These days in the United States there is much debate going on about a military policy called “Don’t ask; Don’t tell.” This policy dates back to 1993 and was intended to prevent barring homosexuals from military service as long as nobody knew about it. Now there is a movement to repeal this policy and allow homosexuals to serve just as anyone else would.
Of course, this brings all the nut cases out of the woodwork and we listen to constant discussions about the advisability of letting “these people”, who, in the eyes of some, are obviously immoral degenerates, come in contact with our troops. Apparently these people seem to think homosexuality is contagious.
Most of the time I just keep quite an don’t voice an opinion but it has gone so far that I feel I must speak up and you, of course, may disagree with my slant on this.
I can’t even imagine the unmitigated gall of someone who would ask a person to defend his or her country, even die for it, but only if his or her sex life was agreeable to that person.
That person might ask me if having a straight person live and work with a gay person doesn’t frighten me.
My reply would be, “No it doesn’t. People like you frighten me.”
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
December 6, 2010
12/06/2010
12/03/2010
I GET A NEW DEGREE
I finally have attained something I have always wanted. I am now a “University Graduate”, just like George Bush and other famous university graduates. And it all happened without much effort on my part. Well, actually no effort on my part.
This came about because the undergraduate degree I received back in 1948 was from a very small school in northern Massachusetts called “Fitchburg State Teachers College.” Also, that same year I earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the same school.
As time went by I read that the school had grown and it became known as Massachusetts State College at Fitchburg. Then a few days ago I received an invitation to attend the ceremonies where the school would now officially be the University of Massachusetts at Fitchburg.
So, without even lifting a finger I can now face the world as a “University Graduate” and get all the respect that carries with it. Having a “University degree” is something I’ve always wanted and I will enjoy basking in that for some time.
But first I’m being told I need to put the trash out. Perhaps my new degree doesn’t carry as much prestige as I thought it did. At least not everywhere.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
December, 3, 2010
This came about because the undergraduate degree I received back in 1948 was from a very small school in northern Massachusetts called “Fitchburg State Teachers College.” Also, that same year I earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the same school.
As time went by I read that the school had grown and it became known as Massachusetts State College at Fitchburg. Then a few days ago I received an invitation to attend the ceremonies where the school would now officially be the University of Massachusetts at Fitchburg.
So, without even lifting a finger I can now face the world as a “University Graduate” and get all the respect that carries with it. Having a “University degree” is something I’ve always wanted and I will enjoy basking in that for some time.
But first I’m being told I need to put the trash out. Perhaps my new degree doesn’t carry as much prestige as I thought it did. At least not everywhere.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
December, 3, 2010
11/13/2010
A VERY SHORT STORY
There is a rather famous short story attributed to Ernest Hemingway where it’s said he wrote a short story that consisted of only six words. He wrote, “For sale, baby shoes, never used.”
I wasn’t able to write a decent one that was as brief but I did come up with a very short story I call, “How Did You Like It?”
In 1968 the United State State Department sent me to Malawi, Africa to help set up a Technical School. I was there for 2 years, 1 day, 4 hours and 7 minutes.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 13, 2010
I wasn’t able to write a decent one that was as brief but I did come up with a very short story I call, “How Did You Like It?”
In 1968 the United State State Department sent me to Malawi, Africa to help set up a Technical School. I was there for 2 years, 1 day, 4 hours and 7 minutes.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 13, 2010
11/12/2010
A MOST UNUSUAL DAY
Most of the time my life is fairly mundane giving me little of interest to report. However, every once in a while I have a day that is so unusual that reporting it becomes a problem in that few will believe it actually happened. But I’ll swear that what I’m about to relate is absolutely, 100 percent, the truth.
As yesterday was progressing I began to sense it was going to be a different day -- a special day. Therefore I was unusually alert for details. But before I knew it the day had passed and I realized a complete twenty-four hours had gone by and nothing unusually exciting had happened.
I didn’t trip or fall down even once.
I didn’t break any bones anywhere on my body.
I didn’t go to the hospital in an ambulance.
A most unusual day!
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 12, 2010
As yesterday was progressing I began to sense it was going to be a different day -- a special day. Therefore I was unusually alert for details. But before I knew it the day had passed and I realized a complete twenty-four hours had gone by and nothing unusually exciting had happened.
I didn’t trip or fall down even once.
I didn’t break any bones anywhere on my body.
I didn’t go to the hospital in an ambulance.
A most unusual day!
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 12, 2010
11/11/2010
I LEARN ABOUT SURGE PROTECTION
The first time I heard about “surge protection” I misheard the question and thought the subject was “urge protection.” I thought it was some kind of adolescent birth control thing.
But it was not that. Surge protection refers to protecting electrical devices from being overloaded by a surge of excessive electricity from the power company.
“Who needs that?” you ask. "This house was built about 35 years ago and we have never had a problem like that."
Until last month.
It was late one Saturday afternoon couple of weeks ago when we heard a load explosion and all the lights went out. We were suddenly without power. Subsequently we were to learn that there had been some kind of problem with one of the Electric Company’s transformers and somehow a billion volts or amps or something went coursing through our house. Almost all of our appliances suffered some kind of burnout and no longer functioned.
After having several different electricians and appliance repair people evaluate the situation it was determined that replacing ALL of these appliances with new ones was less expensive than trying to repair what was left of the old ones.
So, we now have a brand new microwave oven, washing machine, clothes drier, refrigerator, garage door opener, heating thermostat and telephone.
Oddly, my computer was located in a room that had been built as an addition some years ago and luckily was on a different circuit so it was spared any damage.
In addition, a few years ago we bought a large screen TV. (See blog of 11/9/2004) At that time the sales person convinced me that purchasing a rather expensive surge protector for this very expensive new TV set was a good investment. Ever since then I have silently complained about having been taken advantage of by this sales person. But that protection device gave it’s life to save our big screen TV set. Otherwise, a new TV set and digital video recorder would also be on the list of things that needed to be repurchased.
So now we have mostly new appliances and are in the process of gathering the extensive paper work needed to attempt to get the power company to acknowledge their responsibility for the damage and thus for the cost of the replacements.
Meanwhile, there is an electrician at work right now installing a “whole house surge protector.” So, when this happens again 35 years from now we will be protected and be able to keep all of our appliances which will then be 35 years old.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 11, 2010
But it was not that. Surge protection refers to protecting electrical devices from being overloaded by a surge of excessive electricity from the power company.
“Who needs that?” you ask. "This house was built about 35 years ago and we have never had a problem like that."
Until last month.
It was late one Saturday afternoon couple of weeks ago when we heard a load explosion and all the lights went out. We were suddenly without power. Subsequently we were to learn that there had been some kind of problem with one of the Electric Company’s transformers and somehow a billion volts or amps or something went coursing through our house. Almost all of our appliances suffered some kind of burnout and no longer functioned.
After having several different electricians and appliance repair people evaluate the situation it was determined that replacing ALL of these appliances with new ones was less expensive than trying to repair what was left of the old ones.
So, we now have a brand new microwave oven, washing machine, clothes drier, refrigerator, garage door opener, heating thermostat and telephone.
Oddly, my computer was located in a room that had been built as an addition some years ago and luckily was on a different circuit so it was spared any damage.
In addition, a few years ago we bought a large screen TV. (See blog of 11/9/2004) At that time the sales person convinced me that purchasing a rather expensive surge protector for this very expensive new TV set was a good investment. Ever since then I have silently complained about having been taken advantage of by this sales person. But that protection device gave it’s life to save our big screen TV set. Otherwise, a new TV set and digital video recorder would also be on the list of things that needed to be repurchased.
So now we have mostly new appliances and are in the process of gathering the extensive paper work needed to attempt to get the power company to acknowledge their responsibility for the damage and thus for the cost of the replacements.
Meanwhile, there is an electrician at work right now installing a “whole house surge protector.” So, when this happens again 35 years from now we will be protected and be able to keep all of our appliances which will then be 35 years old.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 11, 2010
11/10/2010
I GET SOME VERY WISE ADVICE
As I’ve mentioned before I tripped and broke my right hip a couple of months ago. I spent most of the month of June in a rehab facility where I was under the care of a lovely Physical Therapist named Sherry. Even though at the time I felt she was terribly mean spirited because she pushed me hard. However, today, some four months later, my left hip feels 100% and I’m very grateful to Sherry. We have become friends and stay in touch via e-mail since then.
So, not being content with being just plain normal, about a month ago I tripped and fell again. This time it was the knee on the other side that took the brunt of the fall. It turned out the knee cap, AKA, the patella, wasn’t broken but an MRI showed damage inside the knee. The orthopedic surgeon says it will be between 8 and 12 weeks before it fixes itself and I get back to normal.
So, I am back to exercise, pain and frustration. However, I did receive some excellent advice from Sherry, who you remember was my Physical Therapist during the hip adventure. She came up with some fantastic advice and I will follow it to the best of my ability. She wrote, “Stop falling down!!”
I considered this very good advice and, since it came from a medical professional, I plan on following her counsel to the letter.
It also occurs to me that this advice might benefit others too. So, if you know of someone who might profit from this advice feel free to pass it on. I’m sure Sherry won’t mind.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 10, 2010
So, not being content with being just plain normal, about a month ago I tripped and fell again. This time it was the knee on the other side that took the brunt of the fall. It turned out the knee cap, AKA, the patella, wasn’t broken but an MRI showed damage inside the knee. The orthopedic surgeon says it will be between 8 and 12 weeks before it fixes itself and I get back to normal.
So, I am back to exercise, pain and frustration. However, I did receive some excellent advice from Sherry, who you remember was my Physical Therapist during the hip adventure. She came up with some fantastic advice and I will follow it to the best of my ability. She wrote, “Stop falling down!!”
I considered this very good advice and, since it came from a medical professional, I plan on following her counsel to the letter.
It also occurs to me that this advice might benefit others too. So, if you know of someone who might profit from this advice feel free to pass it on. I’m sure Sherry won’t mind.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
November 10, 2010
10/14/2010
WELL DONE CHILE !!!
I had just about decided to retire from writing blogs. My life, including my new hip, is going very well and there was no particular reason for my deciding this. It just seemed to me that there wasn’t much interesting going on around me.
That is until yesterday.
On October 13, 2010 the whole world got to observe the rescue of the 33 miners in Chile and, to me, it was a thing of beauty. The rescuers carefully went about saving the miners in exactly the right way and the results certainly were rewarding.
These days the world could use a few more inspirational things like this.
Thank you for sharing with us, Chile.
Well done!
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
October 14, 2010`
That is until yesterday.
On October 13, 2010 the whole world got to observe the rescue of the 33 miners in Chile and, to me, it was a thing of beauty. The rescuers carefully went about saving the miners in exactly the right way and the results certainly were rewarding.
These days the world could use a few more inspirational things like this.
Thank you for sharing with us, Chile.
Well done!
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
October 14, 2010`
9/13/2010
THE SPICE OF LIFE
I recently read some advice offered to computer users who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Apparently repeated actions using a mouse can cause various wrist problems and the suggestion was made to get a second mouse and program it to work with the other hand. This way when using the right mouse, for example, causes discomfort, one could just switch to the left mouse.
I have no personal experience with this idea of having two mice but it did make me wonder. If this works for mice would it also work for spice? That is, similar to a mouse user, would having an extra spouse also work the same way. If one had two spice and there was pain associated with one it would then be possible to switch to the other one.
Personally I have been involved with multiple spice, though not thru choice and not at the same time. I firmly believe this experience has contributed to my happiness big time. Perhaps that’s what, “The Spice of Life” really is.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
September 13, 2010
I have no personal experience with this idea of having two mice but it did make me wonder. If this works for mice would it also work for spice? That is, similar to a mouse user, would having an extra spouse also work the same way. If one had two spice and there was pain associated with one it would then be possible to switch to the other one.
Personally I have been involved with multiple spice, though not thru choice and not at the same time. I firmly believe this experience has contributed to my happiness big time. Perhaps that’s what, “The Spice of Life” really is.
The Old Professor
Carmel, CA
September 13, 2010
9/09/2010
FINISH THE SENTENCE
In all the years that I have been posting these blogs I can't recall ever using a blog to exercise my State-granted rights as a teacher. However, there's something I hear so often that I feel compelled to put on my teacher's cap and suggest an alternative.
My teaching background was in the Technology area and I have little formal training or understanding of the rules of grammar. I actually would not recognize an adverb if it came up and shook my hand. None the less, even though my mother never graduated from high school, she always had a keen ear for the English language and constantly, but gently, corrected us. Eventually, without knowing the rules, I became accustomed to hearing things said a certain way and anything else sounded very odd.
This was brought to my mind this morning as I listened to some radio commentator commenting on clothing styles in France. This person said, “The French really do it better than us.”
The way my mother always corrected us was to make us finish the sentence. In this case, the speaker obviously meant, “The French really do it better than us do.” This, of course, sounds ridiculous. By adding the single word “do” we get the true meaning and it becomes obvious that using “us” sounds ignorant.
So why doesn't everyone play the game of “Finish the Sentence”? The missing word is always implied and even little children are then able to know if the word should be “us” or “we” or "I" or "me".
If everyone would just remember to “finish the sentence”, even if it's only in one's mind, we could save a lot of cringing of the type one does when fingernails scratch the chalkboard.
The other one that was a favorite of my mother's was when I would say, “Billy and me are going to the playground.”
My mother would gently say, “If Billy can't go, is me going alone?” Of course, it then became obvious that I should have said, “I” instead of “me.” And this soon became a habit without my ever knowing what modified what. It's not that hard.
Exceptions might be if a person deliberately wants to sound ignorant. Apparently there are a lot of those people around but how they managed to to become employed as professional announcers and scriptwriters is a mystery to me.
The Old Professor
Carmel, California
September 9, 2010
My teaching background was in the Technology area and I have little formal training or understanding of the rules of grammar. I actually would not recognize an adverb if it came up and shook my hand. None the less, even though my mother never graduated from high school, she always had a keen ear for the English language and constantly, but gently, corrected us. Eventually, without knowing the rules, I became accustomed to hearing things said a certain way and anything else sounded very odd.
This was brought to my mind this morning as I listened to some radio commentator commenting on clothing styles in France. This person said, “The French really do it better than us.”
The way my mother always corrected us was to make us finish the sentence. In this case, the speaker obviously meant, “The French really do it better than us do.” This, of course, sounds ridiculous. By adding the single word “do” we get the true meaning and it becomes obvious that using “us” sounds ignorant.
So why doesn't everyone play the game of “Finish the Sentence”? The missing word is always implied and even little children are then able to know if the word should be “us” or “we” or "I" or "me".
If everyone would just remember to “finish the sentence”, even if it's only in one's mind, we could save a lot of cringing of the type one does when fingernails scratch the chalkboard.
The other one that was a favorite of my mother's was when I would say, “Billy and me are going to the playground.”
My mother would gently say, “If Billy can't go, is me going alone?” Of course, it then became obvious that I should have said, “I” instead of “me.” And this soon became a habit without my ever knowing what modified what. It's not that hard.
Exceptions might be if a person deliberately wants to sound ignorant. Apparently there are a lot of those people around but how they managed to to become employed as professional announcers and scriptwriters is a mystery to me.
The Old Professor
Carmel, California
September 9, 2010
9/06/2010
LABOR DAY
I finally managed to look up and see that it’s been almost a month since I posted my previous blog. There is only one reason for that time gap. There has been nothing blogable happening in my life. I suppose that ordinarily that might be construed as a good thing. However, in the US today is a holiday.
The first Monday in September is designated as Labor Day, which is rather a strange name because it actually became a holiday so that people who labor, don’t need to do so on this day. It would suggest that No Labor Day would be a better description.
As it is,, it already cheats a good section of the population -- the retired people. I’ll admit that when I retired the only thing I missed were the holidays when I didn’t need to go to work. I always used to look forward to those days and now I never even have one. It hardly seems fair.
But to all of you who do labor (or labour) and have no need to do so today, don’t let my viewpoint spoil your day.
Have a good one.
The Old Professor
Carmel, California
September 6, 2010
The first Monday in September is designated as Labor Day, which is rather a strange name because it actually became a holiday so that people who labor, don’t need to do so on this day. It would suggest that No Labor Day would be a better description.
As it is,, it already cheats a good section of the population -- the retired people. I’ll admit that when I retired the only thing I missed were the holidays when I didn’t need to go to work. I always used to look forward to those days and now I never even have one. It hardly seems fair.
But to all of you who do labor (or labour) and have no need to do so today, don’t let my viewpoint spoil your day.
Have a good one.
The Old Professor
Carmel, California
September 6, 2010
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