Category Archives: Education

Friday, June 24, 2016 – News from the Nether Land

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Friday, June 24, 2016 – News from the Nether Land

No, I am not talking about the country of the Netherlands. I am referring to Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Miller’s Tale from Canterbury Tales. If those ultraconservatives trying to run education could only read and understand old English, this poem would be so banned from high school English classes. The Miller’s Tale refers to activities related to one’s nether yaya. For example, peeing out of an upstairs window by hanging one’s rear end out the window, breaking wind in his lover’s face and of course nether yaya love happenings.

Chaucer should have included a story called The Doctor’s Tale. It would tell of having a camera and light inserted into the nether yaya area to look around. I wonder who thought “hey I bet if I stick this camera with a light on it up someone’s nether land I can see inside.” Better yet, I wonder who had the honors to advance science and medicine of being the first to have a camera inserted. “Hey Igor, hop up on this table and let me take a picture of the inside of your nether land.” OK, we are getting way too much personal information.

Let’s just say all’s well that ends well. That is Shakespeare. And that ends your English Literature lesson for the day. Happy weekend.

First_Folio,_Shakespeare_-_0248

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Tuesday, June 21, 2016 – Another Hero of The Greatest Generation – Thank You for Your Service, Sir.

Posted on June 21, 2016 | Leave a comment

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 – Another Hero of The Greatest Generation – Thank You for Your Service, Sir.

Four years ago this month I had the honor and privilege of being on an Honor Flight from Austin, Texas with 25 WWII Veterans. It was the maiden Honor Flight taking these heroes to see the memorial in their honor. Mr. Ray Halliburton was one of them.

Dr. Tom Matthews, Ray Halliburton and J.V. McClananhan. The Boys from Luling, Texas .Photo by me.

Mr. Ray had never been to Washington D. C. I snapped this photo of him just as we arrived at the WWII Memorial.

065 (800x600)

Mr. Ray died on June 11 2016 at age 91 years. His obituary follows. It is interesting. However, I encourage you to click on the link at the end. It is a link to a Smithsonian Article published in January 2016 about him. You can read his words about the sacrifice he and all veterans make for us daily.

From the Gonzales Paper – Ray Halliburton, of Luling, died June 11, in Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio. He was born November 14, 1924. In 1944 he was drafted into the US Army and went to basic training at Camp Walters, in Mineral Wells. He was a Corporal when he went ashore in France in July 1944, one month after D-day. He was a member of K Company, Third Battalion, Tenth Infantry Regiment, Fifth Infantry “Red Diamond” Division, in Patton’s Third Army.

He fought three months of fierce combat across 500 miles and had risen to staff sergeant and squad leader. He was 20 years old. He was captured on December 5, 1944, just outside Saarbrucken, Germany, when his unit advanced ahead of the others. He was liberated by the Russian Army in 1945 from Lukenwalde. He was a farmer and rancher for most of his working life.

Thanks Ray. Glad I got to know. You made a difference to me and to the world we live in.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/portrait-american-hero-greatest-generation-180957678/?no-ist

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Posted in Education, Misc., Native Texan

Tagged The Greatest Generation Smithsonian Magazine, WWII Vets

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 – Vexillology – Flag Day

Posted on June 14, 2016 | 2 comments

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 – Vexillology – Flag Day

Good morning Boys and Girls. Our vocabulary word for today is “vexillology.” It is a noun that means – the study of flags.

Today is Flag Day. Your homework assignment is to study this one. I like it.

Atrium at the George H. W. Bush Library – College Station, Texas. Photo by me.

The AP version of this assignment is to locate all of the episodes of The Big Bang Theory where Sheldon (and Amy) record his internet hit series Fun With Flags and post them to my timeline.

Meanwhile I am going to study the tiny little flags that sit on poles that rest in 4.25 inch diameter holes on some pretty green grass. There are eighteen of them.

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Posted in Education, Misc., Native Texan

Tagged Flag Day, The Big Bang Theory

Monday, June 6, 2016 – The Frogs from TCU are Hoping and Hopping

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Monday, June 6, 2016 – The Frogs from TCU are Hoping and Hopping

That is correct. The TC PHEW horn frogs won the Fort Worth Regional baseball tournament. This means the Texas Aggies are waiting for you to take Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park this week. The bubbles will be waiting for you. And so will our Aggie memories from last year. So here’s to hoping, hopping and WHOOPING. BTHO TCU!

In other sports news I see where a blogger for Kansas (rock, chalk Jayhawk) wants The Big 12 to remove Baylor from the conference for the recent activity with the football team. Do you even play football, Kansas? I thought you only had a basketball team – a men’s team at that. Removing BU from the Big 12 will do what? I am not taking up for Baylor by any means. But it also serves no purpose for others to kick them when they are down. Especially since you bring nothing to the Big 12 yourself.

I am done. Over and out and off to the golf course. Hasta la manana.

Barn 1

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Posted in college basketball, College Football, Education, Native Texan, Texas Aggies

Friday, June 3, 2016 – Baseball, Bubbles and Texas Aggies

Posted on June 3, 2016 | 1 comment

Friday, June 3, 2016 – Baseball, Bubbles and Texas Aggies

It’s a long way to Tipparari and it’s a long way to Omaha, Nebraska, home of the Division I College Baseball World Series. But it begins today in Blue Bell Park on Olsen Field. Coming to visit the beautiful, if not still flooded, Brazos Valley are:

Beginning at 3:00 PM today, the teams taking to the field are:

The Wake Forest Deacon Demons and the Minnesota Gophers.

Wake Forest is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina – a city named after two brands of cigarettes. It was found in 1834 and first called The Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute. In 1839 the name was changed to Wake Forest College. That made it sound less like a prison. The mascot of Wake Forest is the Demon Deacons whose colors are Wake Forest gold and black. Everyone loves a good oxymoron mascot.

The University of Minnesota – represents the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Their mascot is the Gophers whose name is Goldy Gopher. They could be scary gophers. They have been to the CWS SEVEN times, have many conference baseball championships and have many players who play or have played in the MLB. Not just a pretty gopher face. The school colors are doo-doo brown and yellow.

At 8:00 the teams taking the field are:

The State University of New York Binghamton University Bearcats. BU, as they like to be known, was established in 1946 to meet the needs of the local World War II vets returning from war. The color is dark green. Just one color? Not even white? Is the Baxter the Bearcat dressed in all green?

And hosting the regional we have the #4 Top National Seed – The SEC Tournament Champions – Texas Aggie Baseball Team! WHOOP! Bring on the bubbles! When the Aggies score a run, the fans have bubble machines sending bubbles throughout the field.

The Aggies and the Bearcats can be seen on the SEC network. The rest of teams’ fans get to pay ESPN3 for streaming.

A word to the other teams – don’t forget to factor in the train schedule. I so enjoy hearing the train whistle as moves along the tracks next to Wellborn just as the visiting pitcher goes into his wind up. Scares the crap out of him and makes him throw the ball into the upper stands! Gig ‘Em!

Campus tour 7.5.2014 2014-07-05 101 (600x800)

A landmark in College Station. Do you know what it is?

BTHO Binghamton

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Posted in college baseball, Education, Misc., Native Texan, Texas Aggies

Tagged College Station Regionals, NCAA Baseball regionals, Texas Aggies

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 – June is Busting Out All Over – 161 Days

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Wednesday, June 1, 2016 – June is Busting Out All Over – 161 Days

I was looking for something to think about today and found nothing of interest. I will play word association with myself.

Bouys

Donald Trump – Bombastic – even the PGA is leaving your Florida golf course and taking a tournament to Mexico City.

Hillary Clinton – I will email her later.

Bernie Sanders – The Supremes – You Just Keep Me Hanging On

ESPN/CBS/SEC Football Broadcasts – House Cleaning – Good Bye Vern Lunquist. Good Bye Chris Berman. Please take Brent Mushburger with you. See if Jesse Palmer can ride with you.

NCAA Women’s College World Series – there are some very large girls who play softball. If you have any eligibility left I am sure a Division III football team would be interested in your talents.

Baylor – WOW. How sad. And now Ken Starr. Who would have ever seen his demise due to a sex scandal? Talk about Karma. One of my mother’s favorite proverbs “Play in shit; gonna get shitty.”

New Favorite TV Show – Houdini and Doyle – Science vs. Spiritualism in London 1901 plus the suffragettes.

Texas – “Water, water, everywhere and oh the boards did shrink; water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”

Transgender – Give me strength. Who gets to do the in-service next fall for teachers on who gets to tinkle where? Does it coincide with their concealed handgun workshop?

Nothing of interest – same old same old except for the 161 days. There are 161 days until Election Day. Then what?

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Posted in college baseball, Education, Misc., Native Texan, Politics

Tagged Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, NCAA WCWS

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 – Football, Basketball and Baseball

Posted on May 31, 2016 | Leave a comment

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 – Football, Basketball and Baseball

NCAA Football – I have shied away from the Baylor University scandal. It is a sad situation and I know my personal Baylor family and my family of Baylor friends are heartbroken. I will take a bat-crap, mentally disturbed Heisman winner over this scandal any day.

However, I saw today that Baylor hired Wake Forest football coach Jim Grobe as acting head coach for 2016. He comes from a school whose mascot is the Demon Deacons. Here’s what I’m thinking – it was the demon deacons that got Baylor in this mess in the first place. The ultimate irony is Ken Starr being demoted in a sex scandal.

NBA Basketball – too much Curry and not enough KD (Kevin Durant) Sad for my OKC Thunder fans, but excited for my Golden State Warrior friends.

NCAA Baseball – THE University of Texas reassigned long-time baseball coach Augie Garrido. Meanwhile to those teams whose sights are set on the College World Series in Omaha get to play on. The CWS takes place in Omaha, Nebraska in case the Longhorns forgot where it is held since you have not visited in so long.

First, however, in order to play in Omaha eight teams must win through their NCAA College Baseball Regionals and Super Regionals beginning on Friday. Perhaps the name should be changed to “Welcome to the SEC and ACC College Baseball Tournaments.” Or maybe the name should be changed to the Southern NCAA Regionals, since most of the 64 teams and all of the hosting sites are in the south.

Meanwhile for the #4 National Seed – The Fighting Texas Aggies play Binghamton State University of New York. Who? More about the Binghamton Bearcats later. Until then,

BTHO Binghamton

Note the trespassing sign to the left. I am outside the fence with a telephoto lens. Photo by me.

Oh look – The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are in the College Station Regional too.

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Posted in college baseball, College Football, Education, Native Texan, Texas Aggies

Tagged Augie Garrido, Baylor, Ken Starr, NCAA Baseball regionals, Texas Aggie baseball, The University of Texas

Monday, May 30, 2016 – Reflections and Sacrifices

Posted on May 30, 2016 | Leave a comment

Monday, May 30, 2016 – Reflections and Sacrifices

It is Memorial Day – a time to reflect and remember all who served and especially those who gave the greatest sacrifice to ensure our freedom. We are thankful and grateful for your service.

Reflection Wall at Korean Monument – Washington D. C. – June 2013. Photo by me.

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Posted in Education, Misc., Native Texan

Tagged Korean Monument, Memorial Day, Washington D.C.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 – The Mascots – They Are Part of the Family Too.

Posted on May 24, 2016 | 6 comments

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 – The Mascots – They Are Part of the Family Too.

As the college football fanatics count down the days until kick off, we learn today of a sadness and a happiness regarding school mascots.

On the sadness side for all my LSU relatives and friends, Mike the Tiger was diagnosed with cancer.http://www.tmz.com/2016/05/23/lsu-tiger-mascot-diagnosed-with-cancer/?adid=hero2

Mike is indeed one of the most beautiful (and scary) mascots in all of college football. He will be provided with the best care possible to live his days in comfort. Would somebody living in Louisiana please go take a picture of Mike for me? I will repay you by renting my front bed room to you on Thanksgiving weekend for no charge.

On the happiness side for all of my friends who had to go THE University of Texas in Austin, their new mascot Bevo XV will be on the sidelines at the Longhorn vs Notre Dame game on September 4. Yeah – a Longhorn Steer and a Creepy Leprechaun.

Bevo XIV passed away from cancer last year. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/05/23/bevo-mascot-chosen-returns-to-texas-sideline-in-2016/84816762/

It really was strange to not have Bevo on the sidelines during the last football games. However, I do not think the missing mascot was the reason the Longhorns lost all of the games.

Was it really necessary to note that the premier of Bevo XV marks the 100th anniversary of its appearance with a victory over Texas A&M? If Bevo XV is “very gentle, smart and curious” as they say, then Bevo knows, The Aggies no longer care about the rivalry. We’ve got LSU.