Tuesday, October 28, 2014

good talk

Jonas Edward Salk (Oct. 28, 1914 to June 23, 1995) was born 100 years ago today in New York City to little-educated Immigrant Jews with scuzzy jobs in the Garment District.  Those old-time Jews were plenty tough and Jonas was pushed in the right direction and entered City College of New York at "15."  While at the U. of Pittsburgh, Jonas developed the first effective Polio Vaccine which was introduced-widespread to the Public in 1957.  There had been few Fears like the Fear of Polio where many were killed and others crippled for life.  When asked who held the Patent ...There is no Patent...  A friend of mine back in Ohio, Gary Burnett, a High School Industrial Arts Teacher, had had a mild case of Polio as a child (usually gotten by children) and although he had a powerful upper-body, his legs were somewhat weak.  This didn't stop Gary from doing anything, he was in the Navy 5 years and in civilian life wore his dog-tags every day (yeah).  Well, I've gone this far, Gary said that during the early days of his teaching career a Kid was ...Jawing at Me As Usual... And that he swung at this Kid ...My Hand Only Opened At the Last Instant...  Brad teaches High School English and says that today you can't talk mean to them, a Lot of the Corporal Punishment Common in School was for the Better (Gary said that the other Kids praised his effort).  I haven't seen Gary since I left Ohio, he eventually retired to Florida, he was a good friend to me and I'm saying Hi.

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