Extended to two years

You guessed it.

No new post - really this is just an excuse

Gang,
Sorry that I have no new pictures or words for my blog. I have been busy responding to your blogs. Please keep them coming. Pictures are good but thoughts also work well. And while reading them I get to listen to Lauries play list.
The Old Man (where is the sea. It's just down the street from me.) Would one ofyou like to complete the poem. Maybe Evelyn.

Feed up with the news medias bias

Dear Editorial Team at RealClearPolitics;

Coverage of the news, which is how history will be written, has gotten out of hand. Where are the true journalists? In junior high school, during the 60’s, we were taught about muckraking and yellow journalism. I had thought they were a thing of the past. I was wrong. Not only are they still with us, but they are more sophisticated and dirtier than ever before. It seems like there are only a few RealTrueJournalist any more; the rest of those who claim to be reporting the news have become talking heads. Did you catch the play on “RealClearPolitics”, where both sides are at least presented? However, even with RCP the readership is still left to ferret out the truth.

Perhaps each reporter should be required to identify their political affiliation and how they voted in the last ten years. Oh, we can’t ask that of a reporter, it might violate some of their privileges. (They call them rights and they say, “Trust us we are non-bias, we can regulate our selves”; but they have sadly abused their positions to the point that few in the public believe most of them. They see them for what they are. Besides they never allow any other agency the courtesy of policing themselves; something to do with a fox in the hen house, or so they say.

So much for the berating and belittling (which is probably the wrong approach) and is of little value unless a solution is proposed? While we must rely on the press to try to keep each other in check; each member should be required to take an oath similar to the Hippocratic Oath doctors take. I do not pretend to know exactly what it should say. I will suggest that everyone who reports the news should strive to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Where have I heard that before? The oath should be taken under the penalty of self banishment by the offending individual if they fail to uphold the strictest of standards. Well, maybe, their colleagues might have to help them find other employment and show them the way to the door.

In reality each reporter and journalist for any form of the news vehicle is writing history and should be held to the standards of Lucian, A.D.120-200. If you were to substitute the word “news person, reporter, journalist for historian”, his edict might well become our modern oath or standard for those we trust to deliver us the news.

“The historian should be fearless and incorruptible; a man of independence, loving frankness and truth; one who, as the poet says, calls a fig a fig and a spade a spade. He should yield to neither hatred nor affection, nor should he be unsparing and unpitying. He should be neither shy nor deprecating, but an impartial judge, giving each side all it deserves but no more. He should know in his writing no country and no city; he should bow to no authority and acknowledge no king. He should never consider what this or that man will think, but should state the facts as they really occurred.”

A motto for the news media, a badge to wear, a philosophy; that until the various news outlets require these types of standards of their employees, top to bottom, the public’s right to know will be the casualty, hidden beneath the bias and the lies of those who promise to serve with truth and honesty, but would rather consciously or subconsciously to promote a particular point of view they hold dear..

Let it be written, let it be said, and please let it be so; that we can have a free and fair press. Where have I heard something like this before?

Some thoughts for a national discussion; do you have any suggestions on how to start the ball rolling?

Thanks for the time you took to read this essay. I assume if you are reading the thank you read it all.
Ted Boyett, tired reader (TBoy@acgmail.gr), 21.09.2008

I am open to any of your comments. I fell confident nothing will become of this submission due to the fraternity protecting its own. But it does me good to get type of thing off my chest (vent)& out of my mind. Oh, you have to have a mind before you can purge it. As Josh says, "have an excellent day."

Vote & Critique

My home teachers: Their names (drum roll) Elder Brown & Elder Hanke

and no, there is no Hanke-panke (I know, I know, it is spelled ie) going on in our Branch.

Here's the game rules/questions and the winner owns bragging rights for this round.

1) Which piture do you like the best and why? Please critique each.

2) Which Elder is the smartest?

3) Which Elder is the cutest? (Teddie you can get advice of your single friends.)

4) Which Elder is going home first?

5) Which Elder is the strongest?

6) Which Elder has the best signing voice?

(It would come in handy if I were to require a song like back home)
7) How close is their apartment to mine?

8) Do they know my rules for home teachers? Do you? Oh yaha; what are they?

Anyone can enter cll your friend and let them in on the fun. Or not!

The Elders came by the appartment and home taught me last Sunday; good session. I gave them directions from Messigion as though they were comming from the church. Come to find out they lived up Messigion the other direction from the church and I had them walking in circles. Oh well it is good pratice for them. They claim to be so close to my apprtment that they just might drop in for a meal at any time. It's a good thing I go shopping often amd believe in keeping the cupboard full.

You will need to keep reading my blog comments to determine if you are the winner because their are no judges and even if there were, their decission would not be final. All entries belong to the web biosphere. After submitting your entry you can never recall it. At least I don't think you can.

The Old Man
Good luck and may your computer treat you with respect.

?Another Typical Saturday!

One of the blessings of the internet is that I can share part of my day with you. But the greater blessing is I am able to vicariously share your lives and that of my loved ones through the pages of your blogs while I am gone. Thank you.


What a wonderful creature. We can all learn from him: if we only take our time and are persistant.
On my way back from the fruit market I spied this creature slowly slithering across the walk and thought to myself, Evelyn would find this interesting. And then I considered how Theo might react. Boy what fun. I later saw that Thing - 2 (daughter -2) had posted a five legged cricket on her site and wondered if it was her or Theo who had attacked it.

Addition to my Greek Diet While at the market several days ago, Arthur had indicated how he liked oatmeal and had shared a package with the housekeeper at the gym. I picked up a package and enjoyed some that very evening. It remindered me of breakfast as a child and the big pot of oatmeal Mom Boyett cooked up along the the fried eggs (which Mary would swallow whole), toast and hot chocolate. Some great memories.

The fridge is always a delight.

Guess what was just purchased from the fruit market and what has been here for a few days. The fruit market is not too expensive; a mellon ($6.90), 4 Nectorines ($4.40), 5 carots ($1.20), and a bunch of grapes ($3.60). I converted to dollars from Euros at a rate of 1.5:1. Oh, yes, I also went to the meat market to pickup four hamburger patties ($9.00) and four pork chops ($11.50).

Shopping on one trip when walking is not too easy with my shoulders. Which reminds me of walking home in Arcata when I was living with the Hopkins during my college years. I would not want to make two trips so I loaded my arms down like a pack animal and would start out from the store. The closer I got to my desitination the worse the pain in my elbows would become. Frequently, I would have to stop and put the items down and rest. Boy have I grown; I am willing to make several trips to save my body a little. Well at least when shoping. This all leads to the next picture of the stuff I picked up an hour later at the super market. I included some items from my mid week trip to the fruit market (potatoes, bannanas, onion & garlick).

Half of the eggs ($3.00 for ten) have already been boiled and two consumed. Yes, the oat meal ($3.00 each) was such a hit that there are now two more packages in my cupboard. Don't want to run out of memories. Milk ($2.10/ltr), 2 bottles of Coca Cola Light ($4.50 for the pair), brown sugar ($3.60) for the oatmeal, and the cookies ($1.70) rounded out this trip.


Laurie's love plant: given to her when she came to Greece for an extended 2 month stay. It was great to spend some quality time with my wife. And yes, it was fun to have Debbie visit. I know that Laurie also enjoyed her companionship as the explored. What happened to the rest of your plans to visit. Oh babies. Maybe that's why Lalee went back home. I guess I just can't compete. John, save up your pennies or dollars if you want to make it sooner.

Can any of you identify the plant? Yes, that is a bottle of hot sauce. Did you think that being in Athens would change my diet all that much?


This one is for you, Laurie. Will you now stop complaining that I never post any pictures of myself.

I had to throw the camera away afterwards and the photo shop threatened to call the police. It took me several hours of pleading to convience them to let me have the picture. This is the absolutly the last time I will take a picture in the bathroom. Please note the shirt.

The bus I take to church.

Ridding it reminds me of the movie about a special needs girl/women who road the bus everywhere. Were I as brave as she, I might be out exploring a little more on my own. But there is also something to be said about working hard during the week and then relaxing easy on the weekends.

Well you have now seen some of my exsistance over here. It's great! And I do get to explore when folks come to visit because, because it is the thing to do and I will have earned it.

It would be fun to have a motorcycle over here. Does anyone think they could persuade Bill to send his over? (See past post). Thanks, Bill for the Sterges Ride tee shirt. I met someone over here who knew all about it.

Ya all have fun ya hear; but don't do noth'n stupid.

Old Man, at it again.

Some of my co-workers & a request

I thought you might like to meet some of the people I wourk the closest with at the swimming pool. There pictures are below. Arthur Christopher, Director; Nick Jiavaras, Executive Vice President, Gogo from Technical Services, and of course Maria, our department secretary are most important to smooth sailing in the aquatic area. However they are not pictured in this section. Maybe later.

Lifeguards Mirada & Gogo return for a second year

The bonnets came back from the United States with me this last trip. Real professionals, both continue to seek continuing education and are currently taking the Water Fitness Instructor class.

Coach Marthinsen will head up the Swimming & Water Polo teams as well as intercollegiate Athletics

A U.S. transplant who swam for Alabama, married a Greek women , came over and stayed

Ross in charge of Ring Bouys?

(No, he is the Outdoor facilities Supervisor & Technician, just having a little fun)

From Scotland, played basketball on the national team; Ross found himself a Greek lady and married her two weeks ago.

With Miss Vicki on board we never worry about the cleanilness of the bathhouses or deck.


Miss Vicki is one of the hardest workers on campus. We are fortunate to she is assigned to our area.

Make plans to come meet these individuals in person as well as the gracious folks of Greece and their wonderful country rich with history and tradition. I have an extra bed room you can use or rent depending on how you treat me.

A personal request to my family and friends:

There are folks in my families who need your extra prayers. Please petition God for their understanding of His will, comfort and strength while going though their challenges and opportunities, and the ability to embrace the solutions He provides. God blesses those who offer prayers and service in behalf of others. May He always be your number one friend.

Thank you.

Home cooked

Got to stop eating so well. At least not every night. Leela wanted a picture of my meal, cry your stomachs out or come over and join me.



Answer to the question on a previous blog. The brown playing field next to the soccer pitch is for five -on-five soccer. The entire area is waiting for Evelyn, Theo, and Turnip to run all over.

What I came back to

My work cubby:

The swimming Pool Office

I think if you double click any of the photos they will grow and take over your screen

The People:

The American College of Greece Student body President, Mrs. Horner & the college president Dr. Horner

Nikos Tassakos & Costas Margaritis, two of the departments hard workers puting up our display for Freshman orientation


More of our staff: Costas Margaritis, Simos, George, Maria, Olga, & Costas Marconis. I don't know who the guy top right above Marconis is.

The Boss, Arthur Christopher, surrounded by beautiful women. How does he do it. The lovely women are our secretary Maria & newly hired nutritionist Olga

The facilities:

The pool I left this last summer with several summer camp classes being taught.

Our year old soccer pitch and track, which are directly infront of the swimming pool

The swimming pool and view looking north-west

The End: Isn't this just like a little child?