Baseball ticked me off again tonight. These "Umpires"...wow. Angry. OK. 1..2..3...better.
Jim Joyce's blown call against Armando Galaraga with a perfect game going in the bottom of the 9th, 2 outs might go down as one of the single worst calls in umpiring history. It's a year where the usually "invisible" umpires are sadly becoming more visible, to the point where loudmouth fatass Joe West got fined for just generally being a moron.
This, to me is showing why its becoming harder and harder for me to be a MLB fan. The fans are getting screwed more and more each game, each day and each play.
BUT. I have, what I believe are some very good ideas to bring the game back to prominence, and I will go further into them now.
1]INSTANT REPLAY- Enough with this "it'll make the game longer" nonsense. If you don't like the length of the games, leave the park or change the channel. I'd rather stick around a few extra minutes just to see the right call, than leave the park a few minutes early with a blood pressure reading that will boil steel. I don't wanna see it for home run calls, I wanna see it for every call. Make it like football, each time gets 3 or 4 challenges a game and that's it.
2]ELIMINATE MOST UMPIRES- Save for the home plate ump, whose only job should be ball and strike calls, all umps seem to do is piss off people. Eliminate them. It'll save the game money. Replace them with the official scorer, or better yet, technology. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps won a race by .01 seconds, the only way they can tell was with a computer chip in the wall that he touched. Surely we can do something like this for baseball. Have the base blink as soon as the runner touches it.
3]END INTERLEAGUE GAMES- I might be wrong on this, but I think I remember that when interleague was announced, that it was only supposed to be for 5 years or something like that. Now it's every year and some of the match ups have lost their luster. Yankees vs. Pirates? That is a joke. Royals vs. Phillies? C'mon. Not only do you risk injuring pitchers, you kinda make the World Series less exciting. It was more exciting when teams from different leagues faced each other only on Spring Training games and the Series. If Interleague must stay, make it one series, like Yanks vs. Mets or White Sox vs. Cubs, the days leading up to the All Star break.
4]MORE TEAMS OR REALIGNMENT- The National League has more teams then American, and It has always bothered me as to why that is. Either move 2 teams to the AL, likely the Rockies or the Pirates, or form new teams. Surely Las Vegas is over due for a pro sports franchise, or dare I suggest somewhere in America's breadbasket? Maybe Oklahoma City, Topeka, Kansas, or Omaha, Nebraska? There are whole regions of the country that have no baseball near them, and it's supposed to be Americas pastime.
5]THROWBACKS- Wanna have a game with throwback uniforms to bring back a sense of "old time" baseball? Great idea, but lets take it a step further. For those games, lets also have throwback prices. I don't think MLB would lose much for $5 or so seats for the whole park for one or two days.
6]SALARY CAP- Yea, I know i'm gonna catch flack for this but I don't care. I get sick to my stomach when I see guys complaining about not making an extra $40 million a year on top of the $60 million they're already making when some people are digging in dumpsters for food and teachers and firefighters are losing their jobs meanwhile these pampered blowhards get paid ludicrous amounts of money to play a game we all happily play or played as kids for free. Whatever happened to "for love of the game?" In addition to the regular salary, these bums already get money from endorsements anyway. So what if they don't make that extra 40 mil? Can't afford that 3rd Mercedes? Whaaa.
7]PERSONAL CONDUCT FINES- The NFL has it, so why can't MLB? If I have to see Manny Ramierez stare lovingly at his HR for 10 minutes before he decides to run the bases, i'm gonna jump through my TV and strangle him with his own dreadlocks. For players who do this, there should be a mandatory $50,000 fine. Quit staring and run the bases like Williams, Mantle and the rest of the real players did.
8]HOMETOWN PLAYERS- This might be a little controversial at first but I believe it could have good repercussions long term. I think, in order to bring the hometown feel back to the game, every 25 man roster should feature at least 2 players who were born in or spent most of their life within 50 miles of the team they play for. I think it'd do a lot for the game. It'd give the fans a hometown guy to root for. Sure I like Posada and Pettitte but I Jeter was born close by. And while I know this might be sore subject with some, Teixeira was born in Baltimore, which is why he is currently reviled there. I love rooting for hometowners.
9]RAIN DELAYS- This one is simple. If it's a night game and the delay goes on for longer then an hour, call the game. I'm tired of waiting for hours at a time to see if they resumed play.
Wow. Look at that, 9 ideas....9 innings...9 players on the field. That tied up nicely didn't it? Oh Wait, extra Innings!!
10] FIRE BUD SELIG
Nuff' Said.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Well it's been over a week now since my ear surgery and even though I've been outside, i'm still going stir crazy. It's not fun. Now for those of you who didn't know, yes, I had surgery last week. 
I lost a lot of my hearing in my left side. They did CT Scans and couldn't even see my ear drum. So they went in there to repair everything and found out what coulda been a tumor was a bone. Fun times. They also did a skin graft, which for those of you who aren't medically knowledgeable means taking skin from an undamaged part of the body, usually under the arm of the back of the thigh and putting it where damaged skin is. They do it a lot on burn victims.
So they did that to my ear, removed the bad tissue and bone and stitched me up, yet right now it ain't pretty. I look like my ear got into a boxing match with a rat. There are are also drops I have to take that help drain the ear...which makes me leak like a BP Oil rig(Too soon?).
Either way, I now get a lot of time to watch TV and root the internets for fun things. I've been trying to avoid the news for the most part, because frankly it's depressing. I really don't want to hear about Oil leaks, firehouse closings and budget crises, but alas, I hear about them anyway.
Those of you who have known me for at least 5 minutes, know how big a part of my life the fire department is. So you can imagine when I hear that our jagoff of a "mayor" once again is going after them, i tend to get...angry. Closing firehouses is not a smart way to plug up budget holes. Especially on my forgotten rock. Staten Island doesn't even have enough fire protection now. What will happen when the now mostly empty 36 acre Stapleton Home port gets developed with 800 or so housing units? More people will someday mean more potential fires.
Same Goes for the Fresh Kills park idea, which will turn 2200 acres of former landfill into a park almost three times the size of Central Park.
The problem with that is that parks here on Staten Island tend to catch fire an awful lot, with Great Kills going up on average of 3 times a year, many of those fires reaching at least 3 alarms.
The more alarms, the more units needed. The more units needed, the more they pull in from other boroughs, in turn leaving them unprotected. A classic example of this was in April, when 4 fires broke out in one day on this island. The second of those fires had more units from Brooklyn then Staten Island! Closing houses is not the answer!
Nor is hiring people based on the color of their skin, especially in a job where other people's lives depend on it. I mean for crying out loud, do you really want someone answering the call that is only there because some judge wanted their idea of "Equality"?
Equality is everyone getting a fair shot. Everyone, not a specific group. I don't care if the person saving lives is black, white, Asian, alien or whatever the hell species Joan Rivers is, so long as they got there based on their ability, end of story.
Since the surgery I've been watching a lot of the older episodes of "Build It Bigger" on the Discovery Science Channel, and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. As far as building shows go, it is unique in the fact that it's host, Danny Forster, seen below, is actually an architect.
Danny goes around to building sites from the Washington Nationals baseball stadium in D.C. to the Shanghai World Financial Center in China. Oh yea, and he doesn't like heights, so putting him in a crane in Singapore sees him flip out a bit, which adds a human side to the simple documentary. Not only do you learn, you feel like you're on site with him. He also does not clutter up the show with architectural jargon. He explains everything to the viewer with such ease it almost makes you feel like you can build these places. His enthusiasm for the field of design truly makes the show shine, which is why it's one of my favorites.
It is doing a far better job of entertaining me then the finale of LOST, which was a complete disappointment. Maybe "Castle" won't let me down as my new serial of choice when it returns this fall. Maybe I need to stop watching so much TV?
One thing I have realized during this time is I got some pretty damn good friends. From the Chocolate Syringe that I got from White Chocolate And Zucchini to the cards from Lasagna...from the visit by Corky and Crash to the Package from Lor and the tons of texts, emails, comments and the such, you guys sure know how to make a guy feel good when he has his ear rebuilt like the six million dollar man....which ironically I never did watch. Go figure.
Also, while I was being sliced open like a Turkey on Thanksgiving, my good friends The Neccos welcomed a new wafer into the package, Cassandra Hope, who undoubtedly is being fitted for her cape as I type this.
I lost a lot of my hearing in my left side. They did CT Scans and couldn't even see my ear drum. So they went in there to repair everything and found out what coulda been a tumor was a bone. Fun times. They also did a skin graft, which for those of you who aren't medically knowledgeable means taking skin from an undamaged part of the body, usually under the arm of the back of the thigh and putting it where damaged skin is. They do it a lot on burn victims.
So they did that to my ear, removed the bad tissue and bone and stitched me up, yet right now it ain't pretty. I look like my ear got into a boxing match with a rat. There are are also drops I have to take that help drain the ear...which makes me leak like a BP Oil rig(Too soon?).
Either way, I now get a lot of time to watch TV and root the internets for fun things. I've been trying to avoid the news for the most part, because frankly it's depressing. I really don't want to hear about Oil leaks, firehouse closings and budget crises, but alas, I hear about them anyway.
Those of you who have known me for at least 5 minutes, know how big a part of my life the fire department is. So you can imagine when I hear that our jagoff of a "mayor" once again is going after them, i tend to get...angry. Closing firehouses is not a smart way to plug up budget holes. Especially on my forgotten rock. Staten Island doesn't even have enough fire protection now. What will happen when the now mostly empty 36 acre Stapleton Home port gets developed with 800 or so housing units? More people will someday mean more potential fires.
Same Goes for the Fresh Kills park idea, which will turn 2200 acres of former landfill into a park almost three times the size of Central Park.
The problem with that is that parks here on Staten Island tend to catch fire an awful lot, with Great Kills going up on average of 3 times a year, many of those fires reaching at least 3 alarms.
The more alarms, the more units needed. The more units needed, the more they pull in from other boroughs, in turn leaving them unprotected. A classic example of this was in April, when 4 fires broke out in one day on this island. The second of those fires had more units from Brooklyn then Staten Island! Closing houses is not the answer!
Nor is hiring people based on the color of their skin, especially in a job where other people's lives depend on it. I mean for crying out loud, do you really want someone answering the call that is only there because some judge wanted their idea of "Equality"?
Equality is everyone getting a fair shot. Everyone, not a specific group. I don't care if the person saving lives is black, white, Asian, alien or whatever the hell species Joan Rivers is, so long as they got there based on their ability, end of story.
Since the surgery I've been watching a lot of the older episodes of "Build It Bigger" on the Discovery Science Channel, and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. As far as building shows go, it is unique in the fact that it's host, Danny Forster, seen below, is actually an architect.
Danny goes around to building sites from the Washington Nationals baseball stadium in D.C. to the Shanghai World Financial Center in China. Oh yea, and he doesn't like heights, so putting him in a crane in Singapore sees him flip out a bit, which adds a human side to the simple documentary. Not only do you learn, you feel like you're on site with him. He also does not clutter up the show with architectural jargon. He explains everything to the viewer with such ease it almost makes you feel like you can build these places. His enthusiasm for the field of design truly makes the show shine, which is why it's one of my favorites.It is doing a far better job of entertaining me then the finale of LOST, which was a complete disappointment. Maybe "Castle" won't let me down as my new serial of choice when it returns this fall. Maybe I need to stop watching so much TV?
One thing I have realized during this time is I got some pretty damn good friends. From the Chocolate Syringe that I got from White Chocolate And Zucchini to the cards from Lasagna...from the visit by Corky and Crash to the Package from Lor and the tons of texts, emails, comments and the such, you guys sure know how to make a guy feel good when he has his ear rebuilt like the six million dollar man....which ironically I never did watch. Go figure.
Also, while I was being sliced open like a Turkey on Thanksgiving, my good friends The Neccos welcomed a new wafer into the package, Cassandra Hope, who undoubtedly is being fitted for her cape as I type this.
Monday, February 15, 2010
After watching the first few days of Olympic coverage, I’m reminded why I only watch NBC during the Olympics. I really don’t think it’s necessary to show the death of an athlete over and over. This sensationalism that has overtaken nearly every aspect of media has gotten beyond out of hand and needs to stop. And I’m not the only one that thinks this way. Other bloggers and media watchdog groups have constantly sought out ways to end this incessant garbage that we’re plagued with.
Getting back to my gripe about NBC. As I’ve been watching the Olympics I’ve been treated to commercials for their upcoming shows and I see I’ve missed nothing. “The Marriage Ref”? Really? Celebrities giving advice on marriage? Why not just have Sarah Palin become a geography teacher?
If NBC‘s destruction of normal programming isn't enough, they've driven my beloved Weather Channel into the iceberg as well. There is more non-weather programming on then ever before. It’s THE WEATHER CHANNEL! Not the traffic/news/sports channel, yet every morning we have to deal with Al Roker, who is the most piss poor excuse for a weather forecaster that I’ve ever seen. I want my Weather Channel back NBC.
Moving on and up the channel dial from 4 to 5...if you’re a New Yorker, after watching yesterday’s Daytona 500, I’m reminded why I don’t watch a lot of NASCAR anymore. Part of it is NASCAR itself, Part of it is sports in general, and part of it is FOX. See, I’m not afraid to admit that I used to be a huge NASCAR fan. I supported my driver, Kyle Petty, for 20 years, even though when he retired, he hadn’t won a race in over a decade.
Both He and his family owned team were essentially pushed out. This team was to NASCAR what the Yankees are to baseball. But they became swallowed up by a greedy sport who cared more about the dollar then ever before, which is saying a lot for a sport that relies on sponsors more then any other. It is a shell of it’s former self. The pointless attempts at, “going back to it’s roots” have proven futile. The whole idea of NASCAR is to have racing done with STOCK cars, they used to go by the philosophy of “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” How can you use that philosophy if even the seat belts aren’t stock? The cars they race now are boxes on wheels.
Yesterdays race was delayed for more then 2 ½ hours because of a freaking pothole. If the NYC department of transportation actually moved their asses once in a while, that thing would have been patched up in 3 minutes. Dale Earnhardt Jr. even said “why don’t they throw a cone down and we’ll race around it.” Not a bad idea, especially considering the sports roots came from racing on hard, rough sand at the beaches a few short blocks from the track itself. But oh no, not on today’s $150,000+ cars. That’s right, $150,000 plus. You could buy 9 of my car with that kinda cash. This from a sport that used to have its competitors drive the car the raced to the track and in most cases, those drivers used it as their families car Monday-Saturday.
And to have the idiots at FOX praise NASCAR and the owners of the track was insulting. Of course they don’t have a problem with the situation. They have multi million dollar tour buses and luxury suites to hide in an occupy their time with, all the while fans in the track and on TV are left twiddling their thumbs. And not for one minute do I believe that no one left the track disgusted. But will FOX sports ever criticize anything? Of course not. For those who say I’m “whining”, let me ask you, do you remember Alan Kulwicki? Do you remember the “Dale and Dale” show? Do you remember when pit crew members held the sign for their driver to stop instead of using a pole? No. You don’t remember how good sports in general used to be. I should have realized it sooner, like during their second or third broadcast when their idiotic color commentators were “jokingly” broadcasting from, I kid you not, a hot-tub. How is one supposed to take a sport seriously at that point?
FOX has ruined sports We want to see sports. We don’t want to see the "Viagra crotch cam sponsored by Maxim." We want to see the score, not Optimus Primes neighbor transforming into the scoreboard. We want to see thoughtful interviews with a athletes, not some moron with in a bow-tie asking Derek Jeter the same question 324 times, yet trying to phrase it differently in some vain attempt to try and fool the him into answering it with something more provocative for ratings. Whatever happened to good journalism?
Journalism used to mean something. It used to be people like Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. They made us think, made us feel and delivered real news, cut, and to the point. Now all we see is pointless drivel. I don’t care about the latest Britney Spears meltdown. I care about things THAT ACTUALLY AFFECT ME. It seems reporters care more about contracts and pleasing the fat cats then real news. There are very few real journalists nowadays and it’s disturbing. What the hell happened to our values? When did we become so consumed by what other people are doing that it became more important then our own lives?
Why is it that the world comes to a stop when a former musician/full time freak show/part time child molester finally croaks, but no one gives a damn when a solider or a firefighter or a police officer or a teacher dies. I know for a fact that those people have done far more for modern society then anyone on MTV or whatever network it is that turns people into drones nowadays.
I like Aerosmith. Have they changed my life? Absolutely not. I can however think of some firefighters on Richmond road here on Staten Island that have. I’m a fan of KT Tunstall. Has she greatly impacted me? Not nearly as much as my cousin, who’s proudly serving in the Navy. I think Tom Hanks is a great actor, but not nearly as great a teacher as some of the English teachers I had in high school. Sure Larry the Cable Guy is entertaining and funny, but I think my friends kids are more enjoyable and definitely more funny.
Modern society is falling apart quicker then the track surface at Daytona. We’ve become far too consumed by technology and over-indulgence. This is not to say I’m not a little bit guilty of it myself, but no where near the level of what some are facing. Why is it we all have to be connected at every point in our day? Why can’t we just stare at the clouds anymore?
Michael J. Fox said it best in his book,(remember those? Blocky shaped things with pieces of paper and words on em’?) “Always looking up: The Adventures Of An Incurable Optimist” about one of his daughters, Esme`; “The trick she’s mastered, or maybe it’s more of a facility than a trick, is moving effortlessly between the boundless world of her imagination and the everyday world the rest of us occupy. She’s not an escapist; she just holds two passports and travels often. I always warn babysitters, teachers, visiting relativities, or anyone else looking to occupy her with one activity or another, if you come upon her lying flat on her back on the sofa, on a rug, or in a tree branch with her eyes staring into space, she’s not doing nothing. She’s busy. Let it go.”
That’s one of the most intelligent thing’s I've read in ages. I miss that child-like sense of imagination and wonder we all had. Why the hell did everyone have to become cynical and snobby?
Look, I’m not saying we all need to become 5 year olds again, I’m not. All I’m saying is that sometimes, instead of becoming critical of everything, enjoy the simple things. I have a page from a coloring book that was colored by a very close friend’s little kid, it’s hanging up on my fridge, and y’know what, I will without any doubt proudly say it’s better then anything hanging in a museum. Why? Because when he colored it, he wasn’t trying to impress a damn soul. He was doing something that made him happy.
Maybe I’m getting retrospective again. I suppose that happens more as you get older. A great friend of mine recently purchased a home. Not an apartment, but a house, one bigger then the one I currently live in. A few years ago I might have joked at him, but for some reason I find myself overwhelmingly proud of him. Another turned 20 this week and she’s going into the military in a few weeks. She’s doing way more with her life then I am, and she’s happy.
Maybe that’s it. Yesterday was Singles awareness day and I’m never happy then. I need more people to be around. People make me happy. That and Fries. I really like fries.
Getting back to my gripe about NBC. As I’ve been watching the Olympics I’ve been treated to commercials for their upcoming shows and I see I’ve missed nothing. “The Marriage Ref”? Really? Celebrities giving advice on marriage? Why not just have Sarah Palin become a geography teacher?
If NBC‘s destruction of normal programming isn't enough, they've driven my beloved Weather Channel into the iceberg as well. There is more non-weather programming on then ever before. It’s THE WEATHER CHANNEL! Not the traffic/news/sports channel, yet every morning we have to deal with Al Roker, who is the most piss poor excuse for a weather forecaster that I’ve ever seen. I want my Weather Channel back NBC.
Moving on and up the channel dial from 4 to 5...if you’re a New Yorker, after watching yesterday’s Daytona 500, I’m reminded why I don’t watch a lot of NASCAR anymore. Part of it is NASCAR itself, Part of it is sports in general, and part of it is FOX. See, I’m not afraid to admit that I used to be a huge NASCAR fan. I supported my driver, Kyle Petty, for 20 years, even though when he retired, he hadn’t won a race in over a decade.
Both He and his family owned team were essentially pushed out. This team was to NASCAR what the Yankees are to baseball. But they became swallowed up by a greedy sport who cared more about the dollar then ever before, which is saying a lot for a sport that relies on sponsors more then any other. It is a shell of it’s former self. The pointless attempts at, “going back to it’s roots” have proven futile. The whole idea of NASCAR is to have racing done with STOCK cars, they used to go by the philosophy of “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” How can you use that philosophy if even the seat belts aren’t stock? The cars they race now are boxes on wheels.
Yesterdays race was delayed for more then 2 ½ hours because of a freaking pothole. If the NYC department of transportation actually moved their asses once in a while, that thing would have been patched up in 3 minutes. Dale Earnhardt Jr. even said “why don’t they throw a cone down and we’ll race around it.” Not a bad idea, especially considering the sports roots came from racing on hard, rough sand at the beaches a few short blocks from the track itself. But oh no, not on today’s $150,000+ cars. That’s right, $150,000 plus. You could buy 9 of my car with that kinda cash. This from a sport that used to have its competitors drive the car the raced to the track and in most cases, those drivers used it as their families car Monday-Saturday.
And to have the idiots at FOX praise NASCAR and the owners of the track was insulting. Of course they don’t have a problem with the situation. They have multi million dollar tour buses and luxury suites to hide in an occupy their time with, all the while fans in the track and on TV are left twiddling their thumbs. And not for one minute do I believe that no one left the track disgusted. But will FOX sports ever criticize anything? Of course not. For those who say I’m “whining”, let me ask you, do you remember Alan Kulwicki? Do you remember the “Dale and Dale” show? Do you remember when pit crew members held the sign for their driver to stop instead of using a pole? No. You don’t remember how good sports in general used to be. I should have realized it sooner, like during their second or third broadcast when their idiotic color commentators were “jokingly” broadcasting from, I kid you not, a hot-tub. How is one supposed to take a sport seriously at that point?
FOX has ruined sports We want to see sports. We don’t want to see the "Viagra crotch cam sponsored by Maxim." We want to see the score, not Optimus Primes neighbor transforming into the scoreboard. We want to see thoughtful interviews with a athletes, not some moron with in a bow-tie asking Derek Jeter the same question 324 times, yet trying to phrase it differently in some vain attempt to try and fool the him into answering it with something more provocative for ratings. Whatever happened to good journalism?
Journalism used to mean something. It used to be people like Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. They made us think, made us feel and delivered real news, cut, and to the point. Now all we see is pointless drivel. I don’t care about the latest Britney Spears meltdown. I care about things THAT ACTUALLY AFFECT ME. It seems reporters care more about contracts and pleasing the fat cats then real news. There are very few real journalists nowadays and it’s disturbing. What the hell happened to our values? When did we become so consumed by what other people are doing that it became more important then our own lives?
Why is it that the world comes to a stop when a former musician/full time freak show/part time child molester finally croaks, but no one gives a damn when a solider or a firefighter or a police officer or a teacher dies. I know for a fact that those people have done far more for modern society then anyone on MTV or whatever network it is that turns people into drones nowadays.
I like Aerosmith. Have they changed my life? Absolutely not. I can however think of some firefighters on Richmond road here on Staten Island that have. I’m a fan of KT Tunstall. Has she greatly impacted me? Not nearly as much as my cousin, who’s proudly serving in the Navy. I think Tom Hanks is a great actor, but not nearly as great a teacher as some of the English teachers I had in high school. Sure Larry the Cable Guy is entertaining and funny, but I think my friends kids are more enjoyable and definitely more funny.
Modern society is falling apart quicker then the track surface at Daytona. We’ve become far too consumed by technology and over-indulgence. This is not to say I’m not a little bit guilty of it myself, but no where near the level of what some are facing. Why is it we all have to be connected at every point in our day? Why can’t we just stare at the clouds anymore?
Michael J. Fox said it best in his book,(remember those? Blocky shaped things with pieces of paper and words on em’?) “Always looking up: The Adventures Of An Incurable Optimist” about one of his daughters, Esme`; “The trick she’s mastered, or maybe it’s more of a facility than a trick, is moving effortlessly between the boundless world of her imagination and the everyday world the rest of us occupy. She’s not an escapist; she just holds two passports and travels often. I always warn babysitters, teachers, visiting relativities, or anyone else looking to occupy her with one activity or another, if you come upon her lying flat on her back on the sofa, on a rug, or in a tree branch with her eyes staring into space, she’s not doing nothing. She’s busy. Let it go.”
That’s one of the most intelligent thing’s I've read in ages. I miss that child-like sense of imagination and wonder we all had. Why the hell did everyone have to become cynical and snobby?
Look, I’m not saying we all need to become 5 year olds again, I’m not. All I’m saying is that sometimes, instead of becoming critical of everything, enjoy the simple things. I have a page from a coloring book that was colored by a very close friend’s little kid, it’s hanging up on my fridge, and y’know what, I will without any doubt proudly say it’s better then anything hanging in a museum. Why? Because when he colored it, he wasn’t trying to impress a damn soul. He was doing something that made him happy.
Maybe I’m getting retrospective again. I suppose that happens more as you get older. A great friend of mine recently purchased a home. Not an apartment, but a house, one bigger then the one I currently live in. A few years ago I might have joked at him, but for some reason I find myself overwhelmingly proud of him. Another turned 20 this week and she’s going into the military in a few weeks. She’s doing way more with her life then I am, and she’s happy.
Maybe that’s it. Yesterday was Singles awareness day and I’m never happy then. I need more people to be around. People make me happy. That and Fries. I really like fries.
Friday, November 06, 2009
I started a blog about a year ago with “So this is how democracy dies, with thunderous applause.” That line was spoken by Natalie Portman in a Star Wars movie, and I think it’s fitting to apply it to this situation. For everyone who complained and moaned over the past year and yet stayed home Tuesday, this is your reward. Tuesday was the start of a hellish week for me, and it's not yet over.I don't know what exactly tomorrow will bring, but I already find myself dreading it.
For those who supported this ruthless dictator and his gallery of rouges, I hope that you are truly happy with the end result, as it will most likely serve you and your upper east side styled interests all too well.
Yet, for those of us who wanted real change, like myself, this is a bit of a dark day. It’s the day bad guys won. It’s a cold, rainy day in march. It’s the day in which we woke up to realize that hope is really a bad thing, a tease. A cruel emotional torture device.
So as our city slowly slips down the road to which there will undoubtedly be more firehouse closures, more teacher layoffs and an ever increasing police state, I find myself wondering if my city truly wants me anymore. I know have more of an understanding of why “ol’ blue eyes” vagabond shoes were longing to stray.
I was a dreamer, but when a dreamer has that dream taken from them, what are they?
It’s not even just that which leaves me without a sense of purpose anymore. It’s the never-ending frustration that has become my life. The unending pile-on that suddenly came out of no where. It’s a day and night change that frankly, I have trouble with. I've always had trouble with change, but for some reason, this time around, it's harder then before.
And now, here I find myself, nearly totally hopeless and just flat out lost. I had a path, a plan, and it was set and I was ready to go. Now every day is a bigger struggle then the previous, and i find myself faced with more questions then answers, and for some reason, it's harder to get the answers. Every day I feel like I’m one step closer to some kind of a breakdown and I don’t know how I keep myself together. I don’t know why life has suddenly become this hard.
I used to want to help people, I still do, I just don’t know how to help myself. My mind, it won’t stop thinking. Thoughts, all day, all night, it won’t shut down and let me truly rest. I just want to rest for a little while. Just a little. Is that so much to ask?
For those who supported this ruthless dictator and his gallery of rouges, I hope that you are truly happy with the end result, as it will most likely serve you and your upper east side styled interests all too well.
Yet, for those of us who wanted real change, like myself, this is a bit of a dark day. It’s the day bad guys won. It’s a cold, rainy day in march. It’s the day in which we woke up to realize that hope is really a bad thing, a tease. A cruel emotional torture device.
So as our city slowly slips down the road to which there will undoubtedly be more firehouse closures, more teacher layoffs and an ever increasing police state, I find myself wondering if my city truly wants me anymore. I know have more of an understanding of why “ol’ blue eyes” vagabond shoes were longing to stray.
I was a dreamer, but when a dreamer has that dream taken from them, what are they?
It’s not even just that which leaves me without a sense of purpose anymore. It’s the never-ending frustration that has become my life. The unending pile-on that suddenly came out of no where. It’s a day and night change that frankly, I have trouble with. I've always had trouble with change, but for some reason, this time around, it's harder then before.
And now, here I find myself, nearly totally hopeless and just flat out lost. I had a path, a plan, and it was set and I was ready to go. Now every day is a bigger struggle then the previous, and i find myself faced with more questions then answers, and for some reason, it's harder to get the answers. Every day I feel like I’m one step closer to some kind of a breakdown and I don’t know how I keep myself together. I don’t know why life has suddenly become this hard.
I used to want to help people, I still do, I just don’t know how to help myself. My mind, it won’t stop thinking. Thoughts, all day, all night, it won’t shut down and let me truly rest. I just want to rest for a little while. Just a little. Is that so much to ask?
Friday, September 11, 2009
I know some of you want to forget, but with today comes the marking of eight years to the day that my city was changed. And if you would care to indulge me for a few moments, i'd like to briefly reflect as the raindrops patter away outside. It reminds me of the rains on Friday, September 14th, 2001. It was the first day of rain following the 11th. It was cold. Raw. One of those fall rains that made you think it was going to be a long, hard winter.
Then I remember the days following. Warmth returned. The Indian summer they call it. It seemingly extended far into the winter from what I recall. Fueled by the fire that drove all of us to dig deeper and find the extra something in our self to push through unimaginable tragedy with remarkable strength and compassion. Compassion for fellow humans.
We rose through horror and showed the very best humanity could offer.
Every year I write these soliloquies and I don’t necessarily write them for one specific group or person, other then myself I suppose. If that sounds selfish I apologize.
8 years shouldn’t seem so far gone now, really it shouldn’t, but for some reason it is. I look back to then from now and I feel like I might as well be looking back to 1960. 8 years ago on that rainy Friday, I visited my old high school and ran into my former English teacher, who I remember, and I honestly don’t know how I remember this seeing as how my memory is picky at best, but I remember her nearly breaking down, which I had never seen from her. I had never seen real emotion from a teacher like that before. She had mentioned that another former teacher of mine’s brother had been a firefighter who hadn’t yet been heard from. Every year I see her at the tribute here on Staten Island, and she still carries this open wound with her, she hasn’t forgotten. You can tell she still remembers.
Everyone should remember. While each year I "preach" that people seem to have forgotten, I also realize that people do remember in their own way. I just hope that people remember that while it might not be as hard for them, and it’s easy to just throw it under the rug, for others, this is more then just some day. Much more. Many people here on Staten Island either lost or know someone who lost a loved one or friend. I don’t want to be “celebrating” a “Patriot Day Sale” in 15 years.
I want simple things. Common decency. It might not seem like anything at first, and I may be hoping for a miracle, but hey, it might start something good. I don’t know. I think of myself as a bit of an oddball, some say I’m a cynic, some say I’m still a dreamer, but dammit, all I want is what’s good and right. Even though the rains will dampen today, I will remember, I always will and I have the hope that anyone reading this does as well.
Then I remember the days following. Warmth returned. The Indian summer they call it. It seemingly extended far into the winter from what I recall. Fueled by the fire that drove all of us to dig deeper and find the extra something in our self to push through unimaginable tragedy with remarkable strength and compassion. Compassion for fellow humans.
We rose through horror and showed the very best humanity could offer.
Every year I write these soliloquies and I don’t necessarily write them for one specific group or person, other then myself I suppose. If that sounds selfish I apologize.
8 years shouldn’t seem so far gone now, really it shouldn’t, but for some reason it is. I look back to then from now and I feel like I might as well be looking back to 1960. 8 years ago on that rainy Friday, I visited my old high school and ran into my former English teacher, who I remember, and I honestly don’t know how I remember this seeing as how my memory is picky at best, but I remember her nearly breaking down, which I had never seen from her. I had never seen real emotion from a teacher like that before. She had mentioned that another former teacher of mine’s brother had been a firefighter who hadn’t yet been heard from. Every year I see her at the tribute here on Staten Island, and she still carries this open wound with her, she hasn’t forgotten. You can tell she still remembers.
Everyone should remember. While each year I "preach" that people seem to have forgotten, I also realize that people do remember in their own way. I just hope that people remember that while it might not be as hard for them, and it’s easy to just throw it under the rug, for others, this is more then just some day. Much more. Many people here on Staten Island either lost or know someone who lost a loved one or friend. I don’t want to be “celebrating” a “Patriot Day Sale” in 15 years.
I want simple things. Common decency. It might not seem like anything at first, and I may be hoping for a miracle, but hey, it might start something good. I don’t know. I think of myself as a bit of an oddball, some say I’m a cynic, some say I’m still a dreamer, but dammit, all I want is what’s good and right. Even though the rains will dampen today, I will remember, I always will and I have the hope that anyone reading this does as well.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
I just finished eating a recipe I got from “The Unsinkable Bathroom Reader.” for those of you who don’t know what that is, the Bathroom reader is a series of books, about as thick as a college textbook filled with random facts, stories and information, and as the title says, they’re meant to be read when on the can. I’ve gotten one every year, and many an entrant to my bathroom has found them enjoyable.
Anyway, the recipe was for “Bell Peppers in Creamy Sauce”, which was essentially melted marshmallows in hollowed out red peppers. Excellent right? Well, I tried them, and they were…well…not awful, but not as well as I hoped. Has the bathroom reader let me down? No, I’m sure my neighbors cats will manage to find them tasty, as they do most of what I give them(hence why they are fat.)
Those of you who read my rants and raves and musings in the past are probably scratching your head as to how I’ve managed to begin this with a story about cooking via the can. Wish I could give you a good answer but right now I’m gonna blame it on…hmmm….my lack of green socks.
I used to pound out at least 3 or 4 of these bloggy things a month, but for some reason, lately I’ve felt un-inspired, or maybe lazy, I’m not sure, but I’d like to make an attempt to connect with the masses more because I believe I am excellent, and you should all know about it. So what shall I address this time around?
Well, I know a “hot button”(where the hell did that term come from? I’ve never felt a, "hot button", nor do I know anyone who has, and I’ve touched many a button. I think from now on, I’m gonna call it a boiling potato issue, those I’ve touched, and eaten, and man are they deliciously excellent.) issue is this whole health care debate. While I do watch the news, and am a bit of a journalist myself, I frankly am still slightly confused as to why it’s such a big deal. Healthcare in this country is a mess, I will admit.
I’ve had my battles with healthcare companies over the past few years, and while they’re not as good as Letterman V. Palin, they’re tough. They shouldn’t be. You sick? Go to a doctor and the government will pay for it, plain and simple. I believe that’s how it’s done in Sweden and Norway. Seems to be working out for them, and last I checked those countries were pretty good, hell Sweden gave me my desk and TV unit. And I like those, so why aren’t we like Norway? I like the Adderall pen I got from my doctors office as much as I like any pen I’ve stolen….er…borrowed from anywhere, but I’d like to know I got it from them cause they liked the green color, not because Pfizer or whatever crazy sounding drug company paid em for it.
Every time I’ve turned on the news in the past few weeks, it’s the same thing, people screaming at some poor schmo standing behind a podium before they can say anything. Who even knows if they’re gonna talk about healthcare? Maybe they’re gonna say “hey, who wants free muffins?” but no, some nut job who had a too many Red Bull’s has to start acting like Lou Pinella. At least let these people talk before acting like a soccer mom in Wal-mart on black Friday(man, did I just sound like Larry The Cable Guy?).
Everyone says it’s the Republicans going against the Democrats or vice versa, and that’s where I get sick to my stomach, cause frankly, I’m tired of that crap. It shouldn’t be about that at all. This is why politics make me sick. We all should have got over this high school garbage ages ago. They’re all adult aged and yet they don’t act it. Sometime ago, someone asked me if I was Democrat or a Republican. I am NEITHER. I like the way come people do some things, and I like the way others do other things, that doesn’t make me anything other then a human, and that is how I want to be treated.
I’m tired of all this back and forth, it gets nothing done. Especially on this Island, where everything has to go through some kinda study. We’ve had more studies done on this island about transportation then little kids in michael jackson has had kids in it’s crotch(too soon?)Know what the studies say? We need more trains and mass transit. Same thing was probably said in another study 20 years ago and not much has changed.
I don’t need a bunch of scientists with clipboards and hard hats telling me there needs to be a train on the Island, just build the damn thing already. Go get it done, now. I don’t care if it’s labor day weekend, firefighters and doctors don’t stop cause it’s labor day weekend. Why should anyone else? Well...alright, get to work Monday at least, and I want it done no later then next Thursday dammit.
The Empire State Building was finished in 13 months, and that’s when there were only 5 channels on TV, and we had to walk 35 miles to get to the nearest Home Depot/Jamba Juice/Jc-Penny/Shop-Rite(give it time, they’ll all be in one spot sooner or later.)
Speaking of construction, my damn neighbor needs to build a driveway. 3 cars, and a front yard with enough land to build another Connecticut, but he can’t wrap his head around a few bags of quick-rete.
That, by the way is one cool invention. Maybe I’ll start making random ramps along major highways just to screw with old people. Then when I reach that age and wonder why the left turn I took somehow deposited me in Minneapolis I can blame it on, “those damn kids.” I’m gonna make an excellent curmudgeon some day. I should probably get a cane, since I already have the rocking chair. Man do I love that rocking chair.
Since I’m not presently at that age however, I won’t complain about everything. I do have good news. I have finally accepted the new Pepsi can design. I can safely look past the fact that the new logo looks an awful lot like a plumbers crack and enjoy my tasty beverage. Some people say its bad for you, but it has water in it, and water is healthy. You don’t hear anyone saying water is bad for you do you? Well maybe they do, but it’s usually that crazy guy in the pink leotard on a unicycle in Herald Square, and hes not so bad, once you get past the smell.
Cheese Doodles are also healthy. It’s true. Cheese is good for you, and it comes from a cow, which as we know is responsible for hamburgers, and seriously, who doesn’t love hamburgers? Anyone who doesn’t is just plain retarded with a capital bike helmet. Think about it, cheese is healthy, it’s in a food group, we give cheese slices to kids when they’re little so whats wrong with it in doodle form? Why is there a anti-doodle movement in this country? That’s racist. Racism gets you no where, ask that guy who played Kramer on Seinfeld. If you don’t like cheese doodles, you are no better then him. Did I just blow your mind or what?
Anyway, the recipe was for “Bell Peppers in Creamy Sauce”, which was essentially melted marshmallows in hollowed out red peppers. Excellent right? Well, I tried them, and they were…well…not awful, but not as well as I hoped. Has the bathroom reader let me down? No, I’m sure my neighbors cats will manage to find them tasty, as they do most of what I give them(hence why they are fat.)
Those of you who read my rants and raves and musings in the past are probably scratching your head as to how I’ve managed to begin this with a story about cooking via the can. Wish I could give you a good answer but right now I’m gonna blame it on…hmmm….my lack of green socks.
I used to pound out at least 3 or 4 of these bloggy things a month, but for some reason, lately I’ve felt un-inspired, or maybe lazy, I’m not sure, but I’d like to make an attempt to connect with the masses more because I believe I am excellent, and you should all know about it. So what shall I address this time around?
Well, I know a “hot button”(where the hell did that term come from? I’ve never felt a, "hot button", nor do I know anyone who has, and I’ve touched many a button. I think from now on, I’m gonna call it a boiling potato issue, those I’ve touched, and eaten, and man are they deliciously excellent.) issue is this whole health care debate. While I do watch the news, and am a bit of a journalist myself, I frankly am still slightly confused as to why it’s such a big deal. Healthcare in this country is a mess, I will admit.
I’ve had my battles with healthcare companies over the past few years, and while they’re not as good as Letterman V. Palin, they’re tough. They shouldn’t be. You sick? Go to a doctor and the government will pay for it, plain and simple. I believe that’s how it’s done in Sweden and Norway. Seems to be working out for them, and last I checked those countries were pretty good, hell Sweden gave me my desk and TV unit. And I like those, so why aren’t we like Norway? I like the Adderall pen I got from my doctors office as much as I like any pen I’ve stolen….er…borrowed from anywhere, but I’d like to know I got it from them cause they liked the green color, not because Pfizer or whatever crazy sounding drug company paid em for it.
Every time I’ve turned on the news in the past few weeks, it’s the same thing, people screaming at some poor schmo standing behind a podium before they can say anything. Who even knows if they’re gonna talk about healthcare? Maybe they’re gonna say “hey, who wants free muffins?” but no, some nut job who had a too many Red Bull’s has to start acting like Lou Pinella. At least let these people talk before acting like a soccer mom in Wal-mart on black Friday(man, did I just sound like Larry The Cable Guy?).
Everyone says it’s the Republicans going against the Democrats or vice versa, and that’s where I get sick to my stomach, cause frankly, I’m tired of that crap. It shouldn’t be about that at all. This is why politics make me sick. We all should have got over this high school garbage ages ago. They’re all adult aged and yet they don’t act it. Sometime ago, someone asked me if I was Democrat or a Republican. I am NEITHER. I like the way come people do some things, and I like the way others do other things, that doesn’t make me anything other then a human, and that is how I want to be treated.
I’m tired of all this back and forth, it gets nothing done. Especially on this Island, where everything has to go through some kinda study. We’ve had more studies done on this island about transportation then little kids in michael jackson has had kids in it’s crotch(too soon?)Know what the studies say? We need more trains and mass transit. Same thing was probably said in another study 20 years ago and not much has changed.
I don’t need a bunch of scientists with clipboards and hard hats telling me there needs to be a train on the Island, just build the damn thing already. Go get it done, now. I don’t care if it’s labor day weekend, firefighters and doctors don’t stop cause it’s labor day weekend. Why should anyone else? Well...alright, get to work Monday at least, and I want it done no later then next Thursday dammit.
The Empire State Building was finished in 13 months, and that’s when there were only 5 channels on TV, and we had to walk 35 miles to get to the nearest Home Depot/Jamba Juice/Jc-Penny/Shop-Rite(give it time, they’ll all be in one spot sooner or later.)
Speaking of construction, my damn neighbor needs to build a driveway. 3 cars, and a front yard with enough land to build another Connecticut, but he can’t wrap his head around a few bags of quick-rete.
That, by the way is one cool invention. Maybe I’ll start making random ramps along major highways just to screw with old people. Then when I reach that age and wonder why the left turn I took somehow deposited me in Minneapolis I can blame it on, “those damn kids.” I’m gonna make an excellent curmudgeon some day. I should probably get a cane, since I already have the rocking chair. Man do I love that rocking chair.
Since I’m not presently at that age however, I won’t complain about everything. I do have good news. I have finally accepted the new Pepsi can design. I can safely look past the fact that the new logo looks an awful lot like a plumbers crack and enjoy my tasty beverage. Some people say its bad for you, but it has water in it, and water is healthy. You don’t hear anyone saying water is bad for you do you? Well maybe they do, but it’s usually that crazy guy in the pink leotard on a unicycle in Herald Square, and hes not so bad, once you get past the smell.
Cheese Doodles are also healthy. It’s true. Cheese is good for you, and it comes from a cow, which as we know is responsible for hamburgers, and seriously, who doesn’t love hamburgers? Anyone who doesn’t is just plain retarded with a capital bike helmet. Think about it, cheese is healthy, it’s in a food group, we give cheese slices to kids when they’re little so whats wrong with it in doodle form? Why is there a anti-doodle movement in this country? That’s racist. Racism gets you no where, ask that guy who played Kramer on Seinfeld. If you don’t like cheese doodles, you are no better then him. Did I just blow your mind or what?
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
So I think it’s time I chime in on this media mess we’ve all been subjected too for the past few weeks.
First and foremost, in regards to the music-freak, I have no respect for anything that molests kids(and don't give me, "allegedly", it happened. Saying it, "allegedly" happened is like saying Jupiter is, "allegedly" a planet.), I honestly don't. Speaking of which, shouldn't the cast of Law And Order: SVU be releasing a statement now since everyone else from Earth To Hoth has at this point? Mr. President, I love ya man, but really? This? Aren’t there more pressing issues facing the nation at this point?
So it (that's what I’m calling "him") sold a bunch of records and danced a bit(Moonwalk? really? Neil Armstrong did not do that, he kind of bounced and hopped)...that doesn't allow all the right to child abuse. I don't understand how anyone can look past that. I really don’t.
There was a catcher for the Yankees, Jim Leyritz, who was a huge part of their '96 championship run. I was a fan of his since '93, I followed him a bit even after he was traded. Last year he drunk drove and killed someone, now I’m not fan. Some may find that wrong. I’m not sorry to say, that when you break the law and knowingly kill or injure someone, I lose respect for you.
No amount of money that Jackos legal team threw at those kids will truly erase those scars. And those are just the kids that came forward. Who knows how many didn't? Money doesn't heal all. They settled with his plaintiffs out of court. Unless you had something to hide, why would you do that? Especially when you have the money and the power to shut anyone up? Whoever doesn’t believe it happened or has looked over it is both blind and ignorant.
Why does everyone want to clear it’s past because it’s dead now? Being dead doesn't negate the fact that it did a lot of bad things. I’ve never liked jacko.
You can argue that “he” did a lot for music and should be celebrated for it. Well, in that same vein, Saddam did a lot for nerve gas and mass genocide, so why not celebrate him too?
The world should not come to a halt because some celebrity who was out of their mind died. I don't see L.A. being shut down because a teacher or a soldier died, and I can tell you those people did a hell of a lot more for the planet than this freakshow.
Now you can say that the soldiers and teachers aren’t "public figures" and that people have a tough time grieving for something they can't put a face or a name to. A friend of mine said; “They, sadly, don't feel any connection to these people for whatever reason but with celebrities, they do because they "see" them on a constant basis. Invite them into their homes and cars.” This is total proof as to how royally messed up our values have become.
This is not to say that I am not guilty of following a celebrity, HOWEVER, to completely alter my life around one is beyond me. How can people call this…thing...a role model? How is dangling your own innocent newborn over a balcony forgivable?! If that was me, I’d be tossed in prison and be meeting Jimmy John in the back of my cell. Celebrity should not give one free reign to act as if there are is no law.
Somewhere along the line, our values and standards got really, really fucked up. When I turn on Eyewitness news here in New York, I want to see New York news, like information on subway fare hikes, not two New York reporters covering this love in out in L.A. Ratings be damned, what happened to real journalism?
And god forbid anyone say anything negative about jacko, because if they do, they’ll be viewed as the most horrible person on the Earth. So to the 9 or 10 other people out there who have defied the norm and spoke the truth, I salute you.
This is getting entirely too much attention and it is completely undeserved. So call me the worlds biggest cynic, but i do not feel an ounce of pity here.
This all leads me into my next bone of contention. While I may be a bit late commenting on it to the masses, The whole Letterman vs. palin crap really set me off. First off, Dave never said "rape", palin and her morons made that up. Second, what right does she have to preach about family values when for starters her daughter got knocked up, and second, she’s charging rape victims in Alaska for rape kits? Pot calling the kettle black there?
Third is the fact that Dave is a COMEDIAN. he's supposed to make jokes, it's what they all do. I don't see anyone getting annoyed at Leno or Stewart when they make a joke about them. People get waaaay to easily offended nowadays, and often times it’s over nothing! All they do is protest this and that. Does it ever do anything? Sometimes it does minute things. But yea, most of the time its pointless. And then the parents wonder why the kids turn out frigged up. It's because while the parents were complaining, they weren't raising Billy and Janey and then Billy got shot and Janey got high and crashed the car.
I don't understand how a parent can get annoyed about a few people boning on a show while they let the son or daughter watch "24", nothing against that show, just saying...if i had the choice, I’d rather have my kids see the natural act of doin' it sideways instead of Keifer torturing someone. The U.K. has no problem with naked news, why can't we have that? If I saw some naked girl tell me the economy is in the toilet, I’d damn well take it better then if Wolf Blitzer told me, and if a lady wants to see a naked guy, or a guy wants to see one, more power to them, nudity for all, except Wolf Blitzer. No one, and I mean no one, needs to see that.
Whatever happened to free speech and freedom of expression? I don't get it. Look, I can't stand eminiem, and even though what I think he does is sometimes sexist and racist, he's got every right to say it. You know what I do? I turn the dial. Or I change the channel, and I put on something I want to see and a few moments later I forget about him.
I have another friend who is very into be what many would call an activist. After our “mayor” decide he was gonna close firehouses, this guy went out and essentially started a grassroots campaign to keep them open. When the whole palin crap started, did he get distracted by a fight that he knew was pointless? No! He kept doing what he was doing, fighting a battle that was worthwhile, and ya know what? He succeeded! And that was worth fighting for.
Now while I know that was long winded and at times overly wordy, damn it felt good. So throw your shoes at me if you want, but I don’t feel sorry about what I’ve said.
First and foremost, in regards to the music-freak, I have no respect for anything that molests kids(and don't give me, "allegedly", it happened. Saying it, "allegedly" happened is like saying Jupiter is, "allegedly" a planet.), I honestly don't. Speaking of which, shouldn't the cast of Law And Order: SVU be releasing a statement now since everyone else from Earth To Hoth has at this point? Mr. President, I love ya man, but really? This? Aren’t there more pressing issues facing the nation at this point?
So it (that's what I’m calling "him") sold a bunch of records and danced a bit(Moonwalk? really? Neil Armstrong did not do that, he kind of bounced and hopped)...that doesn't allow all the right to child abuse. I don't understand how anyone can look past that. I really don’t.
There was a catcher for the Yankees, Jim Leyritz, who was a huge part of their '96 championship run. I was a fan of his since '93, I followed him a bit even after he was traded. Last year he drunk drove and killed someone, now I’m not fan. Some may find that wrong. I’m not sorry to say, that when you break the law and knowingly kill or injure someone, I lose respect for you.
No amount of money that Jackos legal team threw at those kids will truly erase those scars. And those are just the kids that came forward. Who knows how many didn't? Money doesn't heal all. They settled with his plaintiffs out of court. Unless you had something to hide, why would you do that? Especially when you have the money and the power to shut anyone up? Whoever doesn’t believe it happened or has looked over it is both blind and ignorant.
Why does everyone want to clear it’s past because it’s dead now? Being dead doesn't negate the fact that it did a lot of bad things. I’ve never liked jacko.
You can argue that “he” did a lot for music and should be celebrated for it. Well, in that same vein, Saddam did a lot for nerve gas and mass genocide, so why not celebrate him too?
The world should not come to a halt because some celebrity who was out of their mind died. I don't see L.A. being shut down because a teacher or a soldier died, and I can tell you those people did a hell of a lot more for the planet than this freakshow.
Now you can say that the soldiers and teachers aren’t "public figures" and that people have a tough time grieving for something they can't put a face or a name to. A friend of mine said; “They, sadly, don't feel any connection to these people for whatever reason but with celebrities, they do because they "see" them on a constant basis. Invite them into their homes and cars.” This is total proof as to how royally messed up our values have become.
This is not to say that I am not guilty of following a celebrity, HOWEVER, to completely alter my life around one is beyond me. How can people call this…thing...a role model? How is dangling your own innocent newborn over a balcony forgivable?! If that was me, I’d be tossed in prison and be meeting Jimmy John in the back of my cell. Celebrity should not give one free reign to act as if there are is no law.
Somewhere along the line, our values and standards got really, really fucked up. When I turn on Eyewitness news here in New York, I want to see New York news, like information on subway fare hikes, not two New York reporters covering this love in out in L.A. Ratings be damned, what happened to real journalism?
And god forbid anyone say anything negative about jacko, because if they do, they’ll be viewed as the most horrible person on the Earth. So to the 9 or 10 other people out there who have defied the norm and spoke the truth, I salute you.
This is getting entirely too much attention and it is completely undeserved. So call me the worlds biggest cynic, but i do not feel an ounce of pity here.
This all leads me into my next bone of contention. While I may be a bit late commenting on it to the masses, The whole Letterman vs. palin crap really set me off. First off, Dave never said "rape", palin and her morons made that up. Second, what right does she have to preach about family values when for starters her daughter got knocked up, and second, she’s charging rape victims in Alaska for rape kits? Pot calling the kettle black there?
Third is the fact that Dave is a COMEDIAN. he's supposed to make jokes, it's what they all do. I don't see anyone getting annoyed at Leno or Stewart when they make a joke about them. People get waaaay to easily offended nowadays, and often times it’s over nothing! All they do is protest this and that. Does it ever do anything? Sometimes it does minute things. But yea, most of the time its pointless. And then the parents wonder why the kids turn out frigged up. It's because while the parents were complaining, they weren't raising Billy and Janey and then Billy got shot and Janey got high and crashed the car.
I don't understand how a parent can get annoyed about a few people boning on a show while they let the son or daughter watch "24", nothing against that show, just saying...if i had the choice, I’d rather have my kids see the natural act of doin' it sideways instead of Keifer torturing someone. The U.K. has no problem with naked news, why can't we have that? If I saw some naked girl tell me the economy is in the toilet, I’d damn well take it better then if Wolf Blitzer told me, and if a lady wants to see a naked guy, or a guy wants to see one, more power to them, nudity for all, except Wolf Blitzer. No one, and I mean no one, needs to see that.
Whatever happened to free speech and freedom of expression? I don't get it. Look, I can't stand eminiem, and even though what I think he does is sometimes sexist and racist, he's got every right to say it. You know what I do? I turn the dial. Or I change the channel, and I put on something I want to see and a few moments later I forget about him.
I have another friend who is very into be what many would call an activist. After our “mayor” decide he was gonna close firehouses, this guy went out and essentially started a grassroots campaign to keep them open. When the whole palin crap started, did he get distracted by a fight that he knew was pointless? No! He kept doing what he was doing, fighting a battle that was worthwhile, and ya know what? He succeeded! And that was worth fighting for.
Now while I know that was long winded and at times overly wordy, damn it felt good. So throw your shoes at me if you want, but I don’t feel sorry about what I’ve said.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
"So This Is How Liberty Dies...With Thunderous Applause."
Those words were spoken by Natalie Portman in "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." And while liberty may not have died today, democracy certainly did. And the applause came from supporters of a shell of a man.
After only a month-long debate, the New York City Council passed "king" mayor michael bloomberg's bill to extend term limits, making it easier to run for a third term in office next year. It passed by a vote of 29-22 among the 51 members. Those 29 members no doubt had their votes bought by the billionaire, who will most likely pump $80million into his re-reelection campaign. This will far exceed what any other potential candidate can spend.
Thankfully, and what is hopefully only a start, after the final tally was read, a crowd of protesters immediately voiced their displeasure. I intend to join their ranks in the coming months. You can't change the rules of the game mid way through mikey. It's undemocratic, a bully tactic and simply put, wrong. You cannot override the will of the people who elected you, because they will run you out of this town, and rightfully so.
The law limiting the cities elected officials to two terms was approved twice by voters in public referendums in 1993 and 1996. Today Councilmember David Yassky proposed a similar referendum as an amendment to the bill, and each councilmember was given two minutes to speak for or against. But, it was voted down with 22 supporting it, 28 against, and one abstaining.
Supporters of the moron's bill said allowing the voters to decide for themselves would have been "ideal", but is not practical due to the possibility of a prolonged court battle, which is total bullplop. What they really meant to say is "We know what we're doing is wrong and potentially illegal but king bloomberg filled our pockets with so much cash we don't know how to oppose him because we're to busy rolling around in the money mountain we've built." The majority of the council wastes time on pointless things daily, yet they couldn’t pull this off somehow.
Bill supporter, City Council Speaker and mayoral lackey christine quinn(bloomberg) said she thinks this measure will allow New Yorkers a greater choice. What the spineless shrew doesn't realize is that the choice should have been made before she thought we would have a choice.
Another note is that of the 51 city council members, 35 of them would have been prohibited from running for re-election next year had term limits not been extended. Conflict of interest? Not so says the city's Conflict of Interest Board(yes, it is real) who ruled "the council could vote on the proposal even though they could directly benefit from the change." So the conflict of interest board is about as useless as most of the council itself. Council members are probably afraid they’ll have to go out and look for a real job like the people they claim to represent have to.
This jagoff of a "mayor" is once again acting like a spoiled crybaby. In 2004 when the education board didn't give him what he wanted, he replaced opposing members with ones who sided with him.
In 2005, he fought for a football stadium on the west side of Manhattan. A part of the city that is notoriously clogged with traffic. A stadium would, in all likelihood have created a traffic nightmare unlike any ever seen. This stadium would likely have hosted a proposed NYC Olympic games. When he didn't get what he wanted, he attempted to build another Olympic stadium in Queens, which was also shot down but later turned into the new Mets stadium.
Meanwhile firehouses are closing, teachers are losing students and the poor still sleep on city streets.
And lets not forget about congestion pricing.
Congestion pricing would have fees for cars and trucks entering Manhattan in what the mayor called "an attempt to reduce traffic in the island of Manhattan", yet we all knew it was just a way to try and squeeze more money out of taxpayers wallets to build more of his pet projects. Skyscrapers and townhouses and lavish retreats for the rich and elite, like himself to look down upon the rest of the city from. This, thankfully was shot down by the state assembly.
The re-election nonsense comes from the recent economic recession(i know the press and rest of the people won't say it, but it's true, we're in a friggin recession. Stop tiptoeing around scaring people and say it.) See, "king" bloom-turd thinks he's the only one man enough for the job, when, for starters, when he talks, he sounds like schoolgirl whining about Hannah Montana.
He is a self made billionaire, owner of his own media empire, and yet for some reason the city he claims to care about so much is facing a fiscal crisis the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 1930's. If he is such a smart businessman, how could he not have seen this coming? I know, maybe he'll put some of his money into the city! No...wait...he's just going to implement across the board budget cuts and possible layoffs for essential city services and raise our taxes.
How can city residents afford to pay an 8% tax hike if he's putting them out of work? Those don't sound like the bullet points on the resume` of a great savior to me...
But it's ok, because bloom-turd's got his city council buddies to back him up, because they won't say no to him. Well they did at first, then he probably started writing them all checks and they then collectively smiled and said "whatever you want Mr. Moneybags!"
What was demonstrated today was a clear lack of caring for the people. The hairdresser from Staten Island, the cook from Brooklyn, the painter from Queens, the carpenter from the Bronx. The mayor does not care about what you think. All he wants to turn the city into a police state for the middle class and poor and a playground for the rich.
But there is hope within this madness. You still do have a voice. Come next year you can vote. And I urge you, i beg you, to please, vote for anyone but him. Vote for Anthony Weiner, Vote for Tony Avella, Vote for Bill Thompson.
Bring democracy back to the people. Help kick this piece of crap out of your city.
Those words were spoken by Natalie Portman in "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." And while liberty may not have died today, democracy certainly did. And the applause came from supporters of a shell of a man.
After only a month-long debate, the New York City Council passed "king" mayor michael bloomberg's bill to extend term limits, making it easier to run for a third term in office next year. It passed by a vote of 29-22 among the 51 members. Those 29 members no doubt had their votes bought by the billionaire, who will most likely pump $80million into his re-reelection campaign. This will far exceed what any other potential candidate can spend.
Thankfully, and what is hopefully only a start, after the final tally was read, a crowd of protesters immediately voiced their displeasure. I intend to join their ranks in the coming months. You can't change the rules of the game mid way through mikey. It's undemocratic, a bully tactic and simply put, wrong. You cannot override the will of the people who elected you, because they will run you out of this town, and rightfully so.
The law limiting the cities elected officials to two terms was approved twice by voters in public referendums in 1993 and 1996. Today Councilmember David Yassky proposed a similar referendum as an amendment to the bill, and each councilmember was given two minutes to speak for or against. But, it was voted down with 22 supporting it, 28 against, and one abstaining.
Supporters of the moron's bill said allowing the voters to decide for themselves would have been "ideal", but is not practical due to the possibility of a prolonged court battle, which is total bullplop. What they really meant to say is "We know what we're doing is wrong and potentially illegal but king bloomberg filled our pockets with so much cash we don't know how to oppose him because we're to busy rolling around in the money mountain we've built." The majority of the council wastes time on pointless things daily, yet they couldn’t pull this off somehow.
Bill supporter, City Council Speaker and mayoral lackey christine quinn(bloomberg) said she thinks this measure will allow New Yorkers a greater choice. What the spineless shrew doesn't realize is that the choice should have been made before she thought we would have a choice.
Another note is that of the 51 city council members, 35 of them would have been prohibited from running for re-election next year had term limits not been extended. Conflict of interest? Not so says the city's Conflict of Interest Board(yes, it is real) who ruled "the council could vote on the proposal even though they could directly benefit from the change." So the conflict of interest board is about as useless as most of the council itself. Council members are probably afraid they’ll have to go out and look for a real job like the people they claim to represent have to.
This jagoff of a "mayor" is once again acting like a spoiled crybaby. In 2004 when the education board didn't give him what he wanted, he replaced opposing members with ones who sided with him.
In 2005, he fought for a football stadium on the west side of Manhattan. A part of the city that is notoriously clogged with traffic. A stadium would, in all likelihood have created a traffic nightmare unlike any ever seen. This stadium would likely have hosted a proposed NYC Olympic games. When he didn't get what he wanted, he attempted to build another Olympic stadium in Queens, which was also shot down but later turned into the new Mets stadium.
Meanwhile firehouses are closing, teachers are losing students and the poor still sleep on city streets.
And lets not forget about congestion pricing.
Congestion pricing would have fees for cars and trucks entering Manhattan in what the mayor called "an attempt to reduce traffic in the island of Manhattan", yet we all knew it was just a way to try and squeeze more money out of taxpayers wallets to build more of his pet projects. Skyscrapers and townhouses and lavish retreats for the rich and elite, like himself to look down upon the rest of the city from. This, thankfully was shot down by the state assembly.
The re-election nonsense comes from the recent economic recession(i know the press and rest of the people won't say it, but it's true, we're in a friggin recession. Stop tiptoeing around scaring people and say it.) See, "king" bloom-turd thinks he's the only one man enough for the job, when, for starters, when he talks, he sounds like schoolgirl whining about Hannah Montana.
He is a self made billionaire, owner of his own media empire, and yet for some reason the city he claims to care about so much is facing a fiscal crisis the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 1930's. If he is such a smart businessman, how could he not have seen this coming? I know, maybe he'll put some of his money into the city! No...wait...he's just going to implement across the board budget cuts and possible layoffs for essential city services and raise our taxes.
How can city residents afford to pay an 8% tax hike if he's putting them out of work? Those don't sound like the bullet points on the resume` of a great savior to me...
But it's ok, because bloom-turd's got his city council buddies to back him up, because they won't say no to him. Well they did at first, then he probably started writing them all checks and they then collectively smiled and said "whatever you want Mr. Moneybags!"
What was demonstrated today was a clear lack of caring for the people. The hairdresser from Staten Island, the cook from Brooklyn, the painter from Queens, the carpenter from the Bronx. The mayor does not care about what you think. All he wants to turn the city into a police state for the middle class and poor and a playground for the rich.
But there is hope within this madness. You still do have a voice. Come next year you can vote. And I urge you, i beg you, to please, vote for anyone but him. Vote for Anthony Weiner, Vote for Tony Avella, Vote for Bill Thompson.
Bring democracy back to the people. Help kick this piece of crap out of your city.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing lately, back to 2 points of my life, relatively recent times for some reason, and I’m not sure why.
For a while now, I’ve spoken to some people about the summer of 2001, particularly the days leading up to September 11th. For some reason, I don’t remember much, if anything about them. A lot of people said “Well, you can’t remember every part of every day.” I realize this, I just find it odd that almost that whole summer is missing. I saw a documentary on the 2001 World Series and it mentioned that the night before the 11th, the Yankee game was rained out, but I honestly don’t remember that. I think one of the things that really set these thoughts into motion is when, a few months back I was looking through my Amazon.com wishlist. On September 10th, 2001, I put a book about the World Trade Center on the list.
Its probably just an eerie coincidence. I was watching another documentary(Yea, I watch a lot of them.) where they showed the towers at night, a few days before the attacks, and life just seemed simpler back then and I miss it. I miss those buildings.
There was a brief snippet in the documentary that showed a saxophone player on a city street at night, and you can tell it was one of those hot city days. Not brutal hot, but still steamy, and I miss that too. That’s probably due to the fact the temperature around here has averaged about 10 degrees the past couple of weeks.
But when I look back at “that time” it seems almost bizarre that it was only 7 years ago. In the grand scheme of things to me at least, 7 years shouldn’t be that long ago. But when I see these images, it just seems like centuries ago.
There is another delay with the Freedom Tower, which now seems as if it will never really get built. A lot of outsiders, not all, but a lot, seem to think that all of the delays are meaningless, and I’ll admit, sometimes I did too. But when you look at the big picture, you’re looking at a piece of land that is more then that. It is not a piece of land, it is a grave site, a crime scene and holy ground all in one, and no one answer will solve all the problems…and yet no one can seem to find any answer to any of the problems.
The other “time” I’ve been thinking about is when I worked in Manhattan at Hanley’s and again, I don’t know why.
I suppose part of me misses my daily commute into the city on the ferry, working across the street from the Empire State Building and though I’ll probably regret saying this, part of me misses Hanley’s? Not the store so much as the people…and not all the people, hell not even the whole time I was there, just for some reason the spring of 2003. It is immensely bizarre, but I can’t seem to get past it for some reason.
I think I need a vacation.
For a while now, I’ve spoken to some people about the summer of 2001, particularly the days leading up to September 11th. For some reason, I don’t remember much, if anything about them. A lot of people said “Well, you can’t remember every part of every day.” I realize this, I just find it odd that almost that whole summer is missing. I saw a documentary on the 2001 World Series and it mentioned that the night before the 11th, the Yankee game was rained out, but I honestly don’t remember that. I think one of the things that really set these thoughts into motion is when, a few months back I was looking through my Amazon.com wishlist. On September 10th, 2001, I put a book about the World Trade Center on the list.
Its probably just an eerie coincidence. I was watching another documentary(Yea, I watch a lot of them.) where they showed the towers at night, a few days before the attacks, and life just seemed simpler back then and I miss it. I miss those buildings.
There was a brief snippet in the documentary that showed a saxophone player on a city street at night, and you can tell it was one of those hot city days. Not brutal hot, but still steamy, and I miss that too. That’s probably due to the fact the temperature around here has averaged about 10 degrees the past couple of weeks.
But when I look back at “that time” it seems almost bizarre that it was only 7 years ago. In the grand scheme of things to me at least, 7 years shouldn’t be that long ago. But when I see these images, it just seems like centuries ago.
There is another delay with the Freedom Tower, which now seems as if it will never really get built. A lot of outsiders, not all, but a lot, seem to think that all of the delays are meaningless, and I’ll admit, sometimes I did too. But when you look at the big picture, you’re looking at a piece of land that is more then that. It is not a piece of land, it is a grave site, a crime scene and holy ground all in one, and no one answer will solve all the problems…and yet no one can seem to find any answer to any of the problems.
The other “time” I’ve been thinking about is when I worked in Manhattan at Hanley’s and again, I don’t know why.
I suppose part of me misses my daily commute into the city on the ferry, working across the street from the Empire State Building and though I’ll probably regret saying this, part of me misses Hanley’s? Not the store so much as the people…and not all the people, hell not even the whole time I was there, just for some reason the spring of 2003. It is immensely bizarre, but I can’t seem to get past it for some reason.
I think I need a vacation.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Saturday will be the culmination of years and years of studying and practice for me. It is on this saturday, January 20th, 2007 that I will take the written entrance exam to become a New York City firefighter. My dream will finally, after years of painstaking preparation start to take shape. It has not always been an easy time, some times I have felt completely lost and desperate. During those times, i'm reminded of what Captain Timothy Stackpole once said.
Captain Stackpole was a firefighter in FDNY Division 11. In 1998 he was fighting a fire in Brooklyn when the floor gave way and he plunged 10 feet below, and was covered with burning debris. He was burned over 30 percent of his body, to the point where just the act of bending his legs caused extreme pain. His rehab was hard and long, and he could have easily retired with full benefits and then some.
He didn't. He came back to work, and when then fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen asked him why, Timmy simply said; "This is where I want to be." Captain Stackpole returned to work a few days before September 11th, and was killed that day.
If someone who suffered way more then they needed to can come back to the job because they love it that much, I damn well can get this job. Timothy's is one of hundreds of stories of the guys who didn't make it that day, and many of them have pushed through all sorts of adversity to reach their dream, and you better fucking believe I will too.
There's a sticker i've seen on a lot of the trucks and in the houses, and it says "FDNY: Still the greatest job on earth!" And I can't wait to be a part of that job. I know for a fact that it is not easy, and not always glorious, and there will be moments of absolute horror, but with them come moments of unimaginable pride. I want this more then anything I've ever wanted before, and nothing worth wanting ever came easy.
Tomorrow would have been my mom's birthday, and I know she would have wanted me to have this and i'm not just doing it to honor everyone in the city or in the FDNY, i'm doing this because I know how much she would want me to have it. And I know she would be proud of me.
Today I found out that NASCAR legend Benny Parsons lost his battle with lung cancer. I had the immense pleasure of meeting "BP", as he was affectionately called. I knew him, he, obviously didn't know me, yet he took the time to sit with me and just talk cars and racing for an hour. Me, a complete stranger, and him, a legend in his field. He treated me like he knew me, and I admired that, he was a down to earth man who kept true to his roots and what he loved. And to be honest, i will really miss him. He kept fighting till the very end, and I will too.
Captain Stackpole was a firefighter in FDNY Division 11. In 1998 he was fighting a fire in Brooklyn when the floor gave way and he plunged 10 feet below, and was covered with burning debris. He was burned over 30 percent of his body, to the point where just the act of bending his legs caused extreme pain. His rehab was hard and long, and he could have easily retired with full benefits and then some.
He didn't. He came back to work, and when then fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen asked him why, Timmy simply said; "This is where I want to be." Captain Stackpole returned to work a few days before September 11th, and was killed that day.
If someone who suffered way more then they needed to can come back to the job because they love it that much, I damn well can get this job. Timothy's is one of hundreds of stories of the guys who didn't make it that day, and many of them have pushed through all sorts of adversity to reach their dream, and you better fucking believe I will too.
There's a sticker i've seen on a lot of the trucks and in the houses, and it says "FDNY: Still the greatest job on earth!" And I can't wait to be a part of that job. I know for a fact that it is not easy, and not always glorious, and there will be moments of absolute horror, but with them come moments of unimaginable pride. I want this more then anything I've ever wanted before, and nothing worth wanting ever came easy.
Tomorrow would have been my mom's birthday, and I know she would have wanted me to have this and i'm not just doing it to honor everyone in the city or in the FDNY, i'm doing this because I know how much she would want me to have it. And I know she would be proud of me.
Today I found out that NASCAR legend Benny Parsons lost his battle with lung cancer. I had the immense pleasure of meeting "BP", as he was affectionately called. I knew him, he, obviously didn't know me, yet he took the time to sit with me and just talk cars and racing for an hour. Me, a complete stranger, and him, a legend in his field. He treated me like he knew me, and I admired that, he was a down to earth man who kept true to his roots and what he loved. And to be honest, i will really miss him. He kept fighting till the very end, and I will too.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Normally I don't talk about issues such as the ones I'm about to talk about, either because I don't know enough about them and don't want to sound foolish, or because everyone else has already done so and I don't want to "beat a dead horse" so to speak.
In 2004, Christopher Reeve, known the world over as Superman succumbed to injuries he sustained in a 1994 horse riding accident. He fought a long and hard battle, much like the hero he portrayed. He became a symbol of hope and courage not only on the silver screen, but in real life. His determination to do something as simple as walk, something we all take for granted made us all believe that there are better things in this world. He proved to truly be a Superman.
In 1991, fellow actor Michael J. Fox, probably best known to us as Marty McFly from the "Back To The Future" movies, was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. This disease is crippling. It causes Tremors, speech disturbances, fatigue, just to name a few symptoms. Fox didn't come public with his condition until the late 90's. At first, he appeared to be doing OK, at least from what we can tell. Tonight, however, a friend sent me this brief clip of him in a recent commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WB_PXjTBo
Now you see just how bad this disease can be. You may be asking just how this ties into Christopher Reeve. You will notice that Mr. Fox spoke about Stem Cell Research. This research could have potentially saved Christopher Reeves life, and it can also potentially save Michael's.
Now I know a little something about this after doing a paper on it for a college writing class last semester. I also know about the "controversy" behind it.
First, a stem-cell line is created from a group of other cells, these cells can replicate for a long time. This line is then given nutrients to help it continue to divide. The process of which this is done may embryonic cells, which can be done through something called Therapeutic Cloning. Now, I know that word "Cloning" sounds scary, but we are not talking cloning of actual people, we are talking cloning of cells. Cells that can and will save countless lives.
A team of Korean doctors transplanted cells into a paralyzed woman who had not been able to walk for nearly 20 years. This woman can now walk on her own without difficulty. While her condition was not as bad as Mr. Reeve's, this shows how amazing this process can be.
A procedure with healthy stem cells could potentially cure Michael J. Fox.
Stem Cell Research can also potentially lead to cures for everything from Lou Gehrigs disease, to blindness, to even baldness.
Then why do so many in this country suffer and die due to diseases that could be cured through this amazing science?
president bush chose not to permit funding on the research, citing the fact that it was "unethical" and against the catholic church. Well Mr. President, isn't allowing someone to die when they have the right to live unethical? And don't give me that religion bull. I'm tired of all these religious freaks deeming what is good and what isn't. Just because some book tells you it isn't right doesn't make it so. Now i'm not saying everyone should just go and listen to me, your beliefs are all yours. I am merely presenting my opinion on the subject.
Frankly, I don't want to have to see another person die when a cure could have been created but wasn't because commander coo-coo bananas is too busy deciding what country to invade next. Unethical my ass, georgie. I've said it before, and i'll say it again, religion is being exploited by far to many people for the wrong reasons. That is why I have a hole in my city.
Which leads me to my next topic.
In the spring of 2002, the mayor brought cleanup and recovery efforts at Ground Zero officially to an end. Everything cleaned up, no places left to dig, no more Bodies to recovery he said.
However, Across from where the towers once stood, at 130 Liberty Street, things were different. The building was ravaged so badly by the collapsing towers that it was declared a total loss and the process of demolishing it began. But, in September of last year, they began finding body parts on the roof of the building. Then this past March, workers removing now toxic materials began finding human bone fragments.
Naturally, families and friends of the victims were notably upset. These were their loved ones, almost thrown out with the trash. A complete and through examination of the building was done again and over 300 more bone fragments were found.
This past Thursday, October 19th, more then 5 YEARS later, on the western edge of the World Trade Center Site, electrical crews doing work on the "Freedom Tower" found more remains, in a manhole on the site. 5 years and they are still finding remains. This is not a criticism of the rescue crew that toiled non stop at that site for months and months on end. They were not trained in this type of work. That is the work of a professional anthropological team.
This team offered their assistance in the recovery efforts in 2002, while the recovery was still in an active state. The mayor, however, turned them down. No one is quite sure why he did that. One would easily think that now, after more then 90 bone fragments have been discovered in the past 6 days, the mayor would call in the experts.
Wrong. The mayor continues to show his thoughtlessness to the victims families and friends, and to the city. The mayor also refuses to stop "work" at the site while some crews do look for more remains. I used quotations because, 5 years later, nothing is being done down there. Its a political photo-op and nothing more. No memorial, no rebuilding, just a lot of back and forth. The mayor argues that shutting down the site to search for remains would set back the "timetable" of rebuilding. Well lemme ask you this mikey...how many times did you set back the timetable? This nonsense has to stop.
2,749 people didn't make it out that day. 1,151 of them have never been found. Now that more can be identified, the mayor shuns the notion of helping those who have been dealt an unbelievable tragedy. These people can be given at least some comfort in knowing that finally, there loved ones are at peace.
President and Mayor. These guys are supposed to be our leaders??
In 2004, Christopher Reeve, known the world over as Superman succumbed to injuries he sustained in a 1994 horse riding accident. He fought a long and hard battle, much like the hero he portrayed. He became a symbol of hope and courage not only on the silver screen, but in real life. His determination to do something as simple as walk, something we all take for granted made us all believe that there are better things in this world. He proved to truly be a Superman.
In 1991, fellow actor Michael J. Fox, probably best known to us as Marty McFly from the "Back To The Future" movies, was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. This disease is crippling. It causes Tremors, speech disturbances, fatigue, just to name a few symptoms. Fox didn't come public with his condition until the late 90's. At first, he appeared to be doing OK, at least from what we can tell. Tonight, however, a friend sent me this brief clip of him in a recent commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WB_PXjTBo
Now you see just how bad this disease can be. You may be asking just how this ties into Christopher Reeve. You will notice that Mr. Fox spoke about Stem Cell Research. This research could have potentially saved Christopher Reeves life, and it can also potentially save Michael's.
Now I know a little something about this after doing a paper on it for a college writing class last semester. I also know about the "controversy" behind it.
First, a stem-cell line is created from a group of other cells, these cells can replicate for a long time. This line is then given nutrients to help it continue to divide. The process of which this is done may embryonic cells, which can be done through something called Therapeutic Cloning. Now, I know that word "Cloning" sounds scary, but we are not talking cloning of actual people, we are talking cloning of cells. Cells that can and will save countless lives.
A team of Korean doctors transplanted cells into a paralyzed woman who had not been able to walk for nearly 20 years. This woman can now walk on her own without difficulty. While her condition was not as bad as Mr. Reeve's, this shows how amazing this process can be.
A procedure with healthy stem cells could potentially cure Michael J. Fox.
Stem Cell Research can also potentially lead to cures for everything from Lou Gehrigs disease, to blindness, to even baldness.
Then why do so many in this country suffer and die due to diseases that could be cured through this amazing science?
president bush chose not to permit funding on the research, citing the fact that it was "unethical" and against the catholic church. Well Mr. President, isn't allowing someone to die when they have the right to live unethical? And don't give me that religion bull. I'm tired of all these religious freaks deeming what is good and what isn't. Just because some book tells you it isn't right doesn't make it so. Now i'm not saying everyone should just go and listen to me, your beliefs are all yours. I am merely presenting my opinion on the subject.
Frankly, I don't want to have to see another person die when a cure could have been created but wasn't because commander coo-coo bananas is too busy deciding what country to invade next. Unethical my ass, georgie. I've said it before, and i'll say it again, religion is being exploited by far to many people for the wrong reasons. That is why I have a hole in my city.
Which leads me to my next topic.
In the spring of 2002, the mayor brought cleanup and recovery efforts at Ground Zero officially to an end. Everything cleaned up, no places left to dig, no more Bodies to recovery he said.
However, Across from where the towers once stood, at 130 Liberty Street, things were different. The building was ravaged so badly by the collapsing towers that it was declared a total loss and the process of demolishing it began. But, in September of last year, they began finding body parts on the roof of the building. Then this past March, workers removing now toxic materials began finding human bone fragments.
Naturally, families and friends of the victims were notably upset. These were their loved ones, almost thrown out with the trash. A complete and through examination of the building was done again and over 300 more bone fragments were found.
This past Thursday, October 19th, more then 5 YEARS later, on the western edge of the World Trade Center Site, electrical crews doing work on the "Freedom Tower" found more remains, in a manhole on the site. 5 years and they are still finding remains. This is not a criticism of the rescue crew that toiled non stop at that site for months and months on end. They were not trained in this type of work. That is the work of a professional anthropological team.
This team offered their assistance in the recovery efforts in 2002, while the recovery was still in an active state. The mayor, however, turned them down. No one is quite sure why he did that. One would easily think that now, after more then 90 bone fragments have been discovered in the past 6 days, the mayor would call in the experts.
Wrong. The mayor continues to show his thoughtlessness to the victims families and friends, and to the city. The mayor also refuses to stop "work" at the site while some crews do look for more remains. I used quotations because, 5 years later, nothing is being done down there. Its a political photo-op and nothing more. No memorial, no rebuilding, just a lot of back and forth. The mayor argues that shutting down the site to search for remains would set back the "timetable" of rebuilding. Well lemme ask you this mikey...how many times did you set back the timetable? This nonsense has to stop.
2,749 people didn't make it out that day. 1,151 of them have never been found. Now that more can be identified, the mayor shuns the notion of helping those who have been dealt an unbelievable tragedy. These people can be given at least some comfort in knowing that finally, there loved ones are at peace.
President and Mayor. These guys are supposed to be our leaders??
Monday, September 11, 2006
5 years. Has it really been that long? I started writing this at 1:47am. 5 years ago at this time, who knows what I was doing? Do many people, if any, really remember September 10th, 2001? It all seems almost non-existent to me. I’m pretty sure it was just a normal night, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing spectacular.
9 hours later everything was totally different. People were struggling, people were dying, people were helping others. In the face of absolute horror, an alarm bell rang out in peoples heads that told them “others need my help.” These people didn’t care if the person they were helping was black, white, Hindu, Jewish or anything like that. They cared because of compassion for a fellow being. Some of these people wore a suit and tie, some a t-shirt and jeans, and some a helmet and bunker coat. Some of these people helped with merely a window washing tool, others with a heavy axe.
Some had only the will and determination and a simple saying of “Let’s roll.”
For the past 5 years, many have called these acts heroic. To me, they are legendary. Heroes wear capes and jerseys. Those people, while heroic, do not posses the characteristics of legends who, despite facing certain death, pushed forward to give all of something to hope for. They gave us the hope that despite the horror we were facing at that moment, we would see another day. They gave us that chance.
Their sacrifice cannot be forgotten.
Many people heeded a call then. Many did not. They could have simply turned and walked away. But they didn’t. They rose up to the greatest challenge many would ever face, and not only succeeded, they far surpassed, perhaps even their own expectations. They showed us the power of will can be stronger then even physical strength. Many selfless acts were performed that day, and the days after.
These are people we probably wouldn’t have given a second glance to before. In this one day, a city and a nation stood up to a challenge of horrific proportions that no one could ever have imagined and selflessly persevered.
5 years ago right now it was 2:11am, September 11th, 2001. The last hours of “normal.” New York City was then the greatest city on earth, and since then has become even greater.
I love this town.
-Luke
9 hours later everything was totally different. People were struggling, people were dying, people were helping others. In the face of absolute horror, an alarm bell rang out in peoples heads that told them “others need my help.” These people didn’t care if the person they were helping was black, white, Hindu, Jewish or anything like that. They cared because of compassion for a fellow being. Some of these people wore a suit and tie, some a t-shirt and jeans, and some a helmet and bunker coat. Some of these people helped with merely a window washing tool, others with a heavy axe.
Some had only the will and determination and a simple saying of “Let’s roll.”
For the past 5 years, many have called these acts heroic. To me, they are legendary. Heroes wear capes and jerseys. Those people, while heroic, do not posses the characteristics of legends who, despite facing certain death, pushed forward to give all of something to hope for. They gave us the hope that despite the horror we were facing at that moment, we would see another day. They gave us that chance.
Their sacrifice cannot be forgotten.
Many people heeded a call then. Many did not. They could have simply turned and walked away. But they didn’t. They rose up to the greatest challenge many would ever face, and not only succeeded, they far surpassed, perhaps even their own expectations. They showed us the power of will can be stronger then even physical strength. Many selfless acts were performed that day, and the days after.
These are people we probably wouldn’t have given a second glance to before. In this one day, a city and a nation stood up to a challenge of horrific proportions that no one could ever have imagined and selflessly persevered.
5 years ago right now it was 2:11am, September 11th, 2001. The last hours of “normal.” New York City was then the greatest city on earth, and since then has become even greater.
I love this town.
-Luke
Monday, August 28, 2006
Yesterday there was a fire in the Bronx. A Bad one. Before it was all said and done, A rookie, or probationary firefighter, Micheal Reilly was killed. Today, Lt. Howard Carpluk succumbed to his injuries received while fighting the same fire.
It has been told to me that the job is dangerous and these things, sad as they may be, happen. This is something I know and have known since deciding to chose this career path. I know its dangerous. I know its hard, and I know its sad. That does not make this or any other incident in which a firefighter or any emergency worker is killed any easier to take.
A few minutes ago I heard someone saying "ohh the fashion at the Emmy's last night was so horrid." I immediately had to think to myself "how fucking shallow are these people?" People in this world are fighting for their lives and our lives, hell...one year ago, a hurricane caused people to live in rags for months, and shallow fucktards like these are bitching about fucking $700 dresses and tuxes?!? How about you send a lil bit of that money or a lil bit of those thoughts to people who actually deserve it?? Huh? Is that to much to ask?!
This world is becoming increasingly shallow and its really getting to get to me.
Where are the values and sense of truth in this world? What happened to the day when people would care about real things and actually try and solve problems? What happened to the good? Why does everyone care what stupid-ass celebrity is wearing or eating? What the hell is wrong with people?
It has been told to me that the job is dangerous and these things, sad as they may be, happen. This is something I know and have known since deciding to chose this career path. I know its dangerous. I know its hard, and I know its sad. That does not make this or any other incident in which a firefighter or any emergency worker is killed any easier to take.
A few minutes ago I heard someone saying "ohh the fashion at the Emmy's last night was so horrid." I immediately had to think to myself "how fucking shallow are these people?" People in this world are fighting for their lives and our lives, hell...one year ago, a hurricane caused people to live in rags for months, and shallow fucktards like these are bitching about fucking $700 dresses and tuxes?!? How about you send a lil bit of that money or a lil bit of those thoughts to people who actually deserve it?? Huh? Is that to much to ask?!
This world is becoming increasingly shallow and its really getting to get to me.
Where are the values and sense of truth in this world? What happened to the day when people would care about real things and actually try and solve problems? What happened to the good? Why does everyone care what stupid-ass celebrity is wearing or eating? What the hell is wrong with people?
Friday, February 10, 2006
So today the NYPD announced that theyre going to be purchasing some of the new Dodge "Chargers" as part of a pilot program to see what they can use to replace the Ford Crown Victoria and Chevy Impalas that theyre presently using.
http://assets.cobaltnitra.com/teams/repository/export/0c2/1c13855c0100487be0003ba703341/0c21c13855c0100487be0003ba703341_355x0.jpg
For starters, that P.O.S....ain't a charger. It's a glorified Chrysler 300 and lucky to be called that much. The real humor for me is the idea of NYPD using a car that was made famous by "The Dukes Of Hazzard." So this means that all the cops are gonna start sliding across their hoods, and "Pull the vehicle over" will now be replaced with "Ya'll pull the car over now ya hear?" But perhaps the one good thing to come outta this will be the possibilty of seeing some of the NYPD female officers wearing Daisy Duke Shorts...
http://www.apparelsearch.com/Definitions/DEFINITION%20IMAGES/Daisy_Dukes_Catherine_Bach_as_Daisy_Duke..jpg
Now to the FDNY...oh boy...Here, we have the Hazmat 1 unit, almost finished:
http://www.emtbravo.lunarpages.com/SpyShots/FDNYHazmat.html
And here we have the secondary piece to Hazmat 1:
http://www.emtbravo.com/SpecFeat/FDNYHazmat.jpg
Now you'll notice both of them have "Chrome" or "Silver" rims, or wheels. So could Hazmat 1 be switching their nickname from "Better living through chemistry" to "The Bling Boyz"? While they're at it, why not have jewel encrusted Hazmat suits? Install some hydruallics so the rigs can bounce to the scene? Have Sean John design some bunker gear? Maybe we can replace the chemical retardent foam with "Cristal"? (Yea I don't know exactly how its spelled either.)
To me this is just more proof the doomberg really is out of touch with...well...everything.
By the way...we have 211 athletes in the Olympics, which is more then the host country, Italy's 170 something. So should they just give us our medals now or have us wipe out almost everyone on international tv?
http://assets.cobaltnitra.com/teams/repository/export/0c2/1c13855c0100487be0003ba703341/0c21c13855c0100487be0003ba703341_355x0.jpg
For starters, that P.O.S....ain't a charger. It's a glorified Chrysler 300 and lucky to be called that much. The real humor for me is the idea of NYPD using a car that was made famous by "The Dukes Of Hazzard." So this means that all the cops are gonna start sliding across their hoods, and "Pull the vehicle over" will now be replaced with "Ya'll pull the car over now ya hear?" But perhaps the one good thing to come outta this will be the possibilty of seeing some of the NYPD female officers wearing Daisy Duke Shorts...
http://www.apparelsearch.com/Definitions/DEFINITION%20IMAGES/Daisy_Dukes_Catherine_Bach_as_Daisy_Duke..jpg
Now to the FDNY...oh boy...Here, we have the Hazmat 1 unit, almost finished:
http://www.emtbravo.lunarpages.com/SpyShots/FDNYHazmat.html
And here we have the secondary piece to Hazmat 1:
http://www.emtbravo.com/SpecFeat/FDNYHazmat.jpg
Now you'll notice both of them have "Chrome" or "Silver" rims, or wheels. So could Hazmat 1 be switching their nickname from "Better living through chemistry" to "The Bling Boyz"? While they're at it, why not have jewel encrusted Hazmat suits? Install some hydruallics so the rigs can bounce to the scene? Have Sean John design some bunker gear? Maybe we can replace the chemical retardent foam with "Cristal"? (Yea I don't know exactly how its spelled either.)
To me this is just more proof the doomberg really is out of touch with...well...everything.
By the way...we have 211 athletes in the Olympics, which is more then the host country, Italy's 170 something. So should they just give us our medals now or have us wipe out almost everyone on international tv?
Monday, January 23, 2006
One year ago today, three New York City legends went to work not knowing that they wouldn't return home. They did a job not everyone would do, they were New York City firefighters. There names were John Bellew, Curtis Meyran and Richard Sclafani. One year ago today they were killed in 2 seperate fires, one in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx. These men had families and friends.
4 other firefighters, Brendan Cawley, Eugene Stolowski, Jeffery Cool and Joseph DiBernado were seriously injured. Some to the point of having to leave the job.
Aristotle is quoted as saying; "We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, and brave by performing brave actions."
What these men did and continue to do is not only brave, but legendary. To do what they do in a city like this is not at all the easiest task, but since the 1800's they have done this job, not for the glory or the fame, but for the love of the job. The camaraderie of the job is something not everyone can understand, for you have to expeirece it firsthand. In what other job do you sit down to dinner with the rest of the crew?
Many years from now, hopefully people will look back and remember these men as not only heroes, but as the legends they truly are.
4 other firefighters, Brendan Cawley, Eugene Stolowski, Jeffery Cool and Joseph DiBernado were seriously injured. Some to the point of having to leave the job.
Aristotle is quoted as saying; "We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, and brave by performing brave actions."
What these men did and continue to do is not only brave, but legendary. To do what they do in a city like this is not at all the easiest task, but since the 1800's they have done this job, not for the glory or the fame, but for the love of the job. The camaraderie of the job is something not everyone can understand, for you have to expeirece it firsthand. In what other job do you sit down to dinner with the rest of the crew?
Many years from now, hopefully people will look back and remember these men as not only heroes, but as the legends they truly are.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Watching the news on the Mine...tragedy I guess you can call it now...it makes me actually sick to the stomach that a company can cover up the fact that 12 people didn't make it....not only that but have the nerve to make the families believe that they were alive...I feel sick...its not even anger that I feel...it's just shock...these are peoples lives and families that...just....i'm at a loss.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Well here it is....the end of 2005. It was an interesting year. Mother Nature showed she can be as fickle as a Hollywood marriage, she first gave us an endlessly freezing and snowy winter, followed by a warm and surprisingly super-stormy summer. We were also given the new "It couple" of Bush and Clinton following the Asian Tsunami. Frankly...that couple seems a lot more normal then Cruise and Holmes.
The Terri Schavio thing was a big deal for a few weeks here...then replaced by "mayor" Doombergs stadium debacle as he tried to get the Olympics for NYC...but surprise...no one here really wanted them! We got enough crowds. Thankfully the International Olympic Committee chose London, who subsequently suffered devastating terror attacks in July, further proving that the war on terror needs to be led by a true leader...RAMBO!...who will actually get another movie in which he not only fights osama, but also Old Sal who took Mr.Rambos fruit cup at the old folks home....not funny? gimmie a break, it's 3:30am.
Hollywood was big this year and I’m not just talking about the size of Star Jones Ass. Yes I know who Star Jones is. Sad I know. 2005 saw the return of "The Dukes Of Hazard"...yea...another remake, which in true remake fashion blew more then Tara Reid in a locker room. But wait! Peter Jackson’s "King Kong" gives us proof that maybe some remakes can be good...I say maybe because I haven't actually seen it yet for fear that it may make me wanna act like a monkey and throw poop at people.
The Space Shuttle finally returned to orbit and successfully to Earth...and was quickly re-grounded after having the same problem that ended Columbia's mission in tragedy. This re-grounding thus brought about a wave of criticism directed at NASA. But to the nay Sayers I say this; Have you any idea how difficult it is to put together and fly a piece of machinery such as the shuttle? It is the most sophisticated piece of machinery on Earth, and things can go wrong. Sometimes this ends tragically and sometimes it doesn't but you cannot fault an organization for its entire existence based on a few incidences.
The whole Scooter Libby thing confused me a tad. I get the general jist of the story...releasing a CIA agents name...not good. I mean if you're gonna be on the VP's staff, one would think you'd be a bit smarter, but his name is Scooter...Personally I think Cheney picked him just so he could have someone to make fun of when Dubya wasn't around. That’s what I’d do if I knew someone named Scooter.
April saw the flight of the worlds largest plane, The Airbus A380. The planes designers said that not only was it the safest plane, but that it would also never crash. I think I smell sequel for James Cameron and Leo!!!
And of course there was Katrina. Originally a Hurricane, it slowly built into a massive government screw up that could be saved by only one person...Sean Penn. That’s right, the humorless and smile less actor, sickened by the images of violence and overbearing press coverage quickly flew to New Orleans....with a shotgun and a photographer (Not me.). Katrina taught us many things. For instance, we learned that "Doin a heckuva job" is actually a coded way of saying "You're fucked." It also taught us that the Coast Guard does more then FEMA. It showed that the Weather Channel has an audience other then....well....me.
Death reared its head in more forms then Katrina and Turkey Flavored soda. The Pope died...and was then laid out like a display at Macys for a few days. Sam Anderson, the inventor of the Crash test dummy, finally slammed into that big Volvo in the sky. Johnnie Cochran passed away, much to the joy of L.A. District attorneys.
The years sports stories were also somethin to take note of this year. Though the Yankees didn't win it all, They still provoked Boston’s suicide rate to increase with the winter signing of "Caveman lawyer" Johnny Damon, the self professed "Idiot." Well said Johnnie.
Rafael Palmerio pointed his finger and congress and stated he didn't use performance enhancing drugs. Then he proceeded to make more commercials for Viagra until he was caught with his pants down and hand up Sammy Sosa’s ass.
Tiger Woods hit a tiny ball with a crooked stick and walked after it. Does anyone really care? I don't.
Philadelphia Eagles player Terrel Owens started talking. And wouldn't shut up. Much like me. Unlike him however, I don't have a jersey to burn.
The NHL had a work stoppage, leaving fans who wanted to see mindless morons wail on each other having to watch other sports such as boxing and everyone vs. Tom Cruise.
Nascar driver Tony Stewart gave what I think might be one of the better quotes of the year. After winning the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July, Stewart proceeded to climb the 30 foot protection fence on the track and then huffed his way back to victory lane where he proclaimed "I'm too damn old and too damn fat to be climbing fences."
Nascar also furthered its attempt at landing a spot in NYC by continuing to move forward with its plans to build a track right here in Staten Island. I may be a Nascar fan, but I’d rather not see Carl Edwards doing back flips here. Move it to Queens.
Speaking of local news...anyone else find the transit strike kind of neat? I mean other then the sheer inconvenience of having to huff over the Manhattan bridge in Decembers -23 degree weather...it was good to see some people stand up to the evil empire known as the MTA. They even got to add to their slogan; "MTA, going your way....if your way is standing still." Granted the strike did little to benefit the workers, its further proof that New Yorkers can band together despite whatever faces us.
Personally for me, 2005 was a better year then previous. I met some pretty spiffy folks, from an immensely large man who can barely fit into a car, to a blonde Texan known for singing songs about Iodine. I learned things about some others...like Joeys solution to a missing car registration, or the fact that Speedy can make good use outta sweat pants.
I learned that when one door slams in your face, another 4 open, all with hands helping you up.
I learned that despite the fact I can be a total ass sometimes, I will always have friends who mean more then I ever knew. Friends that will put their life on the line, even when they don't have too.
I learned that you can find a friend in sometimes the unlikeliest of places, be it a radio station, or even Idaho.
You all kept me strong and gave me a new belief in the kindness of humanity, and I hope that will continue for years to come.
I learned that in some ways, you can go home again. But you must do so with caution.
I look forward to 2006. I hope to build on the momentum of 2005.
I may still be single and jobless, but I can at least say that I have a room that is really, really green.
I hope everyone has a safe, happy and fun 2006!
The Terri Schavio thing was a big deal for a few weeks here...then replaced by "mayor" Doombergs stadium debacle as he tried to get the Olympics for NYC...but surprise...no one here really wanted them! We got enough crowds. Thankfully the International Olympic Committee chose London, who subsequently suffered devastating terror attacks in July, further proving that the war on terror needs to be led by a true leader...RAMBO!...who will actually get another movie in which he not only fights osama, but also Old Sal who took Mr.Rambos fruit cup at the old folks home....not funny? gimmie a break, it's 3:30am.
Hollywood was big this year and I’m not just talking about the size of Star Jones Ass. Yes I know who Star Jones is. Sad I know. 2005 saw the return of "The Dukes Of Hazard"...yea...another remake, which in true remake fashion blew more then Tara Reid in a locker room. But wait! Peter Jackson’s "King Kong" gives us proof that maybe some remakes can be good...I say maybe because I haven't actually seen it yet for fear that it may make me wanna act like a monkey and throw poop at people.
The Space Shuttle finally returned to orbit and successfully to Earth...and was quickly re-grounded after having the same problem that ended Columbia's mission in tragedy. This re-grounding thus brought about a wave of criticism directed at NASA. But to the nay Sayers I say this; Have you any idea how difficult it is to put together and fly a piece of machinery such as the shuttle? It is the most sophisticated piece of machinery on Earth, and things can go wrong. Sometimes this ends tragically and sometimes it doesn't but you cannot fault an organization for its entire existence based on a few incidences.
The whole Scooter Libby thing confused me a tad. I get the general jist of the story...releasing a CIA agents name...not good. I mean if you're gonna be on the VP's staff, one would think you'd be a bit smarter, but his name is Scooter...Personally I think Cheney picked him just so he could have someone to make fun of when Dubya wasn't around. That’s what I’d do if I knew someone named Scooter.
April saw the flight of the worlds largest plane, The Airbus A380. The planes designers said that not only was it the safest plane, but that it would also never crash. I think I smell sequel for James Cameron and Leo!!!
And of course there was Katrina. Originally a Hurricane, it slowly built into a massive government screw up that could be saved by only one person...Sean Penn. That’s right, the humorless and smile less actor, sickened by the images of violence and overbearing press coverage quickly flew to New Orleans....with a shotgun and a photographer (Not me.). Katrina taught us many things. For instance, we learned that "Doin a heckuva job" is actually a coded way of saying "You're fucked." It also taught us that the Coast Guard does more then FEMA. It showed that the Weather Channel has an audience other then....well....me.
Death reared its head in more forms then Katrina and Turkey Flavored soda. The Pope died...and was then laid out like a display at Macys for a few days. Sam Anderson, the inventor of the Crash test dummy, finally slammed into that big Volvo in the sky. Johnnie Cochran passed away, much to the joy of L.A. District attorneys.
The years sports stories were also somethin to take note of this year. Though the Yankees didn't win it all, They still provoked Boston’s suicide rate to increase with the winter signing of "Caveman lawyer" Johnny Damon, the self professed "Idiot." Well said Johnnie.
Rafael Palmerio pointed his finger and congress and stated he didn't use performance enhancing drugs. Then he proceeded to make more commercials for Viagra until he was caught with his pants down and hand up Sammy Sosa’s ass.
Tiger Woods hit a tiny ball with a crooked stick and walked after it. Does anyone really care? I don't.
Philadelphia Eagles player Terrel Owens started talking. And wouldn't shut up. Much like me. Unlike him however, I don't have a jersey to burn.
The NHL had a work stoppage, leaving fans who wanted to see mindless morons wail on each other having to watch other sports such as boxing and everyone vs. Tom Cruise.
Nascar driver Tony Stewart gave what I think might be one of the better quotes of the year. After winning the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July, Stewart proceeded to climb the 30 foot protection fence on the track and then huffed his way back to victory lane where he proclaimed "I'm too damn old and too damn fat to be climbing fences."
Nascar also furthered its attempt at landing a spot in NYC by continuing to move forward with its plans to build a track right here in Staten Island. I may be a Nascar fan, but I’d rather not see Carl Edwards doing back flips here. Move it to Queens.
Speaking of local news...anyone else find the transit strike kind of neat? I mean other then the sheer inconvenience of having to huff over the Manhattan bridge in Decembers -23 degree weather...it was good to see some people stand up to the evil empire known as the MTA. They even got to add to their slogan; "MTA, going your way....if your way is standing still." Granted the strike did little to benefit the workers, its further proof that New Yorkers can band together despite whatever faces us.
Personally for me, 2005 was a better year then previous. I met some pretty spiffy folks, from an immensely large man who can barely fit into a car, to a blonde Texan known for singing songs about Iodine. I learned things about some others...like Joeys solution to a missing car registration, or the fact that Speedy can make good use outta sweat pants.
I learned that when one door slams in your face, another 4 open, all with hands helping you up.
I learned that despite the fact I can be a total ass sometimes, I will always have friends who mean more then I ever knew. Friends that will put their life on the line, even when they don't have too.
I learned that you can find a friend in sometimes the unlikeliest of places, be it a radio station, or even Idaho.
You all kept me strong and gave me a new belief in the kindness of humanity, and I hope that will continue for years to come.
I learned that in some ways, you can go home again. But you must do so with caution.
I look forward to 2006. I hope to build on the momentum of 2005.
I may still be single and jobless, but I can at least say that I have a room that is really, really green.
I hope everyone has a safe, happy and fun 2006!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Its 3am on Christmas and i'm dog tired but can't sleep for some reason so bear with me here...
Christmas. "Most wonderful time of the year" they say. Well who is "they" excatly? Is it the greedy corporations that will do anything and everything to cash in an extra buck? Is it the people who write the overly sappy holiday songs just becase they think it will cement them? Is it the sidewalk Santas who will no doubt ring their bell in your ear to get a few pennies for the red cross? No one really seems to know whos idea it is that this is the "most wonderful time of year." Is it really wonderful though?
Think of it this way, more stress, accidents, suicides, foreclosures and just genreal bad luck events take place this time of year. Now before you say to yourself "oh great another holiday downer.", I offer you the information that I don't intend for this to be a "down" writing.
Many people, myself included seem to have lost the christmas spirt as its affectionately called. I suppose this happens whence you hit a certian age or have a specific major life event occour. Whatever it may be, something inside you takes away that wonder and magic that you had before. Its not fair that it happens but it does. Yet, you know that deep down inside, tucked away...its still there, waiting for something amazing to happen to awaken it....or just maybe waiting for something tinily good to awaken it.
People complain and moan about traffic and crowds and say they'd be better off without them. Not nessacarilly true. Those crowds and that traffic is all going to, in some way put those extra few bucks for that christmas present in your pocket. That person who just cut you off might be rushing to their job at the mall to better serve you. Someone in that crowd will have enough kindness in their heart to help guide your lost little brother or sister back to you. In some way, everyone of the things you find troublesome will help you or someone you care about.
That hidden christmas spirit shows it self in weird, little ways sometimes. That little spark inside you that wants to be a kid again can be re-lit, you just have to beleive in the goodness of humankind.
Lots of people claim they are alone. This is not true, everyone has a friend, espeically this time of year, and as it was so excellently put in the classic, "Its a Wonderful Life", "No man[or woman] is a failure who has friends." You are not alone, especially at christmas.
For those of you who are thinking i've lost it...like I said, its 3am on christmas and I havent slept well lately. Good night and Merry Christmas.
Christmas. "Most wonderful time of the year" they say. Well who is "they" excatly? Is it the greedy corporations that will do anything and everything to cash in an extra buck? Is it the people who write the overly sappy holiday songs just becase they think it will cement them? Is it the sidewalk Santas who will no doubt ring their bell in your ear to get a few pennies for the red cross? No one really seems to know whos idea it is that this is the "most wonderful time of year." Is it really wonderful though?
Think of it this way, more stress, accidents, suicides, foreclosures and just genreal bad luck events take place this time of year. Now before you say to yourself "oh great another holiday downer.", I offer you the information that I don't intend for this to be a "down" writing.
Many people, myself included seem to have lost the christmas spirt as its affectionately called. I suppose this happens whence you hit a certian age or have a specific major life event occour. Whatever it may be, something inside you takes away that wonder and magic that you had before. Its not fair that it happens but it does. Yet, you know that deep down inside, tucked away...its still there, waiting for something amazing to happen to awaken it....or just maybe waiting for something tinily good to awaken it.
People complain and moan about traffic and crowds and say they'd be better off without them. Not nessacarilly true. Those crowds and that traffic is all going to, in some way put those extra few bucks for that christmas present in your pocket. That person who just cut you off might be rushing to their job at the mall to better serve you. Someone in that crowd will have enough kindness in their heart to help guide your lost little brother or sister back to you. In some way, everyone of the things you find troublesome will help you or someone you care about.
That hidden christmas spirit shows it self in weird, little ways sometimes. That little spark inside you that wants to be a kid again can be re-lit, you just have to beleive in the goodness of humankind.
Lots of people claim they are alone. This is not true, everyone has a friend, espeically this time of year, and as it was so excellently put in the classic, "Its a Wonderful Life", "No man[or woman] is a failure who has friends." You are not alone, especially at christmas.
For those of you who are thinking i've lost it...like I said, its 3am on christmas and I havent slept well lately. Good night and Merry Christmas.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Ok, this is gettin a wee bit...well...odd. For the second time in 2 months, people all over the city have called 911 reporting a sweet smell, very much like maple syrup or butterscotch all over town. The first time it happened at the end of October, FDNY, NYPD and OEM(Office of emergency managment) dispatched crews all over the city...and no source was ever found, and the smell disappeared within a few hours. People weren't complaining about it...but it was noticable enough that everyone had to find a source. Well yesterday at around 3:30 in the afternoon, the smell apparently returned. Personally I haven't smelled anything...other the the usual Staten Island smells. This is getting a little strange though I must admit...and when the OEM says that the smell is not dangerous, you gotta worry at least a little bit. Since the smell is pleasanat, we can definately eliminate it coming from jersey. Some people joke that IHOP is taking their marketing a little too far. Could be. If the smell can be smelled in Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens(Staten Island left out again...goodie), one would have to think that whatever the source is...it is most liekly mobile...or at least emmited from a few spots, carefully placed. It'd be kinda keen however, to have it continue in its mysterious ways for a while...If its not dangerous, and some people seem to enjoy it, I say let it smell.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
It's 3:18am and i'm sitting here with a bowl of rocky road topped with a lil bit of Cranberry syrup...cause...well...this time of year theres an abundence of Cranberry stuff (I don't care how abundence is spelled, it's 3am like I said).
The holidays are coming up, and they're supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year as the song goes. Well...not for me. Not for a lot of people. I don't know why, but I seem to have lost my holiday spirit. I want it back. When I was a kid, hell up till a few years ago, the weeks leading up to and following christmas were somethin else. There was this excitment and anticipation in the air. There was a crisp...joy to it.
Now it's gone...just up and left. Don't know where or why. Christmas comes now, and even though I try my best to put a happy spin on it...it doesn't work. When I see scenes of people rioting on "Black friday" and getting arrested...it just makes me wonder where it went wrong. It seems like almost everyone else is having a good time or at least superbly masking the bad time they're having.
People ask me what I want for Christmas...I tell them to donate to charities i've picked out. They laugh in my face...not all, but some. And it bugs me. Maybe the reason I want that is for others to be happy, which in turn makes me happy. I guess thats selfish? I dunno. All I know is that I think it's time for me to get my good christmas break. I wanna enjoy it this year and I don't know how.
I'm not saying I wanna go carrolling or drink 32 cartons of eggnog, but I want to have a christmas where I can genuinely smile and enjoy it again. I don't think it's too much to ask. I just wanna have a good time again and not feel alone. I want to feel like George Bailey did at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life"
The holidays are coming up, and they're supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year as the song goes. Well...not for me. Not for a lot of people. I don't know why, but I seem to have lost my holiday spirit. I want it back. When I was a kid, hell up till a few years ago, the weeks leading up to and following christmas were somethin else. There was this excitment and anticipation in the air. There was a crisp...joy to it.
Now it's gone...just up and left. Don't know where or why. Christmas comes now, and even though I try my best to put a happy spin on it...it doesn't work. When I see scenes of people rioting on "Black friday" and getting arrested...it just makes me wonder where it went wrong. It seems like almost everyone else is having a good time or at least superbly masking the bad time they're having.
People ask me what I want for Christmas...I tell them to donate to charities i've picked out. They laugh in my face...not all, but some. And it bugs me. Maybe the reason I want that is for others to be happy, which in turn makes me happy. I guess thats selfish? I dunno. All I know is that I think it's time for me to get my good christmas break. I wanna enjoy it this year and I don't know how.
I'm not saying I wanna go carrolling or drink 32 cartons of eggnog, but I want to have a christmas where I can genuinely smile and enjoy it again. I don't think it's too much to ask. I just wanna have a good time again and not feel alone. I want to feel like George Bailey did at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life"
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