This may indeed be no joke given the dire financial situation. In my job this is not so bad as barring health problems I can keep going. In the end rather than trim the large entitlements the mandatory retirement age will be raised.
If you like your job an extra 15 years is no problem. Plenty of people retired at 55 after 25 or 30 years. Social security, pensions and IRA's will do wonders. Of course those job openings for the young won't be there as people work longer.
Actually a more humane way is to reduce the days at 65 four day work week with a small social security payment. 70 three days a week with a larger payment. 75 two days a week full social security and 80 retirement. Transitioning into retirement is better and the last five years should be a mentorship time.
Monday, June 04, 2012
Saturday, June 02, 2012
Moved
My duties at work have been slightly altered somewhat by the managerial rotations. I have deftly avoided all specialty work until now. Specialty work is loved by many, but I have little love for this type of work.
I like my odd generic cases day in and day out year after year.
I remained with my supervisor which is a plus. I am now her senior officer and the one with longest tenure
in the area and with her. In reality the most senior officer is expected to mentor and provide technical expertise. The supervisor provides the policy and crunches the numbers and the lead is a buffer. The lead knows the team and provides direction. This supervisor and I rarely disagree and when we do she knows how to get me moving. It is really quite simple give a rational reason and I move accordingly. My sole difference is we take care of our own first before helping others. I was all ready mentoring three of the members of this team.
Our team focus is military cases and general work. We do have military cases and they deserve extra effort. This is something no manager needs lecture me on. I did this long before it was a priority as the right thing to do. Top management is extremely helpful when a military problem happens. I have been called in as a specialist when nasty problems occurred with this type of case a few times. A more aggressive officer with a talent for networking is sometimes needed to achieve the task.
It is a slight diversion from my current task. Remaining with the same supervisor is a plus as I expected to remain with the same crew more or less. Being a lead is not something I really wanted as I am happier just working away on my own issues.
I like my odd generic cases day in and day out year after year.
I remained with my supervisor which is a plus. I am now her senior officer and the one with longest tenure
in the area and with her. In reality the most senior officer is expected to mentor and provide technical expertise. The supervisor provides the policy and crunches the numbers and the lead is a buffer. The lead knows the team and provides direction. This supervisor and I rarely disagree and when we do she knows how to get me moving. It is really quite simple give a rational reason and I move accordingly. My sole difference is we take care of our own first before helping others. I was all ready mentoring three of the members of this team.
Our team focus is military cases and general work. We do have military cases and they deserve extra effort. This is something no manager needs lecture me on. I did this long before it was a priority as the right thing to do. Top management is extremely helpful when a military problem happens. I have been called in as a specialist when nasty problems occurred with this type of case a few times. A more aggressive officer with a talent for networking is sometimes needed to achieve the task.
It is a slight diversion from my current task. Remaining with the same supervisor is a plus as I expected to remain with the same crew more or less. Being a lead is not something I really wanted as I am happier just working away on my own issues.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Mayor Nuts
Mayor Bloomberg has invaded the personal liberty of NYC with his proposed ban on soft drinks larger than 16 oz. This ban appears aimed directly at 7-11 which provides slurpees and big gulps. The soft drinks are especially needed in the summer durring a heat wave.
While Bloomberg is admirable in many respects, he does go way too far with his draconian public health initiatives. Rather than directly address the issue of personal liberty, his aides dance around the issue.
Soda consumption is on the decline and blaming obesity on any single factor is a stretch.
In the lean mean workplace there have been changes. We are expected to do the job with almost no staff. We have less than half of the officers of two years ago. All that remain are working the way I was used to. A really great coworker said "Beaks how do you keep your energy after the third interview to number 8".
I pointed to the bottles of Diet Mountain Dew. I gave him one and now we have three people using Dew as a leveler to provide cafine and water at the same time.
I have not had a lunch break since this new program started. I have resorted to grazing and others have adopted the tactic. Grazing is when workers have a break they eat quickly for five minutes. This tactic allows for a bite or two from a sandwich or a bag of chips. Even on a review day I am dumped calander cases and have to junk lunch or eat everything in five minutes.
Basically, the union is largely correct when they describe the current mode as the new plantation. We are in essence working ten hours and getting paid for eight. The system of work measurement is arbitrary and capricious and designed to punish rather than gain productivity or quality. We spend all day counting things three times when once is sufficient. My boss chided me Beaks you are 6 under draft a sheet. This information was gleaned by looking at another report. Why I simply don't copy that report I don't know.
Of course speculating on why people are obese is not resolved by cup sizes at 7-11. The world we live in has changed. We don't get home cooked meals. Workers don't get formal lunch breaks and are harried by impossible standards and are exausted. Of course the new work place includes the brutal days worked by the 1%.
While Bloomberg is admirable in many respects, he does go way too far with his draconian public health initiatives. Rather than directly address the issue of personal liberty, his aides dance around the issue.
Soda consumption is on the decline and blaming obesity on any single factor is a stretch.
In the lean mean workplace there have been changes. We are expected to do the job with almost no staff. We have less than half of the officers of two years ago. All that remain are working the way I was used to. A really great coworker said "Beaks how do you keep your energy after the third interview to number 8".
I pointed to the bottles of Diet Mountain Dew. I gave him one and now we have three people using Dew as a leveler to provide cafine and water at the same time.
I have not had a lunch break since this new program started. I have resorted to grazing and others have adopted the tactic. Grazing is when workers have a break they eat quickly for five minutes. This tactic allows for a bite or two from a sandwich or a bag of chips. Even on a review day I am dumped calander cases and have to junk lunch or eat everything in five minutes.
Basically, the union is largely correct when they describe the current mode as the new plantation. We are in essence working ten hours and getting paid for eight. The system of work measurement is arbitrary and capricious and designed to punish rather than gain productivity or quality. We spend all day counting things three times when once is sufficient. My boss chided me Beaks you are 6 under draft a sheet. This information was gleaned by looking at another report. Why I simply don't copy that report I don't know.
Of course speculating on why people are obese is not resolved by cup sizes at 7-11. The world we live in has changed. We don't get home cooked meals. Workers don't get formal lunch breaks and are harried by impossible standards and are exausted. Of course the new work place includes the brutal days worked by the 1%.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Lets pick a sample reading list for and Intro Lit course
My selections are based upon simplicity and imparting the joy of reading
1) The Tempest
2) The Hairy Ape
3) Moby Dick
4) The Grapes of Wrath
5) 1984 and Animal Farm as both are short.
1) The Tempest
2) The Hairy Ape
3) Moby Dick
4) The Grapes of Wrath
5) 1984 and Animal Farm as both are short.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Time to Hold Higher Ed Accountable
The time has come to hold Higher Education accountable for its shady business and hiring practices. There is much anger in the land at Wall Street. I work nearby and live with hard working people who work there.
While the business practices of Wall Street at times have deserved scrutiny it should not come from the even more corrupt Big Academia Mafia and its Godfather Don Barak Obama. Unlike the real mafia higher education has no business plan and has a better track record of dealing with cronyism. Barak Obama is basically a high functioning druggie who used his families left wing ties to get into elite prep schools, did poorly at Occidental and magically turns up in the Ivys via nepotism, legacy points or affirmative action. Obama then repeats every cliche from the far left and is socially promoted to a law degree and a University job.
Most of us know lower functioning druggies who lose their life's savings and end up meandering through debt, job loss and pathetic lives. Blaming Wall Street and Bankers for student debt loads with worthless degrees is akin to blaming loan sharks for drug addiction. The only responsability banks do have is not doing a better job at eliminating certain loans by major. You want to get a doctorate in Anthropology do so on your own dime or make the universities liable for default.
There is much talk about diversity in faculty and the student body. 90% of this is speculation and having seen yet another example of a far leftist contrive fake Indian heritage it seems like a way for the far left to merely get the Indians of their own imagination. Ward Churchill was nothing more than a far left cliche with sunglasses and a greasy ponytail. Elizabeth Warren pretty much said hey I am from Oklahoma and all you rubes think we all have Indian DNA. She used her far left connections to get a job at an elite university that she had not earned through merrit. Of course she is one of the people who have the dubious claim of founding OWS. Unlike David Graeber, whose scholarship and credentials as a genuine scholar, are not in question even by those opposed to his innane politics Warren benefitted from this scam. The notion that an Indian ( Native American) Marxist brings something unique to the table that a Marxist from other places does not is false. They basically look at issues from the same vantage point and pretty much say Amen on the large issues while making mountains out of molehills as only Marxist morons can on minor Marxist theological dogma.
In fact the scarcity of people who hold differing philosophies results in a series of lunatics creating sham scholarship and a series of statements like wishing for 1000 Mogadishus or Little Eichmans after 9-11.
The social science fields is pretty much a jobs probram for fellow believers in Marxism with a few slots for Greens and Anarchists. Leftists like to use the term "adverse impact" in terms of testing and race and abuse statistics to advance the case to place more minorities on campus at the expense of more qualified non minorities. Of course any use of the same statistical tools to cast doubt on hiring methods that allow 1% of the population to be exponentially over represented or remedies to correct these imbalances are not open for discussion. We are supposed to shovel more money at what amounts to a job program for a different 1% of the population and saddle young people and society with crushing debt loads so political hacks can bandy Martov, Menchu, Marx and Mengistu in faculty lounges. Work is something to be done between bong hits and after attending whatever political activist activity suits the current fashion.
We are supposed to wonder how a series of Marxist activists get hired in Universities miraculously even when they are terrorists, related to NYC communist leaders, fake Indians or even a University head related to Bernie Sanders. What is utterly amazing is a Maoist crank with an obsessive pathological obsession about Jews and Israel and personality disorders got hired multiple times for jobs with no peer reviewed articles. Of course lefties can point to the equally odious nut who testified at the David Irving trial as a non leftist racial power friendly crank. A genuine look at the bio shows this professor was also very much a part of the far left and kept going until they found common ground with the folks at Stormfront. Lefties point out that Kovel was merely a "green" who when not ranting incoherently about Israel was obsessed with anticommunism.
The far left is full of vapid conspiracy theories that involve Jews controlling whatever. Some unfortunates talk of a velvet mafia that has inordinate influence in Hollywood. No group has ever contolled anything more than the far left has abused Academia and the taxpayer for its whims. We are supposed to be outraged by the underworked banker selling worthless paper between coke hits. Bankers are many things and need to be regulated but they are not underworked. How does Prof Chomsky have time to write all these books speak everywhere, write scores of articles and teach classes. Does he even work 20 hours a week for his huge salary. Bankers are greedy, but lazy politically connected academics making six figure salaries paid for by the tax payer are paragons of virtue.
It is time for the GOP to run against Obama and his faculty lounge lizard allies.
The Beakerkin Platform
1) Universities must cosign all loans. This would discourage the unqualified students and useless degrees.
2) Elimination of all preferences except those for veterans
3) Complette review of staffing models. Hire must be done above board by the University President and board of directors. The days of Bolshevik star chambers ends.
4) Elimination of tenure for unprofessional conduct detrimental to the university. The days of Norman Finklestein and Ayers spanning the globe making their Universities look absurd are over.
5) No student loans or research grants for any University with a terrorist on faculty
6) Consolidation of sociology, anthropology and victims studies into one department. Philosophy and Political Science merged into one department. All of the above reduced in favor of business classes as degree requirements.
7) Foreign students who get arrested at polical protests get mandatory deportation from the USA and barred for two years. American students arrested lose all Federal loans for the same period. American students arrested for political activity abroad may not get student loans and be barred from hiring for 20 years after the arrest.
8) Financial institutions may withold parts of loans on specific courses they deem objectionable. This would encourage universities to be more careful with their course offerings.
9) Into to lit would draw from a list of One Hundred Books and must include at least one work of Shakespeare.
10) Triple tier pay system Hard science and math professors get top pay, Business, Nursing and Law get the next grade of pay and Social Sciences and Lit get the bottom tiered pay. Publishing is de-emphasized at the third level but course loads are increased and Sabaticals are eliminated.
While the business practices of Wall Street at times have deserved scrutiny it should not come from the even more corrupt Big Academia Mafia and its Godfather Don Barak Obama. Unlike the real mafia higher education has no business plan and has a better track record of dealing with cronyism. Barak Obama is basically a high functioning druggie who used his families left wing ties to get into elite prep schools, did poorly at Occidental and magically turns up in the Ivys via nepotism, legacy points or affirmative action. Obama then repeats every cliche from the far left and is socially promoted to a law degree and a University job.
Most of us know lower functioning druggies who lose their life's savings and end up meandering through debt, job loss and pathetic lives. Blaming Wall Street and Bankers for student debt loads with worthless degrees is akin to blaming loan sharks for drug addiction. The only responsability banks do have is not doing a better job at eliminating certain loans by major. You want to get a doctorate in Anthropology do so on your own dime or make the universities liable for default.
There is much talk about diversity in faculty and the student body. 90% of this is speculation and having seen yet another example of a far leftist contrive fake Indian heritage it seems like a way for the far left to merely get the Indians of their own imagination. Ward Churchill was nothing more than a far left cliche with sunglasses and a greasy ponytail. Elizabeth Warren pretty much said hey I am from Oklahoma and all you rubes think we all have Indian DNA. She used her far left connections to get a job at an elite university that she had not earned through merrit. Of course she is one of the people who have the dubious claim of founding OWS. Unlike David Graeber, whose scholarship and credentials as a genuine scholar, are not in question even by those opposed to his innane politics Warren benefitted from this scam. The notion that an Indian ( Native American) Marxist brings something unique to the table that a Marxist from other places does not is false. They basically look at issues from the same vantage point and pretty much say Amen on the large issues while making mountains out of molehills as only Marxist morons can on minor Marxist theological dogma.
In fact the scarcity of people who hold differing philosophies results in a series of lunatics creating sham scholarship and a series of statements like wishing for 1000 Mogadishus or Little Eichmans after 9-11.
The social science fields is pretty much a jobs probram for fellow believers in Marxism with a few slots for Greens and Anarchists. Leftists like to use the term "adverse impact" in terms of testing and race and abuse statistics to advance the case to place more minorities on campus at the expense of more qualified non minorities. Of course any use of the same statistical tools to cast doubt on hiring methods that allow 1% of the population to be exponentially over represented or remedies to correct these imbalances are not open for discussion. We are supposed to shovel more money at what amounts to a job program for a different 1% of the population and saddle young people and society with crushing debt loads so political hacks can bandy Martov, Menchu, Marx and Mengistu in faculty lounges. Work is something to be done between bong hits and after attending whatever political activist activity suits the current fashion.
We are supposed to wonder how a series of Marxist activists get hired in Universities miraculously even when they are terrorists, related to NYC communist leaders, fake Indians or even a University head related to Bernie Sanders. What is utterly amazing is a Maoist crank with an obsessive pathological obsession about Jews and Israel and personality disorders got hired multiple times for jobs with no peer reviewed articles. Of course lefties can point to the equally odious nut who testified at the David Irving trial as a non leftist racial power friendly crank. A genuine look at the bio shows this professor was also very much a part of the far left and kept going until they found common ground with the folks at Stormfront. Lefties point out that Kovel was merely a "green" who when not ranting incoherently about Israel was obsessed with anticommunism.
The far left is full of vapid conspiracy theories that involve Jews controlling whatever. Some unfortunates talk of a velvet mafia that has inordinate influence in Hollywood. No group has ever contolled anything more than the far left has abused Academia and the taxpayer for its whims. We are supposed to be outraged by the underworked banker selling worthless paper between coke hits. Bankers are many things and need to be regulated but they are not underworked. How does Prof Chomsky have time to write all these books speak everywhere, write scores of articles and teach classes. Does he even work 20 hours a week for his huge salary. Bankers are greedy, but lazy politically connected academics making six figure salaries paid for by the tax payer are paragons of virtue.
It is time for the GOP to run against Obama and his faculty lounge lizard allies.
The Beakerkin Platform
1) Universities must cosign all loans. This would discourage the unqualified students and useless degrees.
2) Elimination of all preferences except those for veterans
3) Complette review of staffing models. Hire must be done above board by the University President and board of directors. The days of Bolshevik star chambers ends.
4) Elimination of tenure for unprofessional conduct detrimental to the university. The days of Norman Finklestein and Ayers spanning the globe making their Universities look absurd are over.
5) No student loans or research grants for any University with a terrorist on faculty
6) Consolidation of sociology, anthropology and victims studies into one department. Philosophy and Political Science merged into one department. All of the above reduced in favor of business classes as degree requirements.
7) Foreign students who get arrested at polical protests get mandatory deportation from the USA and barred for two years. American students arrested lose all Federal loans for the same period. American students arrested for political activity abroad may not get student loans and be barred from hiring for 20 years after the arrest.
8) Financial institutions may withold parts of loans on specific courses they deem objectionable. This would encourage universities to be more careful with their course offerings.
9) Into to lit would draw from a list of One Hundred Books and must include at least one work of Shakespeare.
10) Triple tier pay system Hard science and math professors get top pay, Business, Nursing and Law get the next grade of pay and Social Sciences and Lit get the bottom tiered pay. Publishing is de-emphasized at the third level but course loads are increased and Sabaticals are eliminated.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Rip Eitan Patz
Around the time of my bar mitzvah a few days later a child disappeared in Greenwich Village. The child was never seen again and his name has entered the lexicon for abducted children. Most children are abducted in a custody situation and this was clearly not the case.
All of us in NYC knew the ending of this story in our hearts. The question of if the killer would be brought to justice was something many of us doubted. Today with video cameras this likely would have been resolved quicker.
The real tragedy is that a Jamaican handiman who had no connection to this crime was a suspect. Even scarier was that this person lived an unexceptional life and may not have repeated this act. The other suspect was a convicted pedophile and should be loathed even if not guilty of this crime.
The body of Eitan Patz will likely never be recovered. However, his family does have some measure of closure for this crime. Those of us in NYC in 79 and many around the world will never forget the name of Eitan Patz.
Do any of you remember Ari Halberstam? How about Robert Stethem? Edward Byrne?
All of us in NYC knew the ending of this story in our hearts. The question of if the killer would be brought to justice was something many of us doubted. Today with video cameras this likely would have been resolved quicker.
The real tragedy is that a Jamaican handiman who had no connection to this crime was a suspect. Even scarier was that this person lived an unexceptional life and may not have repeated this act. The other suspect was a convicted pedophile and should be loathed even if not guilty of this crime.
The body of Eitan Patz will likely never be recovered. However, his family does have some measure of closure for this crime. Those of us in NYC in 79 and many around the world will never forget the name of Eitan Patz.
Do any of you remember Ari Halberstam? How about Robert Stethem? Edward Byrne?
Thank You Editrix
The Editrix and AOW and a few of you know today is my birthday. I share this day with John Wayne, James Arness and Sissy Spacek. Oddly this date including the year is shared with the people of Guyana.
Today is Guyana independence day. When I do work with my families community this is part of the stand up comedy act I do for a few charities. The charities raise money to send Guyanese kids for medical treatment in India.
I am going to spend time with my daughter and the little dog. The little dog is probably the only living creature that steals food from me and lived to tell the story. Actually the daughter has been known to steal a spinach roll or spinach pie from me. Sometimes she gets mad at me because of the jokes. I told her the story of a little girl who drank pineapple soda on the night of a full moon with a thunderstorm and became a werepinapple. There was a thunder storm outside and I spun the tale and told her to check her skin and hair. She was scared but I told her there was no full moon. What would a werepineapple do anyway search for coconuts.
As I age it is impossible not to see how much I have mellowed out over time. How much of that is time or being a dad only the guy upstairs knows.
Other May 26 events House Unamerican activities started and Stevie Nicks, Peggy Lee and Brett Musburger were born today.
Z thanks for your help.
Today is Guyana independence day. When I do work with my families community this is part of the stand up comedy act I do for a few charities. The charities raise money to send Guyanese kids for medical treatment in India.
I am going to spend time with my daughter and the little dog. The little dog is probably the only living creature that steals food from me and lived to tell the story. Actually the daughter has been known to steal a spinach roll or spinach pie from me. Sometimes she gets mad at me because of the jokes. I told her the story of a little girl who drank pineapple soda on the night of a full moon with a thunderstorm and became a werepinapple. There was a thunder storm outside and I spun the tale and told her to check her skin and hair. She was scared but I told her there was no full moon. What would a werepineapple do anyway search for coconuts.
As I age it is impossible not to see how much I have mellowed out over time. How much of that is time or being a dad only the guy upstairs knows.
Other May 26 events House Unamerican activities started and Stevie Nicks, Peggy Lee and Brett Musburger were born today.
Z thanks for your help.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Time for a rant
Readers of this blog are well aware of the dialouge that goes on between myself and the Duck. Generally, I am very modest about the work I do. I have been decorated many times for my service above and beyond the call of duty. This is something that doesn't mean much because the public deserves this each and every day. The job I do is a labor of love for my country and the American people.
Those I talk to off line are amused by the stories from the front. This is why I am amused when a hack educator who teaches videography questions my values. I change lives for the better and protect the public and he teaches would be bar mitzvah photographers.
I am the first Kahanist in recorded history with Hindu family. How a Marxist who imagines he is soooo bright confuses a secularist with those who want to create a Torah State is beyond comical.
In my private and professional life I am a modest man who avoids public speaking and award ceremonies. Unfortunately some of the charities like me to do standup comedy. Even at work when I get mad, frequently
it just comes out funny. The humor is based on just thinking differently at odd situations. The building is evacuated by an earthquake and I grab a hot dog and a Dew and grumble about finding a Knish.
I mentor many officers and am a union activist. While the Duck talks .. I do.
Yet at the end of many a tough day it is the greeting of the Maltese or my daughter that I long for. I ejoy letting the dog hang out with me or steal a lamb chop. When I go for a walk he is there waiting to join me and he never gives me trouble other than wanting to play with every dog he sees.
I wouldn't trade the magical moments I share with the public for more prestige.
Those I talk to off line are amused by the stories from the front. This is why I am amused when a hack educator who teaches videography questions my values. I change lives for the better and protect the public and he teaches would be bar mitzvah photographers.
I am the first Kahanist in recorded history with Hindu family. How a Marxist who imagines he is soooo bright confuses a secularist with those who want to create a Torah State is beyond comical.
In my private and professional life I am a modest man who avoids public speaking and award ceremonies. Unfortunately some of the charities like me to do standup comedy. Even at work when I get mad, frequently
it just comes out funny. The humor is based on just thinking differently at odd situations. The building is evacuated by an earthquake and I grab a hot dog and a Dew and grumble about finding a Knish.
I mentor many officers and am a union activist. While the Duck talks .. I do.
Yet at the end of many a tough day it is the greeting of the Maltese or my daughter that I long for. I ejoy letting the dog hang out with me or steal a lamb chop. When I go for a walk he is there waiting to join me and he never gives me trouble other than wanting to play with every dog he sees.
I wouldn't trade the magical moments I share with the public for more prestige.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Yes I am a liberal
The most amusing thing about this blog is those who are off the map to the left never get beyond the actual cliche lines about their opponents. When the sanctimonious left is criticized they go into reflexive memes. It took Communist Clown Renegade Eye years to deduce I am a liberal.
Liberals used to be more like me and less like John Kerry.
1) I am proud of my country and its history. I can look at the unpleasant chapters like the treatment of American Indians and Slavery in a balanced manner.
2) Communism is a nasty death cult of morons who are nore dogmatic than the folks at the 700 Club they mock with zero social graces and low IQs. They are not the moral arbiters of anything. I do not work with them or put up with their presence.
3) While I am not a Conservative, I usually respect their integrity. When I disagree with policies I respect their intentions. Communists rationalize every actions of our enemies and reflexively blame America for every imagined ill on the globe.
4) Socialism is a lousy idea. True socialists frequently allow actual commies into their ranks and are frequently obstructionist. While workers rights are an important item unions need to work place issues
and be as apolitical as possible.
5) Man made global warming is a hoax. Greens that go on diatribes against anti communists like Kovel or ex Maoist Finklestein fool nobody.
6) Obama is inept as a leader. He is incaple of correcting the economy.
7) I do not aspire to make the USA more like the EU.
8) The cost of higher education is outrageous.
9) I do not worship psychology. The field has become way too politicized. Long term patients like Woody Allen and Barbara Striesand have been at it for decades and are still loathsome on many levels.
A professional who told either to grow up and get their inflated egos back to reality would have been replaced long ago. Rationalizing their clients gross behavior does not promote sound mental health. Therapy has become a poor substitue for religion. The advice of most therapists is no more sound than that of a trained clergyman.
10) While I do believe in regulation, I oppose paper tyranny, procedural fetishism and cowboyism of governmental workers. Get people of sound judgement on the job and stay out of their way.
11) 90% of what we call art is BS.
12) Popular culture should entertain first and everything else is secondary.
Not a classic rant but it feels goooooooooood
Surf music is theraputic and clears my office. I fantasize about wearing a loud tropical shirt, Bermuda shorts and white shoes to work on a day I don't have to deal with the public. Until then I can unknown
songs like Gypsy Surfer, Sandstorm, Bullwinkle 2 and Bumble Boogie on the CD player and imagine.
I can also imagine Don Rickles style retorts to the human hockey pucks that make policies in DC.
Not exactly what Lennon Imagined but I am a real NYC guy.
Dudeology question of the day
Your girlfriend says she is angry at you for something and is not talking to you until you figure it out
Which response is worthy of being a dude
A) Give her flowers and let her vent
B) Ask exactly how is this a punishment
C) Pop a beer and get some chips and wait for whatever
D) Tell her how important she is to you and that you are not a psychic
E) Plan some romantic gesture to ride out the storm.
Remember, being a dude and sound judgement often are not the same. Not all of us can be Mr. B or Beakerkin.
Liberals used to be more like me and less like John Kerry.
1) I am proud of my country and its history. I can look at the unpleasant chapters like the treatment of American Indians and Slavery in a balanced manner.
2) Communism is a nasty death cult of morons who are nore dogmatic than the folks at the 700 Club they mock with zero social graces and low IQs. They are not the moral arbiters of anything. I do not work with them or put up with their presence.
3) While I am not a Conservative, I usually respect their integrity. When I disagree with policies I respect their intentions. Communists rationalize every actions of our enemies and reflexively blame America for every imagined ill on the globe.
4) Socialism is a lousy idea. True socialists frequently allow actual commies into their ranks and are frequently obstructionist. While workers rights are an important item unions need to work place issues
and be as apolitical as possible.
5) Man made global warming is a hoax. Greens that go on diatribes against anti communists like Kovel or ex Maoist Finklestein fool nobody.
6) Obama is inept as a leader. He is incaple of correcting the economy.
7) I do not aspire to make the USA more like the EU.
8) The cost of higher education is outrageous.
9) I do not worship psychology. The field has become way too politicized. Long term patients like Woody Allen and Barbara Striesand have been at it for decades and are still loathsome on many levels.
A professional who told either to grow up and get their inflated egos back to reality would have been replaced long ago. Rationalizing their clients gross behavior does not promote sound mental health. Therapy has become a poor substitue for religion. The advice of most therapists is no more sound than that of a trained clergyman.
10) While I do believe in regulation, I oppose paper tyranny, procedural fetishism and cowboyism of governmental workers. Get people of sound judgement on the job and stay out of their way.
11) 90% of what we call art is BS.
12) Popular culture should entertain first and everything else is secondary.
Not a classic rant but it feels goooooooooood
Surf music is theraputic and clears my office. I fantasize about wearing a loud tropical shirt, Bermuda shorts and white shoes to work on a day I don't have to deal with the public. Until then I can unknown
songs like Gypsy Surfer, Sandstorm, Bullwinkle 2 and Bumble Boogie on the CD player and imagine.
I can also imagine Don Rickles style retorts to the human hockey pucks that make policies in DC.
Not exactly what Lennon Imagined but I am a real NYC guy.
Dudeology question of the day
Your girlfriend says she is angry at you for something and is not talking to you until you figure it out
Which response is worthy of being a dude
A) Give her flowers and let her vent
B) Ask exactly how is this a punishment
C) Pop a beer and get some chips and wait for whatever
D) Tell her how important she is to you and that you are not a psychic
E) Plan some romantic gesture to ride out the storm.
Remember, being a dude and sound judgement often are not the same. Not all of us can be Mr. B or Beakerkin.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Sandwich Wars
I forced myself to go to Quiznos for a more recent evaluation. Their product still is far better than Subway but has gotten worse. You likely get more bang for your dollar at Quiznos than Potbelly. However, Potbelly seems to taste better and have better attmoshpere despite lame chips. I might visit more frequently because they have Diet Mountain Dew on tap. If you want the best product Lennys is hands down the best if you can handle the ordering system which is almost like being mugged. Au Bon Pain is creative but not up to par. They have some interesting offerings, but are just mediocre. Blimpie provides amazing value and nostalgia but nothing else. Subway is over rated uninspired and I only go there when they have a limited time offering. I can't say that any of these offerings got me to run back looking for more except the Garden Chicken Salad.
There are some on the left whose hatred for Obama is worse than that of the Tea Party. I just finnished reading an off the wall rant by Pilger. Bradley Manning is not being charged with treason because he is gay. Even if his tales of bullying are true there is never a rationale for treason. Any rationalization of his actions are insults to gay people everywhere.
The fake indian in MA is looking worse as she submitted recipies. I shall invent my own tribe of the Jouix and ask if I can submit Gefilte Fish and roadkill mashed potato recipies into the next book. Genuine Native American Indian food as served in the Museum of the Native American is far superior to cliche fancy resturant fare. If Americans ever knew how good Native American food tasted it would be everywhere.
There are some on the left whose hatred for Obama is worse than that of the Tea Party. I just finnished reading an off the wall rant by Pilger. Bradley Manning is not being charged with treason because he is gay. Even if his tales of bullying are true there is never a rationale for treason. Any rationalization of his actions are insults to gay people everywhere.
The fake indian in MA is looking worse as she submitted recipies. I shall invent my own tribe of the Jouix and ask if I can submit Gefilte Fish and roadkill mashed potato recipies into the next book. Genuine Native American Indian food as served in the Museum of the Native American is far superior to cliche fancy resturant fare. If Americans ever knew how good Native American food tasted it would be everywhere.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
The Long Voyage Home
I watched one of John Wayne's films that I have not seen. One of the oddities of Wayne's career was he did do a film based upon Eugene Oniels play. Unlike many authors who hate the film version of their work Oneil loved this version. You will see many familiar faces from John Wayne films. Ward Bond gets the meatier role as Yank and dies. John Qualen and Barry Fitzgerald are seen quickly. Qualen one again is playing a Scandanavian including multiple " By Yimminy'. The star of the film is Thomas Mitchell who is seen in Stagecoach with Wayne. Ian Hunter plays a large role as a sailor trying to forget a misdeed at home.
The film was about the stark lives of broken men who passed their days as merchant marines. Oniel unlike modern communist authors understood that a playwright must never bore his audience or shriek at them. The story comes first and Oniel wrote about a subject he knew well life at sea. His works show the stark depessing world he knew well. One was familiar with this world from Two Years Before the Mast which is seldom read in school anymore.
The film was about the stark lives of broken men who passed their days as merchant marines. Oniel unlike modern communist authors understood that a playwright must never bore his audience or shriek at them. The story comes first and Oniel wrote about a subject he knew well life at sea. His works show the stark depessing world he knew well. One was familiar with this world from Two Years Before the Mast which is seldom read in school anymore.
Ouch
I bought my daughter her first bicycle. It was better than hearing endlessly I want a bunny. The dog would probably eat the bunny. Where do kids get the absurd ideas. Rabbits can not be released after byou get bored with them. They are also not exactly like the Maltese which oddly never wants to spend time with the daughter. The dog jusst wants to hang out with the old man or go to the dog run.
j
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Junk Food Culture
I was talking with friends about films we remember and why. Some films are shown many times because they are worthy like The Good The Bad and The Ugly or The Searchers. Their are other films that we love to watch and are dreadful and are played over and over again like Dirty Dancing, Kelly's Heroes, Flash Gordon and the Revenge of the Nerds films.
Kelly's Heroes was a film that was chopped to death. Watching it over the years and growing up it takes new shapes as you age. The film would likely be forgotten if it were not for the proto hippie played by Sutherland and the edgy NYC scammer played by Rickles. Telly Savalas plays Sgt. Kojak well and Eastwood is there but almost secondary. As a young child the combat held the attention as we age the comedy and the perplexed reactions to the beatnik are hysterical. The original film had more charachter development and antiwar sentiment and allegedly showed Eastwoods crew getting caught. In the end the actual ending is better because you wonder did they get away. In reallity the answer has to be no except for the Germans who likely had a greater chance to bury the loot and come back.
On certain levels these films are memorable and you want to see them again knowing they aren't high art but they are fun. Maybe the fun factor is why we don't see the Deep or Black Sunday as often. I saw the excellent Harry and Tonto a year or two ago. For whatever reasons the second Planet of the Apes film is never shown. Our own Ducky has a cameo playing a mutant worshiping the atomic bomb. Logans Run is seldom shown but was a good film.
Maybe the trick to fims impact is to have a great star like Wayne or Eastwood and be shown for generations. My daughter hates surf music and quckly knows who John Wayne is. Similarly, I have a fun time watching Zach and Cody or Wizards of Waverly Place with my kid. She doesn't get Fonzie or Alex Keaton or that dad was a cross between the two. It doesn't have to be high art if you watch it with your family.
Kelly's Heroes was a film that was chopped to death. Watching it over the years and growing up it takes new shapes as you age. The film would likely be forgotten if it were not for the proto hippie played by Sutherland and the edgy NYC scammer played by Rickles. Telly Savalas plays Sgt. Kojak well and Eastwood is there but almost secondary. As a young child the combat held the attention as we age the comedy and the perplexed reactions to the beatnik are hysterical. The original film had more charachter development and antiwar sentiment and allegedly showed Eastwoods crew getting caught. In the end the actual ending is better because you wonder did they get away. In reallity the answer has to be no except for the Germans who likely had a greater chance to bury the loot and come back.
On certain levels these films are memorable and you want to see them again knowing they aren't high art but they are fun. Maybe the fun factor is why we don't see the Deep or Black Sunday as often. I saw the excellent Harry and Tonto a year or two ago. For whatever reasons the second Planet of the Apes film is never shown. Our own Ducky has a cameo playing a mutant worshiping the atomic bomb. Logans Run is seldom shown but was a good film.
Maybe the trick to fims impact is to have a great star like Wayne or Eastwood and be shown for generations. My daughter hates surf music and quckly knows who John Wayne is. Similarly, I have a fun time watching Zach and Cody or Wizards of Waverly Place with my kid. She doesn't get Fonzie or Alex Keaton or that dad was a cross between the two. It doesn't have to be high art if you watch it with your family.
Friday, May 18, 2012
More Sandwich Chains
I am delving into the sandwich wars of NYC. There are many options but I decided to look at the first entry into the crowded market Blimpies. It was a great concept in the 80's and I can remember sitting with my friends in college and we would scounge some money together and buy two foot long heroes. Blimpie was a great value to the College student. I still prefer it to Subway and on some levels it provides great value for your dollar. Unlike Subway where all you get is bread Blimpie gives you a fair deal. I really don't go there for the food as much as the nostalgia. I miss some of those friends from college and one of them didn't even make 40.
I have been hearing amazing things about a new chain in NYC called Lennys. Pot Belly is more of a Starbucks hip feel with small but decent sandwiches. Lenny's has the essence of NYC it is fast paced like getting jammed into a subway. However, the secret is that the sandwiches are the best of any comercial sandwich chain I have been to. You don't sit about and listen to music,but the food is stellar. Oddly, I order a combination I frequently make at home Turkey and Corned Beef on Rye with Russian Dressing and Coleslaw. At home I add a a few pickled peppers and a slice of NY Deli Pickles. It was almost as good as the ones I make at home. Lenny's is like NY and if you can get past the ordering system that is intially confusing and almost adverserial you have found a gem.
I am going to have to get around to Pret a Manger, Cosi and the very hyped Earl of Sandwich. Sadly the places that need Lennys are the least likely to have one. I probably would have lived in the place if they had one in Burlington. It is like a slice of real NY even with the attitude.
The question of where I rank Lennys vs Potbelly. Lenny's food wins hands down, but if I am unwinding Potbelly is fine. I still have never found a reason to enter a Subway other than convenience or an advertised special.
I have been hearing amazing things about a new chain in NYC called Lennys. Pot Belly is more of a Starbucks hip feel with small but decent sandwiches. Lenny's has the essence of NYC it is fast paced like getting jammed into a subway. However, the secret is that the sandwiches are the best of any comercial sandwich chain I have been to. You don't sit about and listen to music,but the food is stellar. Oddly, I order a combination I frequently make at home Turkey and Corned Beef on Rye with Russian Dressing and Coleslaw. At home I add a a few pickled peppers and a slice of NY Deli Pickles. It was almost as good as the ones I make at home. Lenny's is like NY and if you can get past the ordering system that is intially confusing and almost adverserial you have found a gem.
I am going to have to get around to Pret a Manger, Cosi and the very hyped Earl of Sandwich. Sadly the places that need Lennys are the least likely to have one. I probably would have lived in the place if they had one in Burlington. It is like a slice of real NY even with the attitude.
The question of where I rank Lennys vs Potbelly. Lenny's food wins hands down, but if I am unwinding Potbelly is fine. I still have never found a reason to enter a Subway other than convenience or an advertised special.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Yet another fake Indian
After the Ward Churchill scandal, I thought I heard the last story of leftists faking being Indians for jobs in higher ed. Elizabeth Warren is not an Indian and should be facing charges for falsely claiminmg to be one in order to get a high paying job she did not earn on merrit.
The time has come for a full review of hirring practies in higher education.
The time has come for a full review of hirring practies in higher education.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
More Junk food
I went for round two at Potbelly. I had a sandwich called a "wreck". It was a work of brilliance. Frankly, there is zero reason or rationale to sit in a Subway if a Potbelly is available. At this location Boylan Black Cherry was available. The only thing that was less than perfect was the high end chips that lack a punch. I have no idea who makes Zaps but they are not upto par.
The Sandwich shop is a crowded genre. For a Philly Cheese Steak I still prefer Carl Jr's and every now and then they have an awesome fish sandwich that would be perfect with a better bread. I don't think I have set foot in a Quiznos in two years or more. I may go in and take a look. I will go into a Subway only for a special and not their ordinary fare. I do like Au Bon Pain but Pot Belly is so much better that unless I am by the SI Ferry I will not set foot in one. Many people have tried to get me to try Cosi and I will have to get around to it.
Onto Music. J&R moved the Oldies Music Upstairs. I have been listening to CD's from an outfit called ACE Records. I can honestly say that the Teen Beat 3 was so good that I ran to locate vollume 2 and 4.
One of my CD's went Bad but I got another. A CD with Ride the Wild Surf by Jan and Dean and the hysterical Surfer Joe is worth a play.
I got killed at work. I am still in a holding pattern due to jury duty. I was told to call in and given a message to go to work and call again. I do not know until 5 if I have to report to the court. I got nailed with seven cases and zero prep time. No officer gets more than five but I brought them home with no fanfare. The attorneys were overjoyed with the switch as I was not scheduled to hear cases and work on another team.
Hopefully, I will get nothing tommorow and make room in my office.
The Sandwich shop is a crowded genre. For a Philly Cheese Steak I still prefer Carl Jr's and every now and then they have an awesome fish sandwich that would be perfect with a better bread. I don't think I have set foot in a Quiznos in two years or more. I may go in and take a look. I will go into a Subway only for a special and not their ordinary fare. I do like Au Bon Pain but Pot Belly is so much better that unless I am by the SI Ferry I will not set foot in one. Many people have tried to get me to try Cosi and I will have to get around to it.
Onto Music. J&R moved the Oldies Music Upstairs. I have been listening to CD's from an outfit called ACE Records. I can honestly say that the Teen Beat 3 was so good that I ran to locate vollume 2 and 4.
One of my CD's went Bad but I got another. A CD with Ride the Wild Surf by Jan and Dean and the hysterical Surfer Joe is worth a play.
I got killed at work. I am still in a holding pattern due to jury duty. I was told to call in and given a message to go to work and call again. I do not know until 5 if I have to report to the court. I got nailed with seven cases and zero prep time. No officer gets more than five but I brought them home with no fanfare. The attorneys were overjoyed with the switch as I was not scheduled to hear cases and work on another team.
Hopefully, I will get nothing tommorow and make room in my office.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Junk Food Review
From time to time I venture into fast food joint and give my thoughts. The sandwich shop is one that I go to frequently. I am largely unhappy with Subway and will go in only if they have something new. The standard menu items are not as good as Au Bon Pain, Quiznos or the newest entry to NYC Potbelly.
You probably get more bang for your dollar at Quiznos. The sandwich at Potbelly was on the small side. However it tastes better than at the other chains. I was disappointed they had only premium root beer as a beverage. Had they offered Boylan Soda this would be the best chain going. The mood and the attmosphere make this a place I intend to visit again.
You probably get more bang for your dollar at Quiznos. The sandwich at Potbelly was on the small side. However it tastes better than at the other chains. I was disappointed they had only premium root beer as a beverage. Had they offered Boylan Soda this would be the best chain going. The mood and the attmosphere make this a place I intend to visit again.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Back to the Jungle
It looks like I will be making another trip to the jungle. The locals are still talking about my previous trip. How much of it is exageration and just small town boredom is open for discussion. My odd items such as assorted condiments, surf music, strange food items and misadventures are still discussed over a year later.
In Guyana one does not expect to encounter Country Music but the locals are quite fond of it. I was rather surprised at the amount of queries about surf music. I sent a few CDS of it after I departed with friends going in as well as some Odd CD's for the home when I arrive. I expect the relatives to poke around as my items are luxuries. Having all of the Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns, Ben Hur as well as Hannah Montana and Rocky and Bullwinkle for the kids has provided hours of fun.
My food items did not survive the first day. Japanese Cherries, Pumpernickel Bread and canned goods went fast. Most of the locals were curious and had never seen those items
This trip will be into the interior. I do not know if the locals will allow me the time to enjoy this trip. The last time I was pretty much stuck around town except for a day. We had plenty of visitors and I was not allowed the time to adventure into the interior.
I did take a boat to crab Island which was a great mini adventure. I did not see the rare Canjee Pheasant. You frequently smell them long before you see them. My trip was at the wrong time of day for the boat to get into the Canjee Creek. I also enjoy buying fish and shrimp off the dock.
I am not a great guest. However, this time I will be better prepared for the trip. I will send supplies ahead so that I can travel lighter.
In Guyana one does not expect to encounter Country Music but the locals are quite fond of it. I was rather surprised at the amount of queries about surf music. I sent a few CDS of it after I departed with friends going in as well as some Odd CD's for the home when I arrive. I expect the relatives to poke around as my items are luxuries. Having all of the Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns, Ben Hur as well as Hannah Montana and Rocky and Bullwinkle for the kids has provided hours of fun.
My food items did not survive the first day. Japanese Cherries, Pumpernickel Bread and canned goods went fast. Most of the locals were curious and had never seen those items
This trip will be into the interior. I do not know if the locals will allow me the time to enjoy this trip. The last time I was pretty much stuck around town except for a day. We had plenty of visitors and I was not allowed the time to adventure into the interior.
I did take a boat to crab Island which was a great mini adventure. I did not see the rare Canjee Pheasant. You frequently smell them long before you see them. My trip was at the wrong time of day for the boat to get into the Canjee Creek. I also enjoy buying fish and shrimp off the dock.
I am not a great guest. However, this time I will be better prepared for the trip. I will send supplies ahead so that I can travel lighter.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Leftist BS about Gays
The left lives in a fantasy world of fear mongering. Elect a Republican and gays get herded into closets and watching Will and Grace is prohibited.
The truth is that there is a severe problem with homophobia in the West Indian community. Contrary to imagined media rationalizations the perpetrators are neither religious nor Conservative. The same people that will end a career over real and frequently imagined racial slights have no problem using homophobic slurs and claim that certain women posses "gaydar".
In media circles the craven Obama move is being potrayed as courage. In fact he was elected by cowardly hiding who he is. At the last hour his position on this issue changes after talking with his family. I want to point out that this series of expedient back flips is exactly why he shouldn't be trusted and can not lead. The anti Obama Mayor Bloomburg stated his convictions when expediency was not in his favor. Bloomberg is a genuine leader and Obama is a joke on all levels.
The joke is on the American people and was never funny, it is pathetic.
The truth is that there is a severe problem with homophobia in the West Indian community. Contrary to imagined media rationalizations the perpetrators are neither religious nor Conservative. The same people that will end a career over real and frequently imagined racial slights have no problem using homophobic slurs and claim that certain women posses "gaydar".
In media circles the craven Obama move is being potrayed as courage. In fact he was elected by cowardly hiding who he is. At the last hour his position on this issue changes after talking with his family. I want to point out that this series of expedient back flips is exactly why he shouldn't be trusted and can not lead. The anti Obama Mayor Bloomburg stated his convictions when expediency was not in his favor. Bloomberg is a genuine leader and Obama is a joke on all levels.
The joke is on the American people and was never funny, it is pathetic.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Leftist hysteria
I am amused at the continued hysteria by those on the left about abortion. Sorry, but as much as we loved Reagan he did not overturn or impede abortion availability. On HP some moron whined about Roe being the sum of all rights.
Sorry but the left has been intruding in on my person liberties everywhere except the bedroom
I am stuck with pricey toilets that don't get the job done
Lightbulbs that stink
Energy taxed onto the sofa
Beverage taxed into water
Cigarette taxed from the same crowd pushing legalization of weed
Taxing chips and Junk food
Sorry, but I am tired of these intrusions into my personal liberty by the left. The sum of mosts peoples lives is not defined by the bedroom and folks need to eat, drive and go to the bathroom daily.
Sorry but the left has been intruding in on my person liberties everywhere except the bedroom
I am stuck with pricey toilets that don't get the job done
Lightbulbs that stink
Energy taxed onto the sofa
Beverage taxed into water
Cigarette taxed from the same crowd pushing legalization of weed
Taxing chips and Junk food
Sorry, but I am tired of these intrusions into my personal liberty by the left. The sum of mosts peoples lives is not defined by the bedroom and folks need to eat, drive and go to the bathroom daily.
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