people who believe in evolution also believe that anyone with a belief in "ex nihilo" creation (out of nothing) is either foolish or an idiot.  For that reason I sometimes try to explain basic facets of creationist beliefs so people at least aren't rejecting things on a "red herring" basis.

Hollis Carolyn Heyn

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Kurt,

My father encouraged me to explore science from an early age.  He was working on a GED and watched educational programming before he went to work.  I watched with him.  He also built a telescope (polished the mirror by hand) and we watched the stars at night with the neighbors when it was complete.  I used to watch him in the garage evenings as he slowly polished the glass.   I suppose that is why I like science, and believe it.  

Yes, I am pretty firm on it.  I can also see when creationists are firm in the view as well.  It is what it is.  

Wayne Gary

Sandra and Kurt

I thought this is funny. Todays Frank and Ernest

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Lance,

Yes,  I have rain barrels, which currently have leaks, so they are not in use.  When it is in use, I use the water on my vegetable garden.  It would be used for drinking it if came to it.  I also have a compost bin (two infact).  Doing my part to reduce my carbon footprint!

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

We saw the first episode of Benjamin Franklin by Ken Burns on PBS last night.  Great documentary!  I highly recommend it!

Ron Knight

Lance

Excellent "green thing" post. I enjoyed that!

Jim Bedwell

Lowell Tuttle

Speaking of science (with entertainment, yet)

David Cordell

We've been watching Jeopardy recently. I'm trying to decide if I don't know as much as I used to know, or if they are just asking questions to which I do not know the answers, or both. It seems that many of the categories relate to pop culture, TV, music, etc. that I don't pay attention to. Another issue: I am too slow to give my answers. Actually, I am too slow to generate the answers. Oh, many of them are in there. Somewhere. They just have more difficulty winding their way from the depths of my grey matter to my tongue. This is the same issue that my father had when we used to play Trivial Pursuit. He knew all the answers, but one of us offspring could spout out the answer more quickly. At least in the last couple of episodes I answered three or four questions that the contestants couldn't answer. I can't remember what they were (duh!) but it seems that they were questions people of a certain age might be able to answer.

I'm watching the first episode of the PBS Benjamin Franklin series that Sandra mentioned. (We subscribe to the PBS streaming service.) Here is a quotation from Franklin mentioned in this episode::

"A virtuous heretic shall be saved before a wicked Christian."

Lowell Tuttle

On Prime, we are enjoying Outlaws.   Its BBC, but has Christopher Walken (he's hilarious) and the tall gangly guy, Steven Merchant...

David Cordell

Lowell,

What is the situation with Susie' brother?

Lowell Tuttle

Tennessee born again brother is in intensive care re hab.   Able to walk a few steps and take a shower.   For now, his kidney is functioning...though they did put in a port for emergency dyalisis if needed, as it's a transplant.   He has been in a health facility since I guess August.   Talking, happy, may get out...

That's her 63 year old brother.   The fact he only has one kidney is imho, his fault for not accepting medical care back in his 50's, and counting on prayer.   Ended up with having to get a transplant.   Type II diabetes ignorance.

Her other brother, 65, in assisted living down the street...He's doing great, except blind and on insulin.  I didnt ignore the type 2 problems.  Ran marathons and ran every day in Memorial Park until his eyesight failed.

Single, no kids, no marriage...

Susie herself is bortherline diabetic, but walks and sort of watches her weight.   

Master's picks today.   I ll give you my three $20.00 picks a little later...

Wayne Gary

David,

Last night I watched the second part about Ben Franklin.  They mentioned he set up 2 trusts, Boston and Phildelphia.  They were 200 yr trusts and they set up trusts to give small loans at 5% APR to married men under age 25 that have fininshed an aprintiship to set up their own business. They set up a technical school in each city that are still in operation today.  These were the first nonsectarian schools of higher education in America. In 1990 the trusts were disoled and the money in them was turned over to the schools to be used as scholorships.

The idea of the microloans ended up being used by a Bangladeshi banker and economist Muhammad Yunus the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize: microlending. Not sure if he knew about Franklin doing it first.

Here is a good article on the history.

www.historynet.com/ben-franklins-gift-keeps-giving/?msclkid=2fafac8fb5b711ec8b4b599cd8b76960

Steve Keene

Lance,

Ukrainians are the heroes now, but people forget that many Jews entered Ukraine from both Poland and Russia during WWII seeking asylum from the pogroms in Russia and the Exterminations in Poland by the German Nazis.  Ukrainians were complicit at the time, turning in their Jewish neighbors to protect themselves and to curry favor with the Nazis so they would not be killed themselves.