YOUR PICK FOR THE COLUMN'S NEW NAME
For several weeks now I've been asking readers to give me their choice for naming of the column.   Since I am no longer a member of the Legislature, I didn't think that, perhaps, the "Fourth Dimension" name would have a meaning. The name comes from the fact that I represented the fourth House district for many years.  I'm going to list a few of the top choices of those submitted and will appreciate your giving me your opinion relative to the top choice.  Please list your first, second and third choices.

Online With Jerry, Melvin's Musings, Jerry's Journal, The Melvin Factor, Jerry's Topics, The Melvin Bulletin, Memos From Jerry, The Greenacres Digest, Ramblings by Jerry. Finally, many suggested keeping the name Fourth Dimension and adding the year such as Fourth Dimension - 2003, etc. Now it's up to you to help me decide.  Following your voting and further suggestions, my committee will select the top three and then I'll make my decision.   Thanks for your participation.

LIKE WHAT FORMER EDUCATION SECRETARY WILLIAM J. BENNETT HAD
TO SAY
"By maintaining separate systems of admission - dependent on skin color - we are turning a moral policy of color-blindness and equality into a perverse system of numeric equality, converting the theme of racial unconsciousness into a policy of racial consciousness.   If was as a nation truly want to get beyond the idea that skin color is less important than merit and character we need simply to end race-based policies against anyone. Admissions and jobs should not be set aside for whites, nor should they be set aside for blacks."

How true those words are, and I hope that everyone will join with President Bush and others in speaking out loud and strong against any kind of quotas or special treatments for any group of people.

THANKS FOR THE MANY RESPONSES I'VE RECEIVED
I've received many messages telling me they like to see the responses I receive to various questions and articles. Some said it gives them a balance of ideas while others say it makes them wonder where people get some of their ideas. Let me know if you want more responses included each week.

Who do you most admire and least admire among today's living persons:

Bill wrote, "I admire Vice President Dick Cheney.   Not only for his past service to the nation but his wise4 and calm advice.   Despite constant media hounding and insults, he calmly goes about his business of making government more efficient and responsible.

"Least admire.  That's easy!  Ex-prez Bill Clinton.  No one personifies insane and selfish corruption more than Wm. Jefferson Clinton.   Even Osama bin Laden has a better excuse for his conduct growing up being brainwashed as a child in a society of immense hatred."

Mary Holton stated, "I have the most admirations for Billy Graham, because I think this man has done so much good for our country.  He has given up his life to preach the gospel to all the world and helped numerous Presidents in decisions they make.

I have the least regard for Je$$e Jack$on as he has caused more trouble in our country regarding racism.  I feel it not for him we would have moved ahead and learned to live together in peace and brotherhood, rather than hear him holler racism at every turn.  And the money he is supposedly collecting for Black America is only for his pocket.   If only black America would wake up and think for themselves I feel we could have a better America.   He is no leader."

Ken Walsh had this to say:  " Ronald Reagan.   Got us out of the Carter 'malaise', made people proud and unashamed to be Americans again, always was positive and looking to the future, encouraged the best from the people, tax cuts boosted the economy, raised revenues and slashed interests rates and created the so-called 'Clinton boom', had the guts to call the Soviet Union 'The Evil Empire', promoted ballistic missile defense program and renewed the military, brought down the USSR, stopped the rising tide of worldwide Communism, defeated Jimmy Carter.

Least Admired:  Jimmy Carter and his clone, Billy Clinton. Both raised taxes, dismantled and/or abused the military, promoted worldwide Communism (reached its zenith under Carter, Clinton attempted to resurrect it through providing defense secrets to Red China) anointed the Ayatoillah Khomeini and precipitated 6the disintegration of the Middle East into a fundamentalist terrorist pesthole which was spread worldwide by the clone.   Both took credit for the positive actions of others and blamed someone else for the failures of their misguided policies.   Opened the borders to illegal aliens and ceded the sovereignty of the US to the United Nations.   At least Carter will never get to be King of the World.   Clinton is still hoping that Kofi Annan will anoint him."

Concerning the article on the NAACP Jack Harris wrote, "Thanks for having the courage to speak out.   Thank you for caring about our community."

Robert sent this along:  "Why in the world should there be such an organization that is organized for only the purpose of pushing for things for Colored People (NAACP).  If they are truly interested in our community, they would want to work for the benefit of all."

Concerning problems within our schools

Mary Holton had this to say:  "Let's bring stuff back into our classrooms that meant so much to us.  History, prayer, pledge, and get some of the junk books that are in our school libraries out of there.  Let's teach the children to say, Yes Mam, and Yes Sir, Thank You, Pardon Me and how to respect their elders.  Let's make a turnaround for America and put her back on the right track.   Get sex education out of our schools.   Teach our kids to respect their bodies as they are holy sanctuaries of God and not to be flaunted and tarnished.  May God be with us all this year.  I respect your comments and enjoy reading them.   Thank you."

Jim wrote:  "Should Florida initiate year round school to make better use of facilities?  My opinion.  School should be from Labor Day to Memorial, but with some changes.  No Fall breaks.   Those who are not good in math should not be required to take Algebra or Geometry but should have the option of businesses math courses.   English Literature is wonderful for those wanting to appear on JEOPARDY but should not be required for vocational students.  Our educational system has set forth a curriculum based on:  All students should have to do it because we had to do it.  How about going back to the 3Rs?"

Concerning street numbers that are visible

Diana wrote:  "Yes, I wish more businesses would have their street numbers displayed .hard to drive safely and look for non-existent numbers.   Also , thanks for reporting of the gun cont4rol issues in Australia..disarming the U.S. citizens would, in my opinion, be very dangerous for most of us non-violent types.danger from criminals and potential danger from police state tactics as well."

Concerning the problem I had getting to speak with someone at Earthlink

Harry Bailey wrote:  "Sir, I have always been a fan of yours;  however, your public denunciation of Earthlink was (I think) beneath you.   I have indeed had bad experiences with companies before and want to tell the world about it. Of course that is your prerogative if you feel you must.   I too left Earthlink for the hi-speed internet connection; however my leaving \was as smooth and you can imagine I had absolutely no trouble with my exit and if I ever go back to a phone connection I would recommend Earthlink.  All of us have difficulty with the phone personnel operating in this nation for various reasons, but it's mainly ignorance and apathy.  It is not confined to any one company.  You may experience it with Sears, Penny's or any other number of reputable companies.   Frankly it is a result of the dumbing down of this nation and the illegal immigration into this country.  The way to handle that is to make an official presentation.   Send a registered letter of end of service to the company with the details.   Also send a copy to the correct State of Florida office.   Make a copy for your records and notify your credit card company."

(Note:  I have sent in the registered letter and will keep you posted if have further troubles)



THANKS TO MARLIN FOR SENDING THIS ONE
THE FABULOUS 40's and 50'S

"Hey Dad," My Son asked the other day, "what was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?"

"We didn't have fast food when I was growing up."

"C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?" "We ate at home," I explained.

"My Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we all sat down together at the table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I had to sit there until I did like it."     AMEN! to that!

By this time, my Son was laughing so hard I was afraid He was going to suffer some serious internal damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to get my Father's permission to leave the table.

Here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I had figured his system could handle it.

My parents never: wore Levi's, set foot on a golf course, traveled out of the country, flew in a plane or had a credit card.

In their later years they had something called a "revolving charge card" but they never actually used it. It was only good at Sears-Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears and Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore.

My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was because soccer back then was just for the girls.   IT WAS A SISSY SPORT!

We actually did walk to school. By the time you were in the 6th grade it was not cool to ride the bus unless you lived more than 4 or 5 miles from the school, even when it was raining or there was ice or snow on the ground. WHAT BUS?

Outdoor sports consisted of stickball, snowball fights, building forts, making snowmen and sliding down hills on a piece of cardboard. No skate boards, roller blades or trail bikes.

We didn't have a television in our house until I was 12. It was, of course, black and white, but you could buy a piece of special colored plastic to cover the screen. The top third was blue, like the sky, and the bottom third was green, like grass. The middle third was red. It was perfect for programs that had scenes of fire trucks riding across someone's lawn on a sunny day.  HOW ABOUT 21 YEARS OLD?

I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza. It was a Sam's Pizza at the East end of Fruit Street in Milford. My friend, Steve took me there to try what he called "pizza pie." When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down and plastered itself against my chin. It's still the best pizza I ever had. Pizzas were not delivered to your house back then, but the milk was.  I looked forward to winter because the cream in the milk was on top of the bottle and it would freeze and push the cap off.  Of course, we kids would get up first to get the milk and eat the frozen cream before our mother could catch us. IT NEVER FROZE IN THE COWS UDDER!

I never had a telephone in my room. Actually the only phone in the house was in the hallway and it was on a party line. Before you could make a call, you had to listen in to make sure someone else wasn't already using the line. If the line was not in use an Operator would come on and ask "number please" and you would give her the number you wanted to call.  IF YOU WANTED SOME ONE ON YOUR PARTY LINE YOU EITHER RANG LONGS AND SHORTS!

There was no such thing as a computer or a hand held calculator. We were required to memorize the "times tables." Believe it or not, we were tested each week on our ability to perform mathematics with nothing but a pencil and paper. We took a spelling test every day. There was no such thing as a "social promotion." If you flunked a class, you repeated that grade the following year. Nobody was concerned about your "self esteem." We had to actually do something praiseworthy before we were praised. We learned that you had to earn respect.

All newspapers were delivered by boys and most all boys delivered newspapers. I delivered the "Milford Daily News" six days a week. It cost seven cents a paper, of which I got to keep 2 cents. On Saturday, I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers. My favorite customers were the ones who gave me 50 cents and told me to keep the change. My least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.

Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut on screen. Touching someone else's tongue with yours was called French kissing and they just didn't do that in the movies back then.  I had no idea what they did in French movies. French movies were considered dirty and we weren't allowed to see them. THEY ALSO SLEPT IN SEPERATE BEDS!

You never saw the Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers or anyone else actually kill someone. The heroes back then would just shoot the gun out of the bad guy's hand. There was no blood and violence.

When you were sick, the Doctor actually came to your house. No, I am not making this up.  YOU ALSO WATERED HIS HORSE!

Drugs were something you purchased at a pharmacy in order to cure an illness.  DRUG STORE IN MY DAY!  THEY WERE CALLED DRUGGEST'S

If we dared to "sass" our parents, or any other grown-up, we immediately found out what soap tasted like.  For more serious infractions, we learned about something called a "this hurts me more than it hurts you." I never did quite understand that one....ME NEITHER!

In those days, parents were expected to discipline their kids. There was no interference from the government. "Social Services" or "Family Services" had not been invented (the ninth and tenth amendments to the constitution were still observed in those days.)  MEMBERS FROM OR CHURCH MADE WEEKLY VISITS TO CHECK HOW EVERY ONE WAS!

I must be getting old because I find myself reflecting back more and more and thinking I liked it a lot better back then.

If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your kids or grandchildren. Just don't blame me if they wet themselves laughing.        Growing up today sure ain't what it used to be like in my day!

SOME SUGGESTIONS I'VE MADE
At a recent meeting of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Local Issues Committee, I made some suggestions I'd like to pass along to 7you for your comments.

1.        Bring pressure on the Cities and the County to make sure street numbers are clearly visible from the street.   Just try finding a street number along Eglin Parkway or Beal Parkway.   As a matter of fact, go to any street, any subdivision, and try to find numbers - very difficult.

2.        Get County Commission to work with Wal-Mart and Lowe's to connect their entrances off Carmel Drive and improve the entrances with turn lanes, etc.  Shouldn't take much effort and I'll bet could get Wal-Mart and Lowe's to participate in funding the improvements.  It's dangerous as it is trying to get in or out of either of the entrances.

3.        Initiate Hospitality Education for individuals dealing in businesses catering to the visiting public. I've noted less and less attention being paid to assisting visitors.  There are a lot less smiles and friendly services being handed out.   When you see someone at a checkout counter, a motel desk, waitress or waiter passing out smiles, make a special effort to compliment that person for smiling.

What do you think of these suggestions?

STILL WAITING
I'm still waiting to see some member of our Legislative Delegation introduce legislation to implement the Constitutional Amendment making English the Official Language of the State.  Everyone seems to be rushing to implement the Class Size amendment pushed by the Teacher Union and the NAACP, but no one wants to tackle the English issue.  Also waiting to see someone introduce the bill to finish doing away with Florida's  Intangibles Tax.  Also a bill to appoint a task force to look at Homeowner Association issues.

I'll keep looking and keep you posted.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
"No man ever did or eve4r will become truly eloquent without being a constant reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and sublimity of its language."  (Fisher Ames, 1758 - 1808)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Should local gas taxes in Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa Counties be raised to help fund local road problems since there seems to be no difference in retail costs of gasoline among counties with different tax levels?

Comments should be sent to:  jmelvin@gulf1.com