Students grade each other in conduct

In my crazy seventh grade nothing should have surprised us; yet when Mr. Trout said the students would grade class members in conduct we thought he was joking.  When we realized he was serious,  most of the boys were gleeful with the opportunity to vote an "F" for a friend -- but that friend had a vote, also.  As one might expect, boys uniformly got "C" while girls were accorded "A" or "B."

That was the way it went until we voted two of the most popular girls "C."  Actually, the grade was  fair; those girls were the life of the class, talking and joking the way we boys did.  The teacher didn't think so; he overruled the class and gave the girls a grade of "B."

Wouldn't it be great if we the voters could grade elected officials that way, giving them a grade every six weeks and if they make below "C" they would have to leave office?

Of course, show ID in order to vote

What valid reason could anyone have to oppose showing identification in order to vote?  The only reason I can see is to cast an illegal vote.

I cannot recall ever voting without first showing my ID, even though for years I voted at the same place and the commissioners knew me well.  I consider it my protection; no one can falsely claim to be me and steal my right to cast my own ballot.

Some Democrats and Obama supporters are calling the requirement to have identification as racist and discriminatory to Blacks.   This is just one more charge of racism the Democrats are relying on to keep voters from considering Obama's miserable record in his first term.  Every thing is racist, according to some Democrats and news media.  Cokie Roberts of National Public Radio claimed Romney's visit to Poland was racist.  How stupid.

Hot, Dry July comes to an end

Hot, Dry and Hot again -- that's been July, which ends after tomorrow.  Will August be any different?  I'm no weatherman but the heat and the lack of rain will likely continue until very late in August.  Summer last year was very hot and dry, also.  Many people, including me, gave up on their lawns, letting drouth and insects win. I've seen a few small trees that died last summer, including my dogwo

Growing up on a farm I worked outside no matter how hot but now the heat really bothers me.  My blood pressure gets real low and I become dizzy.  I was out in the heat for only a few minutes this morning but my blood pressure dropped to 88 over 42.  Once I was seated inside it came up to a safe level.

Sixty per cent of the country has suffered from the heat and drouth with damage to crops estimated at 12 billion dollars.  That's only pennies compared to wasteful spending in Washington.

Pickens nears San Francisco

Sixty-seven years ago, in late July,  the USS Pickens was on the way to San Francisco after nearly 12 months in the South Pacific.  We were to pick up the Blackhawk Division and take part in the first part of the invasion of Japan.  While still on the way to San Francisco we were told that the navy expected 50 per cent casualties.  We were not  surprised, having seen the effectiveness of suicide plans at Okinawa.

All of us looked forward to liberty in San Francisco and hopefully to  get leaves.  Some crew members did get leaves; I was not one of them.

The moving crew made it

Jessica and her moving crew arrived at the apartment in Durham at 1 p.m. today, their time.  Jen called to say they were all tired, naturally, and were joining Mark and Julie for lunch before beginning the job of unloading the truck and installing every thing in the apartment.  I hope it is on the first floor; Mark and Julie got a third floor apartment when they moved to North Carolina.  The two of them had to take their couch and other furniture up by themselves.  I don;t see how they made it,.


Well, at least when they get the furniture moved in and placed they will have time to visit Mark and Julie and the grandchildren.  Then Jessica will be alone as she begins another chapter in her life.  Jen, Josh and River will fly back this weekend.

(A note for Mark and Julie.  Have a glass of  champagne and a piece of cake for me as you celebrate your wedding anniversary this weekend.)

Eat dirt and live

Can you conceive of a doctor prescribing chewing tobacco for an eight or nine year old child?  You might if you knew the child was killing himself eating chimney dirt.  My dad told me that was the case with his brother, my uncle, Finis.  Eating chimney dirt was not uncommon.  Dad said girls who worked in the fields would crumble enough dirt into a tobacco sack to last until noon, replenishing the dirt after lunch.

 It would be unusual to find a dirt chimney outside of a museum today, but many chimneys once were a
wooden frame plastered with clay or other dirt. That dirt must have provided some mineral or nutrient that people were not getting from food grown on those poor Claiborne parish hills.

Did my dad eat dirt?  No, he ate chalk,  making sure on Friday to steal a piece to last him over the weekend.

A new chapter begins for Jessica

I have a feeling that my life is entering a new phase, but it is not me that is beginning a new chapter but my daughter, Jessica.  She is moving to North Carolina this week to prepare to enter Dude University and begin three years in seminary.

Jen and Josh will leave this afternoon to help Jessica and River move Jessica's belongings from her apartment to new lodgings in Durham.  Josh and River will drive a truck while Jen and Jessica will keep pace in Jessica's car.  The trip will require an overnight stay along the way.

I know it is trite to remark how fast time goes  by. It seems only a few weeks since we moved Jessica into a freshman dorm at LSU.  She did outstanding at university and will perform as well during those three years at Duke.  North Carolina is farther than Baton Rouge, but a consolation is that Mark and Julie and the grandchildren live only about 30 minutes from where Jessica will share an apartment with another student.