It’s the start of a (school) year. Picking up my grandson and namesake from school today reminded me of the newness of the season. Therefore, it’s time for an end-of the-month clearance.
Though a number of readers have said they welcomed some of the retrospective slants to Work of Art, some have asked, “Why do you write so much about the past?” I have a good memory and six decades of experience to fall back on. That’s why. But because of the new school year, I’m changing direction altogether and making a list of impressions.
After all, why should General Manager Sharon Vander Meer have the corner on optimism? And why should Managing Editor Dave Kavanaugh be the resident curmudgeon? Why should reporter David Wesner monopolize all the good puns and Editor Jesse Gallegos the politics? Things bug and please me too. So here’s my list, in no particular order:
Thumbs up: The greatest transfer station attendant ever is the man called “Val,” who operates the station at the Camp Luna site. Though I don’t encourage the public to overwork the man, my family is impressed by his friendly demeanor and his willingness to help. Drive up early and catch him raking the area. Watch him actually helping some elderly patrons unload their trash. When it comes time to dole out bonuses, we hope the County Commissioners don’t overlook Val.
Thumbs down: The assumption that roads like “The Devil’s Highway,” State Highway 666, can be made safer by being renumbered. Stop the drunkenness and erstwhile Highway 666 will be a lot less bloody.
Thumbs up: Thirty years of service as a Las Vegas pediatrician by Dr. George Bunch.
Thumbs down: The belief that Satan herself is tapping the phone lines of Wagon Mounders, who have the phone prefix 666. It’s just a number, and having three sixes in a row doesn’t make anything more beastly.
Thumbs up: The highly animated and informative Bank of Las Vegas sign at Seventh and University. It would be even better if the clock on that sign gave the same time as the older time-and-temp sign on Douglas.
Thumbs down: Superintendents who don’t believe notifying people of personnel decisions is important. One man, a resident of the Roy, NM area, sent out 27 applications for actual, announced teaching jobs in New Mexico. He received two mail replies, thanking him for applying but announcing there were no openings. He never heard from any of the four districts that interviewed him.
Thumbs down: Cute little postage stamps that fail to show their value. After the frequent postage rate increases, one forgets how much the stamps are worth.
Thumbs up: Highlands’ idea of having faculty help with recruiting.
Thumbs down: Inattentive checkers who fail to properly scan stuff you’ve paid for, causing the alarm to trigger and all eyes to fall on you.
Thumbs up: People who are passionate about First Amendment rights.
Thumbs down: Annoying recordings to the effect that “You have activated our inventory control system. Please step back and an associate will help you.” What it really means is, “You’ve been busted! We’re gonna check every item to make sure you aren’t shoplifting.”
Thumbs up: The crew at Las Vegas’ Carnegie Public Library, led by Joann Castillo. They’re polite, professional and knowledgeable.
Thumbs down: Speaker systems at fast-food places that cut off the workers’ first and last words. Thus, “Welcome to MacDonalds. May I take your order?” becomes something like “ondsmaytakeyouror?” And notice that the amount it’s going to cost you can never be determined even by expert dialecticians.
And finally, Thumbs down: A recent survey revealed that only about 35 percent of American high school students can identify a picture of Vice President Dick Cheney. However, that statistic might not be so bad when he consider that Cheney probably can’t identify photos of 35 percent of high school students.