Saturday, August 18, 2012

LTE Forum SA 08/18/12

Happy weekend, folks! Off to UNC today to take items to Sarah and to soothe Sarah's empty-nest Mom.

OT mentioned Syria news, which is undiscussed here, in yesterday's forum. Feel free to expand our horizons.

45 comments:

  1. Brahms 4th in E-minor, one of my favorites. The first four notes of the 4th Movement of Mozarts 41st symphony, the Jupiter, are C,D,F, and E. Brahms 4 Symphonies are also C,D,F, and E.

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    1. I like to a muse myself mnemonically.

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    2. It can be done with one hand or one note or verse.

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  2. "Repeat offender"

    When do we say that enough is enough?

    In the Aug. 10 column " 'You get DWIs and people get killed,' " Scott Sexton told about Lance Snyder, a man who has for at least the last 30 years repeatedly committed DWI-related offenses during the periods when he was not imprisoned. In one of those instances, he was convicted of second-degree murder for killing three innocent people, including an 8-month-old child, by running a red light and smashing his motorcycle into their car.

    Despite his numerous DWI convictions, this offender has been given multiple opportunities to improve his behavior, but there has been no noticeable improvement. And so he continues to endanger everyone else on the roads he travels.

    This offender and others like him should not be allowed to be free to continue such irresponsible behavior. How many more innocent people need to be seriously injured or killed by drivers repeatedly convicted of DWI before something is finally done to more appropriately deal with these offenders?

    I believe every responsible adult should want to change the ineffective way the current system in our state deals with repeated DWI offenders. My hope is that many of the people who read this letter will contact one or more of their state senators and/or state representatives to let them know how they feel about this matter.

    If enough people make such an effort, I believe that changes can be made to improve our system of dealing with repeated DWI offenders.

    HARVEY ARMOUR
    Winston-Salem

    "Wants and needs"

    Let's see if I have this right: There are children in our schools who do not have adequate food, teachers who spend their own money to buy supplies for children who can't afford them, a state that has cut back on teacher salaries and eliminated many teacher aides, low-performing schools that need tutors, a backpack program which is only partially funded due to lack of funds, cutbacks in language and arts programs — and we have parents who want to raise $5 million to $6 million to build a stadium for Reynolds High School?

    The operative word is "want"; the need is lacking. Shame!

    ANNE D. RIGBY
    Winston-Salem

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    1. "Placing blame"

      In response to several recent liberal letter writers — "Distribution of wealth," "One nation under God," Aug. 6, "A make-believe world," Aug. 7, and too many others to list:

      First, I worked for a company whose founder invented the equipment and put hundreds of people to work and paid millions in taxes, Social Security, etc. You can't tell me he didn't build this business. Sure, there were employees who put the nuts and bolts together, but if not for his genius (i.e. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, etc.), there would not be any employees.

      Second, the writer of the letter "One nation under God" (Aug. 6) needs to get her facts straight and her head out of the sand. The Democrats controlled Congress during George W. Bush's last two years and rejected everything he put forth. President Obama did not get Osama bin Laden. He had everything set up for him before he took office. The Navy SEALs, CIA, and other intelligent agencies should get the credit. All he had to say was, "OK."

      When Obama took office, sure the country had a lot of problems, but it wasn't all Bush's fault. For example, who was in charge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Rep. Barney Frank. Not one time, but several, he said that there was no problem and they were solvent. Bush was in office, but the Democrats had their foot on the brakes.

      It's time the liberals and Democrats stop whining and blaming Bush and the Republicans.

      MARION HODGES
      Clemmons

      "Sacred cows"

      To the readers who object to the placement of certain comics, I strongly suggest that they not read anything that offends them. I enjoy "Doonesbury," even though I don't always agree with (or understand) the premise. I do not read every comic in the comic pages. My philosophy continues to be, "Sacred cows make the best hamburger."

      I hope this last thought doesn't offend the vegans. If it does, don't read that sentence.

      DAVID F. CARTER SR.
      Winston-Salem

      "Finish the Thought"

      Briefly complete the sentence below and send it to us at letters@wsjournal.com. We'll print some of the results in a few days. Only signed entries, please — no anonymous ones.

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    2. Finish the Thought

      Briefly complete the sentence below and send it to us at letters@wsjournal.com. We'll print some of the results in a few days. Only signed entries, please — no anonymous ones.

      "Paul Ryan's budget plan is ..."

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  3. Mr. Hodges: Liberals are always sitting around telling each other how smart they are. While people like yours truly are reading books and news articles about the economic crisis at hand. That's why they continually make fools of themselves by babbling along about stuff that's inaccurate.

    Liberals are never willing to accept fault or blame for anything. The economic crisis was a result of many factors, however, you are correct that Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae had a lot to do with it. You see, Rep. Barney Frank (D), and his liberal cohorts were ramming risky loans down banks throats, and then when the loans came due, many defaulted. The housing market went into a slump, and the whole country suffered.

    Even though I had old Barney's photograph up for months and months, I'm sure many of the liberal simpletons in this forum never realized why.

    Good letter, Mr. Hodges. I hope to see more of them from you in the future.

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  4. "Finish the Thought". Hmmm, must have been fleeting as it no longer appears on the page.

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    1. Sorry about that, Whitewall. Copy and paste user error.
      Finish the Thought

      Briefly complete the sentence below and send it to us at letters@wsjournal.com. We'll print some of the results in a few days. Only signed entries, please — no anonymous ones.

      "Paul Ryan's budget plan is ..."

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    2. Thanks Wordly. Lack of sufficient coffee is my morning challenge.

      "Paul Ryan's budget plan is ..." A tiny start with a major omission---ending the scam of "baseline budgeting".

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    3. I usually post LTEs while coffee is brewing, but I don't read them online. I prefer to read them in print with my coffee. Time of posting depends on how late dogs sleep. Sure miss Bob's early posting, but I understand him not wanting to mix the vitriol with his coffee.

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  5. Yes, thoughts do come with the dust and go with the wind, which is probably a good thing.

    To see what I mean, look just above your post in the queue.

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    1. I know. I ventured a post anyway.

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  6. Syria, an undiscussed problem. It, along with every nation in the Levant, is always complex and not well suited to our Western sense of order, nationhood, division between religion and state etc etc. Syria is tribal like most of its Arab neighbors. These tribes have centuries old conflicts simmering beneath the surface. Most important is the Sunni/Shia conflict that is centuries old and goes on today. The region is also a victim of geography, just like nearly every nation on the planet. Geography shapes history as well as the present.

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    1. Well said.

      As to my comment, I was not referring so much to this forum as to the LTEs themselves. When was the last time that the Journal got a letter about Syria? 1946? Never?

      Yet Syria is, at the moment, a huge problem, which the President and the State Department must wrestle with every day.

      We would like to help the rebels, but the presence of Russian and Iranian naval bases means that any overt steps we take will only escalate the situation to very dangerous levels. Let's hope that the diplomats can find a solution that will allow the Syrian people to make their own way.

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    2. It's now a proxy conflict with Russia-China-Iran supporting the Alawites and US-Turkey-Gulf States supporting the Sunnis.

      I think we've handled it about as well as can be expected. Going in guns blazing would be a huge mistake.

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    3. Fortunately, the cowboy has retired to Texas.

      I feel much more comfortable with Obama at the helm. After a slow start, he and Hillary did a good job in Egypt, and Libya was a small masterpiece...even got the Euros to do the heavy lifting.

      Both triumphs for American diplomacy.

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    4. I agree for a change. Obama did a great job dumping the world, leadership role off on Europe concerning Libya.

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    5. As always, ignorance prevails in Dunce World.

      The White House and the State Department negotiated and managed the entire event.

      And when it came time for the US to join the fight, a woman fired the first cruise missile.

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  7. Hey cuz...enjoy your trip down and back, because you know that Chapel Hill is going to be a madhouse today.

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    1. Mike, the next time you're in the Hill, may I recommend Tyler's in Carrboro (on Main St.)? It's this really great brewpub...they have these awesome fresh-cooked garlic potato chips, and the beer selection is incredible.

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  8. Phargo, our local founding fathers, the Moravians, knew all of the great composers well. The Moravian Music Foundation is a treasure trove of early manuscripts of the Bachs, Mozart, Beethoven, etc.

    Their spiritual guru was Haydn, but it wasn't until Brahms came along that they found their true soulmate. They liked the fact that he drew his inspiration from J.S. Bach, but added a much darker tinge. After all, they, unlike most early American religious groups, were educated intellectuals.

    This year marks the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the movement to convert the Salem girls school into a boarding school that would have a lasting impact on generations of young southern women. The school actually took in its first boarders in 1804.

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    1. I'm feeling gratuitous today. I will say that you do know a lot about Winston Salem history, Rush.

      One can only hope that, one day, you will know as much about other things in life.

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    2. Everyone should know where they came from. Since all humans are mere accidents of birth, we are formed over and over again by our early environment, which is created by our ancestors, siblings, neighbors, friends and, eventually, our own past.

      gra·tu·i·tous
      Adjective:

      Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted; inappropriate.

      That's our boy, all right.

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    3. WOW, O.T.! I was gonna let that one go 'cause I thought I was the only one who saw it.

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    4. Giving Rush a compliment is never warranted, but I'm feeling a little different today.

      I guess it was the Chick-fil-A sandwich that I ate yesterday that has changed me a little.

      It'll wear off, I'm sure.

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    5. The elevated blood pressure from all the salt should go down soon enough. Can't say as much for your waistline though.

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    6. I get the grilled, but I know there's a lot of salt on it, Mr. Arthur, Esquire.

      Thanks for your 'true' concern.

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    7. Here are the ingredients for CfA's grilled chicken sandwich:

      Chicken (Chicken Breast Fillet, Seasoning [Sugar, Salt, Dextrose, Garlic Powder, Onion(s) Powder, Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract Autolyzed, Spice(s), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Flavor(s), Paprika Color] , Seasoning [Salt, Sugar, Spice(s), Paprika] , Butter Oil[Soybean(s) Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Soy Lecithin, Flavor(s) Natural & Artificial, with TBHQ and,Citric Acid Preservative, Color(s) Artificial] , Rice Starch, Potassium Phosphate) , Wheat Bun(Flour Enriched [Wheat Flour, Barley Malted Flour, Niacin, Iron Reduced, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid (Vitamin aB)] , Water, Sugar, Wheat Bran, Wheat Cracked, Yeast, Cane Sugar Syrup, Contains less than 22% of Wheat Gluten, Wheat Rolled Whole, Soybean(s) Oil, Salt, Rye Meal, Dough Conditioner(s) Contains One Or More Of The Following [Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, Monoglyceride and/or,Diglycerides, Calcium Peroxide, Calcium Iodate, Datem, Ethoxylated Mono-And Diglycerides,Azodicarbonamide, Enzyme(s)] , Calcium Sulphate (Sulfate), Honey, Molasses, Monocalcium Phosphate, Ammonium Sulfate, Calcium Propionate To Retard Spoilage) , Tomato(es), Lettuce Green Leaf, Pickle(s) (Cucumber(s), Water, Vinegar, Salt Contains Less than 1% of the following:, Calcium Chloride, Alum, Sodium Benzoate and, Potassium Sorbate Preservative,Flavor(s) Natural, Polysorbate 80, Yellow 5, Blue 1)

      Wow!

      Here are the ingredients for my homemade chicken sandwich:

      Actual baked chicken

      Tomato (grown in my colleagues garden)

      Snail lettuce (grown near Walnut Cove)

      Lot's of freshly ground pepper

      Dab of homemade mayo

      Bread (my famous Italian whole wheat...makes 3 loaves):

      3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
      1 teaspoon sugar
      1 tablespoon active dry yeast
      1 tablespoon salt
      7 cups whole wheat flour

      It actually tastes good as well.

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    8. Rush, couldn't you have just given us one of those 'cute' little Html links you so prize, instead that whole list of BS.

      Try to do it next time. Thanks in advance.

      Geez!

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    9. Couldn't figure it out, huh? In a recent study, people with IQs over 60 were able to handle HTML quite readily. At least you are safe from being executed, even in Texas, where the apparent minimum is 61.

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    10. Dope, I did it last night. It took about two seconds to learn. I posted one last night. I guess you didn't notice, just like you don't notice other obvious things.

      You must have the stupidiest friends, Rush, if you think that Html thing is something to accomplish. Given your reasoning on presidential candidates, I understand you moronic logic on other things.



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  9. When I think Bach I tend to automatically hear Bouree. Guitar or flute it is quiet and easy to hear.

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    1. The great thing about Bach is that you can hear anything you want...such a range of music.

      My favorite is the Goldberg Variations, written 270 years ago, yet as modern as tomorrow. I have several versions, including Katrin Finch's recent harp rendering, which is simply amazing.

      But my favorite is Glenn Gould's 1950s take in which you can hear him mumbling and humming in the background. He was criticized for releasing it, but I just take it as a genius really enjoying himself.

      In fact, I like to put it on and lie in bed and read, pretending that Mr. Gould is actually in the next room playing and having fun.

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  10. LTE #1 - Dream on. We should change the name of our country to the United States of Cars and take the eagle off the Great Seal and replace it with a Buick.

    We have almost as many cars as we have guns, about 260 million at the moment. That is about .8 cars for every man, woman and child. Since there are about 75 million children and tens of millions of adults who do not own a motor vehicle, that means that the average car owner owns well over one car. Can you drive two at once, drunk or sober?

    The average car is driven for less than one hour a day, so is parked somewhere for the other 23. And since the average annual cost to own a vehicle is about $8,500, that means that the owner is paying about a dollar an hour for an unused vehicle.

    But there is hope. When my friends and I turned 16, we spent part of our birthday standing in line at DMV. But the Millennials, those born between 1980 and the early 1990s, are not so enthusiastic about driving.

    A 2008 study showed that fewer than 50% of those between the ages of 16 and 19 even had a driver's license, down more than 40% from just 10 years earlier. Quite a drop in such a short time. And there was a corresponding drop in the 20-24 age group.

    And in 1985, people aged 21-34 bought 38% of all new cars sold. That is now down to 27%. I know a group of 5 Millennials who jointly own one car and share the time. Great idea.

    But for the moment, when we say the pledge of allegiance, the god that the nation is under is not Yahweh, it is a Cadillac Escalade.

    So we will continue to have the laxest motor vehicle laws in the civilized world. Don't want to make the gods angry.

    LTE #2 - Yep. When I was at RJR, we had chemistry labs that were better equipped than many colleges. Teachers didn't have to buy supplies with their own money. Tutors were abundant and low performance simply was not allowed. We had the best debate team, the best academic team, the best marching band, etc. Some of that had to do with the school system itself, consistently ranked as one of the best in the country. But most of it came from parents who were willing to shell out the dollars or put in the time to make sure that we always had the best of everything.

    If the RJR parents want their teams to play in a real stadium, they can use Bowman Gray Stadium, as we did, along with Gray, Hanes, Carver and Atkins. I'm sure the city or whoever ends up owning the place can be persuaded to minimize the cost.

    LTE #3 - Jeez, what a bunch of bullshit.

    Bill Gates is far from being a genius. He got his start by buying an operating system that someone else had invented, then turning around and licensing it to IBM. Steve Jobs was a sort of genius, but without Steve Wozniak and later, a whole bunch of other brilliant people, the Apple would never have rolled out of the garage.

    RJ Reynolds was a brilliant man who worked his ass off to build his company, and his community, but the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company was just getting warmed up when he died. The empire that RJR became was built by many more brilliant men and women and and the blood, sweat and tears of tens of thousands of dedicated workers, from sweepers to forewo/men.

    The problem with Bush and the Democratic Congress was that the Congress passed way too much of what Bush wanted. It was already too late anyway. I wish that someone had had their foot on the brake.

    LTE #4 - Mr. Carter makes a good point. I doubt if the people who want "Doonesbury" moved even come close to understanding it. Like our resident parrot, they are simply repeating what they heard on the radio.

    Finish the Thought: Probably the best FTT yet.

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    1. Rush, I tried out your little html, 'cut and paste' method. I don't see what the big deal is.

      Of course, liberals like to make much a-do about nothing. So I'm not surprised.

      Rush, why don't you head over to Damascus and find out for yourself what's going on? On your way back, drop over to Cyprus. It's beautiful.

      I like Ibiza for a good time in the Mediterranean, however. I know most of you probably have never been to any of the aforementioned places, but it's fun to dream. Right, liberals?

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    2. Even if Obama gets reelected, the Republicans will not only have a foot on the brake, but an anchor thrown out as well. Obama will be a lame duck, from day one. Thank goodness!

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    3. First the ABCs, now Ibiza, two of the LGBT centers of the universe.

      Next Dunce will be raving about Pattaya where all those cute Thai beach boys are available for a price.

      Hmm...do you think he's trying to tell us something without coming right out and saying it? Have courage...grasp the knob, turn it, open the door and step out. All there is to it!

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    5. I go to Phuket when I go to Thailand, NW

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    6. Actually, Dunce means Patong Beach. It's hard to get it right when the longest trip you've ever taken was to the crosstown Chick-fil-A. Never been to Patong, but a gay friend told me about the Royal Paradise Complex there…over a thousand young male hookers to choose from, not to mention the cute little ladyboys…I'll bet they are Dunce's favorites.

      My friend says that audience members are often invited to join the cabaret shows. Just imagine Dunce up there on stage shaking his booty. On second thought, don't.

      Nobody has that much imagination, and if they did, who would want to dream up such a grotesque scene?

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    7. Patpong Rd., you dope. That's where the whores hang out.

      You don't have a clue, do you, NW?

      You're one of those NWs that never grew up, huh? Tell us how wonderful RJR High School is, again.

      You're pathetic!

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    8. My,my, is the Dunce getting a little hysterical?

      He said "Phuket", which is an island, and if we're talking about gay lifestyle, that means "Patong Beach". I have never been there.

      On the other hand, I have been to Bangkok, where we were introduced to "Patpong Road" (nowhere near Phuket) by a British naval officer. My wife found it most amusing, because whatever sexual preference you might have can be satisfied somewhere in Bangkok, although "Patpong Road" has long since been eclipsed by "Soi Cowboy", the most wide open place, sexually, in the universe. There you can "purchase", for a ridiculously small amount of money, the "companionship" of your wildest dreams for a day, a week, a month, whatever.

      And Dunce better be careful. Should he ever venture past the Peace Haven Road Chick-fil-A and wind up in Bangkok, he might be (almost certainly would be) mistaken for a monkey and slapped into one of those specially designed tables with the top of his head sticking up through a hole and have his brain eaten by eager gourmets, although I am sure that the patrons would complain bitterly about the small portions.

      He probably believes that that actually happens, but it doesn't...just an urban legend.

      When you lie about your life, you will always be exposed by someone who has actually been there.

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