NO MORE POLISH JOKES

After spending some time in Poland I have come to appreciate the resilience and the courage and the intelligence of this country and culture. There has been, as far back as I can remember, the expression, “that Is beyond the pale.” I never understood or appreciated what that meant.  Now I do. No more Polish jokes – it is inappropriate an inaccurate (except for Martin).

The borders of Poland went almost to Moscow at one time – many years ago. But in the last few years, mainly the 19^th and 20^thcentures Poland either did not exist at all or the borders moved according to the occupying nations.  For a period of time there were no borders as there was no Poland. That fact is mazing as these are very ingenious and creative people but they have existed between two countries that could overwhelm them and did.

Russia to the East and Germany to the west. Poland underwent so many revolts, however, when Poland was part of the Soviet Union – Eastern Bloc, as it was known during the Cold War, they did, for the most part enslave Poles, Czechs and Hungarians. First it was the Nazis that did their thing with the Poles. The original “Concentration Camps” such as Auschwitz was for political prisoners from Poland.  The Poles, whose borders were somewhat liquid, were always subject to another invasion or occupation. The Poles rose up during the latter part of the war. They were kids fighting the Nazi soldiers. Adult men were at the font (wherever that may be) or in prisons. They fought with old weapons, broom sticks, hammers – anything that they could use. The fight was futile but they did fight!

 

Near where I was staying was the old Jewish Ghetto. More than 300,000 Jews were either killed or sent to Auschwitz-Bierkenow to be exterminated (that word sickens me because you exterminate rats not people). As I walked up to the Large Memorial Statue I was awe struck as to how much courage it took to go against the Nazis. After the uprising by the people of Warsaw and the Jews in the Ghetto, knowing that the Soviets were 20Km away waiting for the uprising to fail (the Soviets could have helped but chose not to. Stalin would not allow it). No one stopped me, no Nazi, no Communist – no one stopped me as I went off to the side to say Kaddish for the fighters that died. (That is what they were fighting for).

So, the Nazis ordered that the entire city be destroyed. Not just a few buildings or areas – a complete destruction of the city. There was about 10% of the city left after they got through doing their thing. The Warsaw of today is completely rebuilt from the rubble up. Yes, even on top of the rubble they built new structures. So much of that was built had the architecture of good Communism – very utilitarian. The Jewish Ghetto – gone. There was one building that I found, as others have as well, the Synogogue near the hotel. It was sort of hidden on a small street so the Nazis and later the Commies didn’t destroy it. I went in to see the sanctuary and it was a small version of the Synogogue I became Bar Mitzvah in. Very Arshkenazic. Being Orthodox, it had a balcony much like my old shul had for the women. Now there aren’t too many Jews left in Warsaw, Hitler took care of that situation, but many who are there are quite old.  So, to accommodate the women, they set up a partition down stairs so there will continue to be separation at services.

From paintings, later discovered, were used as the blueprint for the old city of Warsaw and the old city was recreated. It looks just as it was, where it was before the WWII. Can you imagine building part a city and recreate it just as it was some hundreds of years before? Not just a small scale version – a 1:1 scale version. That was no easy task and no joke, it took skill and hard work and the dedication of the people to make it happen.

As you stroll down Royal Way from the old city you become enthralled with the notion that you are looking at a city that is less than 60 years old yet has the old world charm. It is a modern, old world city. It is amazing.

In the center of the city is Stalin’s gift to the people. The Palace of Fine Arts. As it was explained to me, the “wedding cake,” as the citizens of Warsaw call it has a wonderful view from the 30^th floor. I went up there to see the view and it was magnificent. The citizens of Warsaw also say that the best thing about the building is that you can’t see that “damn building” from there.

There is more about Poland that I want to share. Krakow is an amazing city with the best hot chocolate you could ever ask for anywhere. It is quite beautiful, even in the snow. The Jewish area is easy to find and quite nice. I visited three Synogogues while I was there and a Jewish book store. Krakow was spared the ravishes of war. But just 75 minutes from Krakow is Auschwitz-Bierkenow. Another blog for another time, when I can write about what I saw.

Since the borders of Poland have been so compromised over the years – Poland even disappeared from the world map for two generations, I may be a Pole. Lithuania and The Ukraine were at times, part of Poland. My maternal family is from Lithuania and my paternal family was from the Ukraine. My paternal grandfather, whose name I carry, was a Russian Army Captain who migrated to the United States to avoid killing Poles. (Way to go, Grandpa!)

To sum it up, the Polish people deserve the respect that they have earned through their blood and sacrifice. Through their wonderful outlook on life and their desire and their ability to bring back what was best about Poland. This is no joke. This is amazing!

Just before I left the hotel for Prague, I checked. I was in room 264 and the room next to me was room 266!

That is my take! I have decided, no more Polish jokes. Now you decide!

POST SCRIPT ON EVENTS

Here is some comments that I have to make regarding this week:

1. Rand Paul - aside from his weird accent, what comes out of his mouth is very strange. For example, he wants to know if the drones are being used to attack Americans in the US. What is the basis for this question? Has anyone heard of this happening any where? It is  like the red herring question - Are you still beating your wife? Paul is beating a dead horse and worse he is getting air time for his comments. After his bloviating with Secretary Clinton, he is not quaified to be president, not now - not ever.

2. CNN proposes some very interesting and stupid questions. Today we were asked that is it appropriate for drones to receive combat medals? If they do, I want my rifle to get a Purple Heart becasue I dropped it in training and broke the stock. Idiots!!! They have a six pack on in the morning, and the one person that is definately not funny is the comedian. He has got to get his head straight - I mean straight up and down - it is always leaning to the left - Oh, I get it!

3. Ana Navarro - that is a complete makeover. I don't agree with most of what she says, but she is getting better to look at in the morning. Yes, that is sexist, but if she didn't want
that observation, then she shouldn't change her hair-do every day!

4. John McCain needs to be careful - he has had surgery or some procedure on his face. I don't want him to aggravate that area by trying to talk out of both sides of his mouth.

5. The SEAL that pop-popped UBL is receiving five years of health care. I am sure he was aware that you must put in 20 years to get the rest of the benefits, so why did he jump out at 16? He is still a hero but not too savvy when it comes to living his life. Maybe a graduated retirement is a good thing but let's get in in place before making the decision to leave it all behind.

6. One more thought ont the SEAL. Since we have an all volunteer military, what ever your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) is you probably chose it. And if you weren't qualified for that MOS then you got another MOS. The SEAL was obviously qualified and he chose to do what he did. No question - he did it well.

7. Senator Rubio - Not ready for prime time! But great for Saturday Night Live! It is especially interesting when he was rebutting a speech that the President did not give. Was he not listening? What else is new? Next GOP ticket: Rubio and Jindal!

8. Dorner situation - every cop, anyone that wears a badge in Southern California, should get a medal.

Those are my observations - you decide!

WHY ARE WE DRONING ABOUT DRONES?

“No pilots shot down over enemy territory .” That is a good headline – but never seen! “Senior fighters from terrorist groups have been killed.” Also, a good headline. And that is one that we have seen. So, why are we handwringing over the use of drones? I think it is because there is a president that has the courage to use weapons at his disposal and the legislature wants in on it and some that only want to criticize.

The due process of law is not followed, according to some law makers , regarding the use of drones that may kill combatant enemy terrorists who happen to have been born in this country. I cannot remember a time when confronted with an enemy who has a rifle and it is loaded and pointed at you on the battlefield, where the US soldier stopped and said, “Show me your passport and said, you have the right to remain silent. . . . “ That is due process of law as ridiculous as it is. That is the argument, we are killing terrorist that kill innocents, and yes, even American citizens, but we must follow the due process of law. Is the difference here we can’t see the passport from 30,000 feet?

This is a war machine being used in a war risking less lives, on both sides, than if we had a F16 fighter in the air. The drones limit collateral damage, there are much fewer mistaken targets, the strikes are more surgical and more effective. Yes, unfortunately, innocents are getting hurt and killed. It is the innocents that are allowing the terrorist to operate in their territory. It the government of those innocents that creates the atmosphere in which the terrorist operates. So, who takes the responsibility for that?

The War Powers Act supplies enough authority to use weapons that will reduce the enemy, maximize their casualties and reduce our casualties. That is moral to me. If the previous president was in power you would hear a very different tune. Actually, we did! We had a cowboy mentality and everything that was done was done with the attitude, if you are not with us then you are against US! How would he have used this power if he had more drones in his arsenal? I am afraid to think about it.

In every report I have read or heard, it is stated that the President has taken every precaution and legal means to employ these drones. The argument is “what about the next president?” That is an unknown and I think that reflects on the actions of the previous president (and vice president).

I am quite happy to hear – or not hear – about pilots that have not been shot down or crashed their planes. That is one casualty statistic that is quite good. In a war there are casualties that are not relished. That is war and it sucks. But does it suck as bad as a 500 pound bomb doing in a whole neighborhood?

My feeling at this point is Bin Laden is dead. Now “Mission Accomplished.” Time for us to go home and let the people run their own country. If the area becomes a safe haven for terrorists, bring in the drones again. Will the drones eliminate the need for combat pilots, I think not. But you can have more drones on an aircraft carrier than planes. You can bring more firepower and effective fire power with a fleet of drones than a squadron of airplanes. What about the intelligence that the drone brings home – in most cases – in real time?

Let’s look at how many of the critics are running for re-election. Yeh, they are trying to say to their constituency they are for oversight, they stood up to the president and yes, I am for more dead pilots! These guys have so much crap coming out of their mouths, I don’t see how they can continue to speak out of both sides.

I have to ask, why is it immoral? What makes the drone an immoral tool of war? The pilot is quite a distance away from the target, but there is still someone at the controls. Because the person at the controls is not in jeopardy of losing their life it is not a fair fight? It is OK by me! Was it immoral to start using bullets instead of arrows?

Why does the Judicial Branch of government have to be involved with the Executive Branch when carrying out military missions? Then the Legislative Branch wants to have oversight.  This then becomes a cluster @#$#! There has to be rules of engagement. We have the Geneva Convention – however that did not stop the Bush-Cheney torture and rendition program. Where was the outrage and the oversight then?

The drone is a relatively new tool of war and we need to figure out the best way to use it within the rules of war. It is a moral tool – there is no doubt about that. The machine gun fires more bullets than a rifle – where was the outrage when we started using machine guns. The Gatling Gun was used against the American Indian – where was the outrage then? (But he AR15 is OK  in the hands of anyone – is that moral? i.e. Ted Nugent)

My point is that the drone is useful tool of war and it needs to be used within the rules of war. The immorality is when the drone is used beyond those rules. I haven’t seen or heard any evidence of that.

That is my take – you decide!

 

IT IS NOT JUST THE GAME

I just returned from the Super Bowl held in New Orleans. That trip was amazing, but the ride to and from Huston is another blog for another time! The Super Bowl is not just a game, it is an experience. I don’t care how much you love or hate sports or football specifically, this is an event not to be missed.

I stayed at the Raven’s designated headquarters hotel. As I walked into the hotel I saw a sea of purple. No reds, no whites – just purple. The Ravens shirts were adorned with the traditional beads that you acquire in New Orleans. There were buttons, there were pins, there were names on the shirts that did not identify the wearer but the sports hero they were here to see. These people that were Ravens fans came from all over the world. But mostly from Baltimore. The adrenaline rush lasted from Friday to Monday – the whole time I was there. The Forty Niners were just up the street at their headquarter hotel and walking past the hotel  I could feel  the energy that was just as palpable there. Once on the street there was a major blending of red and purple and laughter. There were people in red laughing with the people in purple. I saw a couple hand in hand but wearing Niners and Ravens shirts. It was explained to me that the woman was from Baltimore and the husband gradated UC Berkley. An intrafamily rivalry. Much like the Harbaughs! As you walk Super Bowl Boulevard along the river and the streets of the French Quarter you saw fans in all shapes and sizes, you saw fans of all ages and color, you saw a common bond between them all, they loved their team and the sport. And they all loved being there!

Walking is a great way to get around in New Orleans. Get your “one for the road” drink in a plastic cup and you are on your way to see some fascinating bars, art shops, antique stores and people! You can eat as you go or stop at an eatery and enjoy the flavors of Cajun food – some of it quite exotic. Alligator tastes like chicken, I have been told – so why not just eat chicken? If your legs are tired and it is late you can get a ride in a police car with lights flashing right to your hotel, as I did, after the game. Hey, there were no trolley cars in sight! However, I do not recommend this approach to travel.

As you walk down Bourbon Street you will see things that you never dreamed of seeing on the street. I saw two such things – large things - on the same person. One was painted with a Niner emblem and the other was a Raven emblem. (Photo on rquest).

New Orleans is a city that is truly alive! What the NFL did to adorn the city is no less than amazing. You got an adrenaline rush just being there. In the hotel bar I met so many people. I met doctors – crazy surgeons and an ER doc that was just as nuts. I met a retailer with strange first name – she was there without ticket – after all the game is just the anticlimax of the weekend. So many players walked through the bar and restaurant. There was an uproar each time one was spotted. Being a Niner fan (really a Patriot fan) I had no idea who they were.

There was the Fan Fest at the convention center. Also, amazing. You can try running, throwing  and kicking. That is when you find out how hard those things that pros make look easy is. At the north end of the convention center is the NFL Shop. You will be parted with your hard earned money very quickly. You will buy shirts with names on them that you have no idea who they are – unless it is Kaepernick.

The press and TV crews were everywhere. You could not hide from the cameras. Talking heads were setting up locations to report from the scene even though the scene was over. Monday morning was very busy reporting what had happened and that stuff was reported all over the world earlier. Now that is when a power outage may have been a good idea.

Then there was the Tailgate Party in a multilevel parking garage converted just for this party. Free drinks and free food everywhere. Gospel singers, jazz bands, clowns and people getting dressed for the Mardi Gras. That was a mad house but a great time was had by all.

Fortified by drink we entered the arena to see two different rock bands. I must say I enjoyed them both. Great entertainment and an amazing festival of light and sound. Oh, I almost forgot, the game!

We had great seats in the end zone but low enough to see the whole field clearly. Field goals and points after were going right at me. I sw the 108 yard return  - every single yard. But it was the pregame that was also fascinating. Players on the field warming up. Quarterbacks throwing all over the place and way down field. WOW! But the real WOW was Jennifer Hudson with the kids from the Sandy Hook school. That brought tears to 140 thousand eyes. The stadium was faklempt. When the anthem was sung it was not so good. I wanted Beyonce back. Then we got her back for the Half Time Show. In the stadium most of us watched as the people did at home – on the televisions that were around the stadium.

The game was over – it was kind of late as the power went out for 35 minutes till someone went and paid the bill. There were two distinct games. The first half which was abysmal  and the second half which was so much better – but not quite good enough. The game was over, Super Bowl, again in another year. So much to look forward to. I understand that the location is New Jersey and New York. In February???? Are they nuts????

That was my experience – you decide if it was worth the time and the costs.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE - WHAT DID YOU DECIDE?

I have written almost 60 blogs for almost three years. I get personal  e-mails mostly from people that I know. I appreciate their comments including the note I received that was telling me I was junking up his in-box. All that digital junk, where oh where can he store it? I have a suggestion.

 I have been read in more than 40 countries and that is amazing to me because I write only in English. Some of the countries that I am read in are very surprising to me. I am read in China, Poland, Romania, Chile, South Korea and the Philippines to name a few. I am also read in Egypt and the Ukraine.

It is flattering to see all those counties where I am read. I am also sure that when they read what I write and say either he is crazy or if this is accurate, then the whole culture is nuts. When visiting these countries I get that – why are Americans so stupid about these things like healthcare, gun control, the way we elect people to office. Actually we as Americans get kudos for our electoral processes, but necessarily the candidates.

They see the political divides and they also wonder about American’s  sanity – as I have done in this blog more than once.  There is some other stuff they enjoy reading about but don't experience in their home country. When I wrote about telephone numbers conjuring up memories, that idea or concept had to be alien to them. Or my musings about the start of the Base Ball season, that too, was not understood around the world,  but it was appreciated as I am sure other cultures and regions have their harbingers of spring or winter if you are in hockey country ( is Miami hockey country?)

With that in mind I always wonder what my readers  are thinking. I am sure that I have irritated some of my readers while others are saying “Right on.” Did I provoke any thoughts? If so, what were they? Were they positive or negative?  How do others see the things that concern me and that I write about? What is their take, what did they decide? I want to know. You can tell me, I can take it!

I see so many multiple hits from the web, Facebook and other social media sites that I know that I am striking nerve. The responses that I get are mostly, well actually, most all are in agreement. That’s great but this is forum to express your ideas, too – what are they?

I can’t be right all of the time – but I try.  Let me know what you are thinking. I am curious to hear your ideas – as right or wrong as they may be (according to me).

I never make any of my statements personal. I may reference someone I know but I never mention their name. I don’t believe in personal attacks. They accomplish nothing except prove that you don’t know what you are talking about. Facts, please – even opinions based on real facts are welcome.

Here is an open invitation to send your comments to sfreedman11@gmail.com. I may or may not reference your e-mails and I may use some of your ideas on future blogs. Let’s hear from you!

That is my invitation – you decide to use it or not!

NRA – NUTS RUNNING AMOCK (with guns)

Not all NRA members are nuts! Just the ones that want to expand gun ownership, eliminate background checks – increase the ownership of automatic weapons as well as large capacity clips and magazines. These are the nuts! They are dangerous. Many of these people may be law abiding citizens, but they are still nuts.

When Wayne Lapierre was touting arming teachers, the vision of Miss Campbell, my fifth grade teacher so many years ago, pulling a concealed weapon almost made me gag. Miss Campbell was a great teacher, that is why I remember her to this day. Miss Campbell was also well above the 250 pound mark. I can’t imagine where she would stow that glock to where she could get to it and use if she had to. I shiver thinking about it. Then there is the vision of my eighth grade History teacher, Miss Burke, about 5 foot nine and about 115 pounds. The same thoughts came to me. Frightening.

I know many teachers but I don’t know one that would carry a loaded weapon around children. That is the most ludicrous idea that the NRA ever came up with. More guns will solve the problem. – Sure it will! Like having more disease will cure disease.  I am befuddled by their latest attack ad. The narrator must have taken lots of Pepto because the idea was nauseating. Because the president’s children have secret service with armed guards our kids should have the same.  Gee, the president has armed guards at his house; I suppose that says that armed guards at our houses will be in order.

Yes, the NRA ranks swelled after the massacre in Connecticut. Yet, the majority of Americans do not agree with their thinking. In my seven decades on this earth I have heard that the government is preparing to come for our guns. Just let the government come for mine – oh, I don’t have a gun. That argument is lost on me.

Well, what if they do come? David Koresh didn’t do so well defending his ground. He had plenty of guns. I guess the government has more guns and even better guns than those that profess to defend their homes when the government comes for the guns. But who is the government? It is actually us. We The People! So, defend yourself from yourself!

The second amendment can be interpreted in so many ways. Yet, we must remember that when that was written our founders never heard of a clip or magazine. They could never envision a weapon that could kill several people in matter of seconds. They had muskets! Flintlocks! The founders never heard of automatics or semi-automatics – they had muskets! They never even heard of bullets – they had balls, something our current Congress also never heard of.

My point is, how many kids, adults, good people have to eat a bullet because some nut had access to a gun? Drives by shootings have killed so many innocent people who just happen to be in the way when a hail of bullets came raining down on them. One comedian I had heard had a great idea. Give all the people guns – the NRA would love that.  But charge $5000 a bullet. Now that makes sense to me.

Actually the need for defensive weapons that are designed to kill is also crazy. These are not sporting goods. They are killing machines. Hunting rifles for sport or even hand guns for defense are OK if you get them registered and learn how to use them and maintain them.

There is a balance and the NRA wants it all tipped in their favor. I cannot fathom their thinking. I cannot really imagine in any sense how they think guns will solve killing. The whole notion of more guns is absurd. And the absurdity is there are good people who are wrong thinking on this matter. Imagine how fast that will change when someone puts a bullet in one of their kids or family members. It keeps on happening and we are doing nothing about it. Why, because of the NRA? Why, because we really believe that the government is coming for our guns? Why, because we really believe that a criminal will be in our homes robbing us? Just think of the reasons you have to own a gun and you will come to realize the absurdity of those thoughts.

I am tired of needless murders. I am tired of innocents being slaughtered because someone had the tools to do it and thought it would be fun or they are making statement. I am sick of how easy it is to obtain these weapons, and who can get them and where they can get them.  I can’t imagine the horror that Sandy Hook parents went through – even the parents of the kids that survived had to experience the horror of not knowing . The answer is not let’s all get a gun; the answer is let’s all get some smarts.

That is my take – you decide.

THAILAND - A GREAT DISCOVERY

It was nothing like I imagined it to be.

 

I just returned from a weeklong trip to Bangkok, Thailand. It was in many ways, what I was told it would be and it didn't disapppoint..What a place, what a city, what a country, what a great people!!! There are several things I noted about the people, the city, the country side and other observations. 

The people all seem happy. Hard to believe they go to work every day, whether they are driving a tuk-tuk, sweeping sidewalks, making beds in a hotel – no matter what they do they seem to do it with a smile. They say hello on the street (those were the “working girls” and yes, they all had smiles), they open the door when you walk into a restaurant; the transit cop will attempt to help you master the Sky Train and give you some tips. They are all glad to help. Ask a question and they will get you an answer from someone that speaks your language. The people just make being there fun and very comfortable.  

Before I left, someone had admonished me not to go there. Not safe I was told, wouldn’t go there if I were you. Well, he was not me so I went. I am not sure what are he was talking about, but Thailand did not fit that description. I walked down dark streets, walked around late at night coming back from Asiatique and had no fear or qualms. Every Sky Train platform had at least two police officers, security was everywhere. I never felt safer in any city in the world that I have visited than I did in Bangkok.. I am thinking that the person was thinking of another city in another country. Now that I am thinking about it, that person has been consistently wrong about everything since I met him about a couple of years ago. He is definitely wrong about Bangkok and for sure, Thailand. 

There is no question that the lack of some of the safety procedures would never fly in the US. Getting on a river boat is an adventure – there are no gangplanks to walk down, just jump on. The same was true about the bamboo river raft. You have to jump from one raft to the other. No one presented you with a waiver of liability form – heck, I don’t think they know what liability is. Climbing up to the waterfall near the River Kwai there are no ropes to hold on to. No one fell, no one complained – everyone loved the experience. At the Floating Market there were no health department A-B or C signs. You saw the lady cook the food on her river boat, she handed it to you and you ate it. Some of the foods I would not even consider eating, not because of the “kitchen” but because I had no idea what the food was. Those that were eating it seemed to be enjoying it. Where we have so much regulation and legal protections they have almost none and they seem to be happy with their lives. 

Yes, the country is emerging from third world status. I expected to see so much poverty and filth. I saw some, but far less than I ever expected. I toured up to 150 miles from Bangkok. The elephant trail was littered with very large road apples – the size of large watermelons. They just shoveled them into a ditch. The city streets are clean – old but clean. The ditches on the trails, that is another story. Good for the jungle they said! 

There are lessons to be learned. Skukhumvit Road was like a series of Times Squares – everyone having great time. People enjoying themselves, lights everywhere, smiles all around. No violence, no dangers, just the optimistic look at the next year and the hope that it brings.The population is young and vibrant. Their energy is everywhere and you feel it. 

The lights are amazing –  they are everywhere. The visuals are overwhelming and create a sense of wellbeing. The huge jumbotrons are a source of street entertainment that provides information, music, advertising and just pure fun! 

 Oh yes, the motorcycle taxis were thriving. Just jump on and the motorcycle driver will take you where you want to go for just a few Baht. The girls in short skirts ride side saddle. To get around you have the Tuk-tuk, the Meter-Taxi, the Sky Train and the motorcycle taxi, too. Just to give you an idea of what things cost, the distance to the airport is about 27 KM about 18 miles. The cab fare was about $7.50 and that included the drop of 35 Baht. That ride would be about $50 in the US. 

Some of the odors on the street were difficult to weather. But you walked fast held your breath for a few seconds - no problem Air pollution is a problem but not a big problem. There is nothing that you can’t buy on the street for a negotiated price. I mean nothing (except illegal narcotics)! 

I am often, very often asked about the women of Thailand. They are quite beautiful, they dress stylishly and have far less boundaries than western women. You can walk down the street and get a traditional Thai massage, a less traditional massage (don’t ask) a foot massage that is quite intense or you can visit a bar. Learn the bar fee! There are parts of town that are amazing. Because I have gray hair I was often called “Pappa.” “Papa, you want to buy? Pappa you want to eat?” Strange, I was not called “Pappa” in Nana Plaza. (Another story for another time). 

Here is what I did not see: Graffiti and speed limit signs, What I did see was a happy people. What I didn't see I will whenI  go back and I am going back!

That was my take – go there and you decide.

 

PERILS OF ON-LINE SUPPORT!

Lately I have the misfortune of dealing with on-line (telephone support people) regarding many different problems from travel, visa requirements, downloading software, banking issues, product return issues and more. I am not sure why I have had so many issues in such a short time, but there they are.  I must commend a lady at Verizon Wireless for her courtesy and knowledge – she is one good person that stands out of the so many ill trained, ill-disciplined and just don’t care what tour problem is – they have a script for that.

Part of the problem is geography. You call an 800 number and you get someone in the Philippines. When that person has a problem with your problem she or he transfers you to a “supervisor” that has just a little more knowledge, so you think – but that person is in Mumbai. The supervisor also is ill equipped or trained to answer your question so off you go to another part of the world. While waiting for that person to pick up you visualize yourself on an airplane going to that part of the world to strangle the voice on the other end of the line. The hold time is almost as long as the flight.

They have a script and they must read every word regardless of whether they are addressing your problem or not. They don’t slow down or pause for a split second. So finally in frustration you yell, “SHUT UP!” And of course they don’t. When and if they do, they say I must transfer you and before you can say “don’t” you are once again on hold.

The next person says that they can assist you like they think they really can. But first you must provide the last four digits of your mother’s maiden name, the street you were born on, and the address of your proctologist to verify that you are you! “Yes,” he says I can solve your problem, “ what is the problem?”

After two hours on the phone, listening to otherwise hysterical clerks trying t read their  poorly written scripts, speaking in strange high pitched accents, admonishing you if you don’t hear what they say you will forever be in problem limbo and nothing can happen and to this point, nothing has happened except your blood pressure has risen above today’s Dow!

Now this voice resonating several octaves below the last several vices you experienced, says slowly, in an authoritative tone, just click the little bar at the bottom of the page – and voila, the problem is solved. Huh! I just spent some long and arduous minutes, maybe even hours to get to this point. Why wasn’t squeaky voice one and squeaky voice number two or all the squeaky voices t rained to instruct the caller in the first place.

The squeaky voices come from call centers all over the world. The last guy was hemisphericaly local. In other words he knows his audience. He understood the culture that he was addressing. However, the product or service provider didn’t but should have known that we want immediate answers from people who can provide them.

I have had a phone tech support guy tell me that, “That is good.” When in fact I described a potential catastrophic problem that was looming. They are automatons that just know how to read scripts written for them by people who have no idea of what a problem is. They are not taught courtesy. They won’t listen because they have no idea of what the problem is – but talking over you and not taking a breath you will go away. But not before they ask you to take a small survey that will rate their service. Love the small 20 minute survey! “Please, sir, can you rank you experience today. One being the worst and ten being the best.” The experience was the rankest I have ever had. I have yet to give above a one and they are so appreciative – because, once again, they weren’t listening.

When they get back on the line they ask what else can they provide today. I always ask for their boss. The boss comes on and asks you to provide the last four digits of your mother’s maiden name, the street you were born on, and the address of your proctologist to verify that you are you!

That is when I tell them to stick it - where the proctologist does!

That is my take, what’s your experience?

SO MANY QUESTIONS - NO ANSWERS

We are all saddened, no not saddened, we are sick, no we are not sick at what happened, actually there are no words that can describe what we feel after what we learned what had happened Friday, December 14th in Connecticut. I am still not sure about what I feel but I do know that I don’t like what I feel. I do not feel the need for revenge and forgiveness is definitely not among my feelings. I am having a hard time as many of you, are in coming to grips with the feelings regarding this matter even though we may not know any of the victims – or ever will for that matter. Knowing them is not the issue, never getting to know them is the tragedy.

On the last night of Chanukah I watched with utter joy 13 children from about two years old to sixteen years old enjoy the holiday spirit – playing together, running around together, eating together, singing prayers together, and working games on the computer together with wonder in their eyes. Laughing and just enjoying life as they know it. Utter glee in my heart, utter joy in my eyes, utter love for the future that they represent and the future that is theirs for taking. Unless someone, one of G-d’s children takes it from them.

Why I am having doubts about there being an entity that we can’t see, we claim to feel, we can’t hear (although some say that they have heard that entity – we tend to put them in padded rooms), yet we extol His power, the power of this entity. His power to do what? There is no power except that which in in us. We have the power to do good, to educate ourselves, to nurture and love our family, to make the road of life smoother for our children and we have the power to do real evil. Just as it was done that Friday morning.  So, where does all this power lie?

We pray to a god. A good god, who knows? A bad god, who knows? An ambivalent god, who knows? God loves us is the mantra. Just listen to the rabbis, the priests, the mullahs, the pastors, the lay leaders all say that there is a god that loves us.  The Muslims have a strange way to illustrate that love. The Mormons exclude other of the G-d’s “children.” The Orthodox rabbis exclude the female sex of G-d’s children – where is all this love from this god? Where is His protection, where are His omniscient powers that allow Him to be where He is needed when He is needed? My point being, as I was leaning towards a specific point in a previous blog, there is no god like the one have come to accept. Not that G-d is dead. Remember that from the 60s? We came down hard that group that declared G-d dead. They may have been wrong because there has to have been a god that existed once to have died. Or one that existed only in mythology.

That belief really screws up the liturgy. The Shema is no longer a valid declaration. If there is no god then there is no “One.” As I stated in my earlier blog, I love religion, the beauty, the pageantry, sights and sounds if the services. There are some religions that do not celebrate the beauty of the religion, but for the most part, the costumes, the large hats, the robes, the small caps all play a part in delineating the beauty of the presentation. Every religious service is three part opera and can be entertaining and beautiful. Experiencing that play, like enjoying the Phantom of the Opera or the Book of Mormon or Guys and Dolls, can leave you uplifted and in high spirits when the curtain comes down. Is that not a religious experience? There is no god in any of those performances – maybe the mention of one, but that is it!

So where do we get comfort? Where so we turn in times like now that so many people are grieving, hurting with so much pain that the 1 to 10 chart does not apply. There is nothing to measure the intensity of the pain. Where do these people turn? They turn to each other for support. Giving to each other in a time of need is a religious experience and a good deed. Your spirit transcends the human experience. The god that we think we know is in some building down the road – maybe. There are so many questions here regarding the existence of a god that we have to ask if there are so many questions why bother asking. The answer is simple; there really is no god that we have believed for so many millenniums. Maybe at one time in our long history there was a G-d. But the idea of free will expanded with the widening of the universe, it expanded with broadening of our knowledge, with our experiences of the ages, with the acquiring of the process of thought, the acquiring of skills regarding the human body, with applied medicine, with the use of language, with the understanding of applied and quantum physics, all made the devotion to that G-d of old, no longer relevant.        

So, we should comfort the families, friends, the neighbors – anyone who has been touched by this senseless taking of precious life, including ourselves. Absolutely! We cannot understand the enormity of this event. “Why” doesn’t matter anymore because it just happened without a reason – at least any reason known to mere mortals. The One that we would have turned to for answers is longer available to us. He is busy protecting baseball players coming up to bat! The G-d that talked to Moses, not there. The G-d that endowed Jesus – not there.

When we look within we can extend our love and comfort out, letting those hurting know that they are not alone, that is truly G-d like work.

That is my take, you decide!

POST MORTEM - ELECTION 2012

I am letting my imagination run away with me. The election is over and the president is still widening his margin through the continuing counts so he will have a mandate. But nothing seems to change. Mitch McConnell is still saying that his first priority is to have President Obama not get re-elected, Dick (The Dick) Morris is still sure Romney is going to win, Sarah Palin is auditioning for Dancing With the Stars (doing the sidestep shuffle), and those are just a few of the diehards. Hey guys, you tea baggers you lost, your right wingers you lost, the people spoke – turn up your hearing aids!

John McCain is running – to or from what I don’t know – but runs he does.  Old John has trouble determining which Rice he supports. The one that lied to us way back then or the one that was fed bad info recently? Oh yes, it is the black female in the government. Joe Lieberman needs some WD40 for his voice, it is winey and squeaky. Michelle Bachman is still trying to create some newsworthy stuff that isn’t newsworthy –  it is just stuff. Some have suggested that she divorce her wife. Who says she isn’t for same sex marriage? Also, she is for no sex marriage. 

Good old Newt, he too, had it wrong as he does most of the time. At one time I actually thought that he was a bright man and so did he. Ron Paul is still upright and consents to have his pulse checked at least once a day. Then there is Rick Santorum (the definition of “santorum” was made up – but it was fun while it lasted) he said he will make another run for it – Macy’s sweater sale, that is! 

Why am I picking on the right wing (nuts)? They are easy and they were and continue to be wrong. Wrong about everything. The left characters are also easy except that none of them expound the science that a woman that has been raped has the internal mechanism to thwart the nasty sperm. I never heard a lefty define “legitimate rape” - ever. The lefties like Rap not rape!  

I saw the handshake between Obama and Romney, Once again I let my imagination run wild.  So many captions to write.  Such as “In this house, Mitt, my car does not ride up in the elevator with me.” “Mitt, that will be $19.50, it would have been more but you didn’t have the salad. ”  Or the best line that could really get Mitt in trouble is “How was the wine? I know you prefer whites.”

I saw Clint Eastwood walking around Ikea last week. He was talking to chairs. So much to say and so many chairs.

Boehner stills wants to get his tax lowering programs in place. Ahhh, the poor rich are so poor! I would agree with that but he wants all of us that don’t make that much money to chip in and help the needy rich people.  He didn’t get it before, he is not getting it now and not in the future. He is never in Ohio so he isn’t getting it at all.

Ann Coulter has balls – really! No, really!

I truly believe that Mitt is a good guy. He just doesn’t know what side of his white bread his butter is on.

That is my take – you decide!

POTPURRI OF THOUGHTS

This will be my 52^nd blog post in the past 30 months. I did write some articles during the Republican primaries and just one during the actual campaign. Frankly, it was too easy and I would have been way too partisan in my thoughts. Yet, today I am reading about the post mortem on the election by the loser. Now I am convinced that he is a loser –even his own party, which initially had very little enthusiasm for him , is now, once again, reinforcing their initial assessment – he is a loser and not a good one at that.

I voted for the other guy and I guess my “gift” got lost at the post office. He was the last one in the Clown Car (see Blog dated January 7, 2012) so he got to run. Now he still won’t take responsibility for running a poor campaign.  It was the other guys fault. He did dirty tricks – he gave stuff.  He gave people stuff they really needed, like lower taxes to have more money, better access to healthcare so they can enjoy their money, lower cost loans for college so they can make more money – all just stuff!!

If that is how he feels now, imagine how he would have treated people had he won! He would have kept all that stuff for himself and his buddies. By the time he got through we would have been a sicker, poorer and stupider country. Believe it or not, that was his goal – I over simplified it a little, but that was the goal. If you had money like his one or two percent group, you would be richer, healthier and smarter. The 47% that he so eloquently spoke about would have just taken the stuff and done nothing with it, according to him.

The press is having a field day mocking him – even the right leaning press.

I just took a look at where my blog is being read. There are more than 20 countries listed in my stats. Russia has my second largest readership. All my blogs are in English not Cyrillic. Then comes Germany and surprisingly, the Ukraine where my original family came from.  I know that there are no family members reading my blog – because we had a much different name back then. Also, what was left of the family was eradicated at Barbiyar.

Romania, Romani, Romania (from the song made famous by Joel Grey) is the next  largest readership.

Jolly old England is right behind Romania  - in readership that is. I am sure that the queen is one of most avid readers, if she isn’t she should be a reader - I write in English. The Maylasia is next. I know little about Maylasia  but they know more about us through reading my insightful articles.  There are Maylasians discussing the Red  Sox / Yankees rivalry right now, I’ll bet.

I am also read in Paris and other parts of France yet no one from France has invited me to speak regarding what I write about. I am waiting for that ticket to arrive so I can go there drink their wine, eat their bread, romance their ladies – what a wonderful dream! Only in France would they have a president named for another country. Hmmm. Not many readers in Holland!

Poland is just ahead of China. I am going to make my first trip to Poland in a few months where I will poll the Poles to see who is reading my articles. There are at least 34 people reading me.

Latvia, not Lithuania, which is the home of my mother’s ancestry, in near the bottom. The Lithuanians are still smarting from the name change to Kabot – as are the Cabots.  (see Cleveland Amory’s book, The Proper Bostonian). That is why neither of those families are reading my thoughts.

Rwanda and Thailand are at the bottom of the list. I will be in Thailand shortly and of course I expect to meet my one and only reader from that country. I know she is a dancer at the NaNa Palace. (Check the tour guides). I intend to survey all the dancers to find my one and only (reader) from Thailand.

So, since I started writing my thoughts and expecting to have everyone moved by my insightful words, I have had several nice comments, several “Don’t send me this stuff anymore,” and quite a few, “Really, Saul!?” But it is an outlet as since I started to write my life has changed in so many ways. Much of it hinted at in these blog posts. I like sharing it with you – all of you from around the word in the 30 or more countries where I am being read. These are my thoughts – and to the more than 3000 people who have read them , I say, thanks.

That is my take, you decide.

ELECTION FRAUD VS VOTER FRAUD

OK – now that the election is behind us and all of the ads have gone away and our guy got in, we can now talk about some of the rhetoric that plagued this campaign season. There is no doubt in my mind that much of what I heard regarding voter fraud was designed to keep people of color from voting as well as the elderly. Voter ID is a disgrace. How many 85 year olds still have their licenses? OK – too many! But so many others of that age let their licenses expire because they stopped driving. With no ID – no vote! In California that is not the case, the land of fruits and nuts, we have not gone nuts over voter ID. If you are registered you vote!

I have been voting for exactly 50 years. In that time I have never missed a vote. My philosophy is if you don’t vote you can’t complain. Over the years I complained a lot – about local politics, statewide elections and national elections. My guy didn’t always win. Even if he or she did win, I could still complain because I would do it better, whatever it was.

What I am complaining about now is the notion of voter fraud. I believe this became an issue to deflect form the real problem – election fraud. Creating dumb ideas like voter ID – that is a way to disenfranchise voters. Putting people at polling places that look like authority but have none and asking potential voters for information they don’t have and don’t need to have is election fraud – it is happening now. These pseudo figures of authority threaten the potential vote with arrest if they don’t comply. If the voter knew that if they did call the police the voter would be protected, they would ask this poll watcher to call them.

Early voting in some states make it easier for people to vote. However, biased governors in some states will not allow for extra hours to vote. They need the extra hours because of the demand. For many years I heard the cry of how we as Americans, do not exercise our right to vote – we stay home. Now that we want to vote we are often deprived of that obligation. There is an axiom that says poor people, people of color and old people are more in tune with the left than the right. So, by preventing these people I n those specific demographics from voting, the candidates on the right will create an advantage for themselves.

Poll watchers are a good thing. But they have no authority to approach any citizen. They can do what I did – call the registrar with a complaint. I got a call within an hour of my sending the e-mail regarding a poll worker that appeared to be unfamiliar with the alphabet and was causing a long line while voting booths were unoccupied. They told me that someone was on the way to correct the situation and reassign that poll worker. I am not a poll watcher – I am a citizen and I care.

We have seen the movie regarding the hanging chads in Florida. We have seen the butterfly ballot that had people voting for someone they would not go across the street for. That is election fraud – by design. Unfortunately, even the Supreme Court participated in election fraud.

The cry is that illegals or undocumented people could vote. Where and how? There are two lists at the polling place with the names of registered voters. The registrations are vetted at the registrar’s office before they get on the list and how many people are willing to go to jail for casting a phony ballot? It just doesn’t happen. The law in Florida states "A person who commits or attempts to commit any fraud in connection with voting, votes a fraudulent ballot, or votes more than once in an election can be convicted of a felony of the third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 5 years."

Even if all of the so called 11 million illegals voted, and they all voted for the same candidate, spread over 50 states, could they swing an election? I guess if they were ALL in Montana they could swing that state – but they are not all in one state and they probably would not all have the same preference. Once again, voter fraud is the deflection away from the larger issue and real issue – election fraud.

Even John McCain’s campaign manager said: “I think that all of this stuff that has transpired over the last two years is in search of a solution to a problem, voting fraud, that doesn’t really exist when you look deeply at the question. It’s part of the mythology now in the Republican Party that there’s widespread voter fraud across the country.”

But election fraud is not a myth. Google Kenneth Blackwell and see his history with Diebold voting machines, rulings on provisional ballots and more.

The purpose of this blog is to inform about difference between voter frauds, which hardly exists, and election fraud which could be rampant.

That is my take, you decide.

FAITH IN RELIGION, FAITH IN G-D, ALL VIABLE QUESTIONS .

As I think about events in the world, events in my personal life and watching friends and relatives experience personal traumas it begs the question about G-d. If He existed why is this all happening? I know that many scholars have written on the subject i.e. “Why Bad Things Happen to Good People.” These are more intense thinkers than me and they have spent their lives asking these type of questions. My questioning is a little more recent – basically the past 20 years or so. 

A few years back I took a class at the local Kabbalah Center. They posed the question if there is a 

G- d why did the Holocaust happen? Many people struggled with the answer and but no one came up with the any appropriate or satisfying answer. There is good and bad in all of us and circumstances can bring out either the good or the bad or even the evil in us all.  

I didn’t buy that at all. I have heard about mothers who weigh 100 pounds lift a car off of their child – circumstance generated adrenaline, but only for the moment. It wasn’t sustainable. Very plain men and women in uniform do heroic acts to save their commrades. They will tell you that they did what they had to do at the moment. They are heroes but for the moment – and that was enough. The good in them was inherent. It surfaced with ferocity when it had to. They didn’t think about what they are about to do, they just did it.  

Rawanda, South Africa and the Holocaust were well thought out by people who can justify their evil. The evil was inherent in their psyche. Opportunity brought it out. Opportunity gave them all they needed to reek havoc on innocent people. If there is a G-d why did He allow it to happen? Why are some religious zealots using the name of G-d to create tortuous laws and penalties, kill innocent people, destroy societies – why?  

Writer’s note: I am capitalizing the names of G-d because if there is such a being then I am not going to offend Him. I will continue to respect His name. Now I am confident that you have some viable questions of me. Hopefully, I will answer them! Maybe not! 

I will get to the Kabbalah’s answer to Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. But first, why I believe in religion – my religion! You may have similar reasons of your own or different reasons for your religion, they are personal and they are all valid.

Religion creates culture and a set of rules that we should live by. There are 613 commandments in the Bible including the ten we are all familiar with. If these are deigned by G-d why are they not inherent in our psyches. He made us, He gave us life, He gave us brains, He gave us DNA so why not instill a set of rules that will dictate that we will all do G-d’s work? 

That is my question. It is a fairly simple idea, you build something to the best of your ability and if you are G-d the ability is endless. GM won’t build a car without a steering wheel, but appears that G-d left that part out of our being. We have no G-d given steering wheel. Why is that? G-d gave us FREE WILL! G-d gave us the ability to be G-d. We create our own steering wheel for navigating through life. 

I love the beauty of religion. The time to pray as a community, observe beautiful and meaningful rituals, come together in similar beliefs, to do good things for the community and even parts of the world that need help,  all benefit from religion.  Big generalization here, I know you are thinking of some things that are just the opposite as people are being killed or maimed in the name of some religions. If G-d gave them free will, too, then they are doing their G-d like work as they see it. So, with that in mind, is there a true G-d? When we go to a movie and see the actors play out their parts do we pray to the producer? The producer creating opportunity to present the story, the characters, the scenes in which they act and the message that they are trying convey. One could argue the producer, the writer or the director is the G-d of that situation, so who do you pray to? Do you worship them?  (There is a potential for some interesting answers her.) 

My point is if we are all G-d like why is there a G-d? If we are all G-d like why are some of us good and some of us evil. Remember, it is said that G-d gave us free will. That would even allow for us not to believe in a G-d! That ability is G-d given. 

That is my take, you decide.

 

STARTING OVER, AGAIN

As I watched these weather related catastrophes I often wondered how people started over. Where do you start when starting over? I guess they start by rebuilding their homes. As I had a custom home built a number of years ago, the devil is the details – all of the little things that make a house a home. We rarely give any thought to the switch on the wall that turns our lights on. Now you had better give it some thought as there are so many styles to choose from and yes, even colors are important. See what I am talking about?

Recently, due a change in status I had to make these decisions regarding rebuilding a home. I was sort of in a hurry to get started so I got one of those ready-made homes that you read about in the Sunday newspaper – heck, you may already live in one! It is hard to build just one townhome so I bought one that was already built in the area that I wanted to live. Trauma of building a pool, landscaping and all those details were attacked long before I got here – thankfully! So, my ready-made came with a garage, three bedrooms and 2.5 baths (how do you take a half of a bath?) Add the living room, the dining area, kitchen and the den; you have a pretty good ready-made! At this point the ready-made has an echo as there is nothing in it to absorb sound.

Furniture! That will absorb sound. Furniture will also provide something to sleep on, something to eat on something to store all the stuff you need to yet get, something to sit and something just for show!

Also, if you are building an office in the ready-made you will need office furniture. The office furniture is in your home so it has to be on the same quality and styling as the rest of the furniture. But there is an out.  Be eclectic! That is what you say when  nothing matches – I am not  eclectic, I am an independent.

Now the furniture comes like a tidal wave of deliveries. Put that here, those over there, etc. And then there is the furniture that so supposed to fill a room and comes in a very small box – with instructions, screws and an allen wrench. All that stuff went back, when I buy furniture I want to use it not have a hobby of putting it together – although I must admit that I did put some things together. Power screw drivers help!

Now you need kitchen tools and utensils. I even bought pots and pans like I was going to cook anything! Actually I do coo:  toast, coffee, cantaloupe (oh, that you just have cut up – so I need some sharp knives) and believe it or not some other not so tasty dishes like left over Chinese food. That has to be reheated on a stove that makes my computer look simple!

Getting all this stuff is either fun or torture. As I walked through Bed, Bath and Beyond I just went up and down the isles taking one of each. I edited my purchases at the checkout counter when the clerk asked do I really want these? “I have a coupon,” I told her! For 20% off how can I go wrong? You can if you bought baby blankets – they were so much cheaper than the ones that would fit on my bed! A thousand dollar worth of stuff with hand full of these blue and white coupons the clerk put it all one bag. You see, a family of four could live in that bag.

So, here I am putting away the pudding cups, the potato peelers, the strainer, the vegetable steamer, the measuring cups and the meat thermometer and realizing that I need pudding, meat and potatoes I headed off to the supermarket! Eggs I bought at Costco because I always buy eggs at Costco and tuna fish and liquor! I almost forgot, I bought a washer and dryer so detergent, which I always buy at Costco, was on the list, too!

I discovered a supermarket within three minutes driving time. I became a member of their organization so I can reap the best prices and they can track my spending habits. That is OK! When you are buying broccoli what are you trying to hide? My supermarket has no idea that I bought liquor at Costco and Costco doesn’t require a membership – oops!

Once again, it was down each isle taking one of everything – almost everything as food items are much more familiar to me than utensils. As I was pondering what to buy a little devil on my shoulder kept urging me on – buy this, buy that it may not be good for you but it will be delicious. I resisted the temptations in about 90%of the cases. I am only human!

Starting over is not fun – it is a challenge. I guess it would have been more of a challenge had I not chosen to get a ready-made. Even if you get a ready-made make sure you have a hammer, the power screw driver, laser level, picture hanging stuff and enough liquor from Costco to get you through it all!

That was and is my ongoing experience - NOTHING MORE TO DECIDE!

I WUDDA, CUDDA DUN DAT

The killing of Osama Ben Laden, saving the auto industry – all accomplishments of this president. His rival says he wudda and cudda dun dat. Yeah, right!! How many of us would have the cool to make these decisions when everyone is saying don’t do it. Mr. Romney said, “Let Detroit Die.” Now he wants to take credit for his ideas when his idea was singular – let it die. He wudda dun dat.

Why you ask? Because he wanted his buddies to buy the auto companies while in bankruptcy for pennies on the dollar and then sell off the pieces one by one to make billions in profits.  A car’s parts are worth more than they are when they are part of the car. Mr. Romney knows that and he was applying the same principle. But his Pep Boys are the “vulture capitalists.” If he cudda dun dat, then we would have no auto industry and he would love that because there would be no unions (and I am not a union man), no jobs an everyone that was a worker in that industry would be beholding to the olergarchists for food, for health care, for shelter (next up) and for education. And it would not be cheap. Do you recall (if you don’t, Google it ) Tennessee Ernie Ford’s song, Sixteen Tons.  The lyrics point out that the workers owed their souls to the company store. All these displaced workers would be “loading coal.”

That is what Mr. Romney and his buddies on Wall Street wanted to accomplish. What about mortgage adjustments? Mr. Romney said let them go into foreclosure and then his buddies would buy the house for whatever the banks will take and they know all the guys at the banks. That assures them of getting a really good deal on these homes and then renting them back to the former owners. He never said what the rents would be but they definitely would reflect the market and rents would  surely escalate. Keep in mind, if the mortgage got adjusted (which he is against) then the owner’s cost would be stable for length of the mortgage. So, under his plan the renters would be paying the “company store.” He claimed that the people could stay in their homes. True, till Company got a buyer that would create a profitable transaction for the company store. Mr. Romney cudda dun it – but this president spent money so the banks could adjust mortgages. The fact that banks are slow to do so is because they are waiting to see if their guy gets in and then the company store takes over!

Afte r reading the accounts of the raid on Ben Laden’s compound, this president had to have batesem (Yiddish term) as large as bowling balls. Mr. Romney does not have the courage of his own convictions. Look how many time he changed positions. He once claimed that he was better for the Gay Community than Ted Kennedy. Romney may have said that after Ted Kennedy died – but I don’t think so. The Gay Community doesn’t think so. He’s got no batesem. But he said he cudda dun it – get Ben Laden. Remember the image of President Bush in his flight suit landing on the carrier. He had batesem, we could all see them, but he didn’t get Ben Laden.

You need courage, confidence and have a strong set of character attributes to do what this president did in getting Ben Laden. Mr. Romney wuddinta, cuddinta dun it.

He reminds me of the kids on the playground when another kids hits a homer or scores a basket. The jealous kids all say they could have done that  - even better! The jealous kids haven’t the skills to do it bette r – they are not even in the game. So, all they can do is sit on the sidelines – make snide remarks, be critical, down play the accomplishment because they are not capable of being in the game. They are the ones that have their hands raised before the game yelling “Pick me!”  They are don’t get into the game and are not in the game. Neither is Mr. Romney in the game. He should stay on the sidelines.

So, now you know where I stand. I was hoping for a better candidate than Mr. Romney with better ideas  than I cudda and wudda dun dat! It is disappointing that he is considered the best and brightest that the party not in power could offer up.  I was hoping for a real choice. That didn’t happen this time. Not that I am enamored with this president but Mr. Romney can’t stand in his shadow. For whatever you think of this president he is consistent, he is courageous and he has the courage of his convictions. I can’t find any example where any of these adjectives would apply to Mr. Romney.

That is my take – you decide!