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This message forum is an ongoing discussion about anything and just about everything ... within reason.  One thing our class was good at was having opinions.  Almost 70 years of life experience certainly qualifies us as experts on most everything!   Ask a question ... give an opinion ... share some insights ... it's our web site, it's our forum.  That said, it's probably not a good idea to get into arguments about politics, religion, and the like.  While we're experts on everything, we also have a wide range of values and beliefs. This site belongs to all of us ... the whole range ... and we are not here to isolate, alienate, or subjugate anybody.  Of course insults, humiliation, sophomoric barraggadocio, and demented humor is expected behavior among some of us less mature people.
 

Lauren Dieterich

Bill,  I worked at Photronics, Inc. We were on 126th and Silver Srping, when I started there. Then moved to a purpose built building on 87th and Bradley Rd.  I was third shift supervisor when I left. At one time, every military aircraft in the US had circuit boards that I worked on. The space program, too. Then 3 guys from India bought the cmpany. It was a real fight to keep them from dropping our military certs. It took us 3 years to get them.

William Nelson

Lauren,

I do remember Photronics. I thought about hitting them up for a job when I was tiring of the hassle of the Sample Shop. We were setup to make a few pieces for the customer's engineers to try out. I had the best 18 ladies in the company, but there was no way they could keep up when we had a huge order dumped on us by management that was physically impossible to fulfill on time. Upper management didn't want to hear our concerns. That's when I decided I needed to use my GI Bill and a state scholarship to go to MSOE. Also had to support a couple of kids at the time, so settled for an Associate's in Communications. Glad I did it. Wish the ladies in the department didn't have to go through all that. I understand they shut the department down about a year after I left. 

Jim Cejka

Jim Cejka

Garry Sellers

Memorial Day ... The Indy 500 (which used to actually be raced ON Memorial Day).  "The Greatest Spectical in Racing!" ... until television ruined it for me forever.  It was the only national car race I ever followed, almost always sitting in my backyard with the radio near my ear, not to be interupted unless one of the kids lost an arm or a car crashed through our front window.  Sid Collins, the voice of the 500.  AJ Foyt, the Unser brothers, Mario Andretti, Tony Bettenhausen (killed testing a new engine design), Roger Ward, Parnelli Jones, Eddie Sachs (who died in a '64 crash while I was listening in the Philippines), Jim Rathman, Rick Mears, Gordon Johncock and on and on.  Collins lead a team of reporters stationed around the track, each reporting progress from their narrow perspective.  While TV insists on following only the leader and one or two other cars, the radio reporters would follow the duels between drivers fighting to move up to 10th for a few laps or they would follow one driver as he weaved his way from the back and into contention.  They reported oil leaking from a contender or blue smoke trailing another competitor. They had stopwatches to measure closing distances.  They made it exciting, almost heart-stopping. 

And then those same cars, same drivers would be at the Milwaukee Mile track at State Fair Grounds the next Sunday!

Now TV cameras follow a couple of cars, around and around and around.  They have great stop-action replays of crashes which they play over and over and over ... and then show replays of previous years' crashes.  Or video of an irrate driver throwing his helmet at a car that had caused him to crash.

IT'S ALL SO BORING!!!!!  The only good thing is that I hear this year there is a race team consisting almost entirely of women ... driving, on the pit crew, mechanics.  I hope they kick butt!

But now, I don't even bother to look at the race results because I won't know any of the drivers anyway, including the woman driver.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

One of the best ways (for me) to observe Memorial Day is to watch the National Memorial Day concert on PBS. It features outstanding musical performers (Gladys Knight and the Four Tops still rock!) but more than that, there are real stories of Veterans' experiences read movingly by an actor with the photos accompanying the narration. After the reading the actor goes up and greets the veteran in the audience. These stories don't glorify war. They tell the soldiers' real experiences, not holding back the trauma. If there's anything that can honor  veterans, this is it! Last night, they honored Viet Nam nurses and the Rangers, the first all-black unit airborne paratroopers in WWII. They. had to scale back this year because of COVID, but I found it very moving nevertheless.  It is still available on the PBS app. 

Jim Cejka

So, Garry, cars going round, and round, and round, and round, . . . for a couple of hours is BORING! I agree. The technology today has taken a lot of the “driver” out of the equation, and so much statistical blah-blah is as palatable as finger nails on an old blackboard. For several years, I “moonlighted” as a cop with the State Fair P.D., and worked those week-later races at the Milwaukee Mile. I never was into cars and stuff, but working the race, especially in the pits, was awesome. Those drivers you mentioned and their crews were really neat people, but you can’t appreciate the sound of those cars from TV. In person, the whine of those racers really told what fine-tuned machines those things were. Incredibly impressive. 

Excitement wise though, what about the latest GOLF tourneys! I mean, not those ones like the PGA or Schwab for the youngsters, I mean the PGA Tour Champions outings for the “senior” golfers, the ones we can empathize with. 

Excitement wise #2, have you noticed a guy named CEJKA has won two of those Tour Champions tournaments in the last three weeks? Now we’re talking about something worth watching.

William Nelson

Jim,

Is the golfer named Cejka any kin to you? Would he admit it if asked?

When I was a kid, I listened to the Indy 500 on the radio, too. On Memorial Day, we were normally at our cottage, which didn't have TV. I was jealous of my friend, Dan Farchione, (Class of June, 1961) who went to every Indy 500 while we were in high school and stayed in the infield for the race. His uncle was into midget racing, big time, and he was the one that got the family together every year at Indy. I hadn't thought about his uncle's family for quite a while, but recently, Dan's cousin, who I think is that uncle's son, was in the news in another sport. You might have seen a news report up there. He caught a record bluegill in Lake Havasu, AZ. A 6.2# bluegill is a BIG panfish! He was there, participating in a bass tournament, when he caught it. Bet the talk of the big bass changed for a while when they saw that one.

My ETS from the Army was May 20, 1968. I'd already made up my mind that I was going to take a couple of weeks off after I got home and include a trip to see the Indy 500 myself. At the time, I was a pen pal with the sister of one of my buddies at Ft. Monmouth, NJ. After 9-months of training there, we were sent in opposite directions. He went to Germany and took his wife along, while I was sent to Ft. Bragg, NC for "future reassignment to a restricted overseas area." She and her cousin wrote to several guys in all branches of the service and it amazed me how they'd send one or two letters, and sometimes goodies, too, without fail, every week. The only lull was during my cruise to Danang. I bought a roll of adding machine paper and wrote a daily letter to her on it and sent it to her when we got to RVN.

I asked her if she'd like to go to the 500 with me, and she agreed. As it turned out, I was processed a couple of weeks early and another buddy and I got out on May 8th. We enjoyed the race from the cheap seats in the second turn, but we really had a good view. Marty Robbins drove the pace car. It was the year of the STP turbines but, as I remember, none finished the race. Bobby Unser won that year in the same type of Offy that had won the previous dozen or more years. The only downer was getting stuck in the infield. Right up until the day of the race, there was doubt if they could run it, because it had rained every day for over a week and more was predicted. We wound up in the infield parking lot, because we were caught in traffic and that's where we ended up. During the race, the majority of parked cars, including mine, sank into the mud and were mired. A big bunch of guys banded together to push each other out and toward the exit. We finally made it out a couple of hours after the race ended and headed back to her home in Mt. Prospect, IL. That was our one and only "date." I always regarded her as an adopted sister. Last time we saw her and her family was at her wedding. She married a pen pal from the  Air Force.

Jim Cejka

Bill,

When I was growing up, we figured that a name like that had to be super unusual, we only knew of a few Cejkas and they were all relatives. Then grandma met another Cejka, basic downtown Milwaukeese guy, but we couldn't figure where he belonged in the family. Once, in the Navy, I was taking names at sick-call and the guy says "Cejka", and, like all "Cejkas" automatically spelled it. I thought, ok, he's pulling my leg. Nope, again, we couldn't find a connection, but had a good laugh. Years later I met a professor from U. W-Madison, who studied the Czech countries and lead people on "family finding" tours over there. He said the name is actually Bohemian (which hasn't existed since 1918) and the name is about as rare as Johnson is over here. Now that there is Google, that seems to bear that out. Oh well, so much for being unique, although I do have very unusual finger prints. (I know, everybody's prints are unusual, but mine are unusually unusual.)

As for Alex, I doubt, without trying 23 & me, a connection. My dad had six brothers and sisters, and when they were alive, they all pronounced it different. We finally settled on the way Alex pronounces it, so, luckily, between him and the announcers, maybe more people will start to say it right (or at least what we think is right).

Garry Sellers

Yeah, I know what it's like to have your name mispronounced, Jim.  (BTW, how the heck do you say Cejka?) I feel your pain ... NOT!

And speaking of pain, our favorite subject, Jeopardy guest hosts.  It's unanimous, everybody rates Dr Oz last out of 9 so far.  TV ratings have Anderson Cooper next to last and Katie Couric is close.  It's no surprise that USA Today rates Mike Richards as the best with, surprisingly to me, Buzzy Cohen second.  Buzzy is a bit over the top for my taste.  I'd have gone with their third choice, Ken Jennings as second.  USA puts Bill Whitaker as next to last but I don't agree.  And most data puts Aaron Rodgers in the middle or upper middle.  Poor Aaron, he doesn't get what he wants at home or on Jeopardy.  Mayim Bialik is getting favorable support but I think she's too stiff and uncomfortable. Besides Richards and Jennings, I think the best is yet to come. 

This from the person who thinks he's an expert because I know one out of 25 answers and even then get buzzed out!  But I'm the all-time champion on Wheel!!!

Jim Cejka

Gary,

I hate to differ with you (not really, sometimes it's fun and stimulating), but I think Mayim Bialik is the best so far. I was all set to go down with the ship for Aaron Rogers, but I'm much more enthused about Bialik. And, she's gotten better as the week went on. All the host have been stiff to start with, but most have gotten better as the week (day, for them) went on. She comes across as really intelligent, relaxed, witty, and can followup on answers and banter with the guest better than others. To me, she comes across as "real," and gives me a sense of comfort, similar to Alex, but with a bit of fresh air. I'd be more than happy, and "comfortable," if they just continued with her. I think she'd be great and would be able to keep us old Jeopardy regulars tuned in. 

Lauren Dieterich

I have a double whanny regarding my name. My parents gave me the girls spelling of my first name. I have an older brother; and, I didn't co-operate. But, no one thought to give the boys spelling. I tell people that I'm named after 2 movie stars. And, I'm related to one of them. Lauren Becall and Marlene Dietrich is a very distant cousin. When my great, great grandfather came here from Germany in 1859, he added the second E, that is silent, to tell us apart from the other Dietrich's. He also dropped the von and Baron, which is a hereditary title.There is too much behind my name to deliberately mispronounce to get the spelling right. I have a cousin, long since departed, actually, he and my Dad are first cousins who was a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. He had our family history traced. He could have set a dollar amount; or, go as far as they could. He said don't worry about the money. They ended up in 454, in a small kingdom in the Black Forest area of Germany. This is direct ancestry through my Dad. If we were still in Germany, my older brother would have the title. When I spell my name it is: Die  ter ich.  Regarding Jeopardy, I was pulling for Rogers, until he started his BS with the Packers. For now, I'll go with Mayim. But, I wish that she'd comb her hair. I reserve judgement until I see those who are left. Especially Burton

Bonnie Buck (Walter)

I don't watch Jeopardy, but I heard Mayim Bialik speech at a luncheon and she is amazing!

Who would think my easy (I thought) names could be mixed up.  Some people called me Bony (ugh) when I was much younger or Bach for Buck and Walters instead of Walter.  The worst is over the phone people think I say Barney.  Guess that is my Wisconsin accent and old age voice.

John Ruhland

I guess we've arrived at the age where the first thing we look at in the Sunday Milwaukee Journal is the obituaries. Good grief! In Sunday's Journal (May 30th) was the death notice for Errol Sharak. No 'write up' about him or the date of his passing. Mass was held at Holy Apostles Catholic Church in New Berlin on June 5, but no more info beyond that. I knew him in my early teens and I think Bill Nelson inquired about him once.

Jim Cejka

OK, Bialik for sure nailed it tonight. Anyone (at least anyone who didn't go to Pulaski HS) who can slide over the pronounciation of Przewalski's horse, as easily as she did on tonight's show, can surely handle anything the host job could throw at her. Besides, her hair was better tonight.

Garry Sellers

Nobody said Mayim Bialik isn't smart.  A PhD in neuroscience while raising two kids!  I just never could get into The Big Bang Theory or any of its characters.

But I am sort of a fan of America's Got Talent.  Their downside is that sometimes they put through the geekiest performers who you know are never going to win the show (see Johnny Showcase!).  Last night I was totally prepared to write off the two guys who danced nude with only towels, Les Beaux Freres (Canadians).  They were hilarious!  Don't know what they're going to do for an encore though.  But the heartbreaker story of the night went to NIghtbirde, the beautiful young lady with terminal cancer.  How could anybody vote against her?  Just when I was thinking that my body was slowly, or not so slowly falling apart, along comes a courageous person bravely dealing with real pain and not much chance of survival with such an incredible positive attitude. She too is not likely to win the prize but she sure has lots of people pulling for her ... personally.  So inspirational.  Simon gave her the Golden Buzzer, automatically putting her into the finals (if she makes it that long).

Jim Cejka

That girl's kind of like the yound woman who was on Jeopardy shortly after Alex was diagnosed. It was nice to move her up in the schedule so she could make the show, and then become a champion yet. There are still some people with hearts.

As to our disintegrating physical prowess, you've stumbled on a scientific truism. I just read an article where docs and some science guys across three countries (including the US), and a half million plus subjects, figured out that the maximun a human could live is 150 years. Think of how many "Hogans Heros" reruns I could watch by then.

Lauren Dieterich

The next 2 guest hosts of Jeopardy will be on for 2 weeks. The last 5 will be on for only 1 week, each. When you consider how far ahead of the actual show date, that the shows are taped, the new host has probably been picked.  I've never watched America's Got Talent. There are a few network shows that we watch; but, most of the time, we watch Amazon Prime. I'd read that the girl on Jeopardy died 2 weeks after the show was shown or taped. The article didnt mention which.                                                                                                                        When watching Jeopardy, now, I still know at least half of the anewers/questions. But, I can't think of them. In the last 6 months or so, my memory has really gotten bad. It's frustrating, when you know the answer; but, can't think of it.

Jim Cejka

#1 - I just realized that the body living to 150 years acutally has a bright side - it means that right now, we're middle aged.

#2 - Any cicada stories? We've been lucky around here and haven't had a brood explosion. On last week's golf torunement, their noise was so loud I thought my TV was in snap, crackle, pop mode. The noise from a swarm of cicadas can reach 100 decibels. For you vets, if you've been near a landing Huey, that noise is 108 decibels. 

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

If we had any cicadas, they would have to compete for airspace with the fish flies. The cicada infestation victims are lucky - they're home free for 16 more years. Here at the lake, we get to hose these pests off of the house/decks/docks every year. They rise from the lake in clouds, cover everything, breed, and die, leaving piles of the fallen all over everything. For about two weeks we avoid the lake side of the house, and don't swim, kayak, or garden there. Unfortunately, this year's abundant infestation managed to ruin enjoyment of the back gardens as well. One year we awoke to a horrendous shrieking and looked out to see the entire lakeside lawn covered with sea gulls in full feeding frenzy. That was a good year; sadly, the gulls dined elsewhere this year. 

Jim Cejka

Nancy,

We used to live near Lake Winnebago and they have a similar infestation, only they call them "lake flies." Sounds like the same thing. I knew people who packed their suitcases in early May, and at the first sign of a lake fly, they hauled off to someplace else for a couple of weeks. You could go even a half mile inland and there were no flies there. I thought that was a Winnebago phenomenom, but apparently not.

Florida though has the same thing with  "love bugs," which are bigger and much worse. During mating season, the males attach to the females, and get stuck there. They fly around in swarms like that for a couple of weeks until they die off or end up on the windshield of your car or the front of a bus. You can tell a real Floridian because carry those squeegee things to clear their windshields. Even some of the rest areas have places where you can drive up under a shower head and use your wipers to clear it. And, if you don't wash your car after mashing through a few million of them, their squishness will mar the paint. 

You're right, cicadas don't sound so bad after all.

William Nelson

Jim,

Love bugs are all over the Gulf States. I met them the first time I had to drive down to South Louisiana. They've migrated north some since then and we see them around here, but not with the density they cover the southern part of the state. Two of our sons live in Katy, TX and they have them over there, too. They do dissolve the paint. My old pickup is very cosmetically challenged by those, tree sap, and paper mill emissions. The clear coat has been peeling off for years. We're not happy with it, but it beats the damage from salt on Wisconsin winter roads.

Jim Cejka

For those never lucky to have been through love bugs, this is what they look like:

And ths is your windshield after just a couple miles through them,

and your wipers are useless.

Lauren Dieterich

We have cicadas along the Colorado river, in Bullhead City. But, we live about 10 miles from the river; and, have never seen a cicada. They stay by the river. Every spring the state stocks the river with several thousand trout to help keep the cicadas down. The local fishermen like it, too.                                                                          The first time that I saw lovebugs was the spring of 1972. We had driven to Florida with my Ex's cousin and her husband. He had relatives near Orlando. You can empty your windshield washer in about 10 miles. The first time that I got gas, the attendant, this was before self serve, came over to the car with a bucket of water, a scrub brush and a squeege. The locals told us to avoid daytime travel as much as possible. The bugs disappear after sunset. The bugs originated in the Louisana bayous and followed the Gulf coast to the Florida everglades.

Jim Cejka

Being a Dad - 

We make a living by what we get,

But we make a life by what we give.

~Winston Churchill