You may have already heard the news but 2008 is going to be slightly longer than you might have expected, one second longer to be exact. To account for the gradually slowing rotation of the Earth, scientists occasionally tack on an additional "leap second" to bring atomic clocks and other time pieces in line with the slow-down. While largely unnoticed by we fallible humans, there is always the chance that the leap second would prove the adage, "To err is human, to really screw things up you need a computer."
It looks like we might be seeing evidence of this. Microsoft's Zune players are crashing as we get closer to midnight on New Year's Eve and you just have to wonder if they are falling prey to the leap second in the same way that Y2K was supposed to wreak havoc among computers in general. While Silicon Alley confirms that Apple systems are good to go for the leap second, they also point out that Microsoft's position is, well, largely unintelligible. Go figure.
Of course, it's also more proof that the writers on "Chuck" truly have their fingers on the pulse of geek chic.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The Senate now recognizes the Ego from Illinois
I know nothing about Roland Burris, who has been appointed by The Hair from Illinois to succeed Barack Obama as senator. However, I don't have a good feeling about this man's view of himself and his place in the world following this posting by Patrick O'Connor at Politico's The Crypt.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Curse of the M
My recent posting on the Detroit Lions' historically bad year led to two comments from the M-i-L (mother-in-law):
December 29, 2008 3:53 PM: My advice to the Lions, going forward, is to avoid hiring any GM or coach whose last name begins with the letter M. Skeptical? Let's take a nostalgic look back at Millen, Morninweg, Mariucci, Marinelli, etc. See what I mean? So no more M is for Misery, please.
December 30, 2008 5:33 PM: Can you believe it? The new Lions' GM is . . . MARTIN MAYHEW!! And the curse of the M continues. Noooo!!!
Maybe Mr. Mayhew will be smart and consider hiring Mike Shanahan now that he's been fired by the Broncos. I wonder...would Shanahan's first name be enough to trigger The Curse of the M?
December 29, 2008 3:53 PM: My advice to the Lions, going forward, is to avoid hiring any GM or coach whose last name begins with the letter M. Skeptical? Let's take a nostalgic look back at Millen, Morninweg, Mariucci, Marinelli, etc. See what I mean? So no more M is for Misery, please.
December 30, 2008 5:33 PM: Can you believe it? The new Lions' GM is . . . MARTIN MAYHEW!! And the curse of the M continues. Noooo!!!
Maybe Mr. Mayhew will be smart and consider hiring Mike Shanahan now that he's been fired by the Broncos. I wonder...would Shanahan's first name be enough to trigger The Curse of the M?
One President at a time
In today's The Nation, Robert Dreyfuss takes Barack Obama to task for not stepping up and doing more to address the renewed violence between Hamas and Israel. I'm going to pass on commenting on his assessment of the actual situation in the Middle East (the virulent comments left by other readers at the end of the article flog the topic to death) but I am not entirely sure why Obama is seen as shirking his responsibilities here. After all, he technically has absolutely no authority.
Unfortunately, George "Vanishing Act" Bush isn't doing much himself so there's a power vacuum unless something is going on through the State Department that we don't know about yet. However, unless someone wants to change the rules and move up the Inauguration date, Obama a) can't actually do anything until January 20th and b) runs the risk of offering mixed messages if he says something that is contradictory to the current State Department efforts.
Unfortunately, George "Vanishing Act" Bush isn't doing much himself so there's a power vacuum unless something is going on through the State Department that we don't know about yet. However, unless someone wants to change the rules and move up the Inauguration date, Obama a) can't actually do anything until January 20th and b) runs the risk of offering mixed messages if he says something that is contradictory to the current State Department efforts.
Something for next year's Christmas stocking
Why didn't anyone tell me about this site prior to making out my Christmas list?
Monday, December 29, 2008
And from the wilds of Alaska, another shall rise
Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol has given birth to a healthy baby boy. Continuing the Palin naming tradition (Track, Trig, Bristol, Ski-Doo, etc.), he's named Tripp. Personally, I think "Tripp" pales in comparison to some of the suggestions from members of the public but what do I know?
Are you literate?
The 2008 America's Most Literate Cities rankings have been released. Seattle and Minneapolis tie for first with St. Paul ranked fourth (having lived in the Twin Cities for 5 years, I have no trouble believing those rankings) while Rhode Island's cities aren't anywhere to be found. Actually, we don't qualify anyway -- the survey is limited to cities with populations in excess of 250,000 while Providence tops out at only 172,000. Hell, the entire state barely crosses the 1 million mark.
The study, by Central Connecticut State University President Dr. John W. Miller, ranks the top 50 cities in the nation based on:
Nevertheless, I can see where we might fall down here in Little Rhody. Newspaper circulation sucks because our local paper has sadly become smaller and less capable, now little more than a collection of articles from other papers and wire services and not even complete articles at that (NY Times articles picked up by the Providence Journal are routinely chopped off to save column inches and I'm pretty sure that words are removed from the middle of some sentences). We canceled our ProJo subscription because we could get better, more complete, and more timely news from other news sources on the Internet or through our subscription to the Sunday New York Times.
We also don't have any major publishing houses here in Rhode Island though there are some outstanding small press publishers like Burning Deck Press in Providence while along the shore, Newport and Middletown are understandably home to a number of major international sailing and boating publications. Bookstores are also tough. Barnes & Noble and Borders have made their presence known to the detriment of some longtime local booksellers (RIP College Hill Bookstore) though thankfully some, like the outstanding and wonderful Island Books in Middletown have survived the big box bookstore onslaught and hopefully will continue to do so for a long time to come.
On the educational side of things, we're in pretty good shape. We're slightly below the national average for high school graduates (82.7% vs 84%) but make up the difference with a 2.4% bump in Bachelor's degrees or higher (29.4% vs 27%). Of course, Minnesota kicks our butt all over the place in these areas but at least we've still got bragging rights over Mississippi.
So, all things considered, we might have a shot if the qualifications were ever altered to allow us to compete. In the meantime, we're going to do all we can here at my house to get in shape for that competition. Bananagrams anyone?
The study, by Central Connecticut State University President Dr. John W. Miller, ranks the top 50 cities in the nation based on:
- newspaper circulation
- number of bookstores
- library resources
- periodical publishing resources
- educational attainment, and
- Internet resources
Nevertheless, I can see where we might fall down here in Little Rhody. Newspaper circulation sucks because our local paper has sadly become smaller and less capable, now little more than a collection of articles from other papers and wire services and not even complete articles at that (NY Times articles picked up by the Providence Journal are routinely chopped off to save column inches and I'm pretty sure that words are removed from the middle of some sentences). We canceled our ProJo subscription because we could get better, more complete, and more timely news from other news sources on the Internet or through our subscription to the Sunday New York Times.
We also don't have any major publishing houses here in Rhode Island though there are some outstanding small press publishers like Burning Deck Press in Providence while along the shore, Newport and Middletown are understandably home to a number of major international sailing and boating publications. Bookstores are also tough. Barnes & Noble and Borders have made their presence known to the detriment of some longtime local booksellers (RIP College Hill Bookstore) though thankfully some, like the outstanding and wonderful Island Books in Middletown have survived the big box bookstore onslaught and hopefully will continue to do so for a long time to come.
On the educational side of things, we're in pretty good shape. We're slightly below the national average for high school graduates (82.7% vs 84%) but make up the difference with a 2.4% bump in Bachelor's degrees or higher (29.4% vs 27%). Of course, Minnesota kicks our butt all over the place in these areas but at least we've still got bragging rights over Mississippi.
So, all things considered, we might have a shot if the qualifications were ever altered to allow us to compete. In the meantime, we're going to do all we can here at my house to get in shape for that competition. Bananagrams anyone?
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Of course, it could be worse.
And the new winners of the worst team in NFL History...
your 0-16 Detroit Lions!
Ugh. The people of Detroit deserve better. If former general manager Matt Millen hadn't been fired earlier this year, he'd probably turn up inside the crushed hulk of a Hummer somewhere.
your 0-16 Detroit Lions!
Ugh. The people of Detroit deserve better. If former general manager Matt Millen hadn't been fired earlier this year, he'd probably turn up inside the crushed hulk of a Hummer somewhere.
Missed it by that much
Kudos to the New England Patriots who, despite losing all-universe quarterback Tom Brady 7 minutes into the season and a number of other key starters over the course of the season, still finished with a sterling record of 11-5. Matt Cassel stepped up along with the rest of the team, Bill Belichick and his coaching staff stepped it up a notch, and the Pats finished the season as perhaps one of the top 4 teams in the league.
Sadly, 11-5 wasn't quite good enough to make the playoffs in the face of the resurrected Dolphins (1-15 to 12-4 in one season? Are you kidding me?) and a pathetic New York Jets team that rolled over and died in the final weeks of the season, led into ignominy by Brett Favre (2 TDs, 9 INTs in the final 5 games). It's just too bad that the playoff setup allows an awful team like the 8-8 San Diego Chargers (assuming they hold their 38-13 lead over Denver) to get into the post-season simply because they happen to play in a miserable division.
Regardless, well done Patriots! You deserved (and earned) better. See you next season!
Sadly, 11-5 wasn't quite good enough to make the playoffs in the face of the resurrected Dolphins (1-15 to 12-4 in one season? Are you kidding me?) and a pathetic New York Jets team that rolled over and died in the final weeks of the season, led into ignominy by Brett Favre (2 TDs, 9 INTs in the final 5 games). It's just too bad that the playoff setup allows an awful team like the 8-8 San Diego Chargers (assuming they hold their 38-13 lead over Denver) to get into the post-season simply because they happen to play in a miserable division.
Regardless, well done Patriots! You deserved (and earned) better. See you next season!
The iPhone now at low low prices (well, not really)
As an Apple fanatic, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the announcement that Wal-Mart begins selling the iPhone today. First, there's no real discount (only $2 lower than regular MSRP) even given Wal-Mart's mammoth buying and selling power and, secondly, it just seems like an odd venue for an Apple product.
In general, Apple products just don't seem to fit the business profile or buyer demographic for Wal-Mart. However, I realize that I'm coming at this from the perspective of a life-long Apple Computer user and, as was made clear a year ago, Apple is no longer simply a "computer" company. The name change made complete sense, of course, given Apple's expansion beyond the box historically labelled the "personal computer" and opened up a host of new opportunities and sales venues.
Apple is out to become the #1 maker of smart phones and Wal-Mart can certainly move more product than anyone else. Plus, from Apple's point of view, Wal-Mart and the iPhone might be something of a gateway drug -- get someone who wouldn't normally consider an Apple product to buy an iPhone and they'll be more inclined to stick with Apple for other products in the future. Of course, Wal-Mart also sells iPods so it's not such a huge stretch I guess. Besides, if you can get your product into the world's largest retailer without giving up your shirt (or soul) or without concerning yourself about how Wal-Mart keeps those prices so low, what company wouldn't want to do that? As an Apple purist, though, I just wonder about the cost.
In general, Apple products just don't seem to fit the business profile or buyer demographic for Wal-Mart. However, I realize that I'm coming at this from the perspective of a life-long Apple Computer user and, as was made clear a year ago, Apple is no longer simply a "computer" company. The name change made complete sense, of course, given Apple's expansion beyond the box historically labelled the "personal computer" and opened up a host of new opportunities and sales venues.
Apple is out to become the #1 maker of smart phones and Wal-Mart can certainly move more product than anyone else. Plus, from Apple's point of view, Wal-Mart and the iPhone might be something of a gateway drug -- get someone who wouldn't normally consider an Apple product to buy an iPhone and they'll be more inclined to stick with Apple for other products in the future. Of course, Wal-Mart also sells iPods so it's not such a huge stretch I guess. Besides, if you can get your product into the world's largest retailer without giving up your shirt (or soul) or without concerning yourself about how Wal-Mart keeps those prices so low, what company wouldn't want to do that? As an Apple purist, though, I just wonder about the cost.
Send one to get one
We're sporadic holiday card mailers. In fact, we rarely send cards, preferring instead to send the occasional letter complete with a photo or two every other year or so and usually written from the perspective of one of our cats (I think my father is right...we are a touch obsessed with the feline contingent here at home). We, of course, also enjoy receiving holiday cards as most people do and, upon receipt, they get taped to the door in our living room to add to the festive spirit while showing off how many people have us on their holiday list.
The trick is that you need to send cards to get cards. If you fail to send one for a year or two, you gradually begin to fall off the mailing lists of those who wrote to you in the past. And so this year, even as we wrote and prepared this year's card (an Apple card created through iPhoto...just a little unpaid product plug there), the incoming mail seemed a bit less robust than in prior years and we had to flesh out the wall of cards with the cards I received from co-workers so our "wall o' cards" wouldn't look so empty. It was clear that we'd crossed over into the "hmmm...we haven't heard from them in a while so I guess we don't need to write this year" zone, which applies not only to holiday cards but just friendly communications in general. It's remarkably easy to fall out of touch and just be in your own world. (On the other hand, maybe fewer people are sending Christmas cards in general.)
Anyhow, this round of holiday cards is step 1 in our new plan to have more of a social life and to not fall out of touch with people. We've already heard from a few people who clearly responded to our card (thanks, guys! it was great hearing from you) and we are now actively trying to find some other addresses for people who aren't where we thought they were. Hopefully we haven't lost track of them forever. You'd think that with the power of the Internet at your fingertips -- Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, online white pages, etc. -- that you can usually find someone but for the moment, a few people seem to have vanished. Still, I haven't given up hope. Besides, taking the time and putting in the effort to find these friends again is a worthwhile penance for my having fallen out of touch with them in the first place.
The trick is that you need to send cards to get cards. If you fail to send one for a year or two, you gradually begin to fall off the mailing lists of those who wrote to you in the past. And so this year, even as we wrote and prepared this year's card (an Apple card created through iPhoto...just a little unpaid product plug there), the incoming mail seemed a bit less robust than in prior years and we had to flesh out the wall of cards with the cards I received from co-workers so our "wall o' cards" wouldn't look so empty. It was clear that we'd crossed over into the "hmmm...we haven't heard from them in a while so I guess we don't need to write this year" zone, which applies not only to holiday cards but just friendly communications in general. It's remarkably easy to fall out of touch and just be in your own world. (On the other hand, maybe fewer people are sending Christmas cards in general.)
Anyhow, this round of holiday cards is step 1 in our new plan to have more of a social life and to not fall out of touch with people. We've already heard from a few people who clearly responded to our card (thanks, guys! it was great hearing from you) and we are now actively trying to find some other addresses for people who aren't where we thought they were. Hopefully we haven't lost track of them forever. You'd think that with the power of the Internet at your fingertips -- Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, online white pages, etc. -- that you can usually find someone but for the moment, a few people seem to have vanished. Still, I haven't given up hope. Besides, taking the time and putting in the effort to find these friends again is a worthwhile penance for my having fallen out of touch with them in the first place.
Fun in the snow
You can put your speakers on mute if you wish but it's definitely worth watching this dog have way too much fun.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
TV Review: A masterpiece of pop references
God bless the DVR.
We just finished watching last week's episode of one of our favorite shows, Chuck (in the spirit of the holidays, it was an episode titled "Chuck vs. the Santa Claus"). Cementing its place as the finest current example of geek humor around, this episode was even more chock full of laugh out loud pop nuggets than usual, if you're in on the jokes. Among the gems...
We just finished watching last week's episode of one of our favorite shows, Chuck (in the spirit of the holidays, it was an episode titled "Chuck vs. the Santa Claus"). Cementing its place as the finest current example of geek humor around, this episode was even more chock full of laugh out loud pop nuggets than usual, if you're in on the jokes. Among the gems...
- an homage to an incidental yet memorable character in the brilliant Bill Murray film, "Groundhog Day", as the man who takes the Buy More staff hostage is named Nathan Edward Rhyerson ("My friends call me Ned")
- a multitude of "Die Hard" gags, right down to the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth, an appearance by Reginald VelJohnson reprising his role as Sgt. Al Powell (apparently a cousin to Big Mike, the Buy More's manager), and the eating of Twinkies
- a tip of the cap to Police Academy's Lt. Mauser
- the dangerous version of "Jingle Bells" from the original Lethal Weapon
Was that a loafer?
In case you were wondering if the Internet was good for anything besides blogs, porn, and videos of cute kittens, the answer is finally here.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Giants Delight
As a long-time fan of the New York Giants, I just find myself tickled at the latest goings-on down in Irving, Texas, where the disfunctional Dallas Cowboys appear to be just one jar of barbeque sauce away from eating their own young. You have to feel for the fans of this once-proud franchise now suffering through yet another year of mediocrity. But don't take my word for it. Read Randy Galloway's commentary in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to get it from someone who has been watching the last decade plus of pathetic play.
Of course, it could be worse for Dallas fans. They could be living in Detroit.
Of course, it could be worse for Dallas fans. They could be living in Detroit.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Home in time for Christmas
I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have some snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
– "I'll be home for Christmas" as sung by Bing Crosby in 1943
You can plan on me
Please have some snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
– "I'll be home for Christmas" as sung by Bing Crosby in 1943
Another year is coming to a close and with it comes another Christmas for the men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces to be away from home, hearth, and families during the holidays.
I found myself thinking about this over the weekend as a result of two things. First, my wife and I took part in an annual ritual (it usually takes place during a snowstorm): firing up the DVD player and watching "Band of Brothers", the stunning HBO mini-series that follows Easy Company of the 101st Airborne from the D-Day landings in Normandy to the invasion of Germany. Far and away the finest mini-series I've ever seen and quite possibly one of my favorite pieces of film-making ever, it never gets old thanks to a talented cast led by Damian Lewis (now of NBC's "Life") and Ron Livingston ("Office Space") and outstanding production values but most of all because it's a tremendously compelling story based on the lives and actions of young men from across the United States. You come to care about them as they live and die and sacrifice themselves for each other.
Watching "Band of Brothers" always reminds me of my grandfather, who joined the Navy at the age of 17 in 1943, around the same time and age as many of the men in Easy Company. He served as quartermaster of the light cruiser U.S.S. Montpelier throughout the remainder of the Pacific War. The tale of the Mighty Monty and its combat service are told in James Fahey's remarkable "Pacific War Diary", his first-hand account of life aboard a cruiser in wartime. While the book was required reading of a sort in my family, I also grew up listening to my grandfather's stories of life on a warship and his travels throughout the Pacific, including participating in the initial occupation of Japan. He didn't tell them often but when he did, it was fascinating and his stories have lingered. I even have a framed picture of the Montpelier that used to be his hanging on the wall by my desk at home to remind me of him.
At Christmas time though, I usually find myself thinking not of his time on the Montpelier but instead of a letter that he saved from his time at sea. I discovered it among his files while conducting researching for his biography, a project my grandmother asked me to take on when his health and memory began to fail as the early stages of Alzheimer's cruelly began to take bits and pieces of him away from us.
Written by my great-grandfather on December 27, 1943, the letter brings my grandfather up to date on life at home during the holidays and a Christmas spent without him. I wonder what that 18-year old young man thought and felt, gone for the first time and half a world away, as he read about the turkey dinner and how his father received "a nice new bathrobe, 1 pair stockings, one tie, 2 cartons of cigarettes and a pair of slippers which I need very much". With Christmas 1943 gone past, did the crew dream of ending the war quickly and being home in time for the next Christmas? I regret never asking him.
In the movies and in history books, ending the conflict and returning home for Christmas always seems to be the wish of the men and women who serve. Sadly, it never seems to work out that way, regardless of the conflict. We are left hoping for loved ones' safe return, wondering when we'll see them again, and staring at an empty stocking on the hearth or an empty seat at the holiday dinner.
And so, with the holiday season upon us, I hope you will take a few minutes to give thanks for the loved ones who will be with you for the holidays. Reach out to a family with loved ones serving far from home and let them know that their sacrifice is appreciated. Thank a veteran for all he or she did on behalf of you and your country. And be sure to make your loved ones, even those no longer with you, part of Christmas, if only in your dreams.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Now that's the Christmas spirit!
A heartwarming holiday tale of tolerance and charity towards others this is not...
From the Associated Press:
The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to nullify the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that outlawed gay unions.
The Yes on 8 campaign filed a brief arguing that because the new law holds that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized or valid in California, the state can no longer recognize the existing same-sex unions. The document reveals for the first time that opponents of same-sex marriage will fight in court to undo those unions that already exist.
Now that's the way to go into the holiday season -- not only manage to get discrimination written into the California Constitution but then also try to strip away the happiness felt by 18,000 couples who married absolutely legally. Ugh.
From the Associated Press:
The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to nullify the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that outlawed gay unions.
The Yes on 8 campaign filed a brief arguing that because the new law holds that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized or valid in California, the state can no longer recognize the existing same-sex unions. The document reveals for the first time that opponents of same-sex marriage will fight in court to undo those unions that already exist.
Now that's the way to go into the holiday season -- not only manage to get discrimination written into the California Constitution but then also try to strip away the happiness felt by 18,000 couples who married absolutely legally. Ugh.
Kick Line
When I was 13 or 14, I went on a bus trip to New York with my scoutmaster and saw the Rockette's Christmas spectacular and living nativity and there's no doubt that those synchronized leg kicks are impressive. What's more impressive is the absolutely grueling physical toll placed on the dancers (1,500 kicks in a 5-show day). Seeing the billboard and all of the other Rockettes advertising reminded me of a 2005 NY Times feature that looked at a day in the life of a Rockette during the holiday season..
Reestablishing Communications
It's common wisdom in the radio industry that the absolute worst thing is dead air...that silence that leave listeners wondering if your radio station is actually still broadcasting or if a giant monkey climbed up and pulled down your broadcast antennas. The same applies in a fashion to blogs. I just finished reading an excellent set of tips on how to be a better blog written by Farhad Manjoo and published on Slate.com and the very first tip was to set a schedule and blog often. Ooops...I fell down on that one this week as I was swamped at work to start the week and then attended a 3-day seminar in Manhattan for the latter portion of the week. Now however, I'm home and figure I'll rattle off some quick thoughts to get back on track.
On television, the Christmas tree and skating rink in Rockefeller Center always look larger than they seem in real life. Or maybe they really are very big but there are so many people there in the evenings looking at the decorations that it feels very cramped.
In either case, the tree and the skating rink really are fun to see during the Christmas season.
In fact, the city itself just seems even more fun to visit at the holiday season. I was staying on a hotel at the northern end of the Times Square area (W52nd and Broadway) and from my window, I could see down into the heart of Times Square, which seems even more lit up than usual, as well as the vertical lit sign for Radio City Music Hall, not to mention a giant Rockettes Christmas spectacular billboard, all of which added to the festive look of the place.
Walking throughout Times Square, over to Radio City (and the cattle pens of people waiting to get into see one of the aforementioned showings of Rockettes dressed as toy soldiers), to 30 Rock and back actually made for a pleasant evening. If you're not trying to get anywhere fast or hauling luggage, you have time to people-watch, window shop, and just soak in the atmosphere.
I became a fan of Cosà Deli while in New York. Steered there on the recommendation of the seminar leader, I had two outstanding lunches during my stay. The big benefit? Fresh-baked, really fantastic flatbread. You watch the bakers pulled the flatbread out of the open ovens, slice the hot bread up, hand it off to the folks making the sandwiches, at get your lunch on fresh-baked bread moments later. Personally, I'm a fan of the Chicken MBT (grilled chicken with fresh tomato, basil, and buffalo mozzerella, and house vinagrette). They also had a large salad selection and flatbread pizzas. I'd never heard of this chain before but they're apparently expanding so if you're in the neighborhood of one in the future, I highly recommend it.
I took the Acela to and from Manhattan this week and, given an option, it's my preferred means of getting from Rhode Island to NYC and back. Acela, Amtrak's high-speed rail service offers most things you would hope an airline flight would provide -- comfortable seats, plenty of legroom, quiet, smooth, easy boarding and exiting, electrical outlets so you can plug in a laptop if need be, and the opportunity to avoid the occasionally miserable traffic you encounter along stretches of I-95 from the New York/Connecticut line through New Haven.
Sadly, what the Acela doesn't do is offer a great savings in time. Despite the fact that the Acela is rated to reach speeds of 200+ mph, the trip from Penn Station to Providence is roughly 3 hours on the Acela and 3:45 or so on the regular commuter rail, with much of the difference coming from the frequent stops made by the older trains. Why? Because the Acela is running on the same tracks as those slower commuter train through the heavily congested Northeast Corridor. Coming home this evening took an additional 30 minutes for exactly this reason...we essentially caught up with a local train and got stuck behind it.
What I'd love to see is the equivalent of the Acela from Boston or NYC to Chicago and then to the West Coast. One of my favorite movies is North By Northwest and I was always fascinated by Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint traveling across sections of the country by train. Someday, when money and time are no object, I'd love to do that, seeing the country by train, perhaps east to west across Canada. Sure it would take longer but unlike a jet, you'd actually feel like you've traveled from one place to another. With a jet, you only see "flyover country".
The snow was socked in by the time I returned home tonight. Leaving Manhattan, it was just a heavy blattering rain but by the time we entered Connecticut, there was plenty of snow on the ground resulting in a very long drive home from the train station. However, because the weather might not be good this weekend, it will be the perfect time to catch up on writing our holiday cards and more while the cats do their best to interrupt.
Ah...it's good to be home.
On television, the Christmas tree and skating rink in Rockefeller Center always look larger than they seem in real life. Or maybe they really are very big but there are so many people there in the evenings looking at the decorations that it feels very cramped.
In either case, the tree and the skating rink really are fun to see during the Christmas season.
In fact, the city itself just seems even more fun to visit at the holiday season. I was staying on a hotel at the northern end of the Times Square area (W52nd and Broadway) and from my window, I could see down into the heart of Times Square, which seems even more lit up than usual, as well as the vertical lit sign for Radio City Music Hall, not to mention a giant Rockettes Christmas spectacular billboard, all of which added to the festive look of the place.
Walking throughout Times Square, over to Radio City (and the cattle pens of people waiting to get into see one of the aforementioned showings of Rockettes dressed as toy soldiers), to 30 Rock and back actually made for a pleasant evening. If you're not trying to get anywhere fast or hauling luggage, you have time to people-watch, window shop, and just soak in the atmosphere.
I became a fan of Cosà Deli while in New York. Steered there on the recommendation of the seminar leader, I had two outstanding lunches during my stay. The big benefit? Fresh-baked, really fantastic flatbread. You watch the bakers pulled the flatbread out of the open ovens, slice the hot bread up, hand it off to the folks making the sandwiches, at get your lunch on fresh-baked bread moments later. Personally, I'm a fan of the Chicken MBT (grilled chicken with fresh tomato, basil, and buffalo mozzerella, and house vinagrette). They also had a large salad selection and flatbread pizzas. I'd never heard of this chain before but they're apparently expanding so if you're in the neighborhood of one in the future, I highly recommend it.
I took the Acela to and from Manhattan this week and, given an option, it's my preferred means of getting from Rhode Island to NYC and back. Acela, Amtrak's high-speed rail service offers most things you would hope an airline flight would provide -- comfortable seats, plenty of legroom, quiet, smooth, easy boarding and exiting, electrical outlets so you can plug in a laptop if need be, and the opportunity to avoid the occasionally miserable traffic you encounter along stretches of I-95 from the New York/Connecticut line through New Haven.
Sadly, what the Acela doesn't do is offer a great savings in time. Despite the fact that the Acela is rated to reach speeds of 200+ mph, the trip from Penn Station to Providence is roughly 3 hours on the Acela and 3:45 or so on the regular commuter rail, with much of the difference coming from the frequent stops made by the older trains. Why? Because the Acela is running on the same tracks as those slower commuter train through the heavily congested Northeast Corridor. Coming home this evening took an additional 30 minutes for exactly this reason...we essentially caught up with a local train and got stuck behind it.
What I'd love to see is the equivalent of the Acela from Boston or NYC to Chicago and then to the West Coast. One of my favorite movies is North By Northwest and I was always fascinated by Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint traveling across sections of the country by train. Someday, when money and time are no object, I'd love to do that, seeing the country by train, perhaps east to west across Canada. Sure it would take longer but unlike a jet, you'd actually feel like you've traveled from one place to another. With a jet, you only see "flyover country".
The snow was socked in by the time I returned home tonight. Leaving Manhattan, it was just a heavy blattering rain but by the time we entered Connecticut, there was plenty of snow on the ground resulting in a very long drive home from the train station. However, because the weather might not be good this weekend, it will be the perfect time to catch up on writing our holiday cards and more while the cats do their best to interrupt.
Ah...it's good to be home.
Monday, December 15, 2008
We're Number One! Pssst...just slide the envelope of cash under the door
In the wake of the Rod Blagojevich scandal, all eyes seem to be turning to state corruption in general. Based on an article in the Sunday New York Times' Week in Review section, those of us in the Ocean State can hold our heads up proudly as Little Rhody came up big. In a survey of statehouse reporters nationwide, The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was voted the #1 most corrupt state in this great nation of ours, just edging out Louisiana. Plus, we still kick butt with the longest name of any of the 50 states! Woo hoo! Go us!
Of course, Rhode Island is only in the middle of the pack when it comes to the actual number of convictions of public officials in the last 10 years, both in total numbers as well as on a per capita basis.
But stay positive, fellow Rhode Islanders! I don't look at this as a failing on our part, merely as evidence that our public officials are better at not getting caught and convicted than less capable politicians in other states.
Of course, Rhode Island is only in the middle of the pack when it comes to the actual number of convictions of public officials in the last 10 years, both in total numbers as well as on a per capita basis.
But stay positive, fellow Rhode Islanders! I don't look at this as a failing on our part, merely as evidence that our public officials are better at not getting caught and convicted than less capable politicians in other states.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
A Good Day
It was a good day today. The sun was out, it was crisp and cool but not uncomfortably cold, and our tree trim was a success in every way. Usually, there is some sort of drama -- lights won't work, I buy a tree that's too tall (that one seems to happen a lot, leaving my wife shaking her head and laughing at me), it's a hassle getting the tree home, the tree ends up a bit crooked, etc. -- but today, not a bit. I did have to do a bit of searching for the right tree, of course. The first two places I went just didn't have anything suitable but the third was perfect. I walked in among the trees, saw one that stood out, took a look at it, and realized it was exactly what I was looking for. And as a bonus, this local farmstand and market had great prices and a fantastic little store with great fresh produce, homebaked pies, and other appetizing items.
In past years, getting the tree home involved a blanket on the roof, opening the doors, and running rope or twine through the car (and yes, on more than one occasion I forgot to open the doors and ended up tying the doors shut). Not this year. Prior to our vacation to Maine this August, I invested in removable Thule roof racks for our bikes. So I threw them on this morning, making tying down the tree a snap.
After driving home, the tree went into the stand and up in the living room. Perfectly straight the first time! That's never happened before. And every old string of lights worked just fine. What the hell's up with that?
We listened to our Frank Sinatra-Bing Crosby and the Glenn Miller Christmas CDs as we decorated the tree with ornaments old and new (including this year's additions -- it's a tradition in our house to get each other an ornament as a gift for tree trim every year). The Red Sox 2004 Champions ornament found a place of honor while the New England Patriots and New York Giants globes were diplomatically placed on opposite sides of the tree. Up went the caroling lobstahs, the fat glass reindeer, the antique ornament from Poland, a multitude of lighthouses, the handmade ornaments from my grandmother, the cheerleading moose and reindeer, and the green glass pickle. All of the treasures that had been carefully wrapped and boxed last January and put away safely until this evening.
90 minutes later, the tree was decorated, the boxes and tissue paper were packed away, the lamps were turned off, and I turned on the lights on the tree.
"We are the Borg. Happy holidays. Resistance is futile," declared the Borg Cube located about a quarter of the way up from the floor.
"I wish you a most honorable holiday. Ka-plagh!" chimed in Commander Worf from the Runabout Rio Grande from the other side of the tree.
We sat there on the couch, the only illumination coming from the tree and the icicle lights in the bay window while all three cats desperately sought our attention or simply some reassurance that the temporary chaos was over, which indeed it was. Then, a short time later, ZuZu ended the evening (and the DVD) by reminding us all that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.
And with that, the holiday season really did get kicked off in our household. Happy early holidays, everyone!
My gift ornament this year. The sailing theme is pretty big on our tree.
The gift ornament I gave my wife. Sadly, Wall-E's lights don't actually light up but he's fun to have on the tree anyway.
What might just be our most perfect Christmas tree ever.
In past years, getting the tree home involved a blanket on the roof, opening the doors, and running rope or twine through the car (and yes, on more than one occasion I forgot to open the doors and ended up tying the doors shut). Not this year. Prior to our vacation to Maine this August, I invested in removable Thule roof racks for our bikes. So I threw them on this morning, making tying down the tree a snap.
After driving home, the tree went into the stand and up in the living room. Perfectly straight the first time! That's never happened before. And every old string of lights worked just fine. What the hell's up with that?
We listened to our Frank Sinatra-Bing Crosby and the Glenn Miller Christmas CDs as we decorated the tree with ornaments old and new (including this year's additions -- it's a tradition in our house to get each other an ornament as a gift for tree trim every year). The Red Sox 2004 Champions ornament found a place of honor while the New England Patriots and New York Giants globes were diplomatically placed on opposite sides of the tree. Up went the caroling lobstahs, the fat glass reindeer, the antique ornament from Poland, a multitude of lighthouses, the handmade ornaments from my grandmother, the cheerleading moose and reindeer, and the green glass pickle. All of the treasures that had been carefully wrapped and boxed last January and put away safely until this evening.
90 minutes later, the tree was decorated, the boxes and tissue paper were packed away, the lamps were turned off, and I turned on the lights on the tree.
"We are the Borg. Happy holidays. Resistance is futile," declared the Borg Cube located about a quarter of the way up from the floor.
"I wish you a most honorable holiday. Ka-plagh!" chimed in Commander Worf from the Runabout Rio Grande from the other side of the tree.
We sat there on the couch, the only illumination coming from the tree and the icicle lights in the bay window while all three cats desperately sought our attention or simply some reassurance that the temporary chaos was over, which indeed it was. Then, a short time later, ZuZu ended the evening (and the DVD) by reminding us all that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.
And with that, the holiday season really did get kicked off in our household. Happy early holidays, everyone!
My gift ornament this year. The sailing theme is pretty big on our tree.
The gift ornament I gave my wife. Sadly, Wall-E's lights don't actually light up but he's fun to have on the tree anyway.
What might just be our most perfect Christmas tree ever.Saturday, December 13, 2008
Protecting my own backyard
This is just a quick follow-up to my earlier post about Republican senators vs. the auto unions. Salon.com posted a very interesting article today on that fact that the Republican senators who nuked the $14 billion bailout were not only looking to bust or at least significantly break the unions, they were also playing protectionist games for their own states' benefit.
Tempting frustration is the price of being a geek
When I was a kid, we had these big incandescent colored lightbulbs on the Christmas tree that always seemed a hairs-breadth away from turning it into a vertical yule log sans fireplace. If one burned out, you unscrewed it and then screwed in another. We even had fake candles that were bulbs hidden in the base with a liquid-filled glass "candle" above -- turn on the lights and watch the candle boil! Only one step beyond having actual lit candles on the tree, it's a wonder that whole neighborhoods didn't go up in smoke as the Christmas season rolled around.
Then we moved to the little bulbs -- safer, cheaper, and oh so much more frustrating. However, I figure if I can reuse them, then I minimize, at least by a little bit, how much goes into a landfill plus I save the $8-$10 that it will cost to buy a few hundred new lights. More importantly, I know that last year's string of lights works with the various ornaments we have that plug into the sockets and light up themselves. So I end up tempting fate twice...deliberately unplugging bulbs from the "never go out string" so I can plug in ornaments with flashing lights and, if I have to get new lights, never being 100% sure the bulb sockets on the new string will fit the ornaments I'm trying to plug into it in the first place. Such is the price one must pay if you're going to have a Christmas tree decorated by the U.S.S. Enterprise.
Additional compelling evidence that I'm a geek...it's the Enterprise-E hanging from last year's Christmas tree! When we get around to decorating the Christmas tree tomorrow, it will be joined by the Enterprise-D, a Borg cube, a Romulan Warbird, a Federation shuttlecraft (complete with Christmas greeting from Leonard Nimoy...yes, I know he's Jewish; you can discuss it with Hallmark), a Klingon bird-of-prey, Deep Space Nine, the U.S.S. Defiant, and, just for variety, an X-Wing and TIE Fighter from Star Wars.
Then we moved to the little bulbs -- safer, cheaper, and oh so much more frustrating. However, I figure if I can reuse them, then I minimize, at least by a little bit, how much goes into a landfill plus I save the $8-$10 that it will cost to buy a few hundred new lights. More importantly, I know that last year's string of lights works with the various ornaments we have that plug into the sockets and light up themselves. So I end up tempting fate twice...deliberately unplugging bulbs from the "never go out string" so I can plug in ornaments with flashing lights and, if I have to get new lights, never being 100% sure the bulb sockets on the new string will fit the ornaments I'm trying to plug into it in the first place. Such is the price one must pay if you're going to have a Christmas tree decorated by the U.S.S. Enterprise.
Additional compelling evidence that I'm a geek...it's the Enterprise-E hanging from last year's Christmas tree! When we get around to decorating the Christmas tree tomorrow, it will be joined by the Enterprise-D, a Borg cube, a Romulan Warbird, a Federation shuttlecraft (complete with Christmas greeting from Leonard Nimoy...yes, I know he's Jewish; you can discuss it with Hallmark), a Klingon bird-of-prey, Deep Space Nine, the U.S.S. Defiant, and, just for variety, an X-Wing and TIE Fighter from Star Wars.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Payback's a bitch
I found Daniel Howes' column on Friday to be a fascinating look at the vindictive dynamic between Republican lawmakers and the unions that drove the collapse of the auto bailout, at least as seen from the perspective of Detroit.
What do you mean you're not going to pay me $120 million?
Poor Manny Ramirez...apparently he's so insulted by his lack of suitors and the sole 2-year, $45 million contract that he's been offered that he's considering retiring.
I just don't understand why no one is willing to give in to his agent's demands for a 6- to 8-year contract at $20 million or more per year. After all, who wouldn't want a 36-year old slugger who is only adequate in left field, is so spoiled he pushed a 61-year old man to the ground when his last-minute and excessive ticket request couldn't be honored, who clearly let himself be struck out by Mariano Riviera on 3 pitches in a fit of pique when the Red Sox called his bluff about a leg injury (he couldn't remember which leg was supposed to be hurt, by the way), and who blatantly quit on his teammates in a transparent attempt to get traded so he could try for another monster payday?
I just don't understand why no one is willing to give in to his agent's demands for a 6- to 8-year contract at $20 million or more per year. After all, who wouldn't want a 36-year old slugger who is only adequate in left field, is so spoiled he pushed a 61-year old man to the ground when his last-minute and excessive ticket request couldn't be honored, who clearly let himself be struck out by Mariano Riviera on 3 pitches in a fit of pique when the Red Sox called his bluff about a leg injury (he couldn't remember which leg was supposed to be hurt, by the way), and who blatantly quit on his teammates in a transparent attempt to get traded so he could try for another monster payday?
Girding for battle
This weekend is tree trim around our house. I'll go out, find a suitable evergreen, bring it home, and we'll have a relaxing afternoon and evening rediscovering the ornaments we put away so carefully 48 weeks before. Of course, before that can happen, I get to string the tree with lights. I make an effort to try and reuse the lights from the year before but as Tom Bodett so ably explains, sometimes that's not always the best option.
More on the trimming of the tree later...
More on the trimming of the tree later...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Nice clean Sox
I'm a Red Sox fan through and through, always have been, always will be. But really, are they so strapped for cash to hire free agent Mark Teixeira that they have to stoop to rolling out a "new" logo and away jerseys in an effort to sell more merchandise? I saw the news about the new "Hanging Sox" logo and spent a little while looking at it trying to figure out what was different. Hadn't they always had a secondary logo of the two red socks with the white heel and toe?
Then I read the following:
"Certainly the 'Hanging Sox' has an iconic value that transcends anything else in our assortment of brands and logos," Red Sox chief operating officer Mike Dee said of the new logo, originally unveiled on uniforms in 1931. "To have it be defined and standing alone is certainly the right thing to do."
So let me get this straight...
You are rolling out a logo that was actually unveiled during the Great Depression (ok, can anyone else see the irony here?) and calling it new because it's not on the image of a baseball anymore?
And you want us to buy new team merchandise to display it?
I thought this type of logo change for fundraising purposes was left to teams that weren't rolling in cash (aka the Tampa Bay "Not Devil" Rays) or teams in serious need of a personality change (the Patriots switching from Pat Patriot to the Flying Elvis logo). I didn't think I'd see the Red Sox resort to this and expect anyone to seriously consider it news.
Then I read the following:
"Certainly the 'Hanging Sox' has an iconic value that transcends anything else in our assortment of brands and logos," Red Sox chief operating officer Mike Dee said of the new logo, originally unveiled on uniforms in 1931. "To have it be defined and standing alone is certainly the right thing to do."
So let me get this straight...
You are rolling out a logo that was actually unveiled during the Great Depression (ok, can anyone else see the irony here?) and calling it new because it's not on the image of a baseball anymore?
And you want us to buy new team merchandise to display it?
I thought this type of logo change for fundraising purposes was left to teams that weren't rolling in cash (aka the Tampa Bay "Not Devil" Rays) or teams in serious need of a personality change (the Patriots switching from Pat Patriot to the Flying Elvis logo). I didn't think I'd see the Red Sox resort to this and expect anyone to seriously consider it news.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
If you can't trust your plumber...
A conversation overheard tonight in the McCain household:
"Sweetie pie?"
"Yes, Cindy dear?"
"There seems to be something stuck in your back, pookie muffin."
"Really, sugar lips?"
"Most definitely, you hunk of sexy man."
"What is it, light of my life?"
"Ummm...it looks like a toilet plunger, lover boy."
"Hmmmm...it looks like my buddy Joe left something behind. I was wondering what that sharp stabbing pain was!"
"Sweetie pie?"
"Yes, Cindy dear?"
"There seems to be something stuck in your back, pookie muffin."
"Really, sugar lips?"
"Most definitely, you hunk of sexy man."
"What is it, light of my life?"
"Ummm...it looks like a toilet plunger, lover boy."
"Hmmmm...it looks like my buddy Joe left something behind. I was wondering what that sharp stabbing pain was!"
Monday, December 8, 2008
Yeah, but if one bulb burns out, do they all go out?
Every year, we set up our Christmas tree, maybe some icicle lights in the windows, perhaps even Christmas lights in our kitchen and a little fake tree in our home office. Even so, I always feel a bit inadequate next to our neighbors who have their porch decked in lights, the white lighted reindeer family in the yard, etc. However, I think we should all bow down before the obsessives who created this Christmas display synchronized to the holiday strains of Jethro Tull, among others:
According to the Steel City Christmas website:
Thanks to Jay McDonough at the excellent Swimming Freestyle blog for pointing this out.
According to the Steel City Christmas website:
- There are more than 200,000 lights connected to more than 5 1/2 miles of extension cord.
- It took over 3 months to put up the lights.
- There are 27 inflatables around the yard along with 112 computer controlled channels.
- This year's show runs for about an hour featuring 13 songs.
- Each song takes between 10 to 50 hours to sequence.
Thanks to Jay McDonough at the excellent Swimming Freestyle blog for pointing this out.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Snow
We had our first snowfall here in Bristol this morning with big heavy flakes actually managing to accumulate a bit before slowly turning to slush as the day warmed up a bit. Maybe it's just the kid in me but I do get a certain amount of joy and excitement when I see that first snowfall. Of course, during my last winter living in Minnesota many years ago, we had 30 inches of snow fall on October 30-31. It takes a bit of the romanticism out of it when you have to dig your car out of that.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Putting the No-Spin Zone on "Ignore"
Henrik Hertzberg of the New Yorker tells a fascinating story on his blog about how Bill O'Reilly and his producers tried to get Hertzberg and the New Yorker editorial staff embroiled in a non-controversy after ambushing Hertzberg outside his apartment. What's wonderful is how Hertzberg and David Remnick, the New Yorker's editor, simply chose not to engage following that ambush.
What's even better is the growing desperation on the part of O'Reilly's producer in his e-mails to Remnick, almost pleading for Remnick and Hertzberg to get riled up, followed by the smooth put-down by Remnick. You could just about see the smile that must have been on his face when he press the Send button. O'Reilly must have been chewing on the scenery at being ignored like that. That, ladies and gentlemen, is why I'm such a fan of the New Yorker.
What's even better is the growing desperation on the part of O'Reilly's producer in his e-mails to Remnick, almost pleading for Remnick and Hertzberg to get riled up, followed by the smooth put-down by Remnick. You could just about see the smile that must have been on his face when he press the Send button. O'Reilly must have been chewing on the scenery at being ignored like that. That, ladies and gentlemen, is why I'm such a fan of the New Yorker.
Barrel of fun
I never cease to be amazed at how random thoughts trigger a progression of ideas that leads to someplace completely unexpected. When we're driving somewhere, my wife will occasionally ask me "What are you thinking?" and I'll usually say, "Nothing, just driving" because the actual answer, while it makes perfect sense if you follow the step A to B to C sequence until you get to what I'm thinking about (usually well down the line at Step Q), is just totally weird.
I recently read a fascinating article in the New Yorker about Bob Kramer, a Master Bladesmith who works exclusively on the creation of absolutely amazing kitchen knives. As it happens, we ended up talking about this article last night at dinner as five members of my family gathered for dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate my grandmother's 93rd birthday (happy birthday, Babci!). Anyhow, I woke up thinking about these knives for some reason which sent me off the the races and I ended up remembering something that had been long tucked away in the dusty recesses of my head.
So here we go, bear with me...
I'm thinking about these Kramer knives. Does he make them the same was as they used to make swords? Probably not because the metal in a truly high quality sword would be folded hundreds of time within the blade. But what if the sword blade wasn't folded like that? Not every sword had that level of craftsmanship. Did someone ever just hammer out a pointed piece of metal and call it a sword? But would it be strong? I imagine it would just be a long, pointy metal club of sorts with chips and dents in the edges. Hey, where do I remember seeing something like that...a sword with a no edge and a grey hilt. Wait a minute, I think I might have played with something like that as a kid (get over it...I'm almost 40 and grew up in a time with wood burning kits, candy cigarette, no seatbelts, and lawn darts...it's a wonder any of us survived). I remember having sword fights with friends but the swords were really heavy and dented and could bend easily. In fact, I think they might have been mine. I have no idea where they came. I used to keep them in that metal can in my closet as a kid. Wow, that's a blast from the past. I'd completely forgotten that can years ago. It had blue and white vertical stripes. I kept the metal swords and my wooden swords and my baseball bats and my toy rifles and light saber there when I was a kid (really, it may sounds like I'm an ideal candidate but I didn't grow up to join the NRA or a medieval reenactors group). I distinctly remember the clunking sound stuff would make when it was dropped into it. Whatever happened to that can? I think it might have belonged to my uncle when he was kid. Did it have some sort of a label or logo on it? Maybe outlined in orange? I think I saw cans like that in my grandparents' basement once. Now that I think about it, it might have contained pool chemicals or something years before. That's right, my grandparents had an aboveground pool in their backyard when I was really really little. I remember being in that pool with my parents, hanging on to the ladder and then swimming. Is that where I learned to swim? Wow, I'd forgotten about that.
And so, a conversation over dinner that kicked off as we watched my mother use my uncle's pocket knife to remove the wrapping from my grandmother's new lipstick morphed into a memory of me learning to swim in my grandparents' backyard in Farmington, CT. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?
I recently read a fascinating article in the New Yorker about Bob Kramer, a Master Bladesmith who works exclusively on the creation of absolutely amazing kitchen knives. As it happens, we ended up talking about this article last night at dinner as five members of my family gathered for dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate my grandmother's 93rd birthday (happy birthday, Babci!). Anyhow, I woke up thinking about these knives for some reason which sent me off the the races and I ended up remembering something that had been long tucked away in the dusty recesses of my head.
So here we go, bear with me...
I'm thinking about these Kramer knives. Does he make them the same was as they used to make swords? Probably not because the metal in a truly high quality sword would be folded hundreds of time within the blade. But what if the sword blade wasn't folded like that? Not every sword had that level of craftsmanship. Did someone ever just hammer out a pointed piece of metal and call it a sword? But would it be strong? I imagine it would just be a long, pointy metal club of sorts with chips and dents in the edges. Hey, where do I remember seeing something like that...a sword with a no edge and a grey hilt. Wait a minute, I think I might have played with something like that as a kid (get over it...I'm almost 40 and grew up in a time with wood burning kits, candy cigarette, no seatbelts, and lawn darts...it's a wonder any of us survived). I remember having sword fights with friends but the swords were really heavy and dented and could bend easily. In fact, I think they might have been mine. I have no idea where they came. I used to keep them in that metal can in my closet as a kid. Wow, that's a blast from the past. I'd completely forgotten that can years ago. It had blue and white vertical stripes. I kept the metal swords and my wooden swords and my baseball bats and my toy rifles and light saber there when I was a kid (really, it may sounds like I'm an ideal candidate but I didn't grow up to join the NRA or a medieval reenactors group). I distinctly remember the clunking sound stuff would make when it was dropped into it. Whatever happened to that can? I think it might have belonged to my uncle when he was kid. Did it have some sort of a label or logo on it? Maybe outlined in orange? I think I saw cans like that in my grandparents' basement once. Now that I think about it, it might have contained pool chemicals or something years before. That's right, my grandparents had an aboveground pool in their backyard when I was really really little. I remember being in that pool with my parents, hanging on to the ladder and then swimming. Is that where I learned to swim? Wow, I'd forgotten about that.
And so, a conversation over dinner that kicked off as we watched my mother use my uncle's pocket knife to remove the wrapping from my grandmother's new lipstick morphed into a memory of me learning to swim in my grandparents' backyard in Farmington, CT. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Beware the Doghouse
With the holidays fast approaching, here's a quick tutorial for any gentlemen out there as they prepare to shop for their loved ones. I definitely took notes.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Four Horsemen of the Automotive Apocalypse
"I believe we could lose General Motors by the end of this month."
So said United Auto Workers president Ron Gettelfinger in testimony before the U.S. Senate today. But does anyone really believe that the General would vanish from this Earth? Wasn't Gettelfinger really saying that we could lose General Motors (and Ford and Chrysler) as we've known them -- big, ponderous, slow to react, arrogant, profligate spenders, burdened with $80 per hour labor costs to build automobiles that people don't want, living on their legacies, historically a golden goose of sorts for the unions, and largely uncompetitive with more innovative, more nimble foreign competitors here in the United States?
The Four Horsemen of the Automotive Apocalypse (aka Gettelfinger and the Big 3 CEOs, a quartet joined in a mutual groveling pact), rode into Washington not in their private jets like they did two weeks ago when pleading for $25 billion. This time, of course, they arrived asking for $34 billion but did so by driving hybrid vehicles produced by their respective companies (yes, it appears that they can learn a lesson but only after having a Gulfstream rammed up their keisters by a mocking public). By all accounts they were a bit more humble this time around. What hadn't changed was the skepticism of members of Congress.
I don't think anyone wants to see these companies collapse and vanish, least of all the politicians who will have to answer to their constituents who work for these companies, the suppliers, the dealers, etc. However, I think people seriously wonder if the same people who helped lead these icons of American industry into this mess actually have any idea how to get them out or if they can be trusted with $34 billion in taxpayer money.
To many, the idea of bankruptcy, preferably a negotiated one, would force the Big Three to undergo a radical overhaul that would result in leaner, more competitive, and more financially viable companies. Maybe not three but perhaps one or two as a result of consolidation but the end result might be a better American car business retooled for the 21st century. The short-term pain for workers and other supporting companies would be undeniable but the long-term benefits to the American car industry and the economy as a whole might be significant.
Talking about this issue with several savvy businesspeople earlier this week, I heard an interesting counter-argument of a sort. Basically, it goes like this -- If this was happening in 2000 when the economy was humming along, you screw the bailout and let the car companies crater into bankruptcy and then rebuild. However, it's questionable if the economy (financially but mostly psychologically) could handle the body blow that would result from the Big Three going bust right now. As a result, we should bail them out under the assumption that they're still going to crater eventually anyway and take our $25...er...$34 billion with them but only after the bailout sustains them long enough for the economy to rebuild some strength to withstand the inevitable tripartite collapse.
As tempting as this is, I'm still more inclined to accept the bad medicine now. Hell, in some people's eyes, the Big Three are as good as bankrupt already! These companies, or some version of them, will probably still exist if they make the move to restructure under the protection and watchful eye of a bankruptcy court or similar Federal watchdog. The economy already feels like a large section of it has been nuked so let's just get the rest of the disaster over with now and then take the opportunity to help the automakers, like other businesses, rebuild themselves into something newer and more viable, while providing the support necessary to help the auto workers weather the change. But the key would be to manage it.
If workers show up at Ford plants around the country next Monday and find them shuttered and the buildings dark, that's what would spark a panic and not a little outrage. However, if the CEOs or more preferably, their replacements, stand up in front of the American people with their new benevolent bankruptcy overlords and explain exactly how they will retool, reposition, and reinvigorate themselves through the process, as well as why consumers should still trust that they should buy American cars that are actually fuel efficient.
If that were to happen, I'd even be inclined to say, "OK, give them the money as long as when they accept the cash with one hand they hand over senior management's resignations and some serious plans to completely overhaul their business, including a pledge never again to make a passenger car that gets less than 45 to 50 miles per gallon." If they do this, perhaps they can avoid visiting the misfortunes that ride along with the Four Horsemen of myth upon the automotive industry of today.
So said United Auto Workers president Ron Gettelfinger in testimony before the U.S. Senate today. But does anyone really believe that the General would vanish from this Earth? Wasn't Gettelfinger really saying that we could lose General Motors (and Ford and Chrysler) as we've known them -- big, ponderous, slow to react, arrogant, profligate spenders, burdened with $80 per hour labor costs to build automobiles that people don't want, living on their legacies, historically a golden goose of sorts for the unions, and largely uncompetitive with more innovative, more nimble foreign competitors here in the United States?
The Four Horsemen of the Automotive Apocalypse (aka Gettelfinger and the Big 3 CEOs, a quartet joined in a mutual groveling pact), rode into Washington not in their private jets like they did two weeks ago when pleading for $25 billion. This time, of course, they arrived asking for $34 billion but did so by driving hybrid vehicles produced by their respective companies (yes, it appears that they can learn a lesson but only after having a Gulfstream rammed up their keisters by a mocking public). By all accounts they were a bit more humble this time around. What hadn't changed was the skepticism of members of Congress.
I don't think anyone wants to see these companies collapse and vanish, least of all the politicians who will have to answer to their constituents who work for these companies, the suppliers, the dealers, etc. However, I think people seriously wonder if the same people who helped lead these icons of American industry into this mess actually have any idea how to get them out or if they can be trusted with $34 billion in taxpayer money.
To many, the idea of bankruptcy, preferably a negotiated one, would force the Big Three to undergo a radical overhaul that would result in leaner, more competitive, and more financially viable companies. Maybe not three but perhaps one or two as a result of consolidation but the end result might be a better American car business retooled for the 21st century. The short-term pain for workers and other supporting companies would be undeniable but the long-term benefits to the American car industry and the economy as a whole might be significant.
Talking about this issue with several savvy businesspeople earlier this week, I heard an interesting counter-argument of a sort. Basically, it goes like this -- If this was happening in 2000 when the economy was humming along, you screw the bailout and let the car companies crater into bankruptcy and then rebuild. However, it's questionable if the economy (financially but mostly psychologically) could handle the body blow that would result from the Big Three going bust right now. As a result, we should bail them out under the assumption that they're still going to crater eventually anyway and take our $25...er...$34 billion with them but only after the bailout sustains them long enough for the economy to rebuild some strength to withstand the inevitable tripartite collapse.
As tempting as this is, I'm still more inclined to accept the bad medicine now. Hell, in some people's eyes, the Big Three are as good as bankrupt already! These companies, or some version of them, will probably still exist if they make the move to restructure under the protection and watchful eye of a bankruptcy court or similar Federal watchdog. The economy already feels like a large section of it has been nuked so let's just get the rest of the disaster over with now and then take the opportunity to help the automakers, like other businesses, rebuild themselves into something newer and more viable, while providing the support necessary to help the auto workers weather the change. But the key would be to manage it.
If workers show up at Ford plants around the country next Monday and find them shuttered and the buildings dark, that's what would spark a panic and not a little outrage. However, if the CEOs or more preferably, their replacements, stand up in front of the American people with their new benevolent bankruptcy overlords and explain exactly how they will retool, reposition, and reinvigorate themselves through the process, as well as why consumers should still trust that they should buy American cars that are actually fuel efficient.
If that were to happen, I'd even be inclined to say, "OK, give them the money as long as when they accept the cash with one hand they hand over senior management's resignations and some serious plans to completely overhaul their business, including a pledge never again to make a passenger car that gets less than 45 to 50 miles per gallon." If they do this, perhaps they can avoid visiting the misfortunes that ride along with the Four Horsemen of myth upon the automotive industry of today.
Who's calling? No way. Hang up on him.
A little skepticism is a good thing. Too much and you just start looking paranoid, not to mention getting very very embarrassed.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Waterlogged on the Great White Way
This "commercial" confirms my assessment that Patrick Warburton ("The Tick", "The Dish") is an underappreciated talent. Besides, if they can turn "Legally Blonde", "Young Frankenstein", "Shrek", and apparently "Spider-Man" into musicals, why not this? Besides, it can't be any cheesier than the original.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Let the spirit move you
Once I got rolling on this blog, it was exciting to discover:
That's been a bit frustrating for me as I have loads of personal projects that I've started over the years -- short stories, scribblings for mysteries, the skeleton of a novel or two -- but have never finished. However, I didn't feel the compulsion to work on them and never felt like I could force it. When I was ready to write, when the creative spirit moved me to do so, I would.
I guess I failed to realize that the creative spirit sometimes needs a bit of a kick in the pants to wake up from its stupor and get into gear. Walks in the Marsh appears to provide that necessary jolt to help get my mind engaged again about writing for my own pleasure.
I thought this blog would be a collection of short observations, maybe some links here and there to interesting stuff on the web. As anyone who has read this blog over the last few months has discovered, it didn't quite work out that way as on occasion my blog entries get a bit more...robust. I occasionally find myself spending an entire evening pouring over something I'm writing and loving the process. It's been a long time since I felt that way about my own personal work.
As a result, I rediscovered some of the larger projects that lay dormant for many years. Among them is a fantasy novel that I first starting playing with in the summer of 1991 when the initial ideas for a few scenes came to me while on a camping trip in the South Dakota Badlands with my father and sister. As the years progressed, I expanded the concept, wrote whole chapters, attended a class on getting published out of which came a short-lived but engaging writers group that gave me great feedback, revised and scrapped large sections, compiled a 50+ page outline, and left it to gather dust for long stretches of time.
In recent weeks, the novel emerged, refreshed and revitalized, and ripe for a complete rethinking. That's what's happening now. Massive sections of the 50-page outline are falling by the wayside and a new approach is on the boards. I discovered a new tool -- Scrivener -- that not only seems to suit my organizational, brainstorming, and writing styles but also helps make the task of writing the first book in a potential trilogy somewhat less daunting. I'm fired up about this project now.
Somewhat to my surprise, I suddenly find myself making the transition from "God, that last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer anymore today" to "Cool, I'm home and have time to work on my blog/my novel!" And therein lies the challenge. Time spent working on the novel is time away from the blog. Time on the blog is time away from the novel. Of course, time spent on either of them is time away from family but my wife, engrossed in her own writing efforts, seems to understand completely as illustrated by her willingness (eagerness, perhaps LOL) to leave me for a large part of a weekend day to go work on her own project at the library or a coffee shop.
In the grand scheme of things, it's a worthwhile problem to have -- two writing projects that I find engaging and stimulating. I'm simply going to have to figure out how to give enough time to both so they each thrive. I figure if I get hung up on one, I can switch to the other to keep up the momentum.
Who knows if I'll finish the big project or not. I know I can write something that long and involved, having written an absolutely god-awful novel my first year of college (frighteningly bad and cliché-ridden, it is a document that will never see the light of day). Hopefully, if I do finish this one, it will be a damn sight better than the first attempt.
So just a warning...if I go quiet here on Walks in the Marsh for a few days at a time, it's probably because I'm on a roll on the other project. When the spirit moves you, you go with it. I'm writing again! Hallelujah!
- how much I enjoyed writing for it
- how much I looked forward to writing for it
That's been a bit frustrating for me as I have loads of personal projects that I've started over the years -- short stories, scribblings for mysteries, the skeleton of a novel or two -- but have never finished. However, I didn't feel the compulsion to work on them and never felt like I could force it. When I was ready to write, when the creative spirit moved me to do so, I would.
I guess I failed to realize that the creative spirit sometimes needs a bit of a kick in the pants to wake up from its stupor and get into gear. Walks in the Marsh appears to provide that necessary jolt to help get my mind engaged again about writing for my own pleasure.
I thought this blog would be a collection of short observations, maybe some links here and there to interesting stuff on the web. As anyone who has read this blog over the last few months has discovered, it didn't quite work out that way as on occasion my blog entries get a bit more...robust. I occasionally find myself spending an entire evening pouring over something I'm writing and loving the process. It's been a long time since I felt that way about my own personal work.
As a result, I rediscovered some of the larger projects that lay dormant for many years. Among them is a fantasy novel that I first starting playing with in the summer of 1991 when the initial ideas for a few scenes came to me while on a camping trip in the South Dakota Badlands with my father and sister. As the years progressed, I expanded the concept, wrote whole chapters, attended a class on getting published out of which came a short-lived but engaging writers group that gave me great feedback, revised and scrapped large sections, compiled a 50+ page outline, and left it to gather dust for long stretches of time.
In recent weeks, the novel emerged, refreshed and revitalized, and ripe for a complete rethinking. That's what's happening now. Massive sections of the 50-page outline are falling by the wayside and a new approach is on the boards. I discovered a new tool -- Scrivener -- that not only seems to suit my organizational, brainstorming, and writing styles but also helps make the task of writing the first book in a potential trilogy somewhat less daunting. I'm fired up about this project now.
Somewhat to my surprise, I suddenly find myself making the transition from "God, that last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer anymore today" to "Cool, I'm home and have time to work on my blog/my novel!" And therein lies the challenge. Time spent working on the novel is time away from the blog. Time on the blog is time away from the novel. Of course, time spent on either of them is time away from family but my wife, engrossed in her own writing efforts, seems to understand completely as illustrated by her willingness (eagerness, perhaps LOL) to leave me for a large part of a weekend day to go work on her own project at the library or a coffee shop.
In the grand scheme of things, it's a worthwhile problem to have -- two writing projects that I find engaging and stimulating. I'm simply going to have to figure out how to give enough time to both so they each thrive. I figure if I get hung up on one, I can switch to the other to keep up the momentum.
Who knows if I'll finish the big project or not. I know I can write something that long and involved, having written an absolutely god-awful novel my first year of college (frighteningly bad and cliché-ridden, it is a document that will never see the light of day). Hopefully, if I do finish this one, it will be a damn sight better than the first attempt.
So just a warning...if I go quiet here on Walks in the Marsh for a few days at a time, it's probably because I'm on a roll on the other project. When the spirit moves you, you go with it. I'm writing again! Hallelujah!
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