Archive for September, 2010

I am here to confess one major sin in my life.

I just love to piss off OU football fans.

Many (too many) are good friends of mine. But they are obnoxious, especially the one who live in Texas, never went to school at Oklahoma but still cheer for the Sooners.

So today I want to throw this out at you.

Should Bob Stoops be fired if he loses to Texas on Saturday?

Basic reasoning says no. Stoops has an 80.6 winning percentage in his 11 seasons as the OU head coach. That puts him right up there close to Barry Switzer’s 83.7 percent.

At the same time, Stoops has lost four of his last five against Texas. A loss on Saturday would be five out of six.

The OU coach has also lost five of his last seven bowl games.

If you apply the “Gary Gibbs Rule,” then OU should fire Stoops if he loses to Texas and then loses another bowl this season.

Gibbs — who played for Switzer — followed in the coaching footsteps of King Barry and never had a losing season in six years. His overall record was 44-23-2, but  — and it is a big BUT — he was 2-10 against Texas and Nebraska.

Take away the 1-5 records and those two rivals and Gibbs was a very respectable 42-13-2.

But he couldn’t beat Texas or Nebraska and was gone after six years. He went on to be a very good linebackers coach for the Cowboys, Saints and now Chiefs in the NFL.

So what does OU does if Stoops goes 1-5 in his last six against UT and 2-6 in his eight bowls.

I say fire the guy. But remember, I like to piss off my OU friends.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum…..

With a tip of the hat to Stephen Sondheim for use of his title, a funny thing really did happen on the way to the Forum—Woman’s Forum, that is. A few weeks ago, my longtime friend Ginger Beisch, now President of the Senior Junior Forum, called to invite me to the Woman’s Forum membership celebration dinner and before I could answer, she added, “….as our speaker for the evening.” That sealed the deal for me. Little did she know that I have a boatload of memories related to that venerable venue. So in addition to my own memories, the reminiscences of 83 years of Woman’s Forum history was very compelling.

The dinner was great and the musical entertainment could not have been better. If you haven’t heard this trio of Andrews Sisters Sound-Alikes, you have missed a treat. Shelby Waller, Keven Robertson and Debi Walters made beautiful music.

For a long time, there have been whispers of a ghostly presence in the building, appearing to staff or guests in quiet times. One tale is that it is the spirit of a former Forum president who didn’t want to give up her treasured position. Another is that it is the spirit of a member who instructed her family to spread her ashes around the property. All these stories contributed to my “If Walls Could Talk” presentation.

I happily shared my personal memories of times past when as a singer, I was invited by the formidable Nita Aiken to sing for luncheons or dinner entertainment. What a thrill that was for a small-town girl to perform from the stage of the Woman’s Forum. Soon Dr. Aiken realized that our entire family was a “Sound of Music” prototype. With mom Agnes Milford on piano, Dad R.C. singing harmony, sister Julie (now Julie King of Fort Worth) hitting the high notes in her soaring soprano, brother Cliff singing harmony (also a piano/organ virtuoso), sister Kim on alto and I singing melody, we sang for “An Evening with the Musical Milfords”—wow, ancient history now. Suffice to say that we had many good times as guests in the fabulous Forum.

As I delved deeper into the history of the Forum and the guests who had appeared there since the 1927 opening, it got curiouser and curiouser. And since “curiosity” is my mantra, I went to work. Among the famous guests to grace the Forum were the following: Will Rogers in 1933; J. Frank Dobie in 1934; Cornelia Otis Skinner, actress, in 1938; Rubinoff and his violin in 1940; Elsa Maxwell in 1950; Meredith Wilson, composer of “The Music Man” in 1955; Ogden Nash, “The Purple Cow” poet in 1958; Will Rogers, Jr. in 1959. But it was another guest whose listed appearance caught my eye: Amelia Earhart in 1936.

Amelia Earhart right here in our part of the country—in the Woman’s Forum in 1936, the year before she disappeared on her attempt to go around the world in her Lockheed Electra. I am not an aviation aficionado by any stretch. However, just the thought of Earhart stopping in Wichita Falls certainly piqued my interest. Adding to my curiosity was the fact that we, too, had a trailblazing aviatrix in our area: Jimmie Hudson Kolp who lived in Electra and flew out of her own airport there. Both women were early members of the Ninety Nines, the organization for women in flight. Jimmie Kolp was the first woman in Wichita Falls, second woman in Texas and the 37th woman in the United States to earn her pilot license. Their ages and years of licensure were very close making it plausible that there must have been a connection.

My affinity for Jimmie Kolp was no doubt influenced by the fact that her mother, Mrs. W. A. Gault, lived across the street from my family when I was in high school in Electra.
That sweet little woman could never understand why Jimmie would want to get in that plane and fly. Regardless, she was her daughter’s most stalwart supporter…even when her daughter eloped to marry Col.C.F. Kolp who, incidentally, is said to have presented Jimmie with a Rolls Royce when she married him at 16 and later with an airplane and her own airport! These things stick in your memory even after all these years. Mrs. Kolp remained a family friend to her death in 1970. Oddly enough, she died at Love Field in Dallas while preparing to come home from a state aviation committee meeting in Austin. My sister Julie sang for her funeral and my brother played the organ for the service. Memories, memories.

Perhaps you can now better understand my curiosity about Earhart and her visit to Wichita Falls in January of 1936. Why was she here? Did she know Jimmie Kolp?
Did she fly in to Wichita Falls? Did she present a lecture at the Forum? At this time in her life, Earhart was a lecturer at Purdue University in addition to her aviation. She was hired by Purdue to speak to young women about the career opportunities open to them—not only in the world of aviation but also in the earthbound professions. To say she was a forerunner of the equal rights for women movement is without a doubt.

But back to my query: who invited Earhart to Wichita Falls? How long did she stay? Was there newspaper coverage of her visit? Prior to my “If Walls Could Talk” presentation, I enlisted Ms. Beisch’s help to try and track down some of this information.
We explored all the usual avenues but for one reason or another, the information was not forthcoming. Then Ms. Beisch went upstairs at the Forum (where the ghostly spirit is said to waft) to go through Forum records. Her payoff was to find the guest book for January 24, 1936 neatly signed by none other than Amelia Earhart! However, not another word was on the page. Foiled again!

Those who were at the forum last week for the celebration dinner have heard this tale of woe. Several of them have taken up my challenge to contact people in the aviation community who may have some information about this mystery trip. This little piece of history may not be greatly significant to the world but it contributes to our north Texas history and ties us to a fascinating time. And the clock is running as to finding the answers to the questions from someone who really knows. The walls are not talking to us about Amelia; I welcome your help in unraveling the mystery.

Carolyn Milford Gilbert
September 27, 2010

Colton Tooley carried his assault rifle onto the University of Texas campus on Tuesday, opened fire in front of the UT Tower, then fled to a library and killed himself.

Later in the day, John Lott spoke to a group of about 100 people at a book store on Guadalupe Street — near where Tooley had opened fire. His message was that students should be allowed to carry licensed concealed handguns on college campuses.

Seems like really bad timing to me. About the only thing worse would be having Joe Tom White putting on one of his gun shows in the student center.

Amd what makes it worse is  this all  took place at a school where student Charles Whitman killed 16 people and wounded 32 others during a shooting rampage 44 years ago.

Lott, a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland, had been scheduled to speak on campus Tuesday night but was moved the bookstore after the morning shooting.

The Austin American Statesman quoted Lott as saying: “There’s a tremendous advantage to having concealed-carry laws, because the shooter doesn’t know who has a weapon.”

So is he saying the UT incident would have been better if the students — instead of running and hiding — had pulled out their guns and started firing back at Tooley?

I think Chris Rock has the best solution to the problem.

“Gun control? We need bullet control. I think every bullet should cost $5,000. Because if a bullet costs $5,000, we wouldn’t have any innocent bystanders.”

I ran into my friend Bubba Whatley at lunch yesterday and he asked for a favor.

He said he was going to introduce Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson at a 100th anniversary dinner for the Boy Scouts in November and he wanted to use a quote he thought he had heard from a former Olympian.

The quote is: “It is nice to be important but more important to be nice.”

Bubba asked if I — the veteran writer for three Olympics — could help find out which Olympian said that.

So I turned to Mr. Google.

Google attributes that quote to William Lincoln Tisdale.

Since the only Tisdale I know of is the former OU basketball player. And his name was Wayman, not William.

You have to dig a little to find out anything about William Lincoln Tisdale. From what I found, it seems like he was a gay artist who died of AIDS in the 1990s.

Bubba, old pal, you might want to find another quote to use when you introduce this Eagle Scout from Wichita Falls.

The Boy Scouts have this policy on youth leadership.

“Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed. The conduct of youth members must be in compliance with the Scout Oath and Law, and membership in Boy Scouts of America is contingent upon the willingness to accept Scouting’s values and beliefs. Most boys join Scouting when they are 10 or 11 years old. As they continue in the program, all Scouts are expected to take leadership positions. In the unlikely event that an older boy were to hold himself out as homosexual, he would not be able to continue in a youth leadership position.”

Whether you agree or disagree with the policy is not the point here. All I’m saying is you still have time to find someone else with a good quote.

Bubba is an old Golden Gloves boxer. How about this one?

“So don’t bet against me, I’m a man of my word.
He is the greatest! Yes!
I am the man this poem’s about,
I’ll be champ of the world, there isn’t a doubt.
Here I predict Mr. Liston’s dismemberment,
I’ll hit him so hard; he’ll wonder where October and November went.
When I say two, there’s never a third,
Standin against me is completely absurd.
When Cassius says a mouse can outrun a horse,
Don’t ask how; put your money where your mouse is!”

Courtesy of The Greatest — Muhammad Ali.

We’re about a week away from my right-before-district predictions about who will and won’t be going to the playoffs.

I’m hoping everyone forgot about my preseason picks. Off the top of my head, I’d have to say my worst call was Bowie finishing last in 6-3A. The Jackrabbits may not make the playoffs, but I don’t think now they’ll be in the cellar either.

But we’ll save those for another day. Here are some of my thoughts on the weekend:

* Graham and Borger’s game on Friday was definitely the most boring one I’ve had this year. I’m not sure how good Borger is, so I don’t know if it was just a ho-hum win for the Steers or a quality one. I will say this — Graham must figure out a way to run the ball or I can see them finishing behind Iowa Park in the driver’s seat for first.

* Good wins for Rider, Iowa Park, Bowie, Quanah, and Munday. Tough losses for Burkburnett, WFHS, City View and Seymour.

* Speaking of the Panthers, I’m pretty surprised they’ve lost two straight. This time, DeLeon slowed them down offensively too.

* WFHS needed to beat The Colony at home if talk of he playoffs is going to happen. Now they MUST beat Denton on the road, because a 0-2 hole is too deep to get out of.

* Man, is that 3-2A Div. II up for grabs. Trying to feel good about predicting which three teams make the playoffs is tough.

* I feel good about which three teams will make the playoffs in 4-A Div. I (Albany, Stamford, Seymour) and 8-A Div. II (Archer City, Windthorst and Munday), though.

It was a strange weekend.

If you really believed that the Cowboys would go to Houston and beat the Texans, then you were thinking with your heart and not your noggin.

Everything we had seen in the first two weeks of the season — and the whole preseason — indicated that the Texans would kick the Cowboys’ arrogant butt.

But it didn’t happen.

The Cowboys walked into the Texans’ house and kicked their butt.

So I guess it is time for to resume that “we’re going to the Super Bowl babeeeeeeeeee” BS.

Please, 1-2 is a whole bunch better than 0-3.

But America’s sweetheart team still has a bunch of zits that one win could not completely cover up.

The strangest thing about this win was the unlikely hero.

Roy Williams is alive.

Most of us had him buried six feet under and were shoveling dirt on top of his tired old bones.

Then he resurrects in high def, catches five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

This presumed dead wide receiver showed more life on Sunday that anybody playing on his favorite college team did on Saturday.

Texas getting hammered at home, 34-12 by UCLA was a much bigger surprise than the Cowboys beating the Texans.

That dropped UT all the way from 7 to 21 in the AP poll.

While all is right today in Cowboyland, there is a mess down in Longhornland.

They opened as a 4-point dog to Oklahoma on Saturday.

With OU up next and then Nebraska in Lincoln following that, it’s a good bet the Longhorns will do what the Cowboys didn’t — lose three straight games.

But beware all your Zero U lovers. Strange things can happen at the State Fair of Texas.

The only sure thing these days is: THE RANGERS ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS.

How cool is that?

Keystoner was this week’s winner in the “Sack Zach” contest, picking 14 of 15 games correctly.

The only one he missed — Seymour losing to DeLeon — was missed by everybody who played. Rcc was next in line with 13 correct picks, and I was in a pack of people with 12.

So Keystoner, email me at duncanz@timesrecordnews.com so I can get you a 1standtrn.com T-shirt.

Here are the weekly standings:

1. Me — 60

2. Rcc — 59

3t Keystoner — 57

3t. AreaFootballFan — 57

5. OldWildcat — 55

Rider played brilliant in the first half. Excellent work by the defensive line of Kiegan Hart, Blaine Townsend and Ben Schribner. I think that was the biggest key.

Offensively, Rider had an explosive play with an 81-yard TD run by Deron Royster out of the single wing. And the Raiders made some nice plays to avoid big mistakes, too.

My last district road game of last season was the same as my first of this year — a drive to Little Elm that always feels a little longer than it looks on the map.

Once here you see nothing but rooftops and water. Hopefully, I’ll see some good football soon.

I haven’t seen a really good football game all year. The best was probably Coyotes over Burkburnett in the TRN Kickoff Classic and it wasn’t that close. And we had a false impression of both teams at the time.

Little Elm has won so many tight games over the past couple of years that the Lobos think they should win. Rider has to get back to that mentality. That is the mental game tonight. I think Rider matches up fine physically.

A few teams are finishing up non-district schedules this week, but the big thing is the start of District 4-4A.

If you want an in-depth look at the district, Andy, Nick and I discussed it on our weekly football forecast here:  http://www.1standtrn.com/videos/detail/weekly-forecast-5/

And while I’m promoting it, check out the recent podcast I did with Windthorst coach Bill Green here:  http://www.timesrecordnews.com/podcasts/1st-and-trn/2010/sep/23/bill-green/ . It’s about looking back at his 17 years at Windthorst. It’s good stuff.

Now onto the games:

* The Colony at WFHS — I know the Coyotes have more than Devontay Chaffin on offense, but before I pick them to win a district game, I want to see them stop people. In the only game they won, the Coyotes still gave up 5 TDs to a Burkburnett team that has only scored once offensively in the last eight quarters. This one’s a toss-up though. A WFHS win wouldn’t surprise me.

* Rider at Little Elm — If Rider was hosting The Colony and WFHS was at Little Elm, I’d feel good about the Raiders and Lobos winning. But this one is another toss-up. I want to see if the Raiders offense can play well against a good team before I pick them on the road against an athletic team. So Little Elm in a close one.

* Burkburnett at Mineral Wells — Someone will get their first win tonight. I like the Rams by a couple touchdowns. They’ve played both Graham and Iowa Park very closely.

* Decatur at Iowa Park — I don’t think the Eagles have a quality enough defense to stop Hawks QB Lee Clubb. He’ll have a big night and the Hawks will take care of business.

* Borger at Graham — I think this has a chance of being closer than people think. The Steers will be fired up for homecoming though, and I think they find a way to win.

* Whitesboro at Bowie — The Jackrabbits are on a roll. They ‘ll head into district with a 4-1 mark.

* Vernon vs. Pampa — The Lions are going to have enough of a hard time winning with RB Devin Butler. Without him, I don’t see a victory happening.

* Muenster S. Heart at CityView — Don’t know much about Sacred Heart, and this could be a close game, but I gotta stay with the hot team — Mustangs are the pick.

* Paradise vs. Nocona — The Indians are playing better than their 0-4 record shows. This one might be close, but Paradise is playing pretty well so I’ll side with them.

* Quanah vs. Haskell — Here’s my upset special this week. I think Quanah is the more athletic team, and an athletic team (Munday) beat Haskell pretty good last week. Just a gut feeling.

* Seymour at DeLeon — The Panthers were going to win this anyway. But after Seymour lost last week, you can bet they come out strong and run away with this.

* Petrolia at Windthorst — Just in case you think Windthorst might have a letdown after its big win last week and overlook Petrolia, remember this: the Pirates won this game last year. Trojans by a bunch.

* Olney at Archer City — The Wildcats by a lot.

* Electra vs. WT Stinnett — A toss-up here, but for some reason, I’ll go with Stinnett.

* Roscoe at Munday — The Moguls will take care of business.

Wednesday the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office arrested a person they believe is responsible for fires started in the Cameron Gardens area in Wichita Falls.

And my emotions are torn. Innocent until proven guilty, right?

First, I need to make sure a jury convicts this guy, Kyle Everett Harmon. We know he admitted to authorities that he had a hand in numerous fires and he could save people a lot of time and money by pleading out.

But the main reason I’m especially mad at the entire situation, besides him being a now ex-volunteer firefighter, is the fact that my folks live in Cameron Gardens, right off Cameron Lane. One of the fires started could have easily taken everything away from them.

It is hard to say this, but my son could have grown up not knowing his grandparents under the most grave consequences. I lost both of my grandfathers one way or another before I turned 6-years old, and I don’t wish that experience on anyone.

Grandchildren are supposed to have their grandparents and vice versa. They’re the ones who spoil grandkids.

But multiply my emotions and fears by the countless number of people who also worried similarly when the fires were started in Cameron Gardens. That is a lot of distraught people looking at the front page of the Times Record News website or paper.

WCSO Sheriff David Duke noted that Harmon might not be the only arsonist involved in this string of events that played out over a lengthy amount of time.

He says the others responsible should just give themselves up; make things a little easier on everyone.

I agree.

That way, I can have the same inner-conflict with your downfall that I’m have with Harmon right now.

On the same day the little blue postcard showed up in my mail box, I was on to the phone, calling the principal’s office at Wichita Falls High School to see if it was legit.

Somebody in Chesapeake, Va. knew my real name.

That’s odd because I have really good friends who don’t know that my parents stuck with me with Nicky Don Gholson.

The strangers in Virginia also knew my address and the fact that I graduated from Wichita Falls High in 1964. (Fame and fortune we will soar).

But I don’t know anybody in Chesapeake, Va.

And I didn’t feel comfortable calling a toll free number and giving them more information about myself.

The principal’s office assured me the postcard was legit. The school really was updating alumni association information.

Then my friend Judith McGinnis — also a Coyote — wrote a story for Wednesday’s paper saying it was OK to make the call.

Another friend, Annetta Reusch — a WFHS journalism teacher — works with the alumni association and was quoted in Judith’s story that everything was on the up and up.

So I made the call.

I found out that these people in Virginia knew more about me than my name and address and graduating class.

They knew my wife’s name, Jenee’, and even pronounced it right which many people who know her never do.

They also knew the names of my kids.

The only thing they had wrong was my phone number. That’s because I got rid of my land line and went to straight cell phones years ago.

Since Judith and Annetta said it was OK, I gave them my cell number and e-mail address and said “Goodbye.”

But, like any good infomercial, it was “Wait, there’s more.”

For two monthly payments of $49.95 — plus shipping and handling — I could purchase a hard back book with information about everyone who had ever graduated from Wichita Falls High.

“No thanks.”

“How about a smaller book that only includes people who lived in the era of running water? For about half the price?”

“No thanks”

“OK, how about a paperback? Much cheaper.”

“No thanks.”

“A very inexpensive CD-Rom?”

“Nope.”

But now that they have my address, e-mail and cell phone number, I am sure I have not heard the last from these people.

Thanks, Mr. Principal. Thanks, Annetta. Thanks, Judith.

Next time I get a postcard in my mailbox, I will toss shred it with all the credit card offers and toss in the trash. You live and learn.

I haven’t made it to FallsFest in quite a few years.

Just never have been a big carnival guy. But the main reason is I just don’t like big crowds.

Even “big” crowds by Hooterville Falls standards.

But I would like to see Creedence Clearwater Revisited on Saturday night.

Most of these old fart rock-and-roll groups aren’t worth the time and effort it takes to drive to Lucy Park.

But this new CCR is at least one half of the original CCR.

Stu Cook (bass) and Doug Clifford (drums) were with John and Tom Fogerty when they started the band The Blue Velvets back in 1959. Then they became the Golliwogs and later Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The Fogertys are now gone — and that’s a significant loss — but Cook and Clifford have put together a group that still puts out those old CCR sounds that some of us have love for the last 40 years.

Here are my top 10 CCR songs. See if you agree.

1. Proud Mary — this became Tina Turner’s signature song and even at 70-years-old (yep, she’s 70), I bet she can still shake that old booty to this one.

2. Bad Moon Rising

3. Have You Ever Seen the Rain

4. Born on the Bayou

5. Down on the Corner

6. Lookin’ Out My Back Door

7. Travelin Band

8. Green River

9. Hey, Tonight

10. Run Through the Jungle

Honorable mentions are Fortunate Son and Who’ll Stop the Rain.

OK, all you Junior Leaguers, there’s your free ad for the day.

Just drop my free ticket and parking pass off today or tomorrow.

We’re getting closer and closer until district play begins. In fact, for WFHS and Rider, it kicks off this Friday.

Now is the time of year where we’ve seen a few trends from teams and we’ve also got common opponents to compare teams in the same district by. For example, Hirschi probably is better than Vernon. Both lost to Sanger, but the Lions lost by about 30 more points.

Or Graham and Iowa Park both have narrow wins against Mineral Wells, which makes me think there’s not much seperating them at the top of 6-3A. Burkburnett plays Mineral Wells this week, so that will be a game to watch to see how far behind (if any) the Bulldogs are.

I was impressed with Windthorst’s 49-39 win against Seymour the other night. Saw it firsthand, and the biggest difference is the Trojans can really pass the ball now. Huge improvement from last year.

Here are my other thoughts on what was Week 3 and more:

* I think Seymour’s offense is very impressive. They dropped too many balls against the Trojans — really, it possibly cost them the game — but they have a really good QB and a bunch of skill guys who can make things happen. That being said, Seymour’s defense wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.

* I think if I had to pick a winner for 4-A Div. I right now, it would be Stamford. Impressive road win against Holliday.

* I think Windthorst and Archer City will meet more than once this season (unless Munday changes those plans in the playoffs). Both are playing really well right now.

* I think if WFHS and Rider were in a couple other districts in their region, they wouldn’t have great shots at the playoffs. But 4-4A, with the exception of Ryan, looks weak. Wouldn’t surprise me if both WFISD teams make the playoffs.

* I think it would surprise me if either made a run, though.

* I think as the weeks progress, I ‘m getting more and more sold on Bowie having a chance at the playoffs. That was a good win against Breckenridge. We’ll see if they can keep it up once 6-3A begins.

* I think I am a little surprised Burkburnett and Vernon lost by a combined 124-0. They were playing good teams, but still. Please disregard the comment I made in last week’s blog predictions about the rested Bulldogs possibly keeping it close.

* I think Burkburnett misses Lorenzo Barnes and Malachi Naef on defense more than I realized they would.

* I think as every week goes by, the TRN Kickoff Classic matchup looks a little weaker. WFHS and Burkburnett are a combined 1-6, with the only win coming in that game.

* I think I never saw the 1-7 combined start for Holliday and Henrietta coming. City View has three times that many wins.

* I think it feels totally weird to type the Mustangs have the only winning Div. 3-2A Div. II record. After letting Petrolia stick around two weeks ago, City View sounded like they looked impressive in whipping Electra.

* I think if I had to decide right now, I’d pick City View to make the playoffs. Holliday and Jacksboro, too.

* I think Munday, Archer City and Windthorst will be a heck of a district race.

* I think Olney is cursed with QB injuries. Haven’t talked to Coach Rodriguez yet, but it looked like Kyle Turner didn’t play against Jacksboro. Heard he got hurt in the Windthorst game.

* I think Coach Ponder is deadset on not playing anybody both ways. Thought he might have to once district began, but after talking with him Monday (having to replace J.D. Cuatt this week), I don’t think he will.

* I think Nocona is getting better every week and who knows, maybe the Indians can make some noise in what’s looking like a mediocre district.

* I think this week is a little light when it comes to big games. Graham-Borger and Decatur-Iowa Park may be the best ones.

One of my continuing curiosity factors is the role such curiosity plays in our lives as time marches on. Some months ago I wrote a column aimed primarily at the need for unbridled curiosity in youngsters as they are exposed to the educational experience. I opined that such curiosity seems to wane as youngsters move up the educational ladder so that by the time they are in high school, there may not be much curiosity left.

I am pleased to report that a number of readers checked in with me on the subject by email. Their universal agreement that we need to do a better job of encouraging curiosity in our students let me know I had hit a vein. In fact, I learned that a group of private school educators in the Dallas-Fort Worth area used the column as a topic for discussion with their teaching staffs and parents as well.

Their interest in the curiosity factor nudged me to dig deeper in the curiosity well to explore the causal relationship between that “need to know” attitude and the “don’t care” attitude. Then I hit curiosity pay dirt!

“Is it heredity or environment ?” The age old question rears its head. Is curiosity innate or can it be taught? If it is not nurtured, does the curiosity factor fade away?
Is it a sign of intelligence..creativity? The pay dirt kicked up more questions than answers.

Those questions gave way to a couple of additional queries:
In regard to education, what type of teachers and or parents can cause that childhood curiosity to continue through middle and upper school?

What role does curiosity play in success or failure in adult life?

It seems to me that the teacher is a key component in the care and feeding of the curiosity factor in students as they progress from level to level. If the teacher is himself/herself an energetic and curious person, it makes sense that students will be more likely to infuse curiosity in not only school-related activites but also in real life.

However, I can just hear school superintendents and those responsible for hiring instructional staff saying “…But how can we measure this ‘curiosity factor’ or how can we tell if a prospective teacher has that factor when we are interviewing them?” And I am not sure I have the answer except to say that intuition and observation may be the critical tools for interviewers.

In the same way we rely on our intuition and experience to spot the talented or gifted student, we can focus on evaluating instructional staff. And, yes, we may be fooled on occasion by the individual who is adept at the interview process….the one who knows how to play the game. But if we as experienced educators are vigilant in finding the teacher with the natural, built-in curiosity about life, surely we can select such teachers for our schools.

Sadly, one of the basic drawbacks to the selection and retention of outstanding teachers for our students is the inability to dismiss or reassign the teacher who is not fulfilling his or her assignment adequately. In order to provide teachers with job security, our system has bent over backwards to retain teachers who really should be in another line of work. Any school administrator will tell you how difficult it is to discharge a teacher–especially an experienced one. Here is where community expectations for teaching performance need to be clear. Granted, the community of private school education may have more ability to handle the problem of nonperforming teachers than the public school community. But if the goal is good teachers to teach and energize students, what are we to do?

The second question about the role of curiosity in our adult lives is also difficult to quantify. Look around your work life and home life. Do you have friends who are interested in diverse or unusual topics? Friends who are fun? Friends who can solve problems creatively? Friends who are always seeking not just the “why” about things but also the “why NOT?”

Oddly enough, the inquisitive or curious adult is not always rewarded for that curiosity. In fact, sometimes they are even punished for questioning long-held standards or authority. And that very fact flies in the face of what we say we value in the educational process. Except in a few areas in industry or service, curiosity is not the number one quality sought in an adult worker.

Is there ever any question that Bill Gates is a curious person? And what would we have done without his remarkable curiosity?
And athletes who are curious as to how far they can push their bodies to achieve?
Researchers seeking the cure for diseases like AIDS or cancer? Architects who experiment with amazing designs for buildings—and ways to keep those buildings standing! Historians who have an endless thirst for uncovering our history. Automobile designers and engineers who seek the plan to make a car run better, faster, longer–as well as to make it a thing of beauty.

As we age, is it taken for granted that we will slow down–mentally as well as physically? Are we expected to become disinterested bystanders who merely hear about life and news from radio or television and not from first hand experience? Does becoming a “senior citizen” mean that we tamp down those flames of curiosity from our youth or our middle age? I certainly hope not!

Just think how life experience can continue to feed our intellectual curiosity. And whether you are a young teacher of wiggly grade schoolers or a grandparent of young adults, your own curiosity about life and learning may provide the incentive for those around you to seek answers to difficult questions, to figure out why something isn’t working as it should or to evaluate options for life’s critical decisions.

How lucky we would be if from one end of the lifeline to the other there would always be someone in our lives to generate enthusiasm, energy and curiosity!

Carolyn Gilbert

A frustrated Cowboys fan called me yesterday.

He was fed up with Tony Romo.

He wants to trade him to the Eagles for Michael Vick.

I admit I have been a Romosexual for the past several years.

I never thought he was the next Staubach or Aikman but he also wasn’t Ryan Leaf or Quincy Carter.

The Cowboys had been in deep you-know-what at quarterback ever since Aikman retired.

Watching Carter and Henson and Hutchinson and Wright and Stoerner and Leaf and Bledsoe and Testaverde was like going into the men’s room at Allsup.

You don’t want to be there, but you have no choice.

So you just hold your nose, close your eyes and get it over with as quickly as possible.

Romo freshened the air.

He was fun.

He was good.

And he made the Cowboys good again.

But somewhere between Jessica Simpson and now, Romo quit being Romo.

Heck, right now he’s just a white Quincy Carter.

And the Cowboys are 0-2 and fading fast.

Yesterday’s caller was ready to trade Romo.

“Who wants him?” I asked.

He proposed the  trade with the Eagles: Romo for Vick.

I think Philadelphia would jump at a deal like that.

Vick once took an Atlanta Falcons team to the NFC championship game with a lot less talented supporting cast that the one he would have in Dallas right now.

But I don’t think Jerry Jones would do that deal.

He still believes in Romo although it is getting harder and harder to do.

But Bill Cowher is still out there and you wouldn’t have to trade anybody to hire this Super Bowl champion coach.

If not now, at least by the first week in January.

*Anyone who loves sports will know the name Blackie Sherrod as one of the foremost longtime sports writers in the southwest. He coined the phrase “Scattershooting while wondering…” for his many columns running for years in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and The Dallas Times Herald among others.

This interesting little phrase allows the writer to wander off into reverie or ‘wonderland’ as she raises rhetorical or literal questions about a person or an event.

Today I am scattershooting while wondering about a number of things like:
Did everybody REALLY love Raymond? I never was drawn to this show in its first incarnation in 1996. Oh, I probably saw it a couple of times but it was just a little too pedestrian for me. I was a little more upper class than that, I thought.

Ray Barone, played by comedian Ray Romano, was just a bit too much of a simpleton– a sports writer who worked out of his basement except when he was running back and forth to his mama’s house (and her cooking) across the street. If I say he was sort of a dullard, I think you will know what I mean. How he ever convinced his cute and sassy little wife Debra–played by Patricia Heaton–to marry him in the first place is in itself a matter of great wonderment!

Ray’s family members are really the stars of this show. Mom Marie Barone–played by Doris Roberts– embodies every mother who has tried to run a son’s married life. And she cleverly used her home cooking to bribe, console, cajole and reward the various members of the family. By the way, she played that part as if it were written just for her as it may well have been.

Ray’s older brother Robert is played by actor/comedian Brad Garrett. Robbie, as Marie insists on calling him, is really the crux on which the show turns. He is the older brother (conceived out of wedlock OMG) who grew up with his precious little brother Raymond getting all the attention and everything he wanted…thus the derivation of the title, “Everbody Loves Raymond.” And nothing has changed now that the the brothers are adults. Mom Marie dotes on Raymond through food and snide remarks about his sassy little wife and kids. The children in this show are not seen or heard much which is rather a relief after all those family shows that did nothing but showcase spoiled brats.

Now comes the Emporer of the family, Frank Barone. Played perfectly by the late Perter Boyle, a classically trained actor. Frank is the next generation of Archie Bunker who was played by Carroll O’Connor in “All In the Family.” Barone is unflinchingly racist, sexist (except when Marie threatens to stop cooking for him) and as socially unacceptable as one can be on television. Like many men who consider his home his personal castle, Frank feels free to eat, walk a few steps to his recliner in the living room, sit down, pull up the footrest and proceed to unzip his pants so he can really relax! Peter Boyle made this character his own.

As I pointed out earlier, I did not find the show amusing in its first run some years ago. But time passes and things change. Now television is overflowing with breaking news shows, regular news shows, do-it-yourself construction shows, investigatory shows, crime units out the wazoo, dancing shows and mating programs like “The Batchelor” and “The Batchelorette.” Outside of sports, there is really precious little programming for simply watching or being entertained.

Now stay with me here. I really thought that, like me, everyone couldn’t stand Raymond, much less love that show. However, in the absence of programming designed for pure enjoyment instead of constantly battering the viewer, I must admit timidly and apologetically that I find myself watching the “Raymond” re-runs and rather enjoying the time spent.

Yes, the characters are over the top. Yes, they probably remind you of someone in your own family. Yes, if you are over 50, you probably can’t contain your occasional outtbursts of laughter. And, no, I doubt if everybody loves Raymond this time around either. But if laughter is the best medicine, I can at least take the show in small doses!

So if you find yourself longing for the good old days or searching for a program of gentle rather mindless entertainment, find the “Raymond” re-reuns and let the world go away.

Carolyn Gilbert

Isn’t it strange how our sense of smell can affect us? We step out on the patio and smell the smoke from the barbecue grill and think, “Yum.” And if the grass has just been cut, don’t you love that smell? Whatever fragrance you select as your own–Chanel No.5, White Diamonds, Opium–usually brings back memories. As long as I can remember, my mother wore Chanel No. 5 and to this day its fragrance makes me think of her. And, of course, Old Spice was Daddy’s choice.

Of course, there are other smells that are not quite so elegant that, perhaps, do not elicit happy thoughts…like dirty, sweaty tennis shoes. Like wet puppies. Like broccoli cooking!

I have had this obsession with smells for a long time. Even as a child, I can remember getting nauseous
on a driving trip through the Arizona desert where the air was heavy with that sweet sickening cactus smell. But one smell that always makes me happy is that wonderful musty smell of an old bookstore. You know, the smell that envelopes you when you set foot in Larry McMurtry’s book stores filled with books that have been hot off the presses many years ago. I have often thought how great it would be to bottle that smell and sell it. Or perhaps, just hoard it for my own use.

Those who know me know that I eschew these new-fangled things that are taking the place of books in the hand. Instead of reading a good book in bed, you have the opportunity to read on your computer or your Kindle or Iphone using stanza. How can that be any fun? Not only do you lose the sensory perception of holding that book and turning the pages, there is absolutely no noticeable aroma at all. It is like reading off a blackboard.

Well, I have great news for those of use who yearn for the smells that make us happy or that bring back happy thoughts. Some genius has created the answer in an aerosol can. The e-book enhancer is called “Smell of Books” and looks something like a can of hairspray. You can choose between the “New Book Smell” and the “Classic Musty Smell.” How great is that? A few squirts around the room and you are set to go. You can be transported to the store of new books or the store of old books within a few seconds. Check it out at http://smellofbooks.com

Of course, this clever approach also can be applied to other scents beyond the bookshelves. For instance, how about the spray, “Eau, You Have Cats.” Or the kitchen version of “Crunchy Bacon Scent” or “Burned Toast.” Even those sweaty tennis shoes, wet puppies or broccoli cooking could be pressurized, I suppose. Or the floor wax they used to put on the schoolhouse floor. Or popcorn!

And remember how we used to talk about that new car smell and how we wish we could bottle it? Well, someone has been working on that. It is not in an aerosol can but packaged in a small packet to put under the seat of the car and let that “New Car Smell” waft away. Now what will they think of next? Perhaps the smell of new money. Oh, yes!

Carolyn Gilbert
carolyngilbert1@yahoo.com

If you grew up on Betty White’s shows in the early days of television, you probably had an inkling of her humor and grace. Ever the inventive hostess on her talk shows, she brought sunshine into an otherwise dreary black and white medium. With dimples that put Shirley Temple to shame, Betty and her love of animals could talk you into liking dogs, cats, squirrels or whatever–even if you were not an animal lover. To this day she is a supporter of animal causes.

Thank goodness, she didn’t have to rely on her cuteness to propel her into one of the longest productive careers in entertainment. At 88 1/2 Betty White is at the peak of her career when most of her peers are blowing bubbles in the nursing home for old actors. She may have shrunk a few inches but she put those young whippersnappers to shame last Saturday night.

SNL is known for cutting edge comedy and imagination. The show has produced some marvelous talent such as Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Tina Fey, Amy Pohler, Chevy Chase, Al Franken (now a Senator,) Gilda Radner, Martin Short and Billy Crystal just to name a few. SNL grads have gone on to change the face of movies and television as far as comedy is concerned. But the show has lacked a little spark during the past couple of years for whatever reason. Sometimes the show was not well written. Sometimes it was not well performed. Other times the hosts seemed to be odd choices and really didn’t enhance the production.

But all that changed last Saturday night. Betty rode in on her White charger and put the “LIVE” back into Saturday Night Live. Having been at the forefront of live television (she once had a live five hour talk show daily!) Betty showed those kids a thing or two. She was in virtually every skit except the News. She knew her lines–as opposed to most of the guests who read their lines from cue cards. She hit her marks. She bounced down those steps at the beginning of the show without even looking down to be sure her feet were in the right place. She had wigs of every color and hairstyle. She had costume changes aplenty. She danced and shook with the youngest of them.
And when it was time for her to introduce the musical guest, she did it so convincingly you would have sworn she knew who Jay-Z was!

Betty White’s magic is is signaled by her sparkling eyes and mischievous smile. When she delivers those loaded punch lines, you can see what is coming in those baby blues. Whether she is rolling her eyes or batting her lashes, her timing is perfect. She may give the appearance of a little old lady grandma but grandma was nothing like this.

How I wish her co-conspirator in life Allen Ludden had been there to witness not only her flawless performance but also the esteem in which she is held by performers generations younger than she. How pleasing to see this talented little old lady (HA!) full of life and energy
doing what she does best. And by the way, it is reported that she partied with the cast until 3 a.m Sunday morning. She probably would have stayed later but she had to get back to Los Angeles to start filming her new situation comedy, “Hot In Cleveland,” Monday morning.

Word on the street has it that Betty White’s SNL had the highest ratings it has had in over a year and a half. With that in mind, I suggest that the “nerds” in her promo last week for SNL definitely start typing frantically: ACADEMY AWARDS…BETTY WHITE FOR HOST!”

As Allen Ludden used to say: “And the Password is…….fantastic!”

By Carolyn M. Gilbert
carolyngilbert1@yahoo.com