Obama vs Trump

On By ethomasparhamIn M. POLITICSLeave a comment

Boxing was a big deal in 1955.

Televsion was new. A lot of disagreements ended in fist fights. Knives and Glocks now.

Written in 2019 :

” Wednesday night was a big night later at the Ritters. Gillette’s Cavalcade of Sports (Boxing on TV). Remember the big parrot carrying the round numbers?
Walt, the old man was a big burly, funny guy. And sober he was a treat. Sober didn’t happen with a lot of mill workers, but on Wednesday night we watched the fights. Walt pulled for whoever the white guy was. For me, Kid Gavilan, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joe Louis, and Rocky Marciano, were gods.

No duels, but certain words had meaning : ” Say that to my face” .

Did Obama just call Trump OUT?

Have they crated that death cage off the front lawn?

Pay for View bonaza !!!!!

I’d still pull for the black guy.

DEEMS

On By ethomasparhamIn F. MADISONLeave a comment

My list is getting short. Retired at the coast, calling and receiving calls from friends is a boon. Some, sadly , left early. Recently –the oldies. “Dr. Know” John Eatman, Dr. Willis Williams , Joe , “Country”, “Bonehead” Dennis, Sweet Lou Harper, Alton, and today Deems.

I can’t claim him as a brother, but a lifetime close friend is a minimum.

The several places I have lived all were nice places. And maybe childhood anywhere is indelible—and Madison N.C. was it for me. And my buddies, Tuddy *Sterling” Webster. Billy Fulton. and Deems (Tuddy’s little brother.)

Close neighbors, we found the tree house, Highway 220, McFalls Drug Store, The Patovi Theater (9 cent tickets) and the Mighty Dan River, the dirthole, and a rope to swing over the big ditch. The town clock could be altered!

Deems was my first “player “. I taught him a batter’s stance and how to swing the orange bat, with a nail and scotch tape hopefully mending the broken handle.

The Websters didn’t seem to mind, so I took him, from diapers to his injured knee,back from Vietnam, to Key West. Got some great help from Liz Lear. And always Madison.

ADDENDUMS : FROM PLAY IS WHERE LIFE IS
(MADISON CHAPTER)

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CUZZINS

Tuddy

MACK PETE

Gone since 1952, I guess some think me overly nostalgic. What I think is I had a happy childhood. Friends, adventure, sports, aticipation, characters, my first Team.

There were injuries, fights , freedoms that don’t exist for today’s youngsters. Bumps make boys.

********

“If you are ever up a tree just call on me, Rodger Dodger !”

********

” I love you now and evershall.

But there’s no one left to tell.

The world has gone dark

before my eyes ” ( Bob Dylan )

AMERICAN STRUGGLE

On By ethomasparhamIn K. PHILOSOPHY, L. RACE, M. POLITICSLeave a comment

NEW BOOK RECOMMENDED !

AMERICAN STRUGGLE- Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union

( by Jon Meacham ) 2026.

This is great American history, quite thorough.  I must say the last commentary (“THE PATH TO AMERICAN AUTHORITARIANISM:  WHAT COMES AFTER DEMOCRATIC BREAKDOWN” ) BY Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way ) is quite frightening 1.  In its summary of the present and 2.  In its vision of the looming future.

LOW LIFE

On By ethomasparhamIn K. PHILOSOPHY, M. POLITICSLeave a comment

At one point, a fighter took the mic and made a nasty joke about Michelle Obama while standing in front of the house she once lived in with her husband, daughters and mother.

Even for a president with a lifelong penchant for P.T. Barnum-esque gambits, this one was in a league of its own. (NEW YORK TIMES )

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Raylan Givens: Sometimes, we have to make deals with lowlifes because we have our sights set on life forms even somehow lower on the ladder of lowlife than they.
(JUSTIFIED )

HACKALOOSKI REVISITED

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTIONLeave a comment

“I learned to listen to an old man, who had been there, even though I didn’t think he knew much. ” ( Thomas Linne, 1984 ).

This was a comment from one of my players after our team won The NAIA national championship.

My son and I discussed how to advise his 10 year old tennis aspirant. Recently I reminded them of two suggestions I felt were very sound for any level of player:

!. Hit your first serve UP enough.

2. Play AHEAD. 40-15 and 30 -0 points. Up a break. Up a set and a break.

Play ahead, Stay ahead.

Often players grind out a tough point to get AHEAD. Winded or tired they then take an unwise shot.

****Develop this better thought : “Okay –I may be tired but they are too. If I grind out this point too, the odds go way up in my favor.

Believe an old man.

HACKALOOSKI–WHEN A LIMITED PLAYER TELLS A GOOD PLAYER WHAT TO DO.

Even the great players often play these “aheads” too loosly.

Believe an old man.

THE FAMILY NAIA FRENCH OPEN

On By ethomasparhamIn HUMOR/ ODDS AND ENDS, S. FAMILYLeave a comment

My Grandson just won the Family NAIA French Open .

  1. We have a spin wheel for order of the draft. #1 gets first pick. The one who draws last makes their pick and also the next pick, with the draw order in reverse back to #1.

2. Any event is okay. If you pick Men’s Singles, coaches continue the draft of the total field until you have selected SIX players for your team.

3. Once the tournament begins, your team gets one point for each match your six players win. The six with the most wins is the Champion.

LENNOX WON THE FRENCH

“GRAVEN IMAGES?”

On By ethomasparhamIn M. POLITICS, N. RELIGION, WARLeave a comment


2) “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” This command is against making an idol, a visible representation of God. There is no image we can create that can accurately portray God. To make an idol to represent God is to worship a false god.