Is there a worse feeling in the world, then going to use a public restroom, or a restroom in someone else's home and worrying that the door won't lock?
It is possible that most normal people do not suffer from this fear, but I do. Especially in a house where there are lots of small children. It's like my Grandmother's joke about the guy who goes to visit his friend, and they sit down to dinner. When it's time for soup, the guest is served and the dog keeps staring at him. Finally, he can take it no longer. He asks his friend why the dog is staring at him. the reply: "because you're eating from his bowl."
Granted, this is not my type of humor, though it was part of my Grandmother's repertoire, so having heard it many, many times it stuck with me. The kids are like the dog, the bathroom the supper dish. You never know when they're going to want what is rightfully theirs.
So, when frequenting these restrooms, I make it my business to lock the door and then double check it. It makes me feel better and more secure.
I am thwarted however, by those push button locks that open when you turn the knob. There is no way to check that the door is actually locked! Who invented this? Really, whose great idea was this? Are there really so many people getting locked in rooms that it was necessary to put this fail safe method on? Because, no you won't get locked in, but you don't even know if you're locked at all!!
So to those of you changing doorknobs, or building new rooms, changing doors, or anything that gives you the opportunity to be in the market for a new doorknob, do not choose this one. No matter how strongly it is suggested. All other locks can be opened from the outside with the right tool, and in a real emergency you can just slam down the door.
Please, we are crazies are people too.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
I Really Had a SUPER Time....
I went to my first professional football game on Sunday. I've been to sporting events before, baseball and hockey specifically, and a few minor league baseball games too.
We'll put the minor league game aside, because that's a different category in terms of who are the targeted ticket holders, and how much money the enterprise is trying to make.
A football game is a spectacle from start to finish. Likely owing to the fact that there are a grand total of 8 homes games a year, maybe two more if the team is really, really good. (another argument against municipalities ponying up that much public money to fund buildings for for profit enterprises that sit empty a good part of the year, though some are used for local non professional sports). It probably has a lot to do with all the unnatural breaks in the game that are for TV timeouts, also known as commercial time.
I think I know the real reason. The last thing you want is a building packed with anywhere between 50,000 and 80,000 people, three quarters of whom are three sheets to the wind before they step through the door, bored. Even for a minute.
So from the moment you sit in your seat, until the last fan has staggered from the peanut shell, plastic cup, bottle, chili dog holder strewn stadium there isn't a quiet moment.
For years I've been a fan of Phil Mushnick, who highlights the problems with televised sports. An old crank, some say. One of his pet peeves is when the TV cameras seek out the fans acting the most boorish to be highlighted during those times on TV when time must be filled (or when stupid networks think that people who are watching a game on TV are interested in being taken away from the field of play to see these obnoxious fans). His point is often that obnoxious drunken behavior is being rewarded. It's true. As soon as the people next to us saw the camera guy they started screaming and shouting and just being annoying.
Keep in mind, we had great seats. Front row, 50 yard line behind the home team bench. You'd think tickets like that would somewhat protect you from the truly drunk fans. You'd be wrong. I had the pleasure of spending the first twelve minutes of the game with two empty seats between me and the woman in the next seat. She moved over after a few minutes and we were talking between plays (obviously, this wasn't NY). After a little while, the rightful seat owners arrived, each carrying a large plastic cup (20-24 oz at least) of beer. They were young. Early to mid twenties, and friendly. As the game wore on she became a lot friendlier to me, and spent most of the second half (after two more bottles of beer and another large cup)facing away from the field, alternately sitting on the railing to the field, and half on my lap. I was kind of hoping she'd fall over the railing, but that didn't happen. She was a nice person, but I just didn't have the patience to deal with her giggling questions about why the police men don't hem their pants, since it would look so much nicer. Her boyfriend was not next to me, but we were all treated to his predictions of touchdowns, often by players who were not actually on the field right then.
Don't get me wrong, I had a great time. It was fun to experience it, especially with MBB, and especially because the Vikings won. But the drinking is out of control. When we showed up at the stadium a 11:20 in the morning (the game started at noon), there were crowds of people standing around drinking. According to the website, no beer is sold starting at the start of the third quarter, but my seatmates got more beer in the late third quarter and I saw people with fresh cups in the fourth.
Granted it did not seem that anything to horrific happened, but that was not the case in 1999 when a man driving home from a NY Giants football game paralyzed a two year old girl when his car smashed into the one she was riding in. He had been drinking before the game, and at the game he gave the concession guy a $10 bribe to sell him six cups of beer at one time. The limit is two. 5-5, 150-pound man, he had had about 16 beers that day, and his blood-alcohol level was .266, nearly three times the legal limit. He was so incoherent at the time of the accident he could not stand up straight, or recite the alphabet, the police report states.
He went to jail for five years, and the family sued the Medowlands, the Giants and Aramark, the concession company. They won a $135 million judgment against Aramark. The others settled with the family. The judgment was overturned in 2007, the three judge panel did not feel "the culture of intoxication" evidence that the girl's lawyer presented should have been admitted.
In 2008 Aramark settled for $26 million. I think that if you asked most fans if there was a "culture of intoxication" at football games, I think thy would say yes. I know I only went to one game, and I don't know why it's worse at these games (versus Hockey or baseball), but it may go back to the few times a year thing. In this age of computers, and the price of beer at a stadium marked up as high as it is, I can't see why a fan can't be given a card when he walks into the stadium, or when he buys his tickets. One card, if you lose it too bad. You get to swipe it twice, after that you're cut off. If another fan gives him his card, so be it, but generally it would keep a control on alcohol consumed.
The game was fun to be at, it was an amazing weekend, I just can't believe that this goes on on a regular basis in 16 cities every week.
We'll put the minor league game aside, because that's a different category in terms of who are the targeted ticket holders, and how much money the enterprise is trying to make.
A football game is a spectacle from start to finish. Likely owing to the fact that there are a grand total of 8 homes games a year, maybe two more if the team is really, really good. (another argument against municipalities ponying up that much public money to fund buildings for for profit enterprises that sit empty a good part of the year, though some are used for local non professional sports). It probably has a lot to do with all the unnatural breaks in the game that are for TV timeouts, also known as commercial time.
I think I know the real reason. The last thing you want is a building packed with anywhere between 50,000 and 80,000 people, three quarters of whom are three sheets to the wind before they step through the door, bored. Even for a minute.
So from the moment you sit in your seat, until the last fan has staggered from the peanut shell, plastic cup, bottle, chili dog holder strewn stadium there isn't a quiet moment.
For years I've been a fan of Phil Mushnick, who highlights the problems with televised sports. An old crank, some say. One of his pet peeves is when the TV cameras seek out the fans acting the most boorish to be highlighted during those times on TV when time must be filled (or when stupid networks think that people who are watching a game on TV are interested in being taken away from the field of play to see these obnoxious fans). His point is often that obnoxious drunken behavior is being rewarded. It's true. As soon as the people next to us saw the camera guy they started screaming and shouting and just being annoying.
Keep in mind, we had great seats. Front row, 50 yard line behind the home team bench. You'd think tickets like that would somewhat protect you from the truly drunk fans. You'd be wrong. I had the pleasure of spending the first twelve minutes of the game with two empty seats between me and the woman in the next seat. She moved over after a few minutes and we were talking between plays (obviously, this wasn't NY). After a little while, the rightful seat owners arrived, each carrying a large plastic cup (20-24 oz at least) of beer. They were young. Early to mid twenties, and friendly. As the game wore on she became a lot friendlier to me, and spent most of the second half (after two more bottles of beer and another large cup)facing away from the field, alternately sitting on the railing to the field, and half on my lap. I was kind of hoping she'd fall over the railing, but that didn't happen. She was a nice person, but I just didn't have the patience to deal with her giggling questions about why the police men don't hem their pants, since it would look so much nicer. Her boyfriend was not next to me, but we were all treated to his predictions of touchdowns, often by players who were not actually on the field right then.
Don't get me wrong, I had a great time. It was fun to experience it, especially with MBB, and especially because the Vikings won. But the drinking is out of control. When we showed up at the stadium a 11:20 in the morning (the game started at noon), there were crowds of people standing around drinking. According to the website, no beer is sold starting at the start of the third quarter, but my seatmates got more beer in the late third quarter and I saw people with fresh cups in the fourth.
Granted it did not seem that anything to horrific happened, but that was not the case in 1999 when a man driving home from a NY Giants football game paralyzed a two year old girl when his car smashed into the one she was riding in. He had been drinking before the game, and at the game he gave the concession guy a $10 bribe to sell him six cups of beer at one time. The limit is two. 5-5, 150-pound man, he had had about 16 beers that day, and his blood-alcohol level was .266, nearly three times the legal limit. He was so incoherent at the time of the accident he could not stand up straight, or recite the alphabet, the police report states.
He went to jail for five years, and the family sued the Medowlands, the Giants and Aramark, the concession company. They won a $135 million judgment against Aramark. The others settled with the family. The judgment was overturned in 2007, the three judge panel did not feel "the culture of intoxication" evidence that the girl's lawyer presented should have been admitted.
In 2008 Aramark settled for $26 million. I think that if you asked most fans if there was a "culture of intoxication" at football games, I think thy would say yes. I know I only went to one game, and I don't know why it's worse at these games (versus Hockey or baseball), but it may go back to the few times a year thing. In this age of computers, and the price of beer at a stadium marked up as high as it is, I can't see why a fan can't be given a card when he walks into the stadium, or when he buys his tickets. One card, if you lose it too bad. You get to swipe it twice, after that you're cut off. If another fan gives him his card, so be it, but generally it would keep a control on alcohol consumed.
The game was fun to be at, it was an amazing weekend, I just can't believe that this goes on on a regular basis in 16 cities every week.
Sign Of NOT the Times
We were away this weekend, and when we went to return the rental car and walk to the terminal, there was a very helpful reminder sign. I guess after years of finding important items left in rental cars, the companies figured out which were both the most important and most commonly left personal items in rental cars.
Here's the sign:
(click picture to see the sign bigger)
So remember your backpack,money, glasses,keys, camera and PHONE FROM 1997.
Here's the sign:
(click picture to see the sign bigger)
So remember your backpack,money, glasses,keys, camera and PHONE FROM 1997.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Sneaky
This week President Obama visited the Far East. One of his stops was to the Land of The Rising Sun, also known as Japan, or the Land of $8 Tomatoes, depending on your perspective.
While in that country he met with the Emperor and his wife, and bowed to them. Why? why would he do this? Simple. To get people off his back for bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia. After the brouhaha that erupted over his inappropriate display of deference to a foreign leaders the White House advisors had a confab.
They decided to bide their time. He couldn't "learn his lesson," and stop bowing to foreign monarchs after he bowed to King Saud, that would leave him with a legacy of only bowing to a Muslim King. So he had to wait. And wait. And bide his time until he met with another foreign Monarch to "make a protocol mistake" upon meeting.
So now he's bowed to two kings (though I don't think he bowed to Queen Elizabeth when he met her...I'd say cuz we kinda beat them in a war, but we beat japan too, so to keep my theory alive, I'll say he's sexist too!), and he can stop.
He will no longer be the President who bowed to the A-rab only.
Very clever.
While in that country he met with the Emperor and his wife, and bowed to them. Why? why would he do this? Simple. To get people off his back for bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia. After the brouhaha that erupted over his inappropriate display of deference to a foreign leaders the White House advisors had a confab.
They decided to bide their time. He couldn't "learn his lesson," and stop bowing to foreign monarchs after he bowed to King Saud, that would leave him with a legacy of only bowing to a Muslim King. So he had to wait. And wait. And bide his time until he met with another foreign Monarch to "make a protocol mistake" upon meeting.
So now he's bowed to two kings (though I don't think he bowed to Queen Elizabeth when he met her...I'd say cuz we kinda beat them in a war, but we beat japan too, so to keep my theory alive, I'll say he's sexist too!), and he can stop.
He will no longer be the President who bowed to the A-rab only.
Very clever.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Is That Necessary?
I was sitting in front of the computer, glancing at a bottle of Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70% that one of my kids left here on the desk. After thinking how I'd best bring that upstairs lest the Cheese Eater, God Forbid, mistake it for something edible (Kitty Dukakis not withstanding), I noticed something else.
An OU on the label.
Really?
An OU on the label.
Really?
Monday, November 9, 2009
...No, It Isn't
When I wrote my last post, I had a feeling that it could potentially unleash a torrent of negative reaction.
However, I assumed that such sentiment would be spewed forth by one of those "gold bugs," offended that I so much as implied that the price of gold had risen to irrational heights. You know the type, don't you? The type of person who still rails about the fact that we moved off of the gold standard, who has correctly predicted 12 out of the last five recessions, and who refuses to even visit California, because he's convinced that the next "big one" is coming any minute now, and will plunge the entire Golden State into the Pacific Ocean.
Interestingly, I've not yet heard from those quarters. Instead, it appears that FBB is offended by the idea that I prefer to obtain my pastry from a professional purveyor of such edibles, rather than a homemade version.
I'd like to set that record straight, on several points:
* I think that FBB is an excellent bakestress. I enjoy her pastry very much, both for its taste, and for the significant effort that she obviously invests in its preparation.
* In general, I hold FBB in high regard, as evidenced by the fact that I've given her a score of above 50 for 16 consecutive years in the annual Wife Survey, which is administered by the Institute for the Advancement of Men (IAM). To give you an idea of what that means, bear in mind that a score of 50 equates with "average." So as you can see I've rated FBB "above average" for 16 consecutive years. I have no doubt that she is as proud of that impressive streak as I am.
(In case you were wondering about why there's a need for the Institute for the Advancement of Men, consider the following: Not only do women have a higher life expectancy than men, but that life expectancy gap is widening. The conspiracy against men, so obvious to anyone who simply pays attention to the world around him/her, continues in full force. To our male readers, here's a tip. The next time a female complains about the glass ceiling, be sure to mention the six-foot-thick dirt ceiling).
* When we're at someone else's house, and I'm served a good piece of cake, and upon tasting it I declare, "Wow, this tastes like store-bought cake!" I'm being nice, not rude.
* In general, a disagreement cannot be referred to as "one of the great arguments of our marriage" unless there's a restraining order involved. Or, at least one situation where I'm asked politely by a police officer to come out of the house for a "discussion," and I step outside wearing a tobacco juice-stained sleeveless undershirt (that's a crime right there), and say "she done started it, officer," and answer his follow-up question with "No, I ain't been drinkin' since...before."
However, I'm man enough to admit when my opinions are not in line with the mainstream, and to adjust to that reality, as needed.
Therefore, for any of you who accept the wager I discussed in my previous post (where I bet that the price of gold would be lower than $1,100.00 per ounce on May 9, 2010), and win, FBB will be happy to bake you a cupcake.
And, as FBB mentioned, I'm open-minded enough that I'm willing to accept baked goods from anyone who believes that he or she could change my opinion on the matter.
However, I assumed that such sentiment would be spewed forth by one of those "gold bugs," offended that I so much as implied that the price of gold had risen to irrational heights. You know the type, don't you? The type of person who still rails about the fact that we moved off of the gold standard, who has correctly predicted 12 out of the last five recessions, and who refuses to even visit California, because he's convinced that the next "big one" is coming any minute now, and will plunge the entire Golden State into the Pacific Ocean.
Interestingly, I've not yet heard from those quarters. Instead, it appears that FBB is offended by the idea that I prefer to obtain my pastry from a professional purveyor of such edibles, rather than a homemade version.
I'd like to set that record straight, on several points:
* I think that FBB is an excellent bakestress. I enjoy her pastry very much, both for its taste, and for the significant effort that she obviously invests in its preparation.
* In general, I hold FBB in high regard, as evidenced by the fact that I've given her a score of above 50 for 16 consecutive years in the annual Wife Survey, which is administered by the Institute for the Advancement of Men (IAM). To give you an idea of what that means, bear in mind that a score of 50 equates with "average." So as you can see I've rated FBB "above average" for 16 consecutive years. I have no doubt that she is as proud of that impressive streak as I am.
(In case you were wondering about why there's a need for the Institute for the Advancement of Men, consider the following: Not only do women have a higher life expectancy than men, but that life expectancy gap is widening. The conspiracy against men, so obvious to anyone who simply pays attention to the world around him/her, continues in full force. To our male readers, here's a tip. The next time a female complains about the glass ceiling, be sure to mention the six-foot-thick dirt ceiling).
* When we're at someone else's house, and I'm served a good piece of cake, and upon tasting it I declare, "Wow, this tastes like store-bought cake!" I'm being nice, not rude.
* In general, a disagreement cannot be referred to as "one of the great arguments of our marriage" unless there's a restraining order involved. Or, at least one situation where I'm asked politely by a police officer to come out of the house for a "discussion," and I step outside wearing a tobacco juice-stained sleeveless undershirt (that's a crime right there), and say "she done started it, officer," and answer his follow-up question with "No, I ain't been drinkin' since...before."
However, I'm man enough to admit when my opinions are not in line with the mainstream, and to adjust to that reality, as needed.
Therefore, for any of you who accept the wager I discussed in my previous post (where I bet that the price of gold would be lower than $1,100.00 per ounce on May 9, 2010), and win, FBB will be happy to bake you a cupcake.
And, as FBB mentioned, I'm open-minded enough that I'm willing to accept baked goods from anyone who believes that he or she could change my opinion on the matter.
It's an Honor Thing
I feel I must defend myself.
In the process I bring to light one of the great arguments of our marriage.
I am a good baker. It may not look perfect, but it always tastes really good.
Every time MBB says "I prefer bakery confections," I tell him that comes across as insulting and he always counters with:
"I believe in leaving certain things to professionals, they are professional, how can it NOT be better. Like a mechanic or a painter."
To that I would ask: are taxi drivers better drivers because they are professionals?
If an advertising agency would pay me to drive does that make me "a professional driver," and allow me to use the ubiquitous small print "closed course?"
How does putting out a shingle to sell your wares or services automatically make it better? You can always get a sucker to but something....
So in my own defense, I believe that MBB, being a numbers person, really believes that the bakery must be better, because logically, they are the professionals, and it would stand to reason, that they are better at it. Now you know what I think of that....
Anyone who would like to change his mind is welcome to send us their homemade pastries.
In the process I bring to light one of the great arguments of our marriage.
I am a good baker. It may not look perfect, but it always tastes really good.
Every time MBB says "I prefer bakery confections," I tell him that comes across as insulting and he always counters with:
"I believe in leaving certain things to professionals, they are professional, how can it NOT be better. Like a mechanic or a painter."
To that I would ask: are taxi drivers better drivers because they are professionals?
If an advertising agency would pay me to drive does that make me "a professional driver," and allow me to use the ubiquitous small print "closed course?"
How does putting out a shingle to sell your wares or services automatically make it better? You can always get a sucker to but something....
So in my own defense, I believe that MBB, being a numbers person, really believes that the bakery must be better, because logically, they are the professionals, and it would stand to reason, that they are better at it. Now you know what I think of that....
Anyone who would like to change his mind is welcome to send us their homemade pastries.
The Golden Bubble
Things have now gotten completely out of hand, and I've got to say something publicly about it. I must go on-record.
(In case you were wondering, it's me, MBB, despite that very FBB-esque opening salvo).
I believe that yet another great financial bubble is building, and is sure to burst in short order.
The mispriced item in question is gold, which as of this morning was trading at a price of $1,100.00 per ounce. That price represents about a 50% increase since the beginning of 2009, and puts the precious metal's per-ounce price roughly on par with that of shoulder pastrami at a certain local deli/take-out place.
It's odd to me that gold has risen to such a price level, in the absence of any scarcity assumptions, or an increase in production costs.
Why is this happening? Who is bidding up the price of gold to these ridiculous levels?
* Investors who are betting on continued weakness in the U.S. Dollar? (Gold and the dollar tend to trade in opposite directions).
* People who are convinced that the current recession will worsen, and are seeking gold's traditional safe-haven characteristics?
* People who believe that the economy will rebound soon, with great momentum, thereby spurring a rebound in the purchase of luxury items, such as gold jewelry?
* Investors - both individual and professional - who are uncertain about the stock market, and want to increase their exposure to gold as a hedge to their stock portfolio? (Stock returns and gold prices tend to be negatively correlated over time...or so they say. I'm too lazy to look this up, and this blog doesn't make enough money yet to allow me to hire a researcher).
* People who run closed-end commodity funds, which allow the average Joe to get in on the action?
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
They're all buying gold...and they're all wrong.
Six months from now, gold will be cheaper than it is today. One year from now, it'll be cheaper still.
I'm so convinced that I'm right about this that I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is.
No, I'm not going to short gold. I don't have that kind of gumption.
Rather, I'm willing to bet any of our readers that gold will be below $1,100.00 per ounce in six months, on May 9, 2010.
I will wager one cupcake with each person who takes this bet. The cupcake in question can be made of either white or chocolate cake, but must have some sort of cream filling, and cream on top. Sprinkles are optional. The cupcake can be homemade, although my strong preference is that is be purchased from a bakery of some sort. (I believe in leaving certain things to professionals, like auto repair and pastry preparation).
In order to accept this bet, please use the comments section.
This crazy gold bubble is about to burst, and when it does, it'll be delicious.
(In case you were wondering, it's me, MBB, despite that very FBB-esque opening salvo).
I believe that yet another great financial bubble is building, and is sure to burst in short order.
The mispriced item in question is gold, which as of this morning was trading at a price of $1,100.00 per ounce. That price represents about a 50% increase since the beginning of 2009, and puts the precious metal's per-ounce price roughly on par with that of shoulder pastrami at a certain local deli/take-out place.
It's odd to me that gold has risen to such a price level, in the absence of any scarcity assumptions, or an increase in production costs.
Why is this happening? Who is bidding up the price of gold to these ridiculous levels?
* Investors who are betting on continued weakness in the U.S. Dollar? (Gold and the dollar tend to trade in opposite directions).
* People who are convinced that the current recession will worsen, and are seeking gold's traditional safe-haven characteristics?
* People who believe that the economy will rebound soon, with great momentum, thereby spurring a rebound in the purchase of luxury items, such as gold jewelry?
* Investors - both individual and professional - who are uncertain about the stock market, and want to increase their exposure to gold as a hedge to their stock portfolio? (Stock returns and gold prices tend to be negatively correlated over time...or so they say. I'm too lazy to look this up, and this blog doesn't make enough money yet to allow me to hire a researcher).
* People who run closed-end commodity funds, which allow the average Joe to get in on the action?
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
They're all buying gold...and they're all wrong.
Six months from now, gold will be cheaper than it is today. One year from now, it'll be cheaper still.
I'm so convinced that I'm right about this that I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is.
No, I'm not going to short gold. I don't have that kind of gumption.
Rather, I'm willing to bet any of our readers that gold will be below $1,100.00 per ounce in six months, on May 9, 2010.
I will wager one cupcake with each person who takes this bet. The cupcake in question can be made of either white or chocolate cake, but must have some sort of cream filling, and cream on top. Sprinkles are optional. The cupcake can be homemade, although my strong preference is that is be purchased from a bakery of some sort. (I believe in leaving certain things to professionals, like auto repair and pastry preparation).
In order to accept this bet, please use the comments section.
This crazy gold bubble is about to burst, and when it does, it'll be delicious.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Miss Congeniality?
According to a story in the British newspapers, Rachel Christie, the reigning Miss England, has relinquished her crown after getting into a fight in a bar in Manchester. Perhaps more surprising was the fact that her opponent in the fight was another beauty queen, Miss Manchester, Sara Beverly Jones.
What I can't understand is why not one, but two, beauty pageant contestants would risk damaging their appearances, even temporarily, in an altercation.
Considering that the fight took place at a bar, I'd have to assume that the combatants' judgment was impaired at least somewhat by alcohol.
Or, perhaps they both realized that England is one of the few countries in the world where someone could have her front teeth knocked out in a fight, and still win the beauty pageant.
What I can't understand is why not one, but two, beauty pageant contestants would risk damaging their appearances, even temporarily, in an altercation.
Considering that the fight took place at a bar, I'd have to assume that the combatants' judgment was impaired at least somewhat by alcohol.
Or, perhaps they both realized that England is one of the few countries in the world where someone could have her front teeth knocked out in a fight, and still win the beauty pageant.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Theeeeeeeee Yankees Win!
Perhaps now, the process of healing our downtrodden nation can begin.
Last night, the New York Yankees won their 27th baseball World Championship, beating the Philadelphia Phillies by a 7-3 score in Game 6.
The Yankees are World Champions. In other words, all is right and normal with the world.
It had been nine years since the Yankees last won the World Series. For most teams, that's not a big deal. For the franchise with more championships than any other across all of the major sports in North America, a nine-year drought is cause for concern.
Consider what has happened since the Yankees prior World Series victory:
* 9/11
* The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
* Gasoline prices have more than doubled
* We entered the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression
* Barack Obama was elected president
On October 26, 2000, when the Yankees won the World Series, the S&P 500 closed at 1364.44. Yesterday, it closed at 1046.50. That's a 23% decline, over nine years. Interestingly, the S&P was up almost 2% today. Of course, all of the market "experts" will attribute the rise to lower first-time unemployment claims, decent retail sales figures, and so on.
We know the real reason.
The stock market was simply reacting to the Yankees' victory.Investors were reassured by the sight of the Yankees taking their rightful place at baseball's pinnacle, for the first time since before any of us had even heard of a "hanging Chad."
For the first time in a long time, the world makes sense, and America, like the Yankees, is poised to once again rise to the top.
Where we belong.
Last night, the New York Yankees won their 27th baseball World Championship, beating the Philadelphia Phillies by a 7-3 score in Game 6.
The Yankees are World Champions. In other words, all is right and normal with the world.
It had been nine years since the Yankees last won the World Series. For most teams, that's not a big deal. For the franchise with more championships than any other across all of the major sports in North America, a nine-year drought is cause for concern.
Consider what has happened since the Yankees prior World Series victory:
* 9/11
* The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
* Gasoline prices have more than doubled
* We entered the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression
* Barack Obama was elected president
On October 26, 2000, when the Yankees won the World Series, the S&P 500 closed at 1364.44. Yesterday, it closed at 1046.50. That's a 23% decline, over nine years. Interestingly, the S&P was up almost 2% today. Of course, all of the market "experts" will attribute the rise to lower first-time unemployment claims, decent retail sales figures, and so on.
We know the real reason.
The stock market was simply reacting to the Yankees' victory.Investors were reassured by the sight of the Yankees taking their rightful place at baseball's pinnacle, for the first time since before any of us had even heard of a "hanging Chad."
For the first time in a long time, the world makes sense, and America, like the Yankees, is poised to once again rise to the top.
Where we belong.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Out with The Old...
A few months ago the local mall removed a beautiful antique carousel and replaced it with something new. Now I understand the need for change, and sometimes things really need to be upgraded and updated, despite the nostalgic feelings they invoke.
Today I was in the mall, and I told Cheese Eater she could go on the carousel. The new carousel is a two tiered carousel,venetian style, and it is not intuitive as to which horses go up and down. Not wanting to disappoint the little one I asked the guy (yes, American, so it wasn't a language issue), and he said: "the one with boxes around the base go up and down." So I put her on that one. I looked around at the other horses and noticed that all were on a rocking mechanism, and the ones with boxes, had, well, a box attached to the edge of that mechanism. I looked up and noticed that the horse she was on (the boxed base type) didn't seem to have a pole, so I wasn't exactly sure how it would go up and down. I asked the guy again, if THIS horse (the one she was on), would go up and down and AGAIN he said yes. This carousel is so tall that it's hard to really see what's going on at the top of each pole, but it had a box! at the base, so I figured it must do something, since I was asking and he kept telling me it went up and down.
So the ride starts, and her horse rears back, and moves forward, and she's scared. The horse next to us, the one that actually HAS a pole, is sloooowly moving up and down. So I quickly move her to the other horse, and wait for the carousel to speed up. And wait, and wait, and wait. This thing is so garsh darned slow, I think I'm going to lose my mind. I paid two bucks, for what amounted to a ride no better than the rides you put quarter into (who am I kidding, they're all fifty cents!) outside the supermarket.
Maybe if they had built a booth for an attendant and actually staffed said booth while the antique carousel was there, they wouldn't have had to change carousels. Taking a look at the website of the new carousel company I can see that it is about the marketing and and management of this carousel that the mall management is probably attracted to.
So to sum up: They took a beautiful, intricate carousel from 1907 with four rows and 54 Jumping Horses....
...and replaced it with a double decker carousel with 19 rocking horses, 9 of which are motorized to give riders the sensation of a gentle gallop
- 4 traditional horses on poles that go up and down
- 2 spinning teacups
- 4 dolphin gondolas that sway back and forth
- 2 swings
- 6 stationary benches
- 2 stairways to the upper deck
Essentially this should be great, better even, but it's not. It looks inviting, and it is, but it's disappointing.
Somethings are just better left alone.
Today I was in the mall, and I told Cheese Eater she could go on the carousel. The new carousel is a two tiered carousel,venetian style, and it is not intuitive as to which horses go up and down. Not wanting to disappoint the little one I asked the guy (yes, American, so it wasn't a language issue), and he said: "the one with boxes around the base go up and down." So I put her on that one. I looked around at the other horses and noticed that all were on a rocking mechanism, and the ones with boxes, had, well, a box attached to the edge of that mechanism. I looked up and noticed that the horse she was on (the boxed base type) didn't seem to have a pole, so I wasn't exactly sure how it would go up and down. I asked the guy again, if THIS horse (the one she was on), would go up and down and AGAIN he said yes. This carousel is so tall that it's hard to really see what's going on at the top of each pole, but it had a box! at the base, so I figured it must do something, since I was asking and he kept telling me it went up and down.
So the ride starts, and her horse rears back, and moves forward, and she's scared. The horse next to us, the one that actually HAS a pole, is sloooowly moving up and down. So I quickly move her to the other horse, and wait for the carousel to speed up. And wait, and wait, and wait. This thing is so garsh darned slow, I think I'm going to lose my mind. I paid two bucks, for what amounted to a ride no better than the rides you put quarter into (who am I kidding, they're all fifty cents!) outside the supermarket.
Maybe if they had built a booth for an attendant and actually staffed said booth while the antique carousel was there, they wouldn't have had to change carousels. Taking a look at the website of the new carousel company I can see that it is about the marketing and and management of this carousel that the mall management is probably attracted to.
So to sum up: They took a beautiful, intricate carousel from 1907 with four rows and 54 Jumping Horses....
...and replaced it with a double decker carousel with 19 rocking horses, 9 of which are motorized to give riders the sensation of a gentle gallop
- 4 traditional horses on poles that go up and down
- 2 spinning teacups
- 4 dolphin gondolas that sway back and forth
- 2 swings
- 6 stationary benches
- 2 stairways to the upper deck
Essentially this should be great, better even, but it's not. It looks inviting, and it is, but it's disappointing.
Somethings are just better left alone.
Reverse The Trend
Which came first the chicken or the egg?
An age old question (which to be honest, not one I've ever felt intellectually strong enough to tackle, or even the need to ponder), but put more contemporarily:
Which came first, the cell phone or the rudeness?
Yesterday, I went to do my civic duty (which in the local election amounts to me spitting in the wind, the guy in charge will stay in charge til the day they bury him). While returning to my car and placing the Cheese Eater in her car seat a woman I know pulled up next to me. Not a twenty year old, a forty something woman with grown kids, someone I have known my whole life. She got out of her car, came around to say hi, and started asking me questions about who to vote for. As I was answering she got a phone call. Without so much as "excuse me," she picked up the phone, said hello, and started to walk away. She eventually turned and yelled "Bye," over her shoulder, but I was flabbergasted.
It's really not just the phone either, I was having a conversation with someone about something I will admit, not too exciting, and in the middle of talking about it (not opinion, facts about the new deposit rules on water bottles in ny)she effectively ended the conversation with "whatever." While I was speaking.
Here's a possible solution. Everyone reading his blog, take an opportunity when your phone rings in public, or you get a text, NOT TO ANSWER IT. Once a day. Just try. Don't be on the phone when you walk into a store. Don't be on the phone when at the check out counter, when having a conversation with someone don't whip out your phone to check your email or text messages. I can't say I've never done these things, but find a way, one day at a time, to limit the control the phone has on your attention.
I believe civility may return if we do.
An age old question (which to be honest, not one I've ever felt intellectually strong enough to tackle, or even the need to ponder), but put more contemporarily:
Which came first, the cell phone or the rudeness?
Yesterday, I went to do my civic duty (which in the local election amounts to me spitting in the wind, the guy in charge will stay in charge til the day they bury him). While returning to my car and placing the Cheese Eater in her car seat a woman I know pulled up next to me. Not a twenty year old, a forty something woman with grown kids, someone I have known my whole life. She got out of her car, came around to say hi, and started asking me questions about who to vote for. As I was answering she got a phone call. Without so much as "excuse me," she picked up the phone, said hello, and started to walk away. She eventually turned and yelled "Bye," over her shoulder, but I was flabbergasted.
It's really not just the phone either, I was having a conversation with someone about something I will admit, not too exciting, and in the middle of talking about it (not opinion, facts about the new deposit rules on water bottles in ny)she effectively ended the conversation with "whatever." While I was speaking.
Here's a possible solution. Everyone reading his blog, take an opportunity when your phone rings in public, or you get a text, NOT TO ANSWER IT. Once a day. Just try. Don't be on the phone when you walk into a store. Don't be on the phone when at the check out counter, when having a conversation with someone don't whip out your phone to check your email or text messages. I can't say I've never done these things, but find a way, one day at a time, to limit the control the phone has on your attention.
I believe civility may return if we do.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Just Drive
We live near a fairly busy intersection, about a block away. Recently, the local Highway Department has taken to calling residents (an automated message) who live in close proximity to pending roadwork, and warn them of expected delays. I got that call about three weeks ago. Two weeks ago they came and dug up and scraped the east-west portion of the intersection.
And then they left. We received no phone call alerting us to the carnage they left behind; a three inch "bump" when traveling the north-south portion of the intersection. Because of the work they haven't finished, the roads don't match, and the pavement and the manhole covers and water line covers are jutting out. But it's the unaligned roads that are causing the problem. The light turns green, and the cars slowly inch their way forward over these small raised portions of the pavement. Traffic is badly backed up because of it, and we've received no follow up call as to when the work may be completed.
I doubt damage would really be done to a car if the raised pavements were traveled over at a reduced speed, as opposed to literally being rolled over at one mile an hour from a DEAD STOP!!! I even went to the local tire place to find out. 40 miles an hour would be a problem, but you don't need to stop. The most irritating thing about it, is that more than half the vehicles doing this are SUVs.
OK, you got yourself a big truck, you don't off-road, and the streets get plowed fairly quickly when it snows. WHY CAN"T YOU ACCELERATE OVER A THREE INCH BUMP?!?!? Why exactly did you buy this vehicle? It's an SUV, if you're going to pay that much for gas, and destroy the environment (wink), the LEAST you can do is have enough confidence in your truck to actually DRIVE! over the bump.
Sheesh.
And then they left. We received no phone call alerting us to the carnage they left behind; a three inch "bump" when traveling the north-south portion of the intersection. Because of the work they haven't finished, the roads don't match, and the pavement and the manhole covers and water line covers are jutting out. But it's the unaligned roads that are causing the problem. The light turns green, and the cars slowly inch their way forward over these small raised portions of the pavement. Traffic is badly backed up because of it, and we've received no follow up call as to when the work may be completed.
I doubt damage would really be done to a car if the raised pavements were traveled over at a reduced speed, as opposed to literally being rolled over at one mile an hour from a DEAD STOP!!! I even went to the local tire place to find out. 40 miles an hour would be a problem, but you don't need to stop. The most irritating thing about it, is that more than half the vehicles doing this are SUVs.
OK, you got yourself a big truck, you don't off-road, and the streets get plowed fairly quickly when it snows. WHY CAN"T YOU ACCELERATE OVER A THREE INCH BUMP?!?!? Why exactly did you buy this vehicle? It's an SUV, if you're going to pay that much for gas, and destroy the environment (wink), the LEAST you can do is have enough confidence in your truck to actually DRIVE! over the bump.
Sheesh.
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