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Rauber Hill Sunrise, by Mel Hunt

Words From Wiser: From Dribbles to Dedication

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From Chuck Wiser, 11/11/21, “I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels”

Last week I diverted from my intended column of “snippets” and anecdotal notes to once again, admonish and plead with folks over a just cause. I won’t do that today as these little tidbits keep piling up. Most of these are things that others wonder and some that only I would wonder about.

It is only fitting that the first item I write about is typing on an “electrified” device. I like spell check, especially when used upon completion of a document. That feature evolved into errors and suggestions provided midstream as you typed, which turned into “Auto Correct”, and that started to become a nuisance, especially when I intentionally typed “erroniousably” and it wouldn’t let me, correcting what was an obvious, albeit intentional mistake. Lately, and especially on the Apple and Android devices “Predictive Typing” was embedded so if you typed Wellsville it would automatically change to Belleville and other words typed would change completely to something else even without an error having been made.

It took a while, and some puzzled questions from readers, for me to discover and heed what was going on. These changes were subtle and although using “two fingered typing” you felt pretty much assured that you hadn’t mistyped anything, so didn’t check to see if it typed what you “sent”. (That was an auto change when I typed “Said”.) Finally, I relied on “Google” to find the reason and cure, from which I figured out how to turn off “Auto Correct” (which I call autodefect) and “Predictive Typing” (which I call autodeflect). Now, once again, I can be blamed for my own mistakes.

How many empty prescription bottles do you throw away, or put in the recycle bin on a regular basis? Me too! Millions of these plastic containers are discarded every day. I wonder why they couldn’t be reused if properly cleaned and sterilized, even at the local pharmacy. What a waste.

Today, I received a very thoughtful and heartfelt Veteran’s Day card from a former classmate, and longtime friend. That was a first, and I am very appreciative and touched by Carole’s thoughtfulness. I have been thanked many times “for my service”. It is always appreciated. I joined the Navy in August of 1963 and likely would have made it a career instead of taking my regular discharge in December of 1966, an automatic discharge short of a full 4 years as it happens before your 21st birthday unless you re-enlist. I avoided the Vietnam conflict at a time when things were just heating up. I more than likely would have re-enlisted had my wedding not already been planned.

Here’s a note on an oft times overlooked sports resource in our area. I have been a fan of “The Bonnies” since the early 60’s when the “Stith” brothers came to town and helped put them on the national sports map. St. Bonaventure University in Allegany (usually stated as Olean by sportscasters), opened their 2021-22 season with a convincing win over Sienna College, perhaps justifying their national ranking. St. Bonaventure, was perhaps better known, or remembered from, when Bob Lanier was the number one overall draft pick by the Detroit Pistons in 1970. I have

been fortunate to know, and call friend, his former teammate Paul Hoffman, formerly from Hazeltown, PA, now a local resident, retired after his teaching career at a local high school.

You can have your Duke Blue Devils, NC Tarheels, and UCLA Bruins. I will root for The Bonnies, a team that is less than 45 minutes away, should I choose to view in person. All of their games are now available in your own home thanks to national broadcasting on ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2 and CBSSN . Most can also be live streamed onto your “device”.

Changing gears, I am keeping a log of “interesting” scanner calls overheard in the comfort of my home. Admittedly, some are very tragic, sometimes making you feel like an intruder upon someone’s misfortune or grief. Other’s however, are downright humorous or head scratching. At some point in the future I will write a column featuring the best, either humorous or puzzling as to why someone would call 911 for that. Here are a couple of teasers. (I speak the part of the 911 end of the call). “911 Operator, may I assist you?” Caller: “Yes, there is a cow in the road on County route 31”. 911 Operator: “What color is the cow?”: Next Call; “911 Operator, How may I assist you?” Caller: “My 4 year old is throwing a tantrum and I can’t get him in the car”. I don’t recall the response to that.

Over the summer I observed Armstrong Cable company trucks and workers during the installation of Fiber Optic cable across from my house and throughout the area. My hopes soared as I am the “victim” of Spectrum TV’s extremely poor internet service, and service in general. Basically, due to cost, I have Internet, limited TV (using Roku plus some Spectrum channels like ESPN2) and telephone service. My internet “connectivity” is so bad that it is unique, any day that I can watch an entire TV show without it going into “Buffering”. When that happens during a Bills football game, it seems to always be at a crucial time like the end of a scoring drive where I miss the score. I have talked to several people from throughout the area including Rochester and Buffalo and the opinions of Spectrum are the same.

I have had technicians come to check out the problem. They have swapped out modems and routers several times, and have even re-wired from the connection on the outside of my house to the connection to the modem inside and nothing seems to solve the problem.

“Armstrong”, if you are reading/listening, Hurry the hell up!”

That was gripe, so it’s time for a non-gripe, at least from me. I have heard many people complaining lately about why they have to “mess around with” Daylight Savings Time. That change to our time system was implemented when we were more of an “Agrarian Society” (or farmers). It made use of the longer daylight hours by getting us up earlier to accommodate a longer working day.

I, for one, like Daylight Savings Time. I would rather have a longer day with daylight lasting into the early evening till 9:00 PM or so. Daylight comes around 5:OO AM during the summer giving you a nice long day. The switch back to standard time becomes beneficial with the earlier daylight time so that when children are going to school, people are going to work, etc. it isn’t as dark out.

I will return to the Veteran’s Day topic with two poems inspired by this day dedicated to giving thanks to those who served. I wrote these both as a veteran and to the other veterans expressing

My gratitude. I give thanks not only to those others who served, but also to those unsung heroes that we left “back home” as we performed our duty to our Country and to our families and friends.

Two individuals were instrumental to me in my choice to join the United States Navy. I owe them both a debt of gratitude. Bill Zacher, living in Friendship, N.Y and Richard Searl (shown with me in above picture), living in Olean, NY, both, by their example, and for their influence. Thank you for your service to me.

Thanks to a Veteran

Upon this day that honors all, who gave their time or life

As thanks you give, reflect upon, who served by chance or choice.

There was a time when called to serve, you marched to drum and fife

You went and served, and did your time, although without a voice.

Life choices may have been just why you started your career

Your motive may not be to serve, or country to defend

What choice you had or made back then may differ by the year

And how or why you served for us, our gratitude won’t end

We appreciate the time you gave when life was still untold

You served your time, you did your job, your duty to fulfill.

So, on this day we honor you and in our heart we hold

Our gratitude! Our thanks to you, Our love will linger still.

Thanks to all who served, or especially, who supported those, who served.

Thank You for Your Service

I’m humbled by the folks that say, “Thank you for your service.”

Some, just like me, went of free will, some, by draft, to serve us.

The call to arms, that brought us forth, despite what drove the call,

Would lead us to a common cause, the cost to some was all.

Not all who shared the sacrifice, were clothed in uniform.

The families, those left behind, Who oft’ the burden borne.

From those of us, to all of you, who chose to stand with us.

We humbly offer this gratitude, “Thank You for Your Service”


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