Rich Monetti
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Part V : Snippets of Somers Teachers
Hello Somers, here’s another round of snippet Miss Eichler - Miss Fisher At SIS, 1974 began an experiment where they combined fifth and sixth graders into a single class and covered with two teachers. Miss Eichler and Miss Fisher were our two teachers and an unintentional experiment emerged. This especially in regard to the time in question. You see our two middle aged teachers lived together, and we jumped to a conclusion that probably was accurate. They were lesbians. The fact that Mrs. Fisher was a former drill sergeant only added to our conclusion. But many years later I wonder how Somers arrived at a scenario that was pretty far ahead of its time. I mean, it had only been a year since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders declared that homosexuality wasn’t a psychological illness. Either way, I have no idea if there were any discussions or concerns raised in the community or on school board. The fact that none of us kids were aware of such conversations is a credit to the town too. Of course, that could be for a really good reason. We were wrong. Still, the consensus was pretty unanimous among the kids, and the perception lends itself to the real story. As you might imagine, there was a fair amount of student snickering - especially among a bunch of ten and 11 year old boys. Even so, we always came back to what really mattered. They were great teachers and their skills, caring and tough love approach to the profession always took precedence. I guess as kids, we were ahead of our time too.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Education
Enterprise Traces the Evolution of the Prime Directive
Photo by GabboT For people who’ve never seen Star Trek, the prime directive in action must completely blow their minds. I mean, what do we do as humans when we see injustice. Whether it’s real life or the movies, we want to go in and save the day. Gene Roddenberry obviously understood the flawed thinking, and all the problems caused by well intentioned humans or cultures. Still, the Federation had to get there and three particular episodes of Enterprise really trace the evolution of Star Trek’s most important human lesson.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Futurism
How not to do the Plattsburgh Walk of Shame
The ease of high school over, college was going to take some doing. So I had great angst entering Plattsburgh State as a Computer Science student and feared that I wouldn’t have the goods. Things did work out, but the pivotal unraveling actually played out memorably on the famed Plattsburgh Walk of Shame. I think…
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Education
Instead of Tearing Down History and Monuments, Why not Build It Up
So the statue issue has come home to a nearby community in Mt. Kisco, New York. Facebook allowed the opposing sides to fire the first salvos. On Father’s Day, a town group exploded over a petition to tear down a statue of Christopher Columbus, and let me tell you, it was on. I offered one brief comment. But I decided to take cover and engage here. In the interest of full disclosure, though, let me first reveal the long standing bias that begins my point of view
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in The Swamp
The Irishman is a Little Light in Comparison to Past Scorsese Triumphs
Studio : Netflix, Poster My first go at The Irishman had me walking out after 90 minutes. The big screen presentation came across as just a bunch of people talking out from the screen. It was unwatchable, but after an relatively enjoyable viewing on Netflix, I have a theory. The film was made for the small screen and did not translate on the larger medium. Still, Martin Scorsese’s latest does not rise to the level of his other great works, and I have some theories about that too.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Geeks
Part I : Childhood Tidbits from Brooklyn Raised Celebrities
Photo by Jessie Pearl Pat Benatar Pat Benatar was born on Jan. 10, 1953 in Brooklyn as Patricia Mae Andrzejewski. Her father worked with sheet metal, and her mom was a beautician who was trained as an opera vocalist. Her parents never pushed their daughter in a musical direction, but when teachers at Daniel Street Elementary School heard her voice, they had Benatar take voice lessons during gym class, according to Sari Rosenberg of Lifetime. She did her first solo at the age of eight, and of course, there was plenty of time to be a cheerleader, enjoy the beach and got to the movies. Benatar eventually went to Lindenhurst High School, and stood out enough in the musical and theater department, that she gained acceptance to the Juilliard School of Music. Remarkably, the 80s icon declined and pursued a degree in health education at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She lasted a year and married her high school sweetheart, Dennis T. Benatar. He was a soldier, and they moved to Virginia where he was stationed.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Geeks
More than another Odd Trek Movie Out, Star Trek III is Still Way Down on my List
Paramount Studios. Poster Star Trek III is in a pretty tough spot. The Wrath of Khan just saved the franchise, and now this production is in the unenviable position of one upping the 1982 standard-bearer. Talk about a no win scenario, but coming in dead last on the long list of Trek movies - who knew? So let’s start from the beginning - the title.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Futurism
Part I : Childhood Tidbits from Bronx Raised Celebrities
Photo by Robert Pernett Regis Philbin was born on August 25, 1931, but his name dates back further. As a boy, his father Frank got into a fist fight with a priest at his Manhattan Catholic school. The impact of the dust up affected Frank so much that he named his son after the school, Regis High School. In 1932, the family moved in with Regis’ Aunt Victoria on Cruger Avenue in the Bronx. She owned a full acre and grew tomatoes and corn. If that sounds unbelievable, Regis himself is still unsure of another aspect of family history that his father often boasted. Frank joined the marines in 1930, and the elder claimed he flew one of the planes that buzzed King Kong on the Empire State building in 1933. “I was never sure if he was kidding.” he told The Wall Street Journal in 2016.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Geeks
Part I : Clint Eastwood Lesser Known Facts through the Decades
1930s Clint Eastwood was born on May 31, 1930 in San Francisco and was named after his father Clinton. At 11 pounds 6 ounces, the hospital nurses nicknamed him Samson. Plenty of bounce in his beginnings, the depression had the family continually moving in search of work and Eastwood attended eight different grammar schools. They eventually settled in Oakland.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Geeks
Part I : The Origins of Where No Man has Gone Before and Other Star Trek Staples
Photo by : Joanna Poe Where No Man has Gone Before Samuel Peeples wrote the second pilot episode of the same name, and David Alexanders' autobiography of Gene Roddenberry attributes the phrase to the Peeples. But the iconic opening dates back much further. James Cook made a version of the declaration as he explored North America, according to BBC.com. The explorer intended not only to go, “farther than any man has been before me, but as far as I think it is possible for a man to go"
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Futurism
Part III : Ada Monetti Looks Back at her Life
The last we left Ada, she had a date to keep with Charlie, and the 22 year old followed through. They made for Broadway and Guys and Dolls brought the curtain up on their relationship. But things were moving a bit faster for one side of the pairing.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Families
