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Mountain View News Saturday, June 22, 2024

GEORDI & 
DOTTI

Cutie Patooties

Age three months

Introducing Dotti and 
Geordi, an adorable 
pair of kitten siblings 
who were rescued 
from a feral colony in 
Rosemead. These little 
ones were so young and irresistibly sweet that we 
just couldn’t bring ourselves to return them to the 
wild. Now, they’re ready to find their forever home! 
They are vetted: current on their vaccines, tested negative, will be spayed and neutered 
when ready, and more!

Dotti: With her charming spots and playful demeanor, Dotti is a bundle of joy and 
curiosity. She loves to explore her surroundings, chase after toys, and cuddle up for a nap 
after a fun-filled day. Dotti’s affectionate nature makes her the perfect companion for 
someone looking for a loving and energetic kitten.

Geordi: Geordi, with his striking coat and gentle eyes, is the definition of a snuggle bug. 
He enjoys purring in your lap, playing with his sister, and showing off his acrobatic skills. 
Geordi’s calm and loving personality ensures that he will be a wonderful addition to any 
household.

We prefer our kittens to be adopted in pairs, unless there is a friendly young feline at home 
already. Don't worry--if one of these two get adopted, there are two other littermates of 
theirs to be posted soon. 

See more pictures and adoption application at 

https://www.lifelineforpets.org/dotti--geordi.html.


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “Self-Sufficient Home” and 
“How to Survive Anywhere.” He also leads wilderness classes every weekend. 
He can be reached at School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 
90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]


ON SOCRATIC DIALOGUE

 

I am not an academic authority on “Socratic Dialogue,” but I believe that I 
have a good general sense of it. When reading Plato’s account of the life of 
Socrates, and the events leading up to his trial, we get a good sense of how 
Socrates interacted with others.

 

Socrates would ask a series of questions, and each subsequent question was based on the 
answer to the previous one. It was a true dialogue, where Socrates listened carefully, and 
responded appropriately. Socrates said that he was trying to get to the “truth,” the “truth” 
that others claim to have found. His questions attempted to draw-out from the other person 
the knowledge or facts that were presumably available within that other person. That is, 
Socrates was doing sometimes called educing – the root of the word “education.” This 
suggests that all knowing can be acquired by thinking, and careful research.

 

I’ve had at least a few teachers who were skilled in educing, constantly engaging in a give and 
take, where eventually a full picture emerges about a subject. 

 

In the beginning of undergoing this process, I felt silly and frustrated when I was asked 
to draw these answers from within. But by attempting to be a part of the dialogue, rather 
than simply listening to a teacher, I learned that I knew a lot more than I realized. In time, 
I realized that I began to think more clear-ly and systematically about things. I learned 
that there were ways to know if I only applied my mind to a given subject with research, 
application, and concentration.

 

I once went to lecture at a renown metaphysical center. The topic was Socratic Dialogue. The 
lecturer was clearly in love with himself and the sound of his words, which is not necessarily 
a bad thing. I raised my hand to ask a pertinent question and he shushed me. “No, I’m 
composing,” he said, and then went on with his monologue.

 

I sat there thinking about this for a few minutes, and realized that I would learn nothing 
about the Socratic Dialogue from this man. I got up and left. His demonstration with me 
was the opposite of Socratic Dia-logue. To be fair, this had been billed as a “lecture,” not a 
demonstration or practicum of Socratic Dia-logue.

 

In my classes, I have tried in my limited way to employ Socratic Dialogue. When I am asked 
a question, I am inclined to ask the student, “What do you think is the answer?” Sometimes 
I get blanks, or, “I don’t know; that’s why I’m in this class.” But occasionally a student will try 
to answer their own question, and then we go on from there, step by step, working together 
to draw from the student the answers – or bits of answers—that were already there inside. 
(And for the record, I may or may not know the answer, but that’s not the point.)

A man who once attended my classes mentioned me in his book called “Emergency.” It was 
an excellent book about his quest to learn about survival in the broadest context. In his book 
he described my teach-ing method, suggesting that I didn’t want to give answers to students 
but just wanted to lord over them that I knew it all! He didn’t quite get what I was doing, 
unfortunately. 

 

Things didn’t go so well for Socrates either.

 

Even though Socrates changed the life of his lead student, Plato, and the millions of 
“followers” who read about Socrates through Plato, those leaders and priests who brushed 
up too closely with Socrates felt that he was somehow exposing or disrespecting them. These 
“leaders” of ancient Greece trumped up some charges that Socrates was “corrupting the 
youth of Athens,” and put the philosopher on trial. Socrates lost, of course, was imprisoned, 
and fulfilled the death sentence by drinking the prescribed hemlock tea.

 

I’m still a big fan of Socratic Dialogue, not because of how it turned out with Socrates, but 
because it is a method that can open us up to our own inner mind, and allow us to experience 
true education.

 

Public schools are too large with too many 
students per teacher, and too controlled, to do 
Socratic Dialogue. Public schools tend to fill 
the students minds with facts that they must 
memorize. 

 

Anyone today who comes through the “school 
system” as a clear-thinking, creative individual 
does so in spite of the school system, not because 
of it.


Pet of the Week

 Six-year-old Pinky is the sweetest girl! This beautiful cat 
has the cutest cow coloring and signature pink nose. She 
loves getting head and neck scratches and will even lean into 
your hand to ask for more petting. Pinky is also a huge fan of 
crunchy treats – so if you’re looking for the key to her heart, 
it’s definitely a handful of snacks!

 Pinky is looking for a quiet home where she can snuggle on 
the couch with you, nap in a warm sunbeam, or perch on top 
of a cat tree and watch birds out the window. She would prefer 
a home without dogs and with plenty of crunchy treats!

 Pinky and all other cats over 6 months old can be adopted at 
no charge throughout June (Adopt a Cat Month)!

 The regular adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat adoptions 
include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption 
appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. View 
photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by 
phone calls or email.


HOT TEMPERATURES CAN MAKE CONCRETE AND 
ASPHALT TOO HOT FOR YOUR DOG’S PAWS. 

Asphalt and concrete temperatures can usually be 20-
40 degrees hotter than the ambient temperature. If the 
back of your hand can’t stand the heat on the concrete or 
asphalt for 7 seconds, it’s too hot for a walk.

When it's above 90 degrees outside, bring dogs and cats 
indoors.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com