Paul Ryan reminds me of that kid in middle school science class who never paid attention - you know.

He was the one who everyone dreaded having as a lab partner because he ALWAYS fucked up the lab by not following directions. You ended up doing all of the work because he was too damn lazy, didn't understand anything anyway, and would just lower your grade if he provided input. But the REALLY amazing thing was how he always managed to accidentally set the lab table on fire.

But hey, that's about the best the GOP can do for candidates.

I would have a lab partner who would say, "I'll do the experiment, we'll make her write up the lab report and do the math."

As a result I would learn the math well.

One day I was holding a pyrex beaker in a flame with tongs to dry it, and my lab partner said, "Don't do that, it'll break." I said "It's pyrex, it is made for heat."

I wondered why this girl had never cooked anything in a pyrex baking dish?? Didn't know about it from the kitchen???

:shrug:

Then for fun, to scare them, I would burn magnesium in a test tube. Freaked 'em out. That's the bright white color you see in explosions in movies.

He put a 3 lb coffee can on his lab table (back when 3 lbs meant 3 lbs). He had used a can opener (triangle end of a church key) to make a hole in the bottom. He added a small amount of water and dropped in a small chunk of carbide. Then he put the plastic lid on and waited a bit. After a few minutes, he sparked a lighter near the can opener hole and the plastic coffee can lit shot off of the can and hit the window about 15' away. Powerful shit, that.

Historical note: that's how miners' lamps were powered before batteries.

That's why they issue wire gauze ceramic squares.

Because he was an annoying, spoiled little brat that would soil himself just because he liked the smell.

+1000 Thanks for the laugh

More than likely he belong to a clique that thought that they were better than everyone else. It might be consider like a legacy type of thing in college except it was in high school. The Ryan's, Cullen's, and Fitzgerald's were some of the big players in that high school.

He was the prom king and the guy- you know - who could do no wrong etc. I'd love for him to look Mr Douglas and our other wonderful teachers in the eyes and tell them what a blight they are.


On edit - I noticed you live in Indiana and you know a bit about Craig- were you part of the GM move to Fort Wayne?

I graduated from Craig the year after Russ did. Our class attended the first three years after Parker and Craig were formed.

I thought our school was a great place for an education. I didn't fully take advantage but I had a few favorites. I took Humanities all 3 years. It probably got me understanding people better especially religion years later. Took a number of different art classes. Drivers Ed I think in HS better than private. And was involved in football, wrestling, and track as a manager. There I probably got more of a feel of jerks some were mostly in football. Some thought they were hot stuff and would go on to great things in college and the pros.

I'm glad I didn't go to a parochial high school. Fortunately, it helped that Lakeside had not expanded enough for it to be ready. And didn't get indoctrinated completely in the beliefs.

I truly believe that I received a private school quality education though the Janesville Public School System so to hear Mr Privileged rail against the very things that afforded his ascension is maddening to me. He knows full well that it was the tax base of the UAW workers that provided such a wonderful education for us.

My Humanities teacher was incredible - he really opened my mind to a larger world that I hadn't considered before as did my global Studies teacher and I'm forever grateful to them both.

Janesville has changed a great deal over the years. I was there this last weekend and found it sad that the Oasis is gone (but the cow is still there :rofl:), so is Frost Top, Gerry's Hamburgers and Donutland. You wouldn't believe how much Janesville has encroached upon Milton with the Mc-Mansions etc.

I remember being devastated by the Fort Wayne mass move - many of my school friends had to move away but we're now we're finally reconnecting on FB.

Isn't it hilarious that Russ and Paul went to the same HS? :D

I would just about get lost even though I go back every year at least twice. Of course, I generally was at my parents on the north side and didn't visit anyone else while there. After we get our parents affairs settled I won't be going back too much more. They both died early this year. The only way I might be back is if I can find a decent place in Dane County so I can be involved in politics at that level.

When I made the decision to transfer it was the last minute. It wasn't until I was sitting face to face with them and had to give them my answer. I didn't want to go and was looking for something that said I should stay. But after the 18 month layoff from 81-83 I thought that was my best choice and it turned out to be. Both because there was so much uncertainty with Janesville as well as the final shutdown and because there were more opportunities with different levels of the UAW, local politics, and a rescue. Janesville was just too small for any of that to really happen.

I remember Davison and especially Frantzmann. For the life of me I don't remember the other teachers I had in Humanities. I looked in the yearbook but they don't have them identified with Humanities as the class they taught. I'm sure there were like 4 total. I should go through again and check the teachers that signed my yearbook. The difference between Humanities and classes like English or Science is that Humanities had the same teachers for 3 years.

:shrug:

I am related to someone whose great uncle was pardoned by a Wisconsin governor for killing his brother because the governor felt he deserved it. They were from near Janesville too.

Kind of tough people in that neck of the woods in the old days.