Back in September 1969 I was starting my third year at Penn State, and I see from the archives of the Daily Collegian that the rock group Blood, Sweat, & Tears was coming to campus. As I liked their music, I’m certain that I went to that concert, but I have no memory of it, … Continue reading Spinning Wheel
Penn State
Sudden Summer
The year 1968 was a pretty tumultuous year as far as political events in the US were concerned. Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated. Lyndon Johnson realized he had no chance to be re-elected as president because of his getting involved in a pointless war in Vietnam and all the lies he … Continue reading Sudden Summer
A Not-So-Fine Bromance
Bromance: a very close and non-sexual relationship between two men. I’ve often thought about trying to write a continuous narrative about my first year at Penn State, because I remember so many things about that year. But when I try to organize them in my mind, I can’t figure out just when certain things might … Continue reading A Not-So-Fine Bromance
Acclimatization
When I started at Penn state in September of 1967, I decided to schedule my first class of the day during the first period which started at 8:00 AM. Why not? I was accustomed to getting up early. My summer job had had a starting time of 7:00 AM so I was used to getting … Continue reading Acclimatization
The Colorado Survey
Quote of the day: Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.—Groucho Marx I’ve mentioned several times that in high school and for a few years thereafter I considered myself a Republican, though by the time I came of voting age, which was 21 … Continue reading The Colorado Survey
Jim Garner
Quote of the day: If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.—Mark Twain That third year at Penn State, our neighbors in 518 Mifflin Hall were still Tom and Ken from the previous year. Ken was one of the three guys from the second year who wore their Jesus on their sleeves. … Continue reading Jim Garner
Jon Graves
Quote of the day: I have written on religion and science and have never made any secret of the fact that I am an atheist. My feeling is, quite simply, that if there is a God, he has done such a bad job that he isn’t worth discussing.—Isaac Asimov Third year at Penn State and … Continue reading Jon Graves
Ed and Debbie
Quote for the day: I often put boiling water in the freezer. Then whenever I need boiling water, I simply defrost it.—Gracie Allen A little over ten years ago when I was getting ready to move out of the house in the Wissahickon area to an apartment in Center City, I was pruning back my … Continue reading Ed and Debbie
Tim Toward
From time to time I’ve mentioned Tim Toward in these blog posts. He was the roommate of Ed Stutz at Penn State on the tenth floor of Pinchot Hall and later they got an apartment off campus and hosted Saturday night parties. Tim was also the driver for the weekend trip to NYC that we … Continue reading Tim Toward
Pete Boyle
Quote of the day: One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.—Plato Once again we’re back to my third year at Penn State when I was on the fifth floor of Mifflin Hall, and one of the guys was named Pete Boyle. Or … Continue reading Pete Boyle