Theodore John Forsberg (Forsberg)

An award should go to all of us lurkers and a special award to all who were chased off the site,but i wish would return with at least a shout out. It would be nice to here from all to know that we are still classmates and Indians forever ( I know it is socially incorrect to be an Indian inasmuch as Indians are now wolves)

Stewart Myrent

​Ted Forsberg, you want an award for being a "lurker"?  I'm not sure I agree that being a "lurker" deserves any award, as, by definition, a "lurker" does, or says, basically nothing, except for the negative connotation associated with "lurker".  I was more disturbed by reading, "...and a special award to all who were chased off this site..."  I was not aware of anybody being, "chased off this site".  Who was chased off this site?  And by whom, were they chased?  Not knowing the identities of those who were chased off, or who feel like they were chased off, I am left to contemplate what horrible barbs & inequities, they were forced to face, from those who disagreed with them.  (I am guessing that these unknown persons, faced mainly disagreement, and nothing worse, to cause them to flee the site.)  Or was there some threat of physical harm, that I am not aware of, that would cause them to flee?  Just asking.  Hi, Nancy!  Janis, I hope you were not offended, in my last post, praising your well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award, by referring to you, as being, "late in your career".

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Stewart, no way did you offend me... My sincere thanks for your shout out - praising me for the Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on me by Ron Zager and the "Indies".  I am later in my career than you - be assured you can move beyond Newcomer-of-the-Year. 

I celebrate the "Indies" with you and our classmates now, and would celebrate whoever might be awarded the Newcomer-of-the-Year or Lifetime Achievement Awards in future years on the Forum. Janis

Stewart Myrent

​Steve, thank you for the clarification on my most recent post, as I was mystified as to how any adult, could be "chased away" by others.  My guess is, no one gets "chased away" from this site, however, I can see how someone could decide to not participate on this site.  Certainly, to participate, or not, is each person's choice.  It is difficult for me to remember, exactly why I decided to start participating, as opposed to being a "lurker", so many months ago, but I think I was experiencing some frustration, and probably felt that I could express my opinions, better than anyone else could.  So sorry you will not be attending the upcoming 55th Reunion, but I get it.  However, I am actually more curious about your most recent photo, of you & the kids, with the moustaches.  I had asked you several questions about those moustaches, because, frankly, I had some doubts, about the authenticity of said moustaches.  So, give it up.  I want the whole truth about that facial hair, especially relative to your youngsters.  Janis, thank you for your kind comments; I am assuming that you do not share Steve's misgivings about attending the 55th (and also do not have nearly as far to travel), so I expect to see you there.  I am definitely planning on attending, as it is now a mere 7 months away.  And we all now know how quickly 7 months can slip by.

Ronald I. Zager

Nancy, 

Thank you for recognizing Scott for his extensive contributions to supporting this site--well deserved!  And please, if I've overflooked anyone else be sure to "award" them for their special efforts.  Like Steve and "Jax" for expats-of-the-year?  Be creative! 

Ron

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Shooting survivors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, traveled to Capitol Hill to press on for stricter gun laws and a ban of assault rifles.

In emotional testimony before a House panel on gun violence prevention, 17 year old Aalayah, a senior, described hiding under the body of a slain classmate last Valentine’s Day -

she said she and her peers have been “scarred emotionally for the rest of our lives.  Our stories and voices must be heard on the most important issue facing our generation.”  

Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said, “We do not need another moment of silence, or more thoughts and prayers. 

"We need a moment of action. Today’s hearing is the first step toward that goal.”

There is bipartisan majority support in the House for Raise the Age Act to increase the minimum age from 18 to 21 to purchase an assault weapon.

The proposed House bill would fall far short of banning assault weapons as the Parkland students advocate

and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told a Bloomberg reporter in November that legislation restricting guns will not find Republican support in the Senate.

Marvin Irving Blusteln

Great SOU speech.  Even Nixon didn't threaten his own countrymen.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Racism, sexual assault, and politics in Virginia

Zero-tolerance culture puts Democrats in a bind.

Is there a “hierarchy of offenses”?

Is it time to consider redemption and restorative justice in America?

Nancy Doyle (Sudlow)

Beverlee Ann Arpan (Marshall)

Ron,

I agree! You have my vote!

Bev

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

The Mitch McConnell who tweeted:

“As I’ve said time and time again: Mindless obstruction is unacceptable.  The only way this divided Congress will be able to choose greatness and deliver significant legislation is by focusing on -- as President Trump put it -- ‘cooperation, compromise, and the common good.’ ”

is the same Mitch McConnell who said:

“One of my proudest moments was when I looked Barack Obama in the eye and said, ‘Mr. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.’ ”

Stewart Myrent

​Just saw that PA Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), the top Republican on the House's Ways & Means Oversight Subcommittee, said,  if Democrats go after the president's tax returns, "Such an abuse of power would open a Pandora's Box.  It would be tough to get the lid back on, it would set a very dangerous precedent."  Are you kidding me, Mike Kelly?  What "dangerous prededent" would it set?  That presidents are obligated to release their Income Tax Returns?  This has been 'de rigeur' since Gerald Ford.  So, I have no idea what he's talking about, either relative to the Pandora's Box comment, or the "dangerous precedent" comment.  I am hoping that the voters in Mike Kelly's district, are not nearly as ignorant, as he, and are intelligent enough, to see through his obvious BS.  But, these are the people who elected this moron, in the first place.  I really can't take too much more of this bull----.  This is exactly why I wanted to totally skip 2019 & zip ahead right to 2020.  But, no, you couldn't let me just skip this one, lousy year.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Imagine how perilous for the U.S. if the Democrats had not won the House of Representatives in 2018.  It’s frightening.  

We have always distinguished our constitutional form of government from others by saying we are a government of laws not men.  

The last two years with one party rule gives lie to our statement of constitutional government -- we seem less a government of law and more a government of corrupt people than we had reason to expect.  

Stewart Myrent

Just got home from work.  ​Janis, I agree whole-heartedly with your comments about the U.S. being a country of laws, not men, however, what stunned me, was that I had NOT considered where our country would be right now, if the Democrats had not won back the House of Representatives, if the Republicans still controlled both houses of Congress.  It's kind of scary to consider where we would be, if the Republicans still controlled the House.  (I am shocked, that the Republican Congress has been so pliable & agreeable to Trump - when Alan Alop wrote earlier this week that his Republican friends {if any} should jump off the Trump bandwagon as soon as possible, I totally agreed that now is the time.)  As sure as I am, that the Democrats have the legal ability to delve into all of Trump's illegitimate activities, including looking at his Federal Tax returns, I am, frankly, a little concerned that, knowing Trump, this whole mess could wind up being resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court.  And that court has been recently re-constituted with 2 members selected by Trump.  So, I'm not sure that the Supremes can be counted on to do the right thing (Ruth Bader Ginsburg - hang in there another couple of years, please!), but I have this sneaky suspicion that John Roberts, the Chief Justice, will make sure they do the right thing.  He has surprised me several times already & he may well be the deciding vote to make sure the Court does the right thing.

Marvin Irving Blusteln

Stewart you are an optimist.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Can we agree that the electoral college system is not a fair system?  Is there a system that would effectively balance power between small and large population states?  

 California's                   Wyoming’s

Population is                Population is 

  39,776,830                     573,720 (and shrinking)

2019 population figures

California has               Wyoming has

  55                           3  

Electoral Votes•         Electoral Votes•

    723,215                      191,240

 Californians               Wyomingites

   =           =

1 Electoral Vote        1 Electoral Vote 

It is up to us to reestablish government of, by, for the People.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”  

 -- Edward R. Murrow.

Trump threatens those who question,

                                              fact check,

                               and exercise their voice.

“When the power of love

    overcomes

the love of power

the world will know peace.”  

 -- Jimi Hendrix

Stewart Myrent

​Janis, thank you for clearly displaying why the Electoral College is such a farce & why it gives the smaller states unequal (and outsized) representation in the Electoral College.  Back in November of last year, Paul tried to peddle this idea that, "...the Electoral College gives the states proportional representation...It was never about the direct election of a president."  So, I'm pretty sure the info you supplied, pretty much puts the lie to that idea.  Marv, I might not disagree that I am an optimist, in hoping that the Supreme Court will do the right thing, but can we, at least, say that I am a hopeful optimist?  Gotta go to work. 

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Only in America:

the guns used in mass shootings are a constitutional right but health care for the survivors is a privilege.

Paul Richard Hain

Janis and Stewart,

The Electoral College is made up of the same number of senators and representatives to which each state is entitled.  Janis, the formula you presented is not how it is calculated.  Each state gets one delegate for each senator and each representative the state has.  Washington DC gets 3 delegates per the 23rd Amendment.  Thus, the Electoral College representation of the States is equal to how they are represented in Congress with a total of 538 delegates.  The president is the president of the states.  The vote of the people is to determine whom the state delegates will vote for when the College convenes in Washington on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December.  Stewart, I didn’t “peddle” anything to you.  These are facts.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Yes, Paul, these are all facts established in laws created by white men now dead who wanted to preserve slavery and white (male) privilege.  “My calculation” does not dispute the facts - just demonstrates the disparity of the value of a vote for a (presidential elector) delegate voting for president in California and Wyoming.  

Are you comfortable having a president of the states (some of which are sparsely populated with shrinking populations) rather than a president of the people?

It wasn’t until June 1960 that Congress passed the 23rd amendment which was ratified in March 1961 and finally granted DC residents the right to vote for presidential electors in the electoral college.  

(To this day residents of DC are taxed without representation.)

Stewart Myrent

​Just got home from work & was going to hit the sack & wait 'till tomorrow to post, but I felt compelled to add my voice.  Paul, I believe that Janis clearly showed that 1 electoral vote in California represents 723,275 Californians, compared to 1 electoral vote in Wyoming representing 191,240 (Wyomingites?).  So, I feel that's a pretty good representation of the disparity inherent in the Electoral College.  But, Janis, my conclusion to the liberal/conservative conundrum was, "We see what we want to see."  So, Paul, Steve H. says I should make a point of seeing you at the 55th Reunion, as he felt, we would have a great time talking (should we exclude ANY political discussion - don't know?)  I hope to see you at our 55th.  I am actually hoping to see, at least, all of the people who follow this Forum, whether they be contributors, or not.  Can any of us count on making it to the 60th Reunion?  If you're thinking that you can count on making it to our 60th Reunion, 5 years hence, you've learned absolutely nothing in your life.  Please show up to the 55th, so I can explain it to you.

Paul Richard Hain

Stewart, Janis and everyone else (Steve and Alan, that includes you guys).  I plan to attend the 55th on September 19th and I hope to see many classmates that day.  I look forward to meeting you.  It is hard to believe that 5 years have passed since our last one.  Wow!

Why do we write?  Why do we come to the social get-togethers and reunions?  Speaking for myself, I love life and I think the Class of '64 has demonstrated we have put ourselves out to reconnect to a time of life that is important to us.  Many of us face serious health issues and many do not.  Writing on the Message Forum and meeting each other at a party celebrates life and lets us put aside our challenges and live, even if for just a brief while enjoying each other's company.  Bring pictures of your family and things you love to do.  Let's make September 19th a joyous occasion.

Ted and Ron, maybe we can update our mascot.  We will always be the Niles West Indians.  The Wolves doesn't do it, for me.  How about renaming our honored mascot the "North American Indigenous Peoples?"  Nah.  Forget it.  We'll always be the Indians.

Paul Richard Hain

Friday, February 8th was the seventh anniversary of my liver transplant.  I had Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, and my only option was to find someone compatible to donate 2/3rd of their liver to replace mine.  My donor is a very special person. Her name is Kathy.  She and my daughter were grade and high school friends. Kathy responded to my daughter's Facebook story about my need for a donor.  After extensive testing, Kathy was found to be a perfect match.  A few weeks later, the surgeries took place.  This is a picture of Kathy and me at our first "transplantiversary."

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Paul, happy "transplantiversary" to you and to your donor Kathy.