READERS WRITE

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Last week I posted some musings about losing my flat screen remote and, on the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbour, the poignancy of the surprise attack and loss of life as people were preparing for Christmas.

Funnily enough, I received some emails about the remote, none about Pearl Harbour.

I imagine that immediacy and personal experience trumps history.

Most emails expressed having been in similar traumatic lost remote predicaments.

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From Tobye P:

Hi Otto-I hope you've had a great year!

Your you-tube experience sounds like a nightmare-I feel your pain!

At the risk of being the 100th person to say this-flat screens do have manual buttons-because of course eventually the remote will be lost, broken etc. They are usually on the curved side that faces the wall-. I think mine have always been on the right side, but models will vary. Run your hand along the edge and see if you feel the buttons-then use your phone light for a better look. This is my 3rd or 4th one and they all had manual buttons-they are hard ro see buy I'll bet they're there!

So speaks the Queen of lost remotes!

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes!

Tobye

I had no knowledge of the existence of the manual operation controls but doubt I would know how to use it. It would be no good calling Tobye to me over and assist, Tobye is in the US, I am in Oz.

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I also received a response from lawyer Ron T in the US in relation to the Bytes post of witty, clever and humorous student responses:

Otto, future lawyers, every one.

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Risque content:

Tim B, also residing in the States, responded to the reputed advice of the Duke of York to his troops: “Never walk when you can ride, never stand when you can sit and take a piss whenever you can”:

Good evening Otto,

The saying about never stand when you can walk, etc., reminded me of the saying:

When you are over 50

Never trust a fart

Never pass up a chance to take a piss

Never waste an erection, even if you are alone.

Hope all is well with you and your family,

Tim B

That reminds me of an old joke . . .

His Lordship awoke with an all too infrequent erection and joyfully announced his condition to his valet.

Impressed, the servant asked, "Shall I notify M'lady?"

"No, just get the Bentley, Jeeves," replied his Lordship. "This is a job for the West End.”

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Back in October, I posted a Bytes item about the origin of medical words (having had a hospitalisation for a leg inestion).

I posted:

University professors have a prior claim on the title than the physicians and surgeons. At one time any kind of advanced degree was thought to be an acceptable qualification for teaching; as "doctoral" level degrees became standard for physicians, they began using the title. 1590s, "to confer a degree on," from doctor (n.). Meaning "to treat medically" is from 1712; sense of "alter, disguise, falsify" is from 1774. Related: Doctored; doctoring.

Ron wrote to me:

Otto, wishing you all the best and success with your health. Please stay in touch.

Interesting. As I understand the history, in the U,S,, the basic legal degree was an LL.B - Bachelor of Law, earned after a pre-law, general Bachelor degree.

Around 60-70 years ago, the first law degree was change to a J.D. - Juris Doctor, to have the "doctor" flavor sprinkled in.

But there are successive academic legal degrees following the old LL.B. So, if one goes on to school a couple more years, there's the LL.M - Master of Laws, and a few years more, the "real" law doctoral degrees, such as LL.D or J.D.S.

Around a half century was told that the "doctor" reference was made for law training since, after all! - physicians were "doctors" as their first medical degree, so why not lawyers, as if that makes any difference in providing legal services.

Again, this is only what I recall from decades ago.

All the best to you and yours,

Ron

Again, it reminds me of something else . . .

A student who hailed from Dumfries,

Weighed down by B.A.s and Litt. D.s,

Collapsed from the strain.

Alas, it was plain

She was killing herself by degrees.

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