Earning a Passing Grade in Current Events in the Seventh Grade

Banks did not open in 1932 sending my family into financial disaster and by 1939 when I was in the seventh grade the situation was still bad for the family and most  people;  therefore, our class voted against the Weekly Reader, a newspaper for students.   For current events the teacher assigned a country or area to everyone in selected rows.  My row got China, which though still being ravaged by the Japanese was pushed off the news pages by events in Europe.  We were not taking a paper at this time but had access to one subscribed to by my uncle.  Someone told us of an article on China in the Literary Digest, so I took some precious money and bought the magazine.  That article was the only clipping I had in my scrap book to turn in for grades. Students on rows assigned to Germany, France, England and Italy got A's in current events; I lucked out to get a C, which passed.

Anyone Else Who Served on the USS Pickens?

I have heard about the following:

Ben Larson, who served in the engine room -- from Sam DeLaan

Mark White, pharmacist third class -- from his son John White 

Bennett M. Butters, radionman second class -- from his son.

Crew of USS Pickens Travels by Train to Astoria, Or.

A very few days after I joined the crew in Bremerton we boarded a train and headed to Astoria to commission the Pickens and begin our service on board.  I have no memory leaving Bremerton and none of arrival in
Astoria, but I have memories of the middle of the trip.  Our train broke down in a rural area, the only signs of civilization a small village.  It was large enough to have a cheese factory and the kind residents gave us all the cheese we could eat.  A small dog seemed to like us and we fed him cheese.  No matter how much we offered him he accepted it.  I often wondered if he survived after eating so much cheese.  Several hours after the train stopped another locomotive arrived and we completed our journey.  I invite any former Pickens crew members or members of their families to add their own or their relative's memories.

Can the Democrats Blame This on Bush?

(The following is from Neal Boortz, political commentator, so I can't vouch for its accuracy)

>In January 2007 before the Democrats took over Congress, unemployment was 4.6 per cent; now its 9.6 per cent.
>In January 2007 there were 7.1 million unemployed people in America; now there are 14.9 million.
>In January 2007 the median home price was $210,600; today it's $179,300.
>In January 2007 the Dow Jones Industrial Average was  12,500; today it's 10,840.
>In January 2007 the gross federal debt was $9 trillion; today it's $13.5 trillion.
>The poverty rate in 2006 was 12.3 per cent; now it' 14.3 per cent.
>In the final budget created by a GOP-controlled Congress, the deficit was $160 billion; now it's $1.6 trillion.

doctor visit

Went to my appointment with Dr Singh this morning. Blood pressure was 118 over 57 and my EKG was good. Next appointment in six months. Talked to Singh about my back pain. Last night was just too much and I must find a way to get more sleep. Singh said Dr. Mody is the best back doctor in Shreveport. He also said when back troubles start they usually continue to get worse.That was discouraging but Mody has had success where others have failed.

On another note, I lost seven pounds since my last visit to Singh.

(Found this as a draft entered January 19.  For some reason I had not published it, probably because it was personal and not of interest to anyone else.  I have an appointment with Dr. Singh this week and will have to tell him about the bad spells I have had.  The good news is that I went to church Sunday after missing three Sundays in a row. My back is no better but I cannot go through a five-hour operation at this time.)

Washington DC Infested with Stink Bugs -- Who's Surprised

We don't have enough to worry about with the economy stinking, now Washington DC has been taken over by  Halyomorpha halys, better known as the common stink bug. Many of us have felt for quite some time that the Obama administration was buggy, so we are not surprised. New York city, on the other hand, is "enjoying" an explosion of tourists, known as Cimex lectalarius, or bed bugs. First the bugs went into homes, next to hotels, and finally to office towers downtown.  And here I've given up my battle with Blissus insularius Barbar, the Southern chinch bug. The bugs and the drouth have jointly killed all my grass, except for a few clumps of crab grass.  At least I do not have to mow and if I get bed bugs I can buy a can  of spray for $19.95.  It could be more difficult, however.  It used to be part of hospitality to give a tramp a bed and food. My dad said that after every such visit, they had to boil not only the bedding but the beds themselves, because the bugs would hide in cracks.

As for bugs in Washington, we have a chance in an election in a few weeks to get rid of some of them.

Got a Hair Cut and a History Lesson Today

Took longer than usual to get my hair cut as Joe talked faster than  he barbered.  He had bought  a 1930 Byrd High yearbook and had a lot of names he wanted to run by me.  He also acquired a new client,  Dr. Moreland from Powhattan, who is related to Morelands from Homer.  Joe said he is going to his hometown of Pine Prairie in a few days where he will visit the barber shop and listen to his friends blast the government.

Another customer came in while I was in the chair and commented on a friend getting his first royalty check from natural gas, something like $58,000.  That on top of a $700,000 lease payment.  He pointed out that a number of  people are faring very well.  I wouldn't mind being in that group.