I didn’t know what the hell I was getting into but I found that your class, along with the sociology class, were both very intellectually stimulating and helpful in my learning some more scientific details of how our system really functions. The psychology class was so-so. But the history class (Western Civilization.) was a total crock of shit. My whole adult life I’ve been an avid reader of history, but the older woman professor of this class taught history as though it were a series of soap-opera like intrigues and scandals between kings, queens, noblemen, and other famous people with no real info about the very intense class struggles that were going on in the world around them. For her, the upper class was the true makers of history.

At the end of the semester I passed all the courses, but UPJ tried to run a scam on me by refusing to give me credits because I refused to pay nearly $1,000 of extra fees for things like parking (I didn’t own a car), computer service (I didn’t know how to use a computer back then), etc, etc. At my last meeting with another slimey school administrator, he tried one last time to squeeze this money out of me by making me an offer that I couldn’t refuse. He told me that I would receive my credits if I agreed to pay off this money still owed with low monthly payments. I told him that he could take the credits and shove them up his ass! I didn’t come here for credits, I came for knowledge. With that, I walked out the door and ended my short career as a professional university student.

For several years a credit collection agency was chasing around after me across the US and even into Europe. The few times they managed to catch up with me I’d repeat a line from an old 60’s hippy song, “WHEN YOU AIN’T GOT NOTHING, YOU GOT NOTHING TO LOSE!”

I sure as hell hope that scientific technology doesn’t develop to the point where they can access your memories. If that happens, then for sure one of UPJ’s mercenary credit collection agents will eventually hunt me down and repossess one semester’s worth of knowledge from my brain. But, according to my calculations, at a 20% interest rate compounded annually, along with legal and mercenary contractual fees, this will take my knowledge level back to 1968 when I was a stupid young 18 year-old patriotic fool running around waving the flag and volunteering for the army and duty in Vietnam.

Mike, I hope you don’t mind, but speaking of “patriotic fools” I’d like to address John Medlin, the Vietnam vet who wrote above in your dialog thread. I don’t have time right now but perhaps later today or tomorrow.

The Vietnam veterans from my hometown came back pretty broken. I felt for them, even though I hated the war and what the US was doing in Vietnam.

Like Iraq and Afghanistan, Vietnam created nothing but misery for the many, and plenty of opportunities for making money for the few.

I do know many good professors, though your remarks about ego are well-taken.