John, I love the Andy Williams reference! as for the billiards claim, are there witnesses?? Dr. Hal Bush Dept. of English Saint Louis University [log in to unmask] 314-977-3616 http://halbush.com author website: halbush.com ________________________________ From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of John R. Pascal <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 9:01:19 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Welcome back to the semester! REMINDER: renew your degrees! Excuse me, Dr Bush, It=E2=80=99s a good thing my dear parents are in heaven. Since they = paid for my B.A. in English, I think they might raise an eyebrow or two = and wish a private word with you concerning the need to renew my degree. Also, I have taught Slaughterhouse-Five (not my choice) to my high = school juniors for several years. It was the summer reading for = September discussion. It made them needlessly more depressed beyond returning to school no = matter how many different times I tried to explain it and put it into = context as an important work in American literature.=20 =20 So much better to have shortened SL-5 book discussion and jump right = into the mighty Mississippi River with Huckleberry Finn, which they = absolutely love each year;=20 It certainly is our favorite time of year. I do play Andy Williams=E2=80=99= =E2=80=9CThe Most Wonderful Time of the Year=E2=80=9D every September = on the first day of class and it gets even the most emotionally hardened = of students to smile and grin. But hey, what do I know? I=E2=80=99m = still learning myself. I do know that you graciously let me win a round of billiards against = you at Elmira last year. :D John Pascal > On Aug 17, 2018, at 5:30 PM, Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >=20 > Colleagues; I was reminded of this by another colleague, and = especially fo=3D > r the younger folks on this LIST: don't overlook the very crucial = need to =3D > RENEW your degree before the start of class. >=20 >=20 > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.mcsweeneys.net_articles_how-2Dto-2Drenew-2Dyour-2Denglish-2Ddegree&d=DwIBAg&c=Pk_HpaIpE_jAoEC9PLIWoQ&r=f7i-Uq4rMQU8-TBe45qVLg&m=s0tUscpxPGJmaaUYK-uY8lYNHN1VxNIwPlhPqZIte0k&s=eE2UoskW-tXy-PzSEWf5UiGSP6nXwremTg9eUDMV3Ac&e= >=20 >=20 > O yeah, one other thing -- just in case you meet one of those Vonnegut = stal=3D > kers at the welcome back cocktail party on campus: >=20 >=20 > = https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.mcsweeneys.net_articles_what-2Dto-2Ddo-2Dwhen-2Dsomeone-2Dasks-2Dif-2Dyouve-2D-3D&d=DwIBAg&c=Pk_HpaIpE_jAoEC9PLIWoQ&r=f7i-Uq4rMQU8-TBe45qVLg&m=s0tUscpxPGJmaaUYK-uY8lYNHN1VxNIwPlhPqZIte0k&s=_rkMzW0yVjoSZo9k-Vq0ujVft4voqLrR2kD6FiMX2lM&e= e=3D > ver-read-vonnegut >=20 >=20 > cheers, my friends!! The earth has yet again returned us to our = favorite t=3D > ime of year... >=20 >=20 >=20 > Dr. Hal Bush >=20 > Dept. of English >=20 > Saint Louis University >=20 > [log in to unmask] >=20 > 314-977-3616 >=20 > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__halbush.com&d=DwIBAg&c=Pk_HpaIpE_jAoEC9PLIWoQ&r=f7i-Uq4rMQU8-TBe45qVLg&m=s0tUscpxPGJmaaUYK-uY8lYNHN1VxNIwPlhPqZIte0k&s=J4F8tyqDtJk0M7ehsv3UdAgzuBFAJ9wba5dMqH7wKCo&e= >=20 > author website: halbush.com