There is so much wrong with America right now, gays in the military, or not, and of course, snow penises.
In this "news" clip you will see so many things that show why our public education system has failed us. First, interviewing kids on snow sculptures is stupid. Second a stupid "mother" claims her 2 year old son does not know what a penis is. Right. And finally, the hippie/stoners who made the snow penis sculptures would not be interviewed. What sort of sissy reporter does not demand to know the thought process behind an artist's master work? Ever hear of knocking on a door with the camera running?
Anyway, with pollution, drunks, losers and boneheads ruining this country, it's always nice to be reminded that making a penis sculpture of snow can still piss off the morons among us. Personally, I can hardly wait for the next snow storm.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Stupid home repair jokes
So late last night I was in my neighborhood Lowes store to purchase some plumbing supplies. As part of my purchase I had three tubes of caulking to complete a tub enclosure job. When I walked up to the cashier, she looked at my tubes and I, stupidly, said, I like caulk.
She looked at me like I might be insane.
She looked at me like I might be insane.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Ending bigotry
I don't have a dog in this fight, but I do see "gay rights" as this generations civil rights battle. How could it not be? You take a class of people, whether it is based on race, sex or almost anything else, and treat them differently solely based on that distinction, and then try and argue that this is America.
It does not work. So let the gays serve with distinction in the military, but guess what? When those same soldiers return from battle and want to settle down with a home and a white picket fence and a marriage and children. Oh wait, those same soldiers who will not be discriminated in the Army will return to the same discrimination, this time it will do with marriage and all those perks and benefits we bestow on married people.
So, keep your hats on folks, because the battle continues for equality. What I do not understand about any of this is, why is a small group of small minded bigots allowed to control the debate? I don't know anyone who cares one way or another is someone is gay, straight or anything in between. Judge the person by their character, not their clothing.
Anyway, here is the president from this mornings historic signing.
It does not work. So let the gays serve with distinction in the military, but guess what? When those same soldiers return from battle and want to settle down with a home and a white picket fence and a marriage and children. Oh wait, those same soldiers who will not be discriminated in the Army will return to the same discrimination, this time it will do with marriage and all those perks and benefits we bestow on married people.
So, keep your hats on folks, because the battle continues for equality. What I do not understand about any of this is, why is a small group of small minded bigots allowed to control the debate? I don't know anyone who cares one way or another is someone is gay, straight or anything in between. Judge the person by their character, not their clothing.
Anyway, here is the president from this mornings historic signing.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Bigots on parade
There was a time when I was a working journalist and I can attest to the fact that stories are a whole lot more fun when you can find a wind bag who disagrees on the story you are working on.
An example. I was working in Southeast Alaska and in one of the small towns that I often found myself, the community seemed to be made up of two types of people, long time conservative older people who wanted to mine, cut timber and use the natural resources of the land to bring money into the region and the other wise was hippies, these neo-liberal folks who had moved from the lower 48 to build their utopia.
So, what was nice about this was that there was always at least two out spoken sides to every story, no matter how banal. I could attend a meeting for a large copper mine that would have polluted and damaged one of the most scenic rivers in the world, and there they would be, hippies on one side, demanding no mine because of the harm the developers promised to bring and the ultra right wing, who wanted copper because god wanted us to have copper. End of story, I swear they could write themselves.
The problem is with all this sort of story development, is that sometimes the opposing sides are not really informed, they are not really sharing any information, they are just spewing the same nonsense they would no matter what the story. Journalists get lazy thinking that every story needs one whacko, and another whacko from the other side. This happens all the time, and if you have an agenda, like Fox News, you always find the whackiest of whackos to debate the issue.
Not CNN though. They found a nice former gay soldier to debate a moron on the recent DADT vote. The problem with groups that are set up to basically spend every waking moment asking for donations to fight something scary is that they are not credible, they are often just nutty. Below you will see the soldier speaking the truth, that studies have been done, soldiers are ready and the military has done this before with integration. Then there is the white guy with the died hair, talking fear and nonsense, as if his opinion is equal to that of the former soldier.
Again, sometimes the other side does not need to be heard from because they are bringing nothing to the table. The debate for gays in the military, or for that matter, gay marriage, is about equal rights, nothing more, nothing less. Whenever I hear these types of debates I think about my time in Alaska and how easy and fun it was to do a story and pit hippy against conservative and just let them spew silliness. Obviously in this case, CNN has found a whacko to claim the whole gay agenda is out to ruin the country. Lazy lazy lazy.
An example. I was working in Southeast Alaska and in one of the small towns that I often found myself, the community seemed to be made up of two types of people, long time conservative older people who wanted to mine, cut timber and use the natural resources of the land to bring money into the region and the other wise was hippies, these neo-liberal folks who had moved from the lower 48 to build their utopia.
So, what was nice about this was that there was always at least two out spoken sides to every story, no matter how banal. I could attend a meeting for a large copper mine that would have polluted and damaged one of the most scenic rivers in the world, and there they would be, hippies on one side, demanding no mine because of the harm the developers promised to bring and the ultra right wing, who wanted copper because god wanted us to have copper. End of story, I swear they could write themselves.
The problem is with all this sort of story development, is that sometimes the opposing sides are not really informed, they are not really sharing any information, they are just spewing the same nonsense they would no matter what the story. Journalists get lazy thinking that every story needs one whacko, and another whacko from the other side. This happens all the time, and if you have an agenda, like Fox News, you always find the whackiest of whackos to debate the issue.
Not CNN though. They found a nice former gay soldier to debate a moron on the recent DADT vote. The problem with groups that are set up to basically spend every waking moment asking for donations to fight something scary is that they are not credible, they are often just nutty. Below you will see the soldier speaking the truth, that studies have been done, soldiers are ready and the military has done this before with integration. Then there is the white guy with the died hair, talking fear and nonsense, as if his opinion is equal to that of the former soldier.
Again, sometimes the other side does not need to be heard from because they are bringing nothing to the table. The debate for gays in the military, or for that matter, gay marriage, is about equal rights, nothing more, nothing less. Whenever I hear these types of debates I think about my time in Alaska and how easy and fun it was to do a story and pit hippy against conservative and just let them spew silliness. Obviously in this case, CNN has found a whacko to claim the whole gay agenda is out to ruin the country. Lazy lazy lazy.
Monday, December 20, 2010
One more thing
I was driving a long distance today and I ended up listening to a song on the radio. When I got to the hotel I had to have it, so I downloaded it. Thinking I was super cool and very smart, I checked You Tube to see if this obscure band had somehow, probably very low budget made a video.
Imagine then, my surprise.
Imagine then, my surprise.
Google laptop
I get all kinds of emails asking me to test products, talk about something and sleep with someone. I should get an email from the good folks at Google asking me to test one of their new laptops, the Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptop.
Why should I be testing one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops? Mostly because I am something of a computer wizard.
That may not be true.
I do know how to type, obviously, right? So, since the good folks at Google often look over these words, maybe they will see fit to have me test out one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops.
It's not as though I need one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops, but it would be swell. I could test the thing, type out one of those mojo rajem fragems and learn how to email people at night. All I need is one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops.
That should do it.
Don't you think? So begins the active blogging of the one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops. Once I get the Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptop, I will review every single aspect if right here. Using my arcane understanding of screens and keyboards, I will certainly test it.
Why should I be testing one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops? Mostly because I am something of a computer wizard.
That may not be true.
I do know how to type, obviously, right? So, since the good folks at Google often look over these words, maybe they will see fit to have me test out one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops.
It's not as though I need one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops, but it would be swell. I could test the thing, type out one of those mojo rajem fragems and learn how to email people at night. All I need is one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops.
That should do it.
Don't you think? So begins the active blogging of the one of those Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptops. Once I get the Cr-48 Chrome OS prototype laptop, I will review every single aspect if right here. Using my arcane understanding of screens and keyboards, I will certainly test it.
The baby girl
18 years is a long time, it is a very long time. I have never had a relationship that lasted that long.
My oldest daughter turns 18 today. I remember so much from the day she was born, it is almost like it was, I don't know, 15 years ago or something.
My oldest daughter turns 18 today. I remember so much from the day she was born, it is almost like it was, I don't know, 15 years ago or something.
Wise words
Why don’t I believe in God? No, no no, why do YOU believe in God? Surely the burden of proof is on the believer. You started all this. If I came up to you and said, “Why don’t you believe I can fly?” You’d say, “Why would I?” I’d reply, “Because it’s a matter of faith”. If I then said, “Prove I can’t fly. Prove I can’t fly see, see, you can’t prove it can you?” You’d probably either walk away, call security or throw me out of the window and shout, ‘’F—ing fly then you lunatic.”
-Ricky Gervais
-Ricky Gervais
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Food for you
If you are like me, and by that I mean in Pittsburgh, then I would say, go to Salt of the Earth. I lived a long time in Seattle, where trendy cool little restaurants are the norm, heck I actually owned one for a minute.
If you get a chance, check it out. http://www.saltpgh.com
If you get a chance, check it out. http://www.saltpgh.com
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
More from the email bad
First, quit complaining about the briefcase post, I did that for money. You have a problem with that? Jesus, someone finally offers me cold hard cash to sell out and I am supposed to be the lone American with some sort of moral compass? You were in a coma for the Bush administration?
So I got a couple of emails about that and I did not respond, because I do not have to justify my greed, or something like that.
Then I got an email that said something to the effect that I was a bitter old turd. So, for the record, I am not sure what turd means in that sort of insult, but I do know the meaning of bitter and old. I am, of course, neither. I spend all my therapy time figuring out ways to avoid being cynical, so I am far from bitter. That said, as a 28 year old, i do feel a bit old, but I cycle, I have a dog that forgives me and a daughter who refers to me as a bitter old turd.
Wait a minute.
Finally, I am coming up on a life changing anniversary and I am re-posting a short film in January about a woman I loved. I never celebrate anniversaries, I did not when I had a marriage anniversary thing, I forget what they are called, but I do not think I ever celebrated. I forgot when my birthday is, so I do no celebrate that, although I am fairly sure I am 28, or so. No, calendars mean very little to me, as to some sort of "special" day.
But in January, a few things happened a while ago, and this year is one of those years I think it is time to reflect. And reflect I shall accomplish.
All that said, I like getting email. I do. I am not big on critical email. but if you want to email me and say something critical, I can take it. I have a shield of armor and a maxium condom I wear when I read emails. Bring it on.
So I got a couple of emails about that and I did not respond, because I do not have to justify my greed, or something like that.
Then I got an email that said something to the effect that I was a bitter old turd. So, for the record, I am not sure what turd means in that sort of insult, but I do know the meaning of bitter and old. I am, of course, neither. I spend all my therapy time figuring out ways to avoid being cynical, so I am far from bitter. That said, as a 28 year old, i do feel a bit old, but I cycle, I have a dog that forgives me and a daughter who refers to me as a bitter old turd.
Wait a minute.
Finally, I am coming up on a life changing anniversary and I am re-posting a short film in January about a woman I loved. I never celebrate anniversaries, I did not when I had a marriage anniversary thing, I forget what they are called, but I do not think I ever celebrated. I forgot when my birthday is, so I do no celebrate that, although I am fairly sure I am 28, or so. No, calendars mean very little to me, as to some sort of "special" day.
But in January, a few things happened a while ago, and this year is one of those years I think it is time to reflect. And reflect I shall accomplish.
All that said, I like getting email. I do. I am not big on critical email. but if you want to email me and say something critical, I can take it. I have a shield of armor and a maxium condom I wear when I read emails. Bring it on.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The leather suitcase
Surprisingly, a lot of people as me how they can attain a leather briefcase. I know, it's an odd request, but one I get on an almost daily basis. If you are searching online for one, you might want to follow this LEATHER BRIEFCASE link, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which I am getting paid to send you there.
In past generations news anchors on TV smoked and did commercials for cigarettes. I am a big fan of smoking, as many of you know, but I am a bigger fan of Leather Briefcases. For me and my family, we could not exist without a decent quality leather briefcase and if you and your loved ones are in the market for the absolute perfect Leather Briefcase, please click the link above and enjoy.
Thank you and god bless.
In past generations news anchors on TV smoked and did commercials for cigarettes. I am a big fan of smoking, as many of you know, but I am a bigger fan of Leather Briefcases. For me and my family, we could not exist without a decent quality leather briefcase and if you and your loved ones are in the market for the absolute perfect Leather Briefcase, please click the link above and enjoy.
Thank you and god bless.
Let the protests begin
I am stealing Billy Braggs photo of recent protests in London.
What will it take to get complacent Americans off there sofas and into the streets like this? Our government has been at a standstill for at least 2 years, the republicans in the senate can stop any legislation with just the threat of a filibuster, while vast amounts of our country suffers from the worst recession in memory. How can that be? Why no people taking to the streets?
I blame many things. First we are slow and fat and lazy. That's right, the most obese nation in history can not muster the energy to take to the streets. Let's not use excuses, TV does its part to keep people both uninformed and lazy. I mean, how can I protest tax cuts to the very wealthy if Dexter is on? Seriously, American Idol starts in a few weeks, it's snowing outside and there is a sale at Chilis.
In the meantime, we remain at two wars that we will never win. In our collective anger, we threw out the bums who could not get anything accomplished, only to be replaced by the bums who accomplished getting us into this recession in the first place. Not to mention the same bums who wildly supported going to war with a nation that did not attack us on 9-11 and had nothing to do with the 9-11 attacks. Weird. Good to have them back in power though, yes?
Still no protests. No anger, heck, my friends do not even mention the uneasiness surrounding us.
My sense is that many people are just hoping to hang on. Sure, house values have dropped almost 50 percent in many areas. People who bought in when prices were their highest now hold mortgages for homes that have lost an incredible amount of their value. Imagine buying a 500 thousand dollar house, taking out a mortgage for 420 thousand and spending your savings to purchase the home of your dreams, only to find out a few months later that the home is now worth half of what you paid for it. Imagine.
Still, why blame the government, or anyone else? You bought the house, you took the risk, you will pay off a mortgage for 30 years and probably never be able to sell without taking a loss, but that is all your fault. You should have predicted the future, dammit.
Yet, no one is marching, screaming or protesting. Except in England, where tuition has been raised enough to get the students pissed off.
Many years ago my feisty oldest daughter and I marched with thousands of other stoned hippies in the streets of Seattle to protest the impending war in Iraq. Millions marched around the world, and when the United States started the bombing, our marches were portrayed as a bunch of stoned hippies being silly. Of course, years after the marches the truth came out, we, the stoned hippies, were right as right can be, and the vast majority of stupid lazy idiots who sat by and watched the bombing on late night TV, could only sit in their comfortable chair and praise the lending rules that allowed them to use home equity to buy big screen TV sets. Fuck the war is what I am sure they mumbled as they crank decent wine and watched the Bombing of innocent Iraqis.
I have told this story a few times in my life and it is time to tell it again. I was looking for a cheap place to live when I first moved to New York City and in heroin land on the Lower East Side I found an apartment for a few hundred a month. It was a mess and there was a Polish immigrant who helped me remove plaster from the brick walls. We were talking one day, he had taken part in the Solidarity protests in Poland and had fought for pay and better working conditions. I mentioned the power of protest and he cynically asked me what protests had ever won me in America. I could not think of a single "win" that we protesting types had actually accomplished. He said the governments allow protests because they get people to burn off the energy and anger, and in the end, the governments do what is best for themselves and the wealthy who support them. He was right then, and he is right now. Even though lower income and middle class people in America are taking a beating, even as we fight wars with no end and budgets that are busted, even as republicans stall any meaningful legislation from becoming necessary laws, we sit on our asses and pretend things will get better.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Dumb friends
I got a call from my dumb friend this weekend. He is as he should be, complacent and middling. No, but seriously, he seemed fine, which is always kind of dangerous. One of my greatest fears is that he might just show up one day for a visit.
Because the conversation was so boring, I can not remember much of it, but he did take a shot at his ex-wife, which I kind of find amazing, because he has been divorced longer than I have and yet, his anger towards her remains strong. I do not buy into staying angry with anyone, much less someone you once loved enough to marry.
Here is my take on these things. For the most part, marriage is a convention that no longer works in our society. I am not sure it ever really did, but for modern Americans, it is passe, at best. First, the old reason for getting married was to have children and lord knows most people have children basically whenever they want, so marriage is not their issue. For some people it is a commitment to remain loyal to one another, but then again I can count on two fingers the couples I know who have been solidly committed.
What I do know, after years of extensive research, is that most marriages are as flawed at the people who engage in them. At some point a close friend of mine, acknowledging my divorce, said to me, well, your marriage was built on a bed of lies. To which I replied, and yours is not?
See, we all fall into this trap that marriage is the end all of relationships, that the marriage will bring some stability and peace to our lives, only to awaken one day and realize that not only is Santa not real, neither is the romantic concept of marriage. For the life of me, I can not think of one couple I know who are completely happy with one another. Certainly I know one or two couples that seem happy, but when alone and out of the awareness of a spouse, all sorts of sordid secrets get told.
So when my dumb friend once again made his joke, in reference to both the cold weather and his former wife, he said, "damn, today is like my ex, cold and frigid." I laughed the knowing laugh that all men share, that in so many ways, once married, the joy we once had disappears and we awake to the drudgery of a person we did not bother to get know and now that we do know them, we don't particularly like them. My dumb friend is unique in his inability to move beyond the pain of divorce.
Which is another interesting aspect to divorce. It seems to me that divorce is often a good thing for everyone. By the time most people divorce, there have already been affairs of some sort, there have already been long stretches of time where one or both realized the person they are married to is not the person they want to be married to, and there have been fights of one sort or another that ruined the sketchy fabric that kept them together.
So when divorce actually rears is welcome head, why do people end up hating one another? My dumb friend has such a fierce and angry bitterness towards a woman he has not been cordial with for over a decade, it makes me wonder why. Why carry that with you? Why bother allowing her to still have a way of making you feel anything? Why not just close the door. Mistakes get made, we all get knocked down, and the happiest of us, get up to fight again.
I did not ask my dumb friend any of these questions because, well, he is dumb, so he is not into self reflection or seeking a deeper understanding. What he seems to enjoy his hating the woman who was once his partner. I find it all so unhealthy that even my shallow conversations with him become cumbersome. My advice to him was, move the fuck on.
Which was the great advice I got when I was going through a fun divorce. I say fun because it was not a shock or surprise to me. It was a welcome relief. It was shocking at first, because I felt like a commitment is a commitment and even though I was unhappy for many years in my marriage, I was prepared to endure. Once the light of divorce shown on my face, I was engulfed with not only the freedom and happiness, but also with the insight that we get very few reprieves from mistakes in our life, and I was going to take full advantage of the freedom.
So, in talking to my dumb friend, I recommended to him that he seek therapy. I know, in America, every seeks therapy for everything, from a lost soccer game to the death of a fish. When people really need to get to the root of what makes them happy, sad, infuriated or regretful, they hardly ever seek therapy at that time. I told my dumb friend that after so many years of divorce, he should not be so angry, no matter how clear he was that his ex-wife deserved his scorn. Heck, if our respective ex's did not deserve scorn, they would probably never have become ex's in the first place.
I think every couple, prior to marriage should be required to seek out a qualified therapist who would delve into the reasons two people would marry. Get down to the the real reasons, so people would honestly be looking at one another and the implications that a marriage would bring to their relationships. I know I would not have ever gotten married had such a moment of truth been a requirement. On the other hand, I also believe that therapy should be required for people getting divorced. First, to remove some of the anger (see above) and second, to make sure that anyone entering into a new relationship does so with a little bit of knowledge so they do not repeat the mistakes that led to marriage/divorce.
Now, I know many people who have been both married and divorced. I know many who have moved on, found a new partner, and have lived happily, for a time, or for ever. I also know a few who did not seek inner peace, or self awareness and have moved in with or even married another partner who is wrong for them. I look at that and think, you know, seriously?
My dear dumb friend was almost married again, he had found a new woman, who was a spark plug, wild, fun and possibly insane, in other words, a perfect match for my dumb friend. He was madly in love, much more so that with wife number one. I actually went to the marriage of dumb friend and wife number one and on my way home from the reception, driving a little bit drunk with another long time friend, we were bot aghast and kept saying, what the hell is he doing.
With crazy replacement woman, all of us friends were in agreement, she may not be the one for our dumb friend, but she was fun.
That relationship ended when he came home to find her with a pool cleaner, and my friend did not have a pool. That must have been awkward. I have always preached against monogamy after a certain age. It just becomes less important in older, more mature relationships. If my dumb friend had bothered to ask me, I would have said something pithy like, ask the pool boy to stick around and get freaky. Instead, I got a call, and his venom was almost to the level of his hatred of his first wife. Crazy woman moved out and my friend has meandered from one failed attempt at relationships to the next.
I know many divorced people who never remarry, almost all by choice. The people who were burned by the marriage that ended in divorce seem the most reluctant to commit to another ceremonial hoo haaa again. As we age, like monogamy, the marriage compact seems less important. Maybe we do get married to make babies, and when the allure of children is gone, so is the need for marriage. Or maybe it comes down to once burned, etc. I am not an expert on anything at this point, but I do pay attention.
In the end, my dumb friend did complain about his ex-wife, which is always part of any conversation we share. I asked if he is seeing someone and his answer was surprising. He said he is taking a break from dating, from searching for a partner, and he is focusing on doing things he enjoys.
When I hung up, I felt for the first time in many years, that my dumb friend may redeem himself after all. Life is very short and this constant search for something that he may be too dumb to comprehend could be dangerous, to say the least. To have the ability to slow down, step off the dating/relationship treadmill and do other things that are important, could be a life changing moment.
Because the conversation was so boring, I can not remember much of it, but he did take a shot at his ex-wife, which I kind of find amazing, because he has been divorced longer than I have and yet, his anger towards her remains strong. I do not buy into staying angry with anyone, much less someone you once loved enough to marry.
Here is my take on these things. For the most part, marriage is a convention that no longer works in our society. I am not sure it ever really did, but for modern Americans, it is passe, at best. First, the old reason for getting married was to have children and lord knows most people have children basically whenever they want, so marriage is not their issue. For some people it is a commitment to remain loyal to one another, but then again I can count on two fingers the couples I know who have been solidly committed.
What I do know, after years of extensive research, is that most marriages are as flawed at the people who engage in them. At some point a close friend of mine, acknowledging my divorce, said to me, well, your marriage was built on a bed of lies. To which I replied, and yours is not?
See, we all fall into this trap that marriage is the end all of relationships, that the marriage will bring some stability and peace to our lives, only to awaken one day and realize that not only is Santa not real, neither is the romantic concept of marriage. For the life of me, I can not think of one couple I know who are completely happy with one another. Certainly I know one or two couples that seem happy, but when alone and out of the awareness of a spouse, all sorts of sordid secrets get told.
So when my dumb friend once again made his joke, in reference to both the cold weather and his former wife, he said, "damn, today is like my ex, cold and frigid." I laughed the knowing laugh that all men share, that in so many ways, once married, the joy we once had disappears and we awake to the drudgery of a person we did not bother to get know and now that we do know them, we don't particularly like them. My dumb friend is unique in his inability to move beyond the pain of divorce.
Which is another interesting aspect to divorce. It seems to me that divorce is often a good thing for everyone. By the time most people divorce, there have already been affairs of some sort, there have already been long stretches of time where one or both realized the person they are married to is not the person they want to be married to, and there have been fights of one sort or another that ruined the sketchy fabric that kept them together.
So when divorce actually rears is welcome head, why do people end up hating one another? My dumb friend has such a fierce and angry bitterness towards a woman he has not been cordial with for over a decade, it makes me wonder why. Why carry that with you? Why bother allowing her to still have a way of making you feel anything? Why not just close the door. Mistakes get made, we all get knocked down, and the happiest of us, get up to fight again.
I did not ask my dumb friend any of these questions because, well, he is dumb, so he is not into self reflection or seeking a deeper understanding. What he seems to enjoy his hating the woman who was once his partner. I find it all so unhealthy that even my shallow conversations with him become cumbersome. My advice to him was, move the fuck on.
Which was the great advice I got when I was going through a fun divorce. I say fun because it was not a shock or surprise to me. It was a welcome relief. It was shocking at first, because I felt like a commitment is a commitment and even though I was unhappy for many years in my marriage, I was prepared to endure. Once the light of divorce shown on my face, I was engulfed with not only the freedom and happiness, but also with the insight that we get very few reprieves from mistakes in our life, and I was going to take full advantage of the freedom.
So, in talking to my dumb friend, I recommended to him that he seek therapy. I know, in America, every seeks therapy for everything, from a lost soccer game to the death of a fish. When people really need to get to the root of what makes them happy, sad, infuriated or regretful, they hardly ever seek therapy at that time. I told my dumb friend that after so many years of divorce, he should not be so angry, no matter how clear he was that his ex-wife deserved his scorn. Heck, if our respective ex's did not deserve scorn, they would probably never have become ex's in the first place.
I think every couple, prior to marriage should be required to seek out a qualified therapist who would delve into the reasons two people would marry. Get down to the the real reasons, so people would honestly be looking at one another and the implications that a marriage would bring to their relationships. I know I would not have ever gotten married had such a moment of truth been a requirement. On the other hand, I also believe that therapy should be required for people getting divorced. First, to remove some of the anger (see above) and second, to make sure that anyone entering into a new relationship does so with a little bit of knowledge so they do not repeat the mistakes that led to marriage/divorce.
Now, I know many people who have been both married and divorced. I know many who have moved on, found a new partner, and have lived happily, for a time, or for ever. I also know a few who did not seek inner peace, or self awareness and have moved in with or even married another partner who is wrong for them. I look at that and think, you know, seriously?
My dear dumb friend was almost married again, he had found a new woman, who was a spark plug, wild, fun and possibly insane, in other words, a perfect match for my dumb friend. He was madly in love, much more so that with wife number one. I actually went to the marriage of dumb friend and wife number one and on my way home from the reception, driving a little bit drunk with another long time friend, we were bot aghast and kept saying, what the hell is he doing.
With crazy replacement woman, all of us friends were in agreement, she may not be the one for our dumb friend, but she was fun.
That relationship ended when he came home to find her with a pool cleaner, and my friend did not have a pool. That must have been awkward. I have always preached against monogamy after a certain age. It just becomes less important in older, more mature relationships. If my dumb friend had bothered to ask me, I would have said something pithy like, ask the pool boy to stick around and get freaky. Instead, I got a call, and his venom was almost to the level of his hatred of his first wife. Crazy woman moved out and my friend has meandered from one failed attempt at relationships to the next.
I know many divorced people who never remarry, almost all by choice. The people who were burned by the marriage that ended in divorce seem the most reluctant to commit to another ceremonial hoo haaa again. As we age, like monogamy, the marriage compact seems less important. Maybe we do get married to make babies, and when the allure of children is gone, so is the need for marriage. Or maybe it comes down to once burned, etc. I am not an expert on anything at this point, but I do pay attention.
In the end, my dumb friend did complain about his ex-wife, which is always part of any conversation we share. I asked if he is seeing someone and his answer was surprising. He said he is taking a break from dating, from searching for a partner, and he is focusing on doing things he enjoys.
When I hung up, I felt for the first time in many years, that my dumb friend may redeem himself after all. Life is very short and this constant search for something that he may be too dumb to comprehend could be dangerous, to say the least. To have the ability to slow down, step off the dating/relationship treadmill and do other things that are important, could be a life changing moment.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
On riding to work
I just finished an indoor training ride and I found this article on the New York Times website.
I was rolling up the bike lane on Eighth Avenue on my way to work recently when a man on a Trek roared past with legs pumping like Greg LeMond.
I didn’t think much of it as I immediately caught up to him — with his casual office clothes and drop handlebars — at a red light on 23rd Street. I cruised past as the light changed, but by the next block he had come charging back, outside the lane and in traffic this time, and zipped ahead of me for good.
Had I been defeated? Were we even in a race?
It is a question that often comes to mind in a highly competitive city increasingly filled with cyclists. Many commuters and casual riders admit to engaging in such unspoken competitions, though it’s usually only in their own heads.
Some have even coined a term — “Cat 6” — for these street level, just-for-fun contests. It jokingly refers to a made-up sixth category of amateur bicycle racers, one below the five official levels.
For my part, I was not racing. Not at first. But when I failed to catch my ersatz competitor before reaching the office in Midtown, I was a little disappointed.
For Bryce Engen, 26, an Amtrak engineer, the occasional spontaneous race with other bike commuters is just part of his ride to work.
“I can’t help it; they can’t help it,” he said. “It just happens.”
Since June, Mr. Engen has encountered the same group of Spanish-language cyclists about a dozen times on his nighttime commute between his home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Sunnyside, Queens, where he works the graveyard shift repairing Acela trains.
Though Mr. Engen says his Spanish is “poor,” he communicates in other friendly ways with the three or four men, who ride beat-up mountain bikes and share a portion of his route along Greenpoint Avenue. “It’s an unspoken thing,” he said. “Everybody just seems to race each other. Even if they’re not hustling to pass me, if I look back and I see them coming, I hustle.”
A recent article in Good magazine about competitive commuting has sparked lively conversation on cycling blogs and across the Web. Some cyclists cheered the notion, admitting to frequently speeding up to challenge others, while many, including racers and the die-hard all-weather commuters, thought the whole notion was laughable.
But these sorts of impromptu competitions are as old as the bicycle and just as universal. For years, cyclists in London have been sharing anecdotes about such races on cycling forums and through an active Twitter stream under the tag #itsnotarace.
In this way, Cat 6 is something like the “man date” of the cycling world: a common experience that few ever thought to give a name.
Commuter racing illustrates the essential and unique aspects of riding to work: unlike other modes, bicycling is perched between transportation and exercise. After all, who worries about being passed by a hurried walker along Broadway or getting beat through the subway door by a motivated straphanger? There is competition here, perhaps, but it is rarely athletic and never fun.
By contrast, bicycling in an urban environment, with all its hazards and potential shortcuts, can be a kind of game that brings out a cyclist’s essential competitiveness, said Robert J. Bell, professor of sports psychology at Ball State University in Indiana. For better or worse, commuting by bike still feels more like play or exercise than a tedious slice of the daily routine.
“I think the majority of cyclists who bike to work are just more competitive by nature,” Dr. Bell said.
The common response from actual bike racers to stories of ad hoc commuter contests: Join a team and race for real.
“Riders who don’t race lack an outlet for their competitive drive on the bike, so a pass can be taken as a challenge,” said Andy Shen, who covers professional and local amateur racing on NYVelocity.com.
“The odd thing about these ‘races’ is that the rider never makes eye contact,” he added. “The way to confirm that they’ve engaged you in a battle of wills is to gently ease up behind them and see if they speed up to stay ahead.”
If they do, it’s on.
But in these unofficial races there are no rules and there is no finish line. The best way to win, then, is to pull off the road the minute you take the lead.
So with that in mind, my brave Trek-riding competitor, if we meet again on the commuter race course to Midtown, I’ll know my finish is at 40th Street, and, in my head, I’ll race you there.
Only this time, I’ll win.
I was rolling up the bike lane on Eighth Avenue on my way to work recently when a man on a Trek roared past with legs pumping like Greg LeMond.
I didn’t think much of it as I immediately caught up to him — with his casual office clothes and drop handlebars — at a red light on 23rd Street. I cruised past as the light changed, but by the next block he had come charging back, outside the lane and in traffic this time, and zipped ahead of me for good.
Had I been defeated? Were we even in a race?
It is a question that often comes to mind in a highly competitive city increasingly filled with cyclists. Many commuters and casual riders admit to engaging in such unspoken competitions, though it’s usually only in their own heads.
Some have even coined a term — “Cat 6” — for these street level, just-for-fun contests. It jokingly refers to a made-up sixth category of amateur bicycle racers, one below the five official levels.
For my part, I was not racing. Not at first. But when I failed to catch my ersatz competitor before reaching the office in Midtown, I was a little disappointed.
For Bryce Engen, 26, an Amtrak engineer, the occasional spontaneous race with other bike commuters is just part of his ride to work.
“I can’t help it; they can’t help it,” he said. “It just happens.”
Since June, Mr. Engen has encountered the same group of Spanish-language cyclists about a dozen times on his nighttime commute between his home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Sunnyside, Queens, where he works the graveyard shift repairing Acela trains.
Though Mr. Engen says his Spanish is “poor,” he communicates in other friendly ways with the three or four men, who ride beat-up mountain bikes and share a portion of his route along Greenpoint Avenue. “It’s an unspoken thing,” he said. “Everybody just seems to race each other. Even if they’re not hustling to pass me, if I look back and I see them coming, I hustle.”
A recent article in Good magazine about competitive commuting has sparked lively conversation on cycling blogs and across the Web. Some cyclists cheered the notion, admitting to frequently speeding up to challenge others, while many, including racers and the die-hard all-weather commuters, thought the whole notion was laughable.
But these sorts of impromptu competitions are as old as the bicycle and just as universal. For years, cyclists in London have been sharing anecdotes about such races on cycling forums and through an active Twitter stream under the tag #itsnotarace.
In this way, Cat 6 is something like the “man date” of the cycling world: a common experience that few ever thought to give a name.
Commuter racing illustrates the essential and unique aspects of riding to work: unlike other modes, bicycling is perched between transportation and exercise. After all, who worries about being passed by a hurried walker along Broadway or getting beat through the subway door by a motivated straphanger? There is competition here, perhaps, but it is rarely athletic and never fun.
By contrast, bicycling in an urban environment, with all its hazards and potential shortcuts, can be a kind of game that brings out a cyclist’s essential competitiveness, said Robert J. Bell, professor of sports psychology at Ball State University in Indiana. For better or worse, commuting by bike still feels more like play or exercise than a tedious slice of the daily routine.
“I think the majority of cyclists who bike to work are just more competitive by nature,” Dr. Bell said.
The common response from actual bike racers to stories of ad hoc commuter contests: Join a team and race for real.
“Riders who don’t race lack an outlet for their competitive drive on the bike, so a pass can be taken as a challenge,” said Andy Shen, who covers professional and local amateur racing on NYVelocity.com.
“The odd thing about these ‘races’ is that the rider never makes eye contact,” he added. “The way to confirm that they’ve engaged you in a battle of wills is to gently ease up behind them and see if they speed up to stay ahead.”
If they do, it’s on.
But in these unofficial races there are no rules and there is no finish line. The best way to win, then, is to pull off the road the minute you take the lead.
So with that in mind, my brave Trek-riding competitor, if we meet again on the commuter race course to Midtown, I’ll know my finish is at 40th Street, and, in my head, I’ll race you there.
Only this time, I’ll win.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Econimic shambles
Here is an article about how home prices continue to decline, all the while, the elected boneheads of both parties can not find a way to print money fast enough to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.
Plunging home prices hammered household finances in the third quarter, eroding homeowners' wealth and making them more vulnerable to foreclosure. As prices are expected to continue falling, the economic recovery could face a major stall.
Millions of homeowners saw their most valuable asset decay between July and September, according to recently released data from the Federal Reserve, as they lost a portion of the stake they can claim in their homes. A series of new reports reflects home prices are continuing to decline, increasing the pressure on America's tepid housing market. Until the market finds a bottom, the foreclosure epidemic will feed upon itself, analysts say, as foreclosed properties drive home values down. With the unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent, and with companies showing historic reluctance to hire, the housing drag poses a significant impediment to an economic recovery.
By the end of this year home prices will have dropped $1.7 trillion, or about 7 percent, according to Zillow.com, a real estate data provider. This decline has accelerated: Since August, home prices have fallen 7.9 percent, data from Clear Capital, a Truckee, Calif.-based real estate research firm, show. It is the steepest decline in home values since the height of the financial crisis in 2008, said Clear Capital senior statistician Alex Villacorta.
Worse, home prices are forecast to drop an additional 10 percent next year, according to a recent report from Fitch Ratings, a major credit ratings agency.
Americans' grasp on their homes is weakening.
Homeowners' equity, or the stake they can claim in their homes, dropped two percentage points to 38.8 percent in the third quarter, according to the new Fed data. The drop ended five quarters of steady growth since the figure hit its all-time low of 36.3 percent in the first quarter of 2009.
"There continues, of course, to be a backlog of foreclosed properties, or properties on their way to foreclosure," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Washington research group. "We're not about to see the end of foreclosures anytime soon."
Plunging home prices hammered household finances in the third quarter, eroding homeowners' wealth and making them more vulnerable to foreclosure. As prices are expected to continue falling, the economic recovery could face a major stall.
Millions of homeowners saw their most valuable asset decay between July and September, according to recently released data from the Federal Reserve, as they lost a portion of the stake they can claim in their homes. A series of new reports reflects home prices are continuing to decline, increasing the pressure on America's tepid housing market. Until the market finds a bottom, the foreclosure epidemic will feed upon itself, analysts say, as foreclosed properties drive home values down. With the unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent, and with companies showing historic reluctance to hire, the housing drag poses a significant impediment to an economic recovery.
By the end of this year home prices will have dropped $1.7 trillion, or about 7 percent, according to Zillow.com, a real estate data provider. This decline has accelerated: Since August, home prices have fallen 7.9 percent, data from Clear Capital, a Truckee, Calif.-based real estate research firm, show. It is the steepest decline in home values since the height of the financial crisis in 2008, said Clear Capital senior statistician Alex Villacorta.
Worse, home prices are forecast to drop an additional 10 percent next year, according to a recent report from Fitch Ratings, a major credit ratings agency.
Americans' grasp on their homes is weakening.
Homeowners' equity, or the stake they can claim in their homes, dropped two percentage points to 38.8 percent in the third quarter, according to the new Fed data. The drop ended five quarters of steady growth since the figure hit its all-time low of 36.3 percent in the first quarter of 2009.
"There continues, of course, to be a backlog of foreclosed properties, or properties on their way to foreclosure," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Washington research group. "We're not about to see the end of foreclosures anytime soon."
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The right decision
I was walking through a forest recently, before the snow, but after the leaves had gone south for the winter. As I was making my way up a slight incline, I could look out over rolling hills of brush and marsh land and it made me think of how wonderful this area is.
There have been many moments like this, where all of a sudden, I am overwhelmed by the beauty that is right outside my door. When I lived in Alaska, sometimes I would pull my car over and just look at the fjords and the animals, the natural beauty was often overwhelming.
Seattle had its moments as well. For a while the kids and I lived on an island, and while too much of the island has been built up with mcmansions and fake rustic landscaping, for the most part, it could not help itself by being beautiful and tranquil.
Looking out at a near naked forest and seeing the way everything seemed to be prepping for winter certainly made me think about these moments in life when things are changing, but in slow motion. It's not as if trees lose their leaves in a day, but it is a process, like aging. I wonder what birds think when their little bird babies begin to fly. Do birds even bother with saying goodbye?
There have been many moments like this, where all of a sudden, I am overwhelmed by the beauty that is right outside my door. When I lived in Alaska, sometimes I would pull my car over and just look at the fjords and the animals, the natural beauty was often overwhelming.
Seattle had its moments as well. For a while the kids and I lived on an island, and while too much of the island has been built up with mcmansions and fake rustic landscaping, for the most part, it could not help itself by being beautiful and tranquil.
Looking out at a near naked forest and seeing the way everything seemed to be prepping for winter certainly made me think about these moments in life when things are changing, but in slow motion. It's not as if trees lose their leaves in a day, but it is a process, like aging. I wonder what birds think when their little bird babies begin to fly. Do birds even bother with saying goodbye?
Monday, December 6, 2010
I can't even spell capitulate
Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama on Monday announced a deal with Republican leaders that would extend Bush-era tax cuts for two years and unemployment benefits for 13 months while also lowering the payroll tax by two percentage points for a year.
The compromise, worked out in negotiations involving the White House, the Treasury and congressional leaders from both parties, includes provisions that each side doesn't like, Obama said in a hastily arranged statement to reporters after discussing the proposed deal with Democratic leaders.
Dear Mr. President,
I am done. You really seem like a nice enough guy, plenty to like about you, but you have let me down consistently and I am done. You were elected to do many things and even the ones you have tried to do, keep patting yourself on the back for that silly healthcare initiative you cobbled together, mostly you have bent over backwards to kiss the asses of your political enemies.
Seriously, for 8 years a complete moron occupied your office and he was able to do many terrible things just because he dared the wimpy democrats to come after him at a time of terror and war. It worked, he skipped out of office a disgrace, but not charged as a war criminal. Of course, you could have called for investigations, but you said it was best to leave that era behind. Of course you said that as your administration continued many of the dastardly ways of the Bush group. I will never understand why democrats allow impeachment when a man lies about a blow job and refuse to even investigate a president who happily admits to torture.
Anyway, your team lost the midterms and instead of standing tall and debating the republicans about when it might be time to raise taxes to pay off trillions of dollars in republican debt, you instead find yourself all contorted to be able to kiss as many republican asses as possible. Amazing that for such a smart man and seemingly capable politician, you allow republicans to control and manipulate you at every turn. Remember the whole health care debate, where you dropped single payer because you wanted to negotiate with the republicans and when you sold out on every issue, they still never voted for it.
You are being played by unskilled hacks. How can that be? Where is the smart guy who gave all those speeches? The guy who was going to fight for fair taxes, the guy who was going to end the wars and the torture, the guy who was going to let gays serve their country in the Armed Forces? That guy is certainly not occupying the Oval Office.
PS; Hillary, I mocked you in 2008, but if you run, I will vote for you as often as possible.
The compromise, worked out in negotiations involving the White House, the Treasury and congressional leaders from both parties, includes provisions that each side doesn't like, Obama said in a hastily arranged statement to reporters after discussing the proposed deal with Democratic leaders.
Dear Mr. President,
I am done. You really seem like a nice enough guy, plenty to like about you, but you have let me down consistently and I am done. You were elected to do many things and even the ones you have tried to do, keep patting yourself on the back for that silly healthcare initiative you cobbled together, mostly you have bent over backwards to kiss the asses of your political enemies.
Seriously, for 8 years a complete moron occupied your office and he was able to do many terrible things just because he dared the wimpy democrats to come after him at a time of terror and war. It worked, he skipped out of office a disgrace, but not charged as a war criminal. Of course, you could have called for investigations, but you said it was best to leave that era behind. Of course you said that as your administration continued many of the dastardly ways of the Bush group. I will never understand why democrats allow impeachment when a man lies about a blow job and refuse to even investigate a president who happily admits to torture.
Anyway, your team lost the midterms and instead of standing tall and debating the republicans about when it might be time to raise taxes to pay off trillions of dollars in republican debt, you instead find yourself all contorted to be able to kiss as many republican asses as possible. Amazing that for such a smart man and seemingly capable politician, you allow republicans to control and manipulate you at every turn. Remember the whole health care debate, where you dropped single payer because you wanted to negotiate with the republicans and when you sold out on every issue, they still never voted for it.
You are being played by unskilled hacks. How can that be? Where is the smart guy who gave all those speeches? The guy who was going to fight for fair taxes, the guy who was going to end the wars and the torture, the guy who was going to let gays serve their country in the Armed Forces? That guy is certainly not occupying the Oval Office.
PS; Hillary, I mocked you in 2008, but if you run, I will vote for you as often as possible.
On the road
I am leaving early this morning for a series of assignments that take me all the way over there, then a long drive to get way out there and finally a very long drive to get me to the coast. Lots of driving and there is snow on the ground.
I may be completely typical when it comes to driving great distances. I like it. I listen to music, switch to conservative talk radio, find some interest discussions, go back to music, and so on. I can go for hours listening to classical music mixed in with some insane Rush Limbaugh rants.
When I moved back to Seattle in the early 90's I had a kitchen to rebuild in an old house we had purchased. I also had a chubby baby who I could lay down on the flood while I measured the cabinets. I would turn on the local radio station and tile the floor, or replace broken plumbing, or do a number of things it takes to make a kitchen work. He would lay on the flood, staring at the ceiling, sometimes sleeping.
I discovered Rush Limbaugh while working on that kitchen. He was hysterical. I had never heard someone so opinionated and so funny at the same time. While he was a right wing conservative, and his views on everything from freedom to murder were disgusting and wrong, I liked that he did share these opinion with a deep and profound laugh. When I realized he only said the things he did to garner attention and an audience I began to understand his brilliance. The more outrageous his lies, the more people would listen, the more people would listen, the more money he made. It was brilliant.
Over the years I hardly ever find him on the radio anymore. Last year I stumbled upon Howard Stern, who I first heard in the 80's in New York. I could never understand the controversy around the Stern show and I still don't. The easiest answer is that the people who complain about Howard Stern probably do not listen. Again, back to Limbaugh, who would use this same logic against people who complained about his simplistic and hateful views. He would say those people never listened. I had spent 6 months listening and all I ever came away with was that he was a brilliant liar, like the TV preachers, who almost always get caught with a hooker or boyfriend.
Stern on the other hand was a neurotic jew, someone I could relate to on a genetic level. He also had guests on who he disagreed with and he also had both gay people and prostitutes, which seemed like a good mix.
Today, when I listen to Stern, I find a middle aged man who is brilliant and entertaining. His politics, when he does share, seem a lot more understanding of modern politics than the screamers and schemers on the right. He also happens to be intelligent, which is another thing that is often missing in chat land. When you drive for hours and stumble upon people laughing and talking about a variety of subjects, it can be entertaining radio. When you hear the far right talkers, they seem solely focused on the things democrats do that are ruining this country, conveniently forgetting the things done to get us here.
Either way, early morning thoughts to a long few days of life on the road has again made me somewhat happy.
I may be completely typical when it comes to driving great distances. I like it. I listen to music, switch to conservative talk radio, find some interest discussions, go back to music, and so on. I can go for hours listening to classical music mixed in with some insane Rush Limbaugh rants.
When I moved back to Seattle in the early 90's I had a kitchen to rebuild in an old house we had purchased. I also had a chubby baby who I could lay down on the flood while I measured the cabinets. I would turn on the local radio station and tile the floor, or replace broken plumbing, or do a number of things it takes to make a kitchen work. He would lay on the flood, staring at the ceiling, sometimes sleeping.
I discovered Rush Limbaugh while working on that kitchen. He was hysterical. I had never heard someone so opinionated and so funny at the same time. While he was a right wing conservative, and his views on everything from freedom to murder were disgusting and wrong, I liked that he did share these opinion with a deep and profound laugh. When I realized he only said the things he did to garner attention and an audience I began to understand his brilliance. The more outrageous his lies, the more people would listen, the more people would listen, the more money he made. It was brilliant.
Over the years I hardly ever find him on the radio anymore. Last year I stumbled upon Howard Stern, who I first heard in the 80's in New York. I could never understand the controversy around the Stern show and I still don't. The easiest answer is that the people who complain about Howard Stern probably do not listen. Again, back to Limbaugh, who would use this same logic against people who complained about his simplistic and hateful views. He would say those people never listened. I had spent 6 months listening and all I ever came away with was that he was a brilliant liar, like the TV preachers, who almost always get caught with a hooker or boyfriend.
Stern on the other hand was a neurotic jew, someone I could relate to on a genetic level. He also had guests on who he disagreed with and he also had both gay people and prostitutes, which seemed like a good mix.
Today, when I listen to Stern, I find a middle aged man who is brilliant and entertaining. His politics, when he does share, seem a lot more understanding of modern politics than the screamers and schemers on the right. He also happens to be intelligent, which is another thing that is often missing in chat land. When you drive for hours and stumble upon people laughing and talking about a variety of subjects, it can be entertaining radio. When you hear the far right talkers, they seem solely focused on the things democrats do that are ruining this country, conveniently forgetting the things done to get us here.
Either way, early morning thoughts to a long few days of life on the road has again made me somewhat happy.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
In Memorium
From The New York Times:
RICHARD F. MASON
|
MASON--Dr. Richard F., 81, died November 26 at his home in Greenwich Village, New York City. A former Professor of Drama at Hofstra University, his teaching and research specialties were theater styles and forms, 20th-century drama, directing, acting, and cinema. After receiving a BA in Humanities from Boston College and an MA and Ph.D. in Theatre Arts from the University of Wisconsin--interrupted by Army service in Korea--he came to Hofstra in 1964 and retired with emeritus status in 1993. He excelled as a director, staging over 100 critically acclaimed productions during his career at Hofstra and at summer theaters in Wisconsin and New Hampshire. To his legion of students and friends, he was a dynamic force, theatrical to the core, a brilliant film buff--the stuff of legends, and unforgettable. His immediate family survivors include his sister, Margaret Silletti, her husband James and sons Stephen, Richard, and Michael of Norwood, MA; his deceased brother Anthony Ardolino's daughters, Julianna Fiore and Nadine Chiello of Taunton, MA; his cousin, Anna Mae Fioravanti of Arlington, MA, and her children David, Lisa Smith, and Gigi Lyons. As he wished, a memorial event is planned for early in the year in New York City.
RICHARD F. MASON
|
MASON--Dr. Richard F., 81, died November 26 at his home in Greenwich Village, New York City. A former Professor of Drama at Hofstra University, his teaching and research specialties were theater styles and forms, 20th-century drama, directing, acting, and cinema. After receiving a BA in Humanities from Boston College and an MA and Ph.D. in Theatre Arts from the University of Wisconsin--interrupted by Army service in Korea--he came to Hofstra in 1964 and retired with emeritus status in 1993. He excelled as a director, staging over 100 critically acclaimed productions during his career at Hofstra and at summer theaters in Wisconsin and New Hampshire. To his legion of students and friends, he was a dynamic force, theatrical to the core, a brilliant film buff--the stuff of legends, and unforgettable. His immediate family survivors include his sister, Margaret Silletti, her husband James and sons Stephen, Richard, and Michael of Norwood, MA; his deceased brother Anthony Ardolino's daughters, Julianna Fiore and Nadine Chiello of Taunton, MA; his cousin, Anna Mae Fioravanti of Arlington, MA, and her children David, Lisa Smith, and Gigi Lyons. As he wished, a memorial event is planned for early in the year in New York City.
Friday, December 3, 2010
The email stream
I get emails from people who refuse to post on the comments section. Emails galore. Here are some of them, with proper responses.
"Hi, I read some of your posts and I think you suck..."
Keep it in the comments stupid fuck.
"I am writing about what you said about transvestites. I can understand that you might THINK people who are different than you might be unwanted in an elevator, but to post it in a public blog? Classless..."
Try the comments, and some more makeup.
"Thank you for your recent submission..."
Enough said.
"I have not read all of your posts, but it seems to me you may be running out of steam, are you planning to continue? Do you take posts from other people? How would one go about writing for your blog?"
Move on.
"My girlfriend and I have been dating for 5+ years, and when we started to date, she was into everything and I will let you imagine what I mean by everything, but trust me, we were into it. After a year or so we seemed to kind of get into a regular thing, losing some of the more exotic stuff and finding a pattern that fit us well. I would say we were having sex 5-7 times a week, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. After year 3 a little less became the norm and after 5 years, we are down to about once a week, if that. We both work, have social lives, and both of us have enough stress to make the once a week venture more chore than sexual release. Can you offer any advice that would help us reconnect?"
I will need video to really help you out, send it to the same address.
"The price of gas has increased since Obama was elected. Unemployment is double digits. Wars continue, as does the American torture program. Taxes are about to increase for everyone, health care reform is not working, the rich get richer, the poor have less. When I voted for change, I thought it would be change for the better, but what we have is a darker shade of Bush. Are you proud to have supported this intellectual idiot?"
Darker shade of Bush, I will need video.
"I went to YouTube and saw some of the videos you claim to have done. A couple seemed really good..."
I never claimed anything.
"Have you ever wondered why you get email instead of comments?"
I get both, I delete comments often, just because. Email, I respond to privately, until I am tired, then I post them with pithy replies.
"We used to go out, many years ago, in Los Angeles. For a while we shared a house on Lookout Mountain. One night I came home drunk and we had a fist fight, the next day you drove away and disappeared. I think about you sometimes and read your blog and...."
I will continue to think stalking is sexy, until someone cuts me up with a chainsaw.
"Thank you."
You're welcome.
"Hi, I read some of your posts and I think you suck..."
Keep it in the comments stupid fuck.
"I am writing about what you said about transvestites. I can understand that you might THINK people who are different than you might be unwanted in an elevator, but to post it in a public blog? Classless..."
Try the comments, and some more makeup.
"Thank you for your recent submission..."
Enough said.
"I have not read all of your posts, but it seems to me you may be running out of steam, are you planning to continue? Do you take posts from other people? How would one go about writing for your blog?"
Move on.
"My girlfriend and I have been dating for 5+ years, and when we started to date, she was into everything and I will let you imagine what I mean by everything, but trust me, we were into it. After a year or so we seemed to kind of get into a regular thing, losing some of the more exotic stuff and finding a pattern that fit us well. I would say we were having sex 5-7 times a week, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. After year 3 a little less became the norm and after 5 years, we are down to about once a week, if that. We both work, have social lives, and both of us have enough stress to make the once a week venture more chore than sexual release. Can you offer any advice that would help us reconnect?"
I will need video to really help you out, send it to the same address.
"The price of gas has increased since Obama was elected. Unemployment is double digits. Wars continue, as does the American torture program. Taxes are about to increase for everyone, health care reform is not working, the rich get richer, the poor have less. When I voted for change, I thought it would be change for the better, but what we have is a darker shade of Bush. Are you proud to have supported this intellectual idiot?"
Darker shade of Bush, I will need video.
"I went to YouTube and saw some of the videos you claim to have done. A couple seemed really good..."
I never claimed anything.
"Have you ever wondered why you get email instead of comments?"
I get both, I delete comments often, just because. Email, I respond to privately, until I am tired, then I post them with pithy replies.
"We used to go out, many years ago, in Los Angeles. For a while we shared a house on Lookout Mountain. One night I came home drunk and we had a fist fight, the next day you drove away and disappeared. I think about you sometimes and read your blog and...."
I will continue to think stalking is sexy, until someone cuts me up with a chainsaw.
"Thank you."
You're welcome.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Jews for socks
The eight day Festival of lights is called Chanukah. The word Chanukah means dedication. After Judah Maccabee and his band of revolutionary Jews defeated the Assyrian/Greek Empire they discovered that their beloved Holy Temple had been defiled and rendered spiritual impure. It was on the 25th of Kislev (the first day of Chanukah) that the Temple was purified and rededicated.
Alternatively the word Chanukah can be deconstructed to be, ×—× ×• ×›"×”, which means, "they rested on the 25th." The 25th of Kislev (the first day of Chanukah) was the last day of the war against the Greeks and the beginning of a pretty sweet holiday vacation week.
Alternatively the word Chanukah can be deconstructed to be, ×—× ×• ×›"×”, which means, "they rested on the 25th." The 25th of Kislev (the first day of Chanukah) was the last day of the war against the Greeks and the beginning of a pretty sweet holiday vacation week.
My love of Klein
I think we all have addictions, so legal, like coffee, cigarettes or porn, some not so legal, like heroin, bank robbing and porn. I have a Klein addiction, which used to be a Felt, Cervelo and Trek addiction, but I lost of a shit load of money and those other toys had to be sold.
So now all I have to focus on is my Klein. This particular Klein has been with me for over 10 years. I have abused it, used it, loved it and crashed it a couple of times. It has damaged me as well, from knees and feet to some serious brain damage it inflicted onto me in a terrible beating 5 years ago. Love is like that.
I have been back on my Klein this week, in a 6 month attempt to get into shape for a few 100 mile rides in the spring and summer of 2011.
When I was riding every day and doing thousands of miles a month my sense was that I was always about a couple of weeks away from prime shape for long distance riding, such was my health at that point. After a serious injury/crash a few years ago, the time to being in great shape kept growing, from a month, to two, and now, it stands at about 6, and that is if I train hard. So, there I was, this morning, mounting the Klein and riding with passion.
Now, over the years, I have been on some top notch bikes. As my skills and ability grew, I would add a better cycle to the mix. When I was kind of forced to stop riding on roads, my interest faded. When I was drugged and damaged, it got worse. In fact, somewhere there exists video of me actually falling off a bike set up in my dining room, such was my sad abilities there at the end of all that treatment.
Motivated by my fiance and a series of good health news, I am back on a bike. Strange how the Klein has come back to me, almost willing me to get better on a variety of levels. This Klein, this bike, has been with me long enough to be the first bike I rode on my first century ride (one hundred miles) and also the bike I rode across Montana. I have always tortured the Klein, riding hard and punishing it for things it never deserved. Now that I am weak ad fat, the Klein is being stressed again. This morning, as I went through gears and rode in an empty bedroom, I had flashbacks to the great times this bike has given me.
Someday I will retire it and just hang it on a wall as an appreciation for everything this particular bike has given me. It's a strange thing to be so devoted and to love something that has two wheels, a greasy chain and a chipped and dirty paint job. It's not a bad thing, just a little strange.
You smell nice
Elevator story #17:
I just ran downstairs to see if there was some place that had fresh coffee. When I got in the elevator a well dressed younger man almost walked into me, surprised that the elevator had stopped at my floor, he was confused and attempted to leave before he realized it was the wrong floor.
He stepped back in, the doors shut and I realized that he was wearing some sort of intoxicating man perfume. Now, me, I am not into perfumes or really any other chemicals one could put on their body. It's a political thing for me.
But young well dressed man smelled swell. So much so, that I said, "is that a perfume that smells so good?" He looked at me like I was either coming on to him or that I was deranged, both of which have been proven time and time again to be untrue.
He smiled and said it was some after shower spray. Nice, I said. That was it. Just 7 floors down, the door opened, he walked out and I went in search of coffee, of which there was not to be a drop found.
I just ran downstairs to see if there was some place that had fresh coffee. When I got in the elevator a well dressed younger man almost walked into me, surprised that the elevator had stopped at my floor, he was confused and attempted to leave before he realized it was the wrong floor.
He stepped back in, the doors shut and I realized that he was wearing some sort of intoxicating man perfume. Now, me, I am not into perfumes or really any other chemicals one could put on their body. It's a political thing for me.
But young well dressed man smelled swell. So much so, that I said, "is that a perfume that smells so good?" He looked at me like I was either coming on to him or that I was deranged, both of which have been proven time and time again to be untrue.
He smiled and said it was some after shower spray. Nice, I said. That was it. Just 7 floors down, the door opened, he walked out and I went in search of coffee, of which there was not to be a drop found.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Elevator adventyure # 17
I am endlessly trying to engage people in my elevator chat experiment and today, well today was super.
I was waiting for the elevator and this stunning woman, at least from behind walked in front of me and stood right in the elevator doorway. She was talking on her phone and from my viewpoint she had the best backside I have seen since I accidentally walked into Madonna in Los Angeles in the late 80's.
The door opened and I pressed lobby. She looked at me, face to face now, and I nodded and then noticed that she had a much darker 5 o'clock shadow that I did. Oh hello Tranny I thought, nice butt. Instead, I said, "would you like me to push a button for you?"
Yike, might not have been the wisest thing to say to a tranny in need of a shave.
She smiled some sort of priceless smile. She continued her phone conversation. I guessed the lobby would work.
She turned, because in the tiny space of the elevator, the phone call remained private. Turning of course revealed, again, her best feature. Hello.
I was waiting for the elevator and this stunning woman, at least from behind walked in front of me and stood right in the elevator doorway. She was talking on her phone and from my viewpoint she had the best backside I have seen since I accidentally walked into Madonna in Los Angeles in the late 80's.
The door opened and I pressed lobby. She looked at me, face to face now, and I nodded and then noticed that she had a much darker 5 o'clock shadow that I did. Oh hello Tranny I thought, nice butt. Instead, I said, "would you like me to push a button for you?"
Yike, might not have been the wisest thing to say to a tranny in need of a shave.
She smiled some sort of priceless smile. She continued her phone conversation. I guessed the lobby would work.
She turned, because in the tiny space of the elevator, the phone call remained private. Turning of course revealed, again, her best feature. Hello.
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