Kent (aka Pennsyltucky9) joins the TA team.
I’m long over due in bringing on board, a new Teacher Assistant to help out. TAs help out with some of the behind the scenes work, to keep Hotforwords website a fun place to visit. Kent has been a great contributer and a model student. We believe that he will be a great asset to the class. Without further ado, please welcome Pennsyltucky9! – Captain Jack
Here’s a (little) snippet Kent wrote for his biography.
I spent much of my childhood in the Upper Ohio Valley, where the Allegheny Mountains give way to rolling hills and Pennsylvania meets the states of West Virginia and Ohio. My parents both hold teaching credentials from a state school in upstate New York, where my Dad earned an English degree and my Mom earned a music degree. Since both my parents were teachers, we kids were constantly corrected on word usage and sentence construction, starting at an early age. I learned to read before I entered kindergarten, mostly because my Mom really enjoyed reading to us every night and always encouraged us to actively participate in the process. I was placed in advanced reading groups and excelled at spelling, but I was small for my age, so public school wasn’t a whole lot of fun for me. I loved the outdoors, however, and spent my summers barefoot, poking around creeks and forests and going camping with my family and friends whenever possible.
California was one of the places I visited during my travels, and I liked the idea of having access to both mountains and seacoast, so I moved to Northern California to start community college and have been here ever since. I studied French, anthropology, creative writing, geology, painting, design, judo, and mountaineering among many others. I found that I enjoyed rock climbing in the Sierra Nevada range quite a bit, but I still had to work for a living. Mostly, I did anything that I could to support my addiction to outdoor activities such as camping and rock climbing.
Quite by accident, I began work as a proofreader and eventually a graphic artist at some local newspapers. This seemed a good match for me until the advent of cheap desktop PCs, automated spell-checking, which all but replaced paste-up artists and proofreaders in the early 90s. So I found employment in the reprographic industry where I did large-scale production runs.
It was time to combine my urge to be outside with my passion for learning about nature. Interpretive ranger work seemed an excellent choice. I studied environmental conservation, and received Associate degrees in Natural Science as well as Parks and Recreation Management. Then I went on to a state university to finish out a bachelors degree program in Anthropology. I even worked as a seasonal ranger a couple summers to gain experience while in school.
It was during my bachelor’s degree program that I discovered YouTube when an instructor assigned a couple videos for the class to watch and evaluate. Once I was at the site, it was obvious that Marina’s videos were going to be mighty hard to pass up. I became a member after watching only two lessons. Soon I had to take care not to let HotForWords absorb all my study time!
As I completed my degree program, the economy fell through the floor. The National Park Service has cut its job rosters back. Now that school is done, I’m finally a free agent again. In the meantime, I look in on our dear teacher whenever I have a spare moment and she always makes me smile. – Pennsyltucky9 
neuroway on 
star magic on 
muggins on 
echo on 
My dad having been a former Romanian citizen living in Germany, I had to help him with his English. since he was so much of a meanie I got a kick out of getting to correct his english and spelling at his request. that used to kind of put him in his place a bit. I used to be good in English in high school I felt. But like an episode of THE SIMPSONS once pointed out there were people with PhD’s in English working in Barnes and Noble. When my dad helped me with my math homework in grade school he would slap my hands and make me cry when I made a mistake on the paper and had to erase it-like erasing was a mortal sin to him!!!
facebook
…yogi james
Congratz Kent!
The same happened to me after grabbing my electronics degree in 2001. “They” were crying out for science students. So with a rush of blood to the head, I trashed my old job and embarked on a radical career change via the mature student program. After almost a 2 year break, I secured a job by joining its Graduate training scheme. The job lasted under 4 years, and failed to provide opportunities to develop my engineering skills for chartership, or a proper engineering role. As time goes by, some of that hard won knowledge has begun to atrophy.
Now, like you, I’m a free agent too. The trouble is becoming too accustomed to the situation, especially with the credit crunch and so much distraction around us. Don’t lose hope.
I hate when that happens! Yes, it’s important to maintain your edge by studying stuff you might forget, revisiting old notes and texts and updating every now and then with newly discovered information.
You DO keep all your texts and notes, don’t you? Those were expensive at the time, but are now irreplaceable (in my view). I keep in touch with my favorite professors, too. They actually seem to respond favorably to such abuse, I don’t know why.
See you around the campus.
Way to go Deadman.
I follow a park ranger officer, from Texas, on twitter. His tweets a nutty & amusing. You guys that get off into the woods alone for long periods of time… I don’t know…
Hey, can’t think of better guy to look after Marina’s interests, & a guy who will be honourable at all times. Kudos to you Kent.
Thanks, BillyB.
There’s a deep sense of timelessness that accompanies solo wilderness adventuring. If lucky, one can get completely detached from society and rediscover the essence of our animal (primate) identity that we have so long denied. It’s a strong intoxicant, though. What brings me home is the very idea of pizza and beer at a table surrounded by good friends. After about the fourth day, the importance of these begins to magnify!
I’ll do my best to continue to earn the respect you’ve already shown me. Don’t hesitate to correct me should I veer from the path. I trust your judgment.
-Kent
Mountains, rivers, moss, camping, canoeing…I must say, as a Washingtonian with roots in Tennessee and Wales, you’re my kind of guy!
Oh yeah, I also find it difficult not to spend too much time on HFW!
I’ve found that a kitchen timer rigged to a cattle prod that attaches to the seat of my chair is a good way to keep active in these times of intensive digital communication… Happy trails, Evan. Keep your nose to the wind.
Re: your statement: “do let me know when I’m creating too much of a disturbance in the classroom!”
Peremptorily, I’d like to call that favor in.
I see little if any cause to rouse slumbering canines. As the new guy, I could sure use your help on that. Thanks for understanding.
-PT9
HOW indig.enous
R Mountains borDers? “Oh yeah, I also find it difficult not to spend too much time on HFW!”
a quote from Evan Owen**&**Quote
“I’m not going to get into the ring with Tolstoy.” – Ernest Hemingway 1899-1961
yogi bear (1958) very long time.
congrats!! the pics are beautiful (tho your gravitar is scary!) You are an inspiration.
Hey thank you, nearlynot. CaptainJack selected those pictures, so he gets the credit for putting them in. Don’t let my gravatar image fool you: my barf is worse than my bite.
What a great story Kent!
As one of the ‘new guys’ going through the site, I’ve noticed over and over again your reasoned and significant contributions to discussion here. You really deserve this appointment!
My only advice is:
CHANGE YOUR GRAVITAR MAN!!!!
Is it really necessary that I feel freaked when I see you speak up?
Really…you’ve shown yourself to be a great guy, and I look forward to more in the future! Think of the women and children…
Jody
Hi Jody,
Thank you for your astute observations. I’ve also noted your contributions, and I have learned to respect your viewpoint as well. I appreciate what you bring to the discussions, and hope you’ll continue to provide your insights.
Fact is, I’ve been using this photo since I signed up with HFW because it relates to my anthropology studies (it’s a 200 year-old trophy head from a tiny tribe in New Guinea). Until today, no one has ever complained.
Now here’s the interesting part:
People are used to me being dead. But more importantly, it provides me with the option of viewing the world from a remote, relaxed standpoint instead of always having to adopt the posture of someone with a lot to lose, and a right to aggressively defend it all… There are plenty of those in the world today, wouldn’t you agree?
To me, this was the big unforeseen benefit of choosing the gravatar photo I happened to choose. I can be more objective in the role of someone whose life is already forfeit. It helps me to adopt a long-term view, if you know what I mean. That’s how anthropologists (and especially geologists) need to see things anyway: in terms of change over time.
Some of my friends even call me Deadman.
Please accept my apology if it has upset your sensibilities. I’ll shop around for another gravatar image, but being naturally change-resistant I know better than to make any promises. I actually like this photo, even though it’s slightly out of focus. I shot it.
In the meantime, I hope you don’t take it personally if I fail to change it immediately. IMHO, some of the multicolored cartoon monsters that appear automatically to accounts without custom gravatars can be equally disturbing.
Thanks for being honest. That’s one thing I will always respect.
Peace.
-Kent
yo,
deadmandude, how long do i have?I dunno. From what I hear, anyone over 30 already has one foot in the grave.
Just buy a nice suit you can be buried in, then you can quit worrying. And get yourself a glove. All this nudity in your gravatar photo is clearly unacceptable!
hey, at least i’m wearing a ring!
Yeah, I wear nothing but a Speedo to church, too. Whew! Now them there are some stinky tootsies.
Hi Kent!
I was just pullin’ your chain a bit
…I have always thought it was an interesting choice – and thanks for explaining that – I understand now!
I don’t know if leonard’s Yogi Bear suggestion above would be the right choice for you either…
Congratulations, and continued good wishes as you walk among the living!
Hey, it was admittedly a frivolous choice at the outset, but seemed to make more and more sense the longer I used it. Now it’s like a tattoo. Getting rid of it would take some doing…
See you on the flipside, J.
-Kent
@P9(hows that?)
Then when I pop on the site to look for your posts I’ll have to get used to a new one and I don’t have that many functioning brain cells left! 
If it IS disturbing to people, then they don’t know you or your great personality!
Do NOT change your gravatar!
Me thinks Darlingj was just funnin’
IMHO, some of the multicolored cartoon monsters that appear automatically to accounts without custom gravatars can be equally disturbing.
BTW, what does ‘IMHO’ mean?
In My Humble Opinion, Beev.
Congrats! One day I’ll be aboard too, but I’ll probably be James’ understudy… taking orders from someone half my age… and twice my ability
you would make a good t.a.
Thanks Buzz
Thanks Dezdkado. I have to agree with you about James, he’s got a nice sharp edge going. But there’s no call to limit yourself. Just keep doing what you do. See you around the campus.
Dez, that depends on what you mean by “ability.” On a philology / etymology website, it’s nice to have people like you who can actually talk linguistics instead of just techno-gadgetry.
Don’t get me wrong, gents… I’m not tearing myself down. I’m just recognizing talent that I’ve seen. And I am a techie =) just not a camera jockey.
Pennsyltucky9,
It would seem that you would be congratulated on your becoming a TA at the HFW site. Yet, I believe that, Marina should be congratulated on gaining you as a TA since you’re a great asset to her already stellar team.
Captain Jack, MelikeadotheChaCha, PendanticKarl and you too Capman911- no hazing the newbie please.
P9, can I still peek over your shoulder before I turn in my homework?
Take it easy, man.
Wow. Thanks, but… No way. I was copying off you, Warren. Jeez. Now we’ll both fail the exam…
cool pennsyltucky9! damned tempted to pack up the canoe, backpack and head out west and join you. hfw will surely benefit from your presence.
Got room for a sleeping bag or two in the living room, Buzz. I’ll have to move the bass amp though. Kids get to sleep out in the yard. Ooh, scary!
Looks like they made a good choice…
Good luck Mr. T. A. man.
Since you are dead, was that a concern for you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gUKvmOEGCU
Nah, they keep me in a glass case so I don’t stink up the joint. How about you? Since you have no eyelids, can you clean your eyes with your tongue or do you have to keep a bowl of snails handy?
That’s cold blooded! Can’t you tell they love me around here…
Wha..? After I set you up to brag about how long your tongue is, this is how I’m repaid? The life of a TA is indeed harder than I had imagined.
I was convinced you’d be happy to wax prosaic about how all the clothes fall right off the females whenever you lick your eyebrows. Oh well, you can lead a horse to water, etc. etc.
Every time I see your gravatar I can’t help but hear that slithery-tongued voice saying, “I will be quick and merciful!” Love it!
I hope you’ll enjoy the live free-range escargot I sent as a peace offering, even if you don’t need them for ocular hygiene. They’re tasty with corn flakes and strawberries!
Flakes, berries and snails sounds tasty, as far as the oculars go I prefer to lick, thank you much…
As for my ‘potent saliva’ in my long reptilian tongue, seems to dissolve more than just the robes they wear.
Guess, Kirk should have let the Metron’s destroy me because now I back with a vengeance. You warm blooded humans are just a snack…
“Help me! Spock…”
“Now can you cry like Lincoln…”
“peace offering.”
Never assume we’re at peace, peace is only a temporary solution until a war can be found…
Hahahaha! Reminds me of a lyric:
Mistrust EVERYONE
Know your enemy!
-FEAR,
from the song title: “Let’s Have a War” on their self-titled first album aka FEAR/the Record
Must have missed that one.
Reminds me of a card game from way back when, kind of sadistic but fun to play…
http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/nucwar.htm
Love is A round [circle]
now go and find a border!!! 
I dropped my fingernail clippers around here. Anyone seen them? Darn, I can’t find them. Oh am I in the wrong chat room? Oh boy!
Glad you happened by, actually. I need you to settle a bet about a nautical term. What’s it called when your boat moves 6,600 feet while going exactly 1.151 statute miles per hour?
I call it a tug boat moving about 1.2 mph up river for one and quarter miles the distance it would cover in about an hour, with out factoring in set and drift, which can only can be called Dead Reckoning.
Answer: One knot-furlong.
I had to look that one up. Never looked up the definition of furlong.
CONGRATS!!!
Still waiting for my time
Thank you, James.
Your time is now, as your videos are already highly noteworthy. Marina isn’t the only one to recognize this, you know. Keep your eyes on the horizon, the red light on, and the pedal to the metal my friend. Suddenly you’ll realize you’ve landed on a runaway train headed for a successful future with no way to stop. I have every confidence that I’ll soon be able to say “I knew him when…”
-Kent from Pennsyltucky
I wish…
And, its your time actually… LOL…
Hey congrats PT9
hope you enjoy being TA 
just hope you can 
now you have many more reasons for the time spent at HFW
dont know how you can get MORE involved
Good luck & keep up the great work
B.B.
I’m honored. Thanks, B.B.
PT9, congratulations on becoming a TA!
You’re one of the guys who’s posts I really enjoyed reading.
You said “I had to take care not to let HotForWords absorb all my study time!” I hear you there!
Yeah, there were a few times when it was a whole lot easier to watch Marina than it was to finish the 3-page bibliography on my research paper. It’s all good, though. Sometimes a guy needs a visual stimulation package!
Congratulations!
I am encouraged to see another fan of the
HotForWords site receive distinction for
contributions made. You are a good choice
to follow in the tradition of hope and change
manifesting itself in the YouTube organization,
HotForWords and the USA
Thanks Doug. Never let it be said that people from Ohio can’t make important contributions from time to time.
I think he was being sarcastic.
Congratulations, PK
Sad to say that quite a few people are free agents right now, myself included. And Yes, this site is highly addictive!!
what do I average, 20-25 posts a day!
Thanks, BV!
Good luck on the job search yourself, bud. btw, ‘PK’ is probably closer to PedanticKarl’s initials. You’ll get me all confused… Hell, I have enough trouble retaining my identity already!
Peace bro.
what was I thinkin…
It’s all good! If I didn’t highly value your input, I wouldn’t take the time to point out such a small inconsistency and I expect the same, BV. Buckeyes don’t fall far from the tree, but we can do some rolling around once we hit the ground.
Now that I got where you were born and raised nailed down I gotta know, Browns or Steelers?
Please don’t tell me you became a San Fran fan! Arghh!!
Let’s see. Are those Hockey teams or basketball teams? I forget
WOW! Well, I’m pretty sure you didn’t go to Canton-McKinley or Massilon or maybe you just don’t like football. No Worries! You seem to be more of non-team sports competitor so I’m feelin’ ya.
I looked back thruogh and it didn’t mention if you ever white-water rafted. We shot the New River gorge one time and it was great! They had some Class V’s that were crazy. It was wierd because you had to go over one of the worlds highest single span bridges to get to the jump off point. When you looked down, the water was about an inch wide! When they show people BASE jumping off a bridge over a river on tv, it is usually here.
and I’m pretty sure he thought we were crazy as we did nothing to make him think otherwise the WHOLE trip. We wanted our moneys worth. 
This site will have you thinking of things you haven’t thought of in a long time… 
The raft behind us got stuck in a hole and were surfing. One of the guys got sucked out and popped up next to us about a 1/4 mile down river. The people were wigging out. We threw a rope, pulled them out and then pleaded with our guide to let us go back up this eddy so we could slide back over the same hole! We tried, but I dont think his heart was in it
i rafted new river gorge as well. fucking awesome ride! i think we may have gotten stuck in the same hole. i was up front facing a wall of water and our guide (thurl) was yelling, “paddle, paddle, paddle!” i looked behind me to ask him, “what the hell do you think i’m doing?” only to see the floor of the raft. i looked up behind me and saw him hanging over us, we were bent in half. suddenly the raft shot out of the hole and we lost thurl. he popped up seconds later shouting, “woo hoo!” got to do that again. who’s in for hfw white water rafting?
Sign me up.
I get front left!
Did your guide hit the spot were if you go to the right of the rock, you’re under water for maybe 15 seconds. To the left, 45-60 seconds UNDER water. I went to the left. You went over this little ledge and then it was washing machine time! I didn’t get a very big breath so towards the end I was starting to get a little concerned. I swam to daylight and when I popped up I was about 1/2 mile downriver! Man, that was fun! Then there ws a cliff about 20 feet up. I was the only one to do a flip off of it! Its always amazing that when you look UP at something you say,’that ain’t shit’ but when you get up there and look DOWN, your balls are up around your forehead!
Channel that fear, baby, and use it for the positive! I was always pretty good at that. In fact, the fellas thought I was crazy because when we would be running away from some ill-advised and law-breaking venture, I would be laughing my ass off at their faces! Wild eyed, lips pulled back! You can REALLY tell alot about a guy in situations like that. I’ve seen a few hard men crumble…I’m going off on a tangent and that was all a LONG, LONG time ago so don’t think ill of me! At least, not for that reason! 
Oh yeah… Once did a full-day trip on a little river called the Snake, and also ran the South Fork of the American in mid-June once and in August a couple times. The Russian River is only an hour away, so I’ve done that most but not by raft– in the canoe.
Whitewater is a ton of fun, but by definition the that river gradient has to be steep. So it requires automobile transport to get the boat up to the top of the run. If you do it a lot, you use the car a lot. Usually you have to use two cars to get back and forth from the take-out to the put-in.
I prefer canoeing because a canoe is like a pickup truck. It’s small enough for one person to operate (fits on a regular car) but it’s not tiny and confined like a kayak. There’s room for a cooler so your beer goes on ice. Bring the barbecue too, what the hell.
I usually paddle slightly quieter waters instead of pure [whitewater] because that way it’s not such a gas-powered sport, and I get to spend a lot more time on the water instead of in the car driving back from the take-out, etc. I need the workout anyway.
I’ll park the car and put my canoe in, then go UPstream until I can’t go any further. That can take several hours or most of the day on the right stream, and the workout you get as you advance upstream by carefully avoiding the main current areas, etc. is quite excellent even if you don’t get very far against the current. I stop for lunch and a cold one, take a bunch of photos to stretch my legs a bit and only then do I point the bow downstream.
The ride down is ALWAYS a blast. The car is waiting at the bottom. Look out for those branches!
CANOEING! Now your talking! Actually, I live five miles from Miami Whitewater River. Isn’t THAT ironic. We would go canoeing at least once a summer, get hammered, get burned, get hurt and talk about it the rest of the year. While you have to give it respect, it is nothing like rafting! Still a few stories, though:
And yes, around here we think Zeppelin is a damn fine group! 
My brother and I were in a canoe and we were tore up from the floor up! The river was high so we were running fast. We were by the side and there was an overhanging branch that more or less knocked us out of the canoe. It got sucked under about five feet of water and went under a branch and got STUCK! We could not get it loose. The river was so fast, anything we did wedged it farter. I mean, it was gone. Never seen anything like it. Well, we got everybody together and kind of made it down to the livery so we could ease on out of there. It worked and Morgans Canoe is one canoe shy(I’m sure thay found it when the river went down). My brother is still pissed because he had his one of a kind Led Zeppelin T-shirt that his girlfriend made all of us tied to the canoe! GONE! Definately a sad day, because MINE was tied on there, too. Sad day, indeed
Ahhhh, so many stories, so little time…
BTW, It kills me when people say they DON’T like Zeppelin but they DO like rock-n-roll. I’m like ‘Damn, have you ever HEARD them?!’
Is the Rushin’ River so called because of the rapids?
Don’t ever build a fire in your kayak; you can’t have your kayak and heat it too!
Welcome, PT9, and do let me know when I’m creating too much of a disturbance in the classroom!
I noticed over at the HotForWords forums section that you have a liking for clichés so I thunked up a proper greeting for our new TA
“Welcome Aboard!”
Ya-ar! You get extra credit for all that cognitive gear-mashing, GP. Heave to and prepare to be boarded!
Nice to see Kent joining in and helping out…& I love the pic of the stream in the woods….guess I’m just simple
CaptainJack did a great job putting my page together, so he deserves the credit for finding that photo. I’m guessing he threw that in because he knows how I love canoeing the tiny backwaters and hiking in the deep woods. Welcome to HotForWords, hwbj. See you around the campus!
-Kent
I know the deep forest as well. You could leave me butt naked in the forest with a knife (or without) and I would be living it up in a short time. I don’t even need a compass to find north either. I know how to read my moss! LOL.
One of my favorite books was “My side of the Mountain.” I almost did that same thing. Wait, I kind of did once. hehehe
Me too! My nephew is reading that book right now. And I’m dusting off my search and rescue gear…
1.) first question—what are the borders for? (know how not to spill and spread?)
Borders? I don’t need no steenkeen borders!
Good answer pennsyltyltucky9. Hears to here
Borderline- MC5 or
Yeah! That’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!
Three cheers for Kent, Hip hip haray!!! ect ect!!
Muchas gracias, Che! It’s nice to get a warm welcome. Or even a cool one!
Right on Penn!! Congratulations !
Have you ever packed the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon ?
I would highly recommend it.
Thanks, PageDoll.
No, but I’ve been to Lake Sabrina in King’s Canyon and I’ll never forget it. Ever been to McGee Canyon? The pass is incredible while still under spring snowpack. Check it out if you get the chance sometime.
Congratulations on your new position. I hope it adds to your resume and improves your job opportunities.
Seesixcm6
OMG, I’ve written so many resumes in the last couple months…
I’ll be happy if this position improves my Scrabble score! Thanks C6. See you around the campus.
Notice: Change of name and nickname.
Pennsyltucky9 will now be known as Kentsyltucky9 with the nickname of PTA9.
Congratulations!
Howdy, Bob.
I might’ve known there’d be hell to pay for this, but little did I realize the severity of my PUN-ishment. Uncle! Uncle! Your pun fu is stronger than mine! Guess I need a pun filter upgrade. Oh, when will my record be exPUNged?
Hello Kent, how have you been?
Glad to see you as a TA and wishing
you the best as a free agent.
What is “free agent” referring to?
money too, pay and play…[drown]
*****+10 
Last paragraph in the Bio.
Free agent referring to no attachments and no ties. He’s free to do as he will. Of course, Kent will correct me if I got that wrong.
I forgot about the “free agent” in the Bio; all I could think of was “to you as TA from me as free agent (aka no longer TA)” which did not make sense!
Thank you, Karl. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be Teacher’s Pet, but this surpasses my estimation by quite a stretch. I am truly honored to stand in your shadow, my friend.
Wayduggo Kent! Do you get a whistle and black-and-white shirt, too?
I hope not. That would SO clash with my pretty white headdress feathers! I’ll settle for some binoculars and a 2-way radio– OMG! There are NUDISTS on that beach down there. Have to call in an air strike. Meantime, I’ll just watch for awhile…
A little [social-livingism]—to date this—
Thanks!
Wow, I can actually understand what you mean (something must be terribly amiss)! Keep those great music links coming, brother Lion. You alone have the power to transport through time even the most warped and cynical survivors of the 60s. I should know… you brought me back from the brink of a cold future many a time, and I trust you will continue to do so.
lets have [fun]