Memphis, TN
Well folks I guess it’s that time of the week again. Let’s see what happened near Pete’s Cave this past week.

Tuesday
I actually got a lot of work done. I went out to Dan McGuiness downtown and had a couple pints of Guinness as I corrected papers and prepared lecture and discussion notes for the week. The irony of working on lessons and instructions for China while drinking Irish beer is not lost on me. I find that the text we use is good for background knowledge but it does not connect with the girls for true understanding. There are a few cites that I use religiously for background and primary source documents.

1. Paul Halsall Internet History Sourcebook Project
   This site has primary documents and great info on nearly every part of world history from ancient to modern.


2. Columbia University’s Asia For Educators
   Great lesson plans and documents and primary source information


3. The BBC site for world religions
   Great background on World Religions

In terms of class prep I find the book by Fairbank and Goldman, “China; A New History” to be the best aid in explaining Chinese History from the Ancient Xia Dynasty to Communist China.

Like anyone wanted to know any of that. You were warned that school year Pete is much different than summer Pete.

Sunset on the Mississippi

View of the "New Bridge" and the Pyramid

Wednesday
Well the much ballyhooed Wednesday get together did not happen. I had to quickly scramble and send out a BBD e-mail to the crew. For the initiated this was term coined by Baruch, to describe how I would blow him off, always exaggerated, for a Bigger Better Deal. Well this it actually was a bigger deal, not necessarily better. I did not know that some of my Dad's friends at Int. Paper planned a retirement party for him at the Fox and Hound on Sanderlin this past Wednesday. So that obviously superseded the music at Court Square.

For those who may not know, my Dad retired in the last month from IP to take a job teaching German at, appropriately enough, Germantown High School. He loves being back in the classroom and is more energized than ever. After 27.5 years of service that is a bigger better deal. The turnout and ensuing evening was marvelous. Some of my Dad’s newer group, who I do not know as well as well as the IP crew from back in the day, early 90’s when the Family lived in the Dova’.

Thursday
I met Baruch and some others at Bhan Thai, a great Thai food restaurant in midtown. The conversation was great as was the food. I had the Red Curry, spicy but doable and extremely tasty. Most of the gang was people I knew through Baruch but also knew in other ways, typical. You may have heard of six degrees of separation. Well Memphis, the largest small town in the country, has two.

If you are bored you can explore the corollary phenomena of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon which is based on a variation of the concept of that states any actor can be linked, through their film roles, to actor Kevin Bacon. In fact a group of computer science people at UVA came up with this site called the Oracle of Bacon, which determines any actor or actress’ “Bacon” number. Things like this are the reason why I love college.

Friday
Met Dad for happy hour at the Celtic Crossing. To more clearly exhibit what I write about for Thursday I cite this example. While waiting for me to arrive for a beer my Dad began to chat up one of the guys helping set up for Cooper Young festival. Why? Well because that is what my dad, and quite frankly all Stephany’s do. Short story, long; my Dad has this guy’s, who is from Syria, nephew in his class at G-Town. Way crazy!
Some other shenanigans for the night included a nap, buying a router at the Apple Store in East BFE, and Mexican food at Los Compadres in Midtown with Truk and Kath.

Saturday
Spectacular day!!! I was chilly most of the day. I went to Big Kat and Steph’s house for their annual Gator Hater party. Mass quantities were consumed and numerous football games were watched. Great games! Here are a few post game comments.

Houston Nutt’s piss poor clock management blew the game for the Razorbacks, 3rd and 12 with 2:20 left and he decides to pass the ball!?!. He literally took the ball out of the hands of the two best backs in the SEC and put it into the hands of a Dick. Shame on you all!!! I meant Casey Dick the QB for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you just took a knee on that play 25 seconds roll of the clock and the game is over with a W for the Hogs. I never claimed to be a good coach but I know clock management.

Random Football Thoughts

The Pittsburgh Stillers under Tomlin are looking good.
Notre Dame is really bad.
My beloved Big Ten is way down this year.

Penn State is not as good as I thought.
Louisville is overrated.

Kentucky is underrated.

And if I played QB against LSU I would wet myself.

Sunday
Pete was offered two excellent meals by friends. The Music Man grilled out a beef brisket with his special BBQ spices and rubs. Excellent. After reading, a nap, and some football on TV I went to Truk and Kath’s for some great eats. Just when the Sopranos is finally over and I think I am now free from its addiction they showed me a show called the “The Wire”. Damb them both, the show is awesome. It’s a great drama. It ethnic tension among Eastern and Western European groups reminds a smidgeon of my hometown Erie. We watched two episodes from Season 2 on DVD. Way good. Again, damb you Truk and Kath.