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08/23/09 01:16 PM

Larry Gilbert

Welcome! This is a different Forum format from "Now You're Talking", and we think it will be easier and more interesting for people to use. It has no threads, topics, or real structure. It's just an opportunity to add your thoughts, comments, criticisms and opinions. Topics are your choice, responses are your choice - just play nice! If this format takes hold, it will be a lengthy list of messages - but you can always jump to the bottom (the newest message) by clicking the red "down" arrow at the top, or jump to the top by clicking the green "up" arrow at the bottom. Please participate!

08/25/09 01:44 PM

Larry Gilbert

About www.RockyRiver63.com It is inevitable that as the pace of added members of the Web site slows, and the pictures and profiles become more static, the traffic on the class Web site will slow down. When we decided to start the process four years ahead of the 50th Reunion, we knew that would happen. Nevertheless, the value of the class Website will continue regardless of the amount of activity. What the Web site does is provide a vehicle for us to send one another emails, to update our land and email addresses, and to have a home for missing classmates to find us. Although we may not see many of you visiting as frequently, please check in now and then to let us know what's new with you, to post new photos of your family, and to help us if you have an idea about how to contact a missing classmate. Above all, please keep in touch with us and with one another.

08/26/09 10:03 AM

Fred Thomas

Government Option Health Care

If there is any doubt about whether Obamacare is a good idea read about my experience with the "government option US Army style health care."

After three children my wife and I discussed some birth control options. I finally decided to get a vasectomy. I had to go on "sick call" to talk with an Army doctor about it and I was told that I would have to wait six months to get the procedure.

When the day came I showed up at a building that was not even a hospital with another 100 soldiers. I could see that this was going to be an Army style field maneuver. An Army sergeant arrived and shouted "give me three" and three of us at a time who were lined up in the hall marched into a room with three benches and were told to lay on our backs.

As I laid there I felt two sharp jabs of novocaine in the groin and within a minute the doctor started to cut. While I was jumping like a fish on a hook and screaming, the doctor calmly asked, "Does that hurt?" "Yes", I shouted. He gave me another shot and waited two minutes this time to start the uperation. I was sliced and sticked within 10 minutes.

As I got up off the table I was told to return to duty, and as I was marching down the hall with my balls feeling like grapefruits I heard the sergeant shout, "give me three more." Dr. Mengele would be proud.

08/26/09 10:24 AM

Larry Gilbert

Well - thanks for sharing, Fred! This may stimulate a lively discussion among our liberals and conservatives about the state of the nation, health care reform, and a lot of other stuff. But no more talk about your private parts.

08/26/09 07:18 PM

Fred Thomas

Affirmative Action in action or It's a Kafka World

I worked as an electronics technician for a certain Federal Agency. We were only a little surprised one day to find out that our new boss was a former cutodian. The real surprise was to find out that he couldn't read or write. Apparently he could read letters to some degree but not words. He would hand out our daily assignments and mix up Taylor and Thomas and finally just throw them on the table and we sorted them out.

He got by because a lady custidian did all his paperwork for him and translated Jive into Standard English. He was known to us affectionately as "Pimp Daddy" because of his flashy clothes and the pearl handle pistol that he reputedly kept under his belt.

Everything was all peachy keen until one day the lady who covered for "Pimp Daddy" was off and he had to face the world of the written word all by himself. As bad luck would have it somebody had an accident, they got something in their eye. "Pimp Daddy" knew what to do as he took out a pencil and paper. He drew pictures of the incident in cartoon fashion. One frame showed a stick figure of a man with his arms handing down and the next frame showed a stick figure man pointing to his eye.

That report must have gone all the way to the top.

08/29/09 10:56 AM

Alan Greenleaf

I love this! While I liked (and miss) the multiple subjects before, this would be an excellent "funny story" blog! Maybe others could add funny stories here as well!

08/30/09 09:23 AM

Larry Gilbert

In case anyone is actually reading this, we can have an informal vote about which format people prefer for the Forum. They are both still available - in fact, we could have both operating at the same time. So far, though, there has been very little participation in the open forums. Your opinion?

09/02/09 04:49 PM

Fred Thomas

Hey Gilbs, nobody is talking but I have started to listen to your oldies music.

09/02/09 05:18 PM

Larry Gilbert

Thanks, Fred! It's good to know someone actually clicked on the little link to get here. Do you think we should rename the page to something catchy, like "Pirate Patter?" Or "You Talkin' To ME"?

09/02/09 06:23 PM

#10

Fred Thomas

Gilbs, a change of name might help. I liked the variety of topics better and the ability to post a new topic. I noticed that many more classmates have posted their profile. Maybe they will become more involved, but I am retired so I have time to do this stuff. Keep up the good work.

09/04/09 02:21 PM

#11

Fred Thomas

Economics 101, Free Government Cheese

Perhaps you may remember back in the 1970's when the government decided to give away free cheese. Price supports for cheese had caused surplus cheese production and a mountain of cheese to accumulate, owned by the government. Some bureaucrat decided to give away all the cheese.

After they gave away free cheese for awhile the open market price of cheese started to drop and the government had to buy the surplus cheese. The mountain of cheese the governmeny held actually GREW because of that stupid program and they stopped the free cheese give away.

On a side note, I was able to score a dozen or so of those 5 pound bricks of cheese and it was the best cheese I ever ate, and I got a free economics lesson.

09/04/09 02:41 PM

#12

Larry Gilbert

Now you're talking, Fred. I think that lesson was not lost on the current administration. Could be they hope that by giving away money, their storehouse of money will actually grow, and none of us will have to pay more taxes. Wish I'd had a clunker so I could do my patriotic duty and get some of that free money....

09/09/09 11:48 AM

#13

Michael Johnson

Hey guys, I've got a few clunkers but don't want to give them up because I think the new vehicles are really lame. I owned an IT support biz before retiring. I'm kinda sick of menus....the new cars have all this useless junk on them....My daily driver is an old (98) Ford ZX2-SR. Gets 42mpg, is fast, handles better & is considerably faster than my buddy's new Honda Coupe. Hybrids...Jeez, driving a computer made of toxic waste.....what a dumb solution. Pitty the 2nd or 3rd owner. Besides, what is with this who can make them the ugliest car? Had a '75 Honda Civic that got 50mpg. Are we making progress here?

Thinking of starting a biz for old duffers called 'Knobs & Dials'.........I miss them....

Missed out on the cheese; Nowadays I'm on a non-dairy diet due to extreme osteo-arthritis. Should have bought some & done my duty....That's a hilarious story....Typical beaurocratic boondogle....Things are funny when they are extreme examples of the truth....I've seen the same in big biz, all gov't stuff......

Healthcare...It's not. It's sickness care; they don't give a rip about health. I don't feel much confidence when I walk into a hospital and 50% of the people working there are obese.....The debate is critical, I just wish it would get to the issues. Current AARP bulletin is totally focused on these issues, pretty good source of info.

Responsibility.....I spent a lot of my life blaming others for my problems. If we'd all be responsible there'd not be so much need for laws. It seems to me that once the lobbyists get their twist on any law it benefits very few, but benefits them well at the cost of everyone else. I still don't completely live what I preach, but working on it.

Fred, I'm really sorry about your issues in the Army. I saw much of the same. I was an officer and got completely different care than the enlisted, which was really discriminatory & inexcusable. (No lines, private rooms, immediate access).
However, they still managed to screw up on me. Had a knee operation. They went in the wrong side, made huge incision looking for the damage. Finally went in the other side. Must have had the x-ray upside down; Must have been really dumb re: anatomy as well.
However, I wouldn't equate Army health care with what's being proposed. Army everything pretty much didn't work. It was a great lesson to me. I tried to avoid beaurocacy the rest of my life..........But my knee is so bad I can barely walk, thanks to the Army.

Best to you all.

09/09/09 09:22 PM

#14

Paul Berns

Hi to those who remember me, Paul Berns, drummer....still a percussionist. I was just looking through the memory scrapbook and the Prom Night photo seems to feature me in a "Madras" colored sport coat. Well, I have never changed....now a ponytail and colorful clothing.

Best to all!

If in Indianapolis please let me know and enjoy a free concert with my Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Not only playing classical music but this summer we played Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, and Queen tribute band concerts. It was fun, but I miss Gene Pitney.

paul berns

09/11/09 08:28 PM

#15

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

It's being read, Larry....

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