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Good morning from ATX. Currently 80°F and mostly cloudy. Looking at another triple-digit day.

That's all I've got. Wishing y'all an awesome day.

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Morning Legionnaires!

77° this morning with a high expected to reach near 100°. Cloud cover this afternoon, so I will probably cut the grass today since the next few days will be hot and sunny.

Going to OKC today to Century Martial Arts warehouse with my friend to buy more equipment for his class that I help teach at his church. Told them I would donate $200.00 to the church for martial arts gear. Have already given them some equipment that I had extra from a school we once had. The trip almost always includes a stop at the restaurant that has Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese food. He is Thai and always gets that. I bounce around trying to taste as many as I can.

We took a new student (brown belt from another school) to the Thai Noodle World restaurant in Lawton OK last Friday night and he saw some hot/spicey noodles with chicken he wanted to try. My friend told him to get the #2 hot (1-5 heat range) as it would be hot enough. The brown belt (20 years old) scoffed and said he eats hot food all of the time and ordered the #4 hot. After a couple of bites, he was tearing up, sweating, and drank all of his tea and had to order more tea. 2 more in fact. Did not finish the meal.

Reds...stopped the losing streak that was 6. Team was still having fun so...that is a good sign.

Happy Friday eve folks so, don't work too hard and God Bless.
 
Good morning folks.

The heat and humidity is like a thick blanket in the east. I’m sitting on an air conditioned subway car trying to cool off and stop sweating after walking a hundred yards from the parking lot.

Rough stretch at work, but it’ll pass. It always does.

Had a fun talk with my son last night, who is still visiting the farm up in upstate New York. My wife’s cousin took him out yesterday with four scoped rifles, up to a 30.06, and a shooting range he has set up. My boy was in hog heaven, and was putting rounds in a very tight pattern. Wish I could have joined him, though I doubt I can still shoot like that.

Hope you all have a good day.
 


Call it religious if you like. Just a fact, it can be anyway...



Man, when I'm homesick for Kentucky, Olive Hill's Tom T. Hall can get me feeling all sorts of things.

In my early 20s when I'd just left home -- the only one in my family not to settle close to my parents -- I'd play this song in my apartment in Boca Raton, Florida, or later in my place on Capitol Hill in DC and feel mighty blue...

 
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Man, when I'm homesick for Kentucky, Olive Hill's Tom T. Hall can get me feeling all sorts of things.

In my early 20s when I'd just left home -- the only one in my family not to settle close to my parents -- I'd play this song in my apartment in Boca Raton, Florida, or later in my place on Capitol Hill in DC and feel mighty blue...

My dad was one of the Ky guys who went to Detroit to work at an auto plant after WW2. I lived there for a year when I was a baby, till dad got homesick and came back to Ky. Armed Forces Radio used to play Detroit City by Bobby Bare a lot. "Oh, how I wanna go home."
 
My dad was one of the Ky guys who went to Detroit to work at an auto plant after WW2. I lived there for a year when I was a baby, till dad got homesick and came back to Ky. Armed Forces Radio used to play Detroit City by Bobby Bare a lot. "Oh, how I wanna go home."
Yeah, that song was old by the time I was out on my own, but I still still loved it..."by day I make the cars, and by night, I make the bars, if only they could read between the lines.."

My wife is from NYC and later DC, but as a young woman she got a job working for the Detroit Free Press newspaper...The area she covered was Ypsilanti, which she says the locals still call Ypsi-Tucky. Lots of folks with Kentucky roots around there...
 
My dad was one of the Ky guys who went to Detroit to work at an auto plant after WW2. I lived there for a year when I was a baby, till dad got homesick and came back to Ky. Armed Forces Radio used to play Detroit City by Bobby Bare a lot. "Oh, how I wanna go home."

Sir,

My Dad did that as well. (Moving from Middlesboro to Michigan.) I was born there and for the first 19 years of my life lived there, except for trips to Kentucky it seems once a year. My brother and sister still live there.) (I was born in Monroe Michigan (About as far south as you can go and not be a Buckeye of Ohio (What is a Buckeye anyway: A useless Chestnut ;) Michaganders and Buckeye's have a strong dislike of each other. Inbred...)
 
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They said it set a record for the state of Ky.
I recall that in 1997 there was 12" of rain in EKy from the remnants of a stalled hurricane (Agnes?) that caused inundated cities along the Licking River, Falmouth in particular. Whole city underwater up to rooftops. Helped a friend tear out all his drywall to rebuild.


 
Thanks for that insight Bernie. As someone too young to have faced the decision, I don't really have the right to criticize anyone for what they did or didn't do. And through the years, I've had older friends who went to Vietnam, and older friends who didn't. I didn't judge them.

But I've always just had a knee-jerk negative reaction to Jane Fonda and some others who were aggressively anti-war.
I was right in the middle of it. I still have my draft card. I started college in the fall of 1964. I got a deferment for being in college. I married Sherry in the summer of 1966. They later took away the college deferment but gave one for marriage. We had a child a year later. They took the marriage deferment away but gave one if you were a parent.

So without planning or anything I did not have to go to the war.

My high school class was raped by the war. One of my grads died the first day he was in Viet Nam. His plane was hit while landing. Another died two months after he got back from being blown up in Viet Nam. My college room mate survived combat in Viet Nam and went through the indignity of being spit on and cursed upon landing in Seattle, WA on his way home. My first cousin, the closest thing I have to a brother, was in the Air Force and ended up spending two weeks in the DMZ trying to figure out how the enemy was intercepting the U.S. radio and navigation data and all that goes with it. He lived in horror working under those conditions and was damaged badly by his one year in Southeast Asia. The war in Viet Nam ruined a lot of my high school buddies lives even when they did not die. I hate Robert McNamara and I hate Lyndon Johnson because of the way they ran the war.

Viet Nam rewarded the rich kids and the poor disproportionately paid the price for it. Poor black kids paid a really high price.
 
I avoided the draft with a high lottery number in Dec. 1969. I had no intention of making the military a career and thus had decided that if drafted, I'd put in my 19 months active duty - training + 13 mo. assignment was the going route - and get on with my life as quickly as I could. A number of guys were signing up for the reserves, but that was six months active duty then 5 more years of meetings and periodic training.
 
I avoided the draft with a high lottery number in Dec. 1969. I had no intention of making the military a career and thus had decided that if drafted, I'd put in my 19 months active duty - training + 13 mo. assignment was the going route - and get on with my life as quickly as I could. A number of guys were signing up for the reserves, but that was six months active duty then 5 more years of meetings and periodic training.
My son was 26 years old and single when he decided to join the Army. He had to do it before he got to 27 or he could not be an officer. He put in 20 years, mainly in the Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky guard. He ended up being an Iraqi Vet.

A bunch of folks in my family are military but it never attracted me.
 
Another streak for the Reds? Well, two wins and counting...

And Elly De La Cruz sets another milestone: Fastest recorded throw on an assist at the plate from shallow left field: 99.8 mph... How many MLB players can you say are worth going to the park just because you might see something that never happened before? Not that many. He's one...
 
I recall that in 1997 there was 12" of rain in EKy from the remnants of a stalled hurricane (Agnes?) that caused inundated cities along the Licking River, Falmouth in particular. Whole city underwater up to rooftops. Helped a friend tear out all his drywall to rebuild.


 
I was right in the middle of it. I still have my draft card. I started college in the fall of 1964. I got a deferment for being in college. I married Sherry in the summer of 1966. They later took away the college deferment but gave one for marriage. We had a child a year later. They took the marriage deferment away but gave one if you were a parent.

So without planning or anything I did not have to go to the war.

My high school class was raped by the war. One of my grads died the first day he was in Viet Nam. His plane was hit while landing. Another died two months after he got back from being blown up in Viet Nam. My college room mate survived combat in Viet Nam and went through the indignity of being spit on and cursed upon landing in Seattle, WA on his way home. My first cousin, the closest thing I have to a brother, was in the Air Force and ended up spending two weeks in the DMZ trying to figure out how the enemy was intercepting the U.S. radio and navigation data and all that goes with it. He lived in horror working under those conditions and was damaged badly by his one year in Southeast Asia. The war in Viet Nam ruined a lot of my high school buddies lives even when they did not die. I hate Robert McNamara and I hate Lyndon Johnson because of the way they ran the war.

Viet Nam rewarded the rich kids and the poor disproportionately paid the price for it. Poor black kids paid a really high price.
I was asst NCOIC of security at a radar station near the DMZ for about 7 months. It really wasn't bad duty considering. I had lots of offers in law enforcement, but I was sick of guns. We had locals doing menial chores for us, including a sweet teen age girl. Part of her job was cleaning our office, so I spoke to Bien almost daily. I was concerned about locals working on base, but it was set up before I arrived and it was convenient to not have to do the chores ourselves, so I did not speak up. One night the Viet Cong raided their village and killed all those who worked for us, including Bien. That has eaten at me for fifty years. "If" I hate voiced my concerns instead of going along to get along, maybe those folks would have lived. It's very difficult for me to ask anyone for help.
 
I was asst NCOIC of security at a radar station near the DMZ for about 7 months. It really wasn't bad duty considering. I had lots of offers in law enforcement, but I was sick of guns. We had locals doing menial chores for us, including a sweet teen age girl. Part of her job was cleaning our office, so I spoke to Bien almost daily. I was concerned about locals working on base, but it was set up before I arrived and it was convenient to not have to do the chores ourselves, so I did not speak up. One night the Viet Cong raided their village and killed all those who worked for us, including Bien. That has eaten at me for fifty years. "If" I hate voiced my concerns instead of going along to get along, maybe those folks would have lived. It's very difficult for me to ask anyone for help.

God Bless you Sir. I cannot imagine the pressure you were under, what I do know is how I've seen you carry yourself for a long while here, in different threads as well, you cannot hide character, even on a message board. I do not know you personally but what I've seen in many forums is your honor. We all have regrets for things we did not do. The end results are not always known which in your case, the end result seems known. I do know though that you and that young lady and so many others are in the protection of God. Who lives and who dies, only God knows. Go forward and love Sir, that is all any of us can do. God Bless you!
 
God Bless you Sir. I cannot imagine the pressure you were under, what I do know is how I've seen you carry yourself for a long while here, in different threads as well, you cannot hide character, even on a message board. I do not know you personally but what I've seen in many forums is your honor. We all have regrets for things we did not do. The end results are not always known which in your case, the end result seems known. I do know though that you and that young lady and so many others are in the protection of God. Who lives and who dies, only God knows. Go forward and love Sir, that is all any of us can do. God Bless you!
Thanks. That incident and others nearly ruined me. I didn't care whether I lived or died for ten years and lived life much in that fashion. Thankfully the Good Lord had mercy on me.
 
I was asst NCOIC of security at a radar station near the DMZ for about 7 months. It really wasn't bad duty considering. I had lots of offers in law enforcement, but I was sick of guns. We had locals doing menial chores for us, including a sweet teen age girl. Part of her job was cleaning our office, so I spoke to Bien almost daily. I was concerned about locals working on base, but it was set up before I arrived and it was convenient to not have to do the chores ourselves, so I did not speak up. One night the Viet Cong raided their village and killed all those who worked for us, including Bien. That has eaten at me for fifty years. "If" I hate voiced my concerns instead of going along to get along, maybe those folks would have lived. It's very difficult for me to ask anyone for help.
Bernie, I doubt anything I say will make a big difference to you. But I’ll say it anyway. The Viet Cong killed those people and they carry all the responsibility.

Here’s why I say that: Without going into detail, I made some decisions on a day in Afghanistan in November 2001 -a day in which four other journalists were killed. I felt a lot of survivor’s guilt and still do. But several buddies of mine told me, “the Taliban killed those people. Not you.” Keeping that in mind makes things easier.
 
Bernie, I doubt anything I say will make a big difference to you. But I’ll say it anyway. The Viet Cong killed those people and they carry all the responsibility.

Here’s why I say that: Without going into detail, I made some decisions on a day in Afghanistan in November 2001 -a day in which four other journalists were killed. I felt a lot of survivor’s guilt and still do. But several buddies of mine told me, “the Taliban killed those people. Not you.” Keeping that in mind makes things easier.
I appreciate the words. The Lord helps me accept things now, but the safety of people and equipment was my job. It took a long time before I would let Him help me.
 
I was right in the middle of it. I still have my draft card. I started college in the fall of 1964. I got a deferment for being in college. I married Sherry in the summer of 1966. They later took away the college deferment but gave one for marriage. We had a child a year later. They took the marriage deferment away but gave one if you were a parent.

So without planning or anything I did not have to go to the war.

My high school class was raped by the war. One of my grads died the first day he was in Viet Nam. His plane was hit while landing. Another died two months after he got back from being blown up in Viet Nam. My college room mate survived combat in Viet Nam and went through the indignity of being spit on and cursed upon landing in Seattle, WA on his way home. My first cousin, the closest thing I have to a brother, was in the Air Force and ended up spending two weeks in the DMZ trying to figure out how the enemy was intercepting the U.S. radio and navigation data and all that goes with it. He lived in horror working under those conditions and was damaged badly by his one year in Southeast Asia. The war in Viet Nam ruined a lot of my high school buddies lives even when they did not die. I hate Robert McNamara and I hate Lyndon Johnson because of the way they ran the war.

Viet Nam rewarded the rich kids and the poor disproportionately paid the price for it. Poor black kids paid a really high price.
The most hated thing for me in the past to even now is when I think of the treatment of service men and women who served I just get pissed. Yeah, I hate Jane Fonda and some others. Not supposed to hate but, it is a difficult thing to control.

God forgive me.
 
My son was 26 years old and single when he decided to join the Army. He had to do it before he got to 27 or he could not be an officer. He put in 20 years, mainly in the Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky guard. He ended up being an Iraqi Vet.

A bunch of folks in my family are military but it never attracted me.
My mother hated that I was in and when in the Gulf war my step father said she cried almost every night. While I am proud of my service, that is the only part that bothered me about it. But I would not change a thing. I had a good friend who joined shortly after I did and got out 3 years later citing it was not his thing. It is not for everyone, and it is not a big deal to me. Not everyone is suited for military service. Can you imagine if we were all in the military? Look out world, an ass kicking is coming.
 
While in route to OKC today I received a text concerning one the black belts in our group from years ago. He has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer but I don't know how long he has to live. His wife told one of the other guys in our group at Braum's when they both met inadvertently ordering breakfast this morning. He then texted me and ask if me and our instructor (who I was with at the time) if we would meet tomorrow for lunch to discuss what we could do for him. I have ask him to contact our friend to see if he would like to join us. Maybe we could find out from him what we could do to help. He is one of the nicest people you could ever meet.

Pictured below is some of us including the one with cancer seated across from me. His name is Alphonso, we call him Fonz. I am on the left in the picture right behind our instructor who is in the forefront. The guy who texted me is the one on the right taking the picture.

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While in route to OKC today I received a text concerning one the black belts in our group from years ago. He has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer but I don't know how long he has to live. His wife told one of the other guys in our group at Braum's when they both met inadvertently ordering breakfast this morning. He then texted me and ask if me and our instructor (who I was with at the time) if we would meet tomorrow for lunch to discuss what we could do for him. I have ask him to contact our friend to see if he would like to join us. Maybe we could find out from him what we could do to help. He is one of the nicest people you could ever meet.

Pictured below is some of us including the one with cancer seated across from me. His name is Alphonso, we calling him Fonz. I am on the left in the picture right behind our instructor who is in the forefront. The guy who texted me is the one on the right taking the picture.

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May the Lord be with your friend.
 
Good morning from ATX. Currently 79°F and clear. Expecting yet another triple-digit day. Yesterday marked 11 consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 105°F. Unprecedented,

- Alarm on Smartphone failed again. Must troubleshoot.

- Heading off to Buffalo Wild Wings at 4:15 pm for beers with former colleagues from Conexant/NXP

Happy Friday, y'all.

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Good morning from ATX. Currently 79°F and clear. Expecting yet another triple-digit day. Yesterday marked 11 consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 105°F. Unprecedented,

- Alarm on Smartphone failed again. Must troubleshoot.

- Heading off to Buffalo Wild Wings at 4:15 pm for beers with former colleagues from Conexant/NXP

Happy Friday, y'all.

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Had to look Lamington up. Looks good, now all I have to do is find a place around here that sells them. Should not be hard, these people around here love to eat and eat whatever is put in front of them.
 
Good morning all,

It has been what it's been. (That is all I will say about that.) (I am not Forrest. I "ain't".)

Just amazes what some call concern. (Nothing about this forum.) I continually have to keep looking for the humanity and it gets harder to find. (Thanks to this forum I am able to see some knowing it still exists.) How people let themselves do some of the things they do....

I am starting in to the fixes our new home requires from the builder. Several significant items. It will take me a few weeks to fully document and present things. We shall see. (These are the "easy" things to do.)

I have to duck back to work but I am lurking. God Bless you all and I know God will reward and comfort you here. Look for his blessings....
 
My thoughts are with our fellow Kentuckians dealing with flooding. I remember the flood of 1997 and how devastating it was for so many in our city. My boss had a second home on the Indiana side of the Ohio River that was completely submerged.

On a brighter note, this has been the mildest summer (so far) that I can remember. Perfect for my bumper tomato crop. Tomatoes grow best in temperatures between 70-85 degrees. I think we've only had a handful of days over 90 this year. Of course August still looms.
 
Rest in peace, Tony Bennett.

A few years ago, his family made the courageous decision to work with us exclusively to produce a candid, open story on his struggle with Alzheimer's. Our publication has a bit of a reputation for handling things like this appropriately - a few years earlier, Muhammed Ali had talked with us about his Parkinson's, and how his wife was caring for him.

I was editor on this piece and the one with Ali. But the credit all goes to our writer on this Bennett profile who did a sensitive, emotionally complex job. We won a few awards, but more importantly we heard from literally thousands of people that this story was inspiring them as they helped a loved one with dementia.

There's a lot of good details about Bennett's life and career in the piece. If anyone is interested, here's the link:
 
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Rest in peace, Tony Bennett.

A few years ago, his family made the courageous decision to work with us exclusively to produce a candid, open story on his struggle with Alzheimer's. Our publication has a bit of a reputation for handling things like this appropraitely - a few years earlier, Muhammed Ali had talked with us about his Parkinson's, and how his wife was caring for him.

I was editor on this piece and the one with Ali. But the credit all goes to our writer on this Bennett profile who did a sensitive, emotionally complex job. We won a few awards, but more importantly we heard from literally thousands of people that this story was inspiring them as they helped a loved one with dementia.

There's a lot of good details about Bennett's life and career in the piece. If anyone is interested, here's the link:
Good article. I'm a fan of his music. Not many of the old crooners left. Johnny Mathis, Pat Boone and Paul Anka off the top of my head. I'm sure I'm leaving some out but the list is dwindling.
 
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