Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Oil and Dead Dolphins

OK, now we've seen BP executives make fools of themselves before congress. Dead Dolphins washed up along beaches on the Gulf Coast, and no one was sure of the reason as yet....wake the hell up people! Ten percent of the population believes that environmental activists caused this....this country is going to hell, when men such as Dick Cheney, and Rush Limbaugh can lie freely about things and cause such harm, and generate such fear....and Glen Beck can be their cheerleader, things are wrong. Thanks to Bill O'Reilly  for his honesty today.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Dale Shack Stories

Please go to Dale Shack Stories and check it out. Thanks.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Republicants

I won't name names or make lists as the Republican part has. I've been a Democrat for most of my life. I am truly a progressive, even a Socialist. In America we have a jaded wrong view of progressive or Socialist political philosophy. I thing most people view Socialism as what the Soviet Socialist Republics were. Vicious leadership for many years, needing to control buffer states all around the Russian Homeland in a paranoid view of the outer world. After world war two who could not understand their trepidation, they lost over 10,000,000 people. But their leaders were corrupt. Pure communism is a great philosophy for very few countries, China may be an example where a more benevolent leadership, with some capitalist gains, could work for the good of the people and yet not stifle innovation and the entreprenureal  spirit that has driven America.  So we looks at these communist / former communist STATES AND WONDER ABOUT SOCIALISM - THESE WERE NEVER REAL PRODUCTIVE SOCIALIST STATES - TODAY SOME OF THE SOVIET SATELLITES ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH FREEDOM AND GOOD SOCIAL POLICIES FOR THEIR PEOPLE.
HOW DOES THIS BEAR ON THE UNITED STATES, A 50 PIECE PUZZLE OF A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OVER RUN WITH GOUGING PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS AND INVESTMENT FIRMS. LARGE CORPORATIONS PUSHING AMERICAN JOBS TO OTHER COUNTRIES. I THINK IF SAM WALTON WERE ALIVE HE MIGHT BE VERY ANGRY TO SEE HOW MANY PRODUCTS SOLD IN WALL MART AND SAM'S CLUB ARE MADE IN THE USA. I ONCE WORKED FOR A DIVISION OF RCA, IT WAS SOLD TO GE AND THEN TO A PRIVATE OWNER, THIRTY YEARS IN BUSINESS, AND THE BUSINESS CLOSED IN 1 1/2 YEARS LATER. tAX WRITE OFF, ALL JOBS LOST.
HERE'S THE SIMPLE PART - IF IT WERE UP TO ME I WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO GEORGE SOROS AND NATIONALIZED THE BANKS - WHY,  PURE GREED ON THEIR PART, BAD PHONY NON-QUALIFIED MORTGAGES WERE GIVEN OUT, KNOWING THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. AND WHEN THEY LOST MONET PRECIPITOUSLY NO ONE DID ANYTHING IN THE BUSH YEARS. I WOULD HAVE TAKEN CONTROL FOR A LIMITED TIME, MET WITH MANAGEMENT, LOWERED SALARIES FOR PEOPLE ON TOP, AND PAID TELLERS AND PEOPLE FACING THE PUBLIC A FAIRER WAGE, SO THEY COULD AFFORD A NEW CAR. iF AN EXECUTIVE GETS A $10 TO $100 MILLION BONUS, YES I'D REDISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS BACK TO THE PEOPLE DOING THE GRUNT WORK - THIS IS GREAT FOR THE ECONOMY, INSTEAD OF AN EXECUTIVE BUYING SEVERAL McMANSIONS, AND COUNTRY HOMES, IF THE MONEY WAS SPREAD TO THE LOWER LEVELS THEY WOULD BUY NEW CARS, NEW TV'S, MOVE OR UPGRADE THEIR HOMES...PAY TO GET THEIR KIDS A GOOD EDUCATION. HIS IS A PROPER DISTRIBUTIN OF WEALTH, DOESN'T BOTHER ME ONE BIT. THIS ISN'T AN ENTERPENUER LIKE LARRY PAGE I'M HITTING, HE RECEIVED $7.8..BILLION WHEN THE FIRM WENT PUBLIC. HE SHARED THE WEALTH WITH HIS WORKED AND CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE FOR CREATIVITY. HIS FIRM ALSO CHANGES THE WORLD IN MANY PROFOUND WAYS. THAT'S THE AMERICAN DREAM. TO BE COMTINUED, THIS MAY BE LONG AND RE-EDITED.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Just Another Night in Florida

Just walked out to take out the garbage. Nice cool breeze, not cold tonight, no frost, which we've had on and off; but lights in the sky. looks like UFO's...nope just the Casino's birthday party, nice use of floodlights. The cloudy sky gave it a 1950's B movie feel.  The UFO's should land....everything else is strange enough lately.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Alice in Wonderland

Catch it before you fall into a rabbit hole and miss it. The film is a moving painting...a floating, flipping piece of true creative genius by all on board. If you don't agree, I'm sorry that you don't see what my daughter and I experienced. What marvelous art. I'd love to see Meryl Streep work with Tim Burton. Meryl has done some films on the edge of this type of art. But imagine what they could do together.
Art in film rocks on!
Alice has always intrigued me. My daughter read Alice when she was young - I gave her the Annotated Alice etc. to read. Great to see you children get it.
Tim Burton gets it.
Years ago I made large plaster mushrooms for an art store I worked in...my girlfriend at the time and I had a blast doing the work, it felt like we were in Wonderland; sidebar, a young lady from Bernardsville, NJ worked with us for awhile before heading off to college. She once said she'd be an actress...boy is she ever.
Boin Arts and Crafts, Morristoen, NJ 1967-1968. That time was like being in a rabbit hole in many ways - which path to turn on. Where to go. My artist/actor friends - the Army, are you nuts.
Don't miss Alice, find a rabbit hole of your own device to explore. Look for an old Donovan Leitch album -"HMS Donovan" worth the hard search, have your friends, kids listen. Also "A Gift Form a Flower to a Garden", and "Mellow Yellow: - they'll lead you to your rabbit hole. Thanks to Tim Burton, Mr.Depp....you rule sir...no one has your creative vision. Oh, Meryl is there as well...a special creative level shared by very few, just not as spaced out like John and Tim- but so damned good.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Where is George Bailey when you NEED him.

We'd better watch who we become. If as in the Bush administration we act like our enemy and condone torture - then we become who we are fighting.
I see the Republican far right wing leaders starting to act like fascists. Their way or else. That will mean many really good Conservatives will be in danger of re-election. I saw this happen in the Democratic party.
You get what you ask for - Tea Party people, if you mean well, fact check, note that this President is fighting in your interest, if anything he is too Conservative. Maybe our banks should have been nationalized, then money might be flowing to small business owners who need so much help, not into the bonus accounts of the people who have abused the public trust.
Do some people in congress need to be voted out, of course, in both parties. The sanctimonious bull has got to stop.
Think carefully when you speak. Be for who you want - any party - say what you believe - any view, but always try and think of the public good as a whole. President Obama is so eloquent, and he really cares about the public good - that's why he's pushing health care so very hard. Does the system have flaws, yes, does the bill have flaws, yes - but Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton all thought it was something we needed.
The Olympics in Canada showed me one thing very clearly....Canada has got it right, they argue amongst themselves, and debate like crazy, but when it comes down to it - they are UNITED for the common good. Why can't we be just a little more like our neighbors to our north. Our foremost ally in war and peace!
Many Canadian soldiers are fighting and giving up their lives alongside our troops every day. I know the right wingers will say if Canada is so great why don't you go there - well, I was born there, I have a wonderful extended family there, but I got to the US when I was one. I am a decorated Veteran, and I love this country more than most of the very right wing. I put my life on the line and lost several friends. I support our troops without question, but I will note when boundaries have been crossed.

I just got through with an argument with someone in the Social Security Administration about my citizenship.
I told her that one piece of paper, my naturalization certificate, might keep me from going onto Medicare, and getting SSI. I finally went to the court where I was Naturalized and got a certified document proving I was a citizen. In the Army I had security clearances on several jobs,...the Army knows I'm a citizen. I work for the Census, they know I'm a citizen. Social Security could not get the information from them. National Security...we're so secure that we can't communicate from one agency to another.  I was told by several people it could take me up to one year to get a copy of my Naturalization Certificate, at a cost of $380, because I was a Veteran it could be speeded by up to six months. Social security lady says, oh well you'll get your benefits retroactively.  After several weeks of digging through records, and dealing with four government agencies - the courts system was great, I got a wonderful Hispanic lady in Newark, NJ, who really went out of her way to help me (I love you).
What is my point here - simple. I could have gone to Canada where I was born, and had less of a fight retiring in Canada than here in the US. In 1956 I stood on a street corner handing out brochures for Adlai Stevenson for President, A great Democrat, at that age I knew I loved politics and wanted to be President.
When I was fourteen I was told that I was not an American Citizen, (I was adopted by a great family), but I wasn't told I was Canadian, I was very angry----I was an AMERICAN!  I am still very much that angry kid inside. I care about this country more than most of the right wing does, or the greedy bankers, or the Democrats that might have taken just a bit too much pac money. I made a choice in 1968 - when I was drafted, I made the decision, a complicated one, to enlist for Officer's Candidate School. I was against the war and could have gone to Canada, but I love the United Sates. I also love Canada.
Maybe if we start to do things the way Canadians do - a bit of  decency and civility goes a long way.
Fix the bureaucracy first...this is a government for the PEOPLE, not some idiot who couldn't try to help me, but got upset because she had to follow her rules. (Her boss was very helpful once I said that I would send a letter to the President, I worked on his campaign, and still get e-mails every few days from the White House, DNC etc.)
I am going to put together a well thought out proposal to the White House, about security and efficiency that would make him the most popular President in generations - fix the bureaucracy. I am going to get input from many friends from within the system. This is the one thing that gets people very angry. The government isn't listening carefully enough, and now the Tea Party thinks they can just fix everything with mean rhetoric. Not the answer. This isn't taxation without representation, this is angry frustrated workers not doing their jobs right, this is bankers who don't understand that that a $10millin bonus could have started several viable small businesses. (They can't loan money, but they can reward themselves for almost bankrupting the country, When I was a kid this type of banking was called theft.
Jimmy Stewart was a great American in so many ways - if you don't know, go check. Barry Goldwater was another great American - both senior military staff officers, both Conservative. I think they both be sick to see where the right wing is headed.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Bobby Darin

Come and sing a simple song of freedom.....damned if what you're feeling isn't change.....alone in the world was poor little anne......dream lover where are you......beyond the sea, waitin' for me....up a lazy river with me, throw away your troubles baby dream a dream with me.....just a jack-knife has old mack heath babe......
Once upon a Time, very long ago....around 1958, a limo pulled up in front of a neighbors house. I never met this young man. (But I bought his records). Our paths took a curious twist over time. Revelations in his life and mine enhanced my understanding of how he felt. He knew he had limited time here, and he did what he could to try to entertain the world, and try to change the world. His song Change, sung by Kevin Spacey in the film "Beyond the Sea" has actually haunted me for the last few weeks. (Great job on that film Kevin - Bob would be very proud). Carpe Deum, Tempes Fugit (pardon any errors here),....I'll be 65 shortly and I'm am the luckiest guy on the planet. Almost left this place 10 times (I mean very, very close to "well it was a nice run").
Many people said Bob was arrogant...driven is the truth, the guy who had too little time, and he knew it. Maybe if we all realized how close we are to not being here, we might live each day a little better, and help other people, be more civil to each other.
"By  myself alone,... I'll build a world my own"...maybe we could all build a better world.
"Change...Whatever you've done it's all over, ....yesterdays gone forever"'
Example - Tim Hardin was a friend of a friend of mine in college. (Go get his 1st album - Tim Hardin - go download it now...I'll wait till you come back.....  thanks....), so my friend told me about this album, and I listened. Tim was an ex-marine. An amazingly gifted writer and touching performer. He died if s drug overdose much too young. Bob recorded many of Tim's songs from demos he heard - Tim got pissed off when he heard them on the radio. They both got the word out to people and passed through much to quickly.
What they have in common other than a similar sensibility was pain. Two souls in pain. Luckily they shared their gifts with us.  Go grab the time you have and use it for good, get politicians, and foolish pundits to listen that CHANGE is really needed. No one can change time and bring these guys back, they live on to warn us how little time we have to clean up our own time. The present doesn't exist but for a glint in an eye between the past and the future - grab the future. I hope my best is yet to come. I put some dreams aside, took paths other than some amazing other paths I had to choose from - sliding doors. The only constant is CHANGE -
lets fix things in a civil manner; support our people who put their lives on the line every day for us; prayers if you got 'em , say 'em.   .I ain't goin' your way, get out of my way (Lazy River)....to those who don't get it keep up your Charade.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Health Care.

It's simple. Whoopi Goldberg said on the view - "give me what you've got" to congress. Then Elizabeth jumped in and said their program was a private program Wrong Elizabeth! It is a program similar to what I have.
I have Tricare Prime run by Humana Healthcare South, but managed by the US Army. (It is a program for the military, active duty and retired). You pay an annual fee and have small co-pays. Pharmacy - outstanding. Very, very well run program. Mostly administered by Humana, but with government guidelines.  Now this is the military, I lost three men in my platoon the day I was almost killed in Viet Nam. I had a person I met a couple of months ago, an insurance agent, question me on my right to have Tricare Prime because we don't pay enough for the coverage, and she didn't think that was fair. She told me she was a very Conservative Republican. Well I was polite and not in a position to argue with her at the time, so I let it be.
To all of you Conservatives that have any issue with any Veterans getting Tricare coverage - you go to war, you get shot, wounded for life, or get PTSD and then we can talk. What crap.I think Sen. Johm McCain would have something to say to you people.
Health care for all can be done. Richard Nixon wanted to do it, and the Democrats dropped the ball. The Clinton administration tried hard. So here we are again - everyone says rethink. Maybe a little - back room deals get people very angry - rightfully so - it's not Change. I worked for Change.
Simple - take a look at Tricare and how it works - modify it for all people - payment would be staggered, and if a person couldn't afford the coverage - Medicaid is there as a net.
I had private health care when I worked at a couple of corporations, which were both sold. I had Cobra after these companies laid us all off, and when I wanted to change from Cobra to full coverage, the insurer wanted to double my payments...due to pre-existing conditions. (Back then the Army used Champus which was secondary to my main health care, (and the Army hospitals in my area were still open) - when I had a heart attack I went straight to an Army hospital - they saved my life and transferred me to a private hospital for specialized care.
So what you might say.  Well the warning is there...if your employer does not provide health care, as most of mine here in Florida have not; or you have health care, don't feel so secure. The vast corporate changes will catch up with many people at some time. Loose your job...go through Cobra, and then pray. I worked for a health benefits provider for one month during the evening this last year. Scariest stories I have heard in a long time... from some very scared people whose Cobra was ending and they wanted a solution...lot's of luck. Medical discount cards, rubbish.  High deductible policies, rubbish. Unless you are wealthy or have planned very, very well...pray that the President gets what he wants for you! Yes it needs some fixing and fine tuning.
I do not understand how some people on Social Security, and Medicare can possibly complain about the government.  Medicare fraud is being addressed in Florida very aggressively here in Florida. If you didn't like FDR or LBJ, good we'll pull your programs right now. Is the government system broken - yes - I've been at it with four government departments over the last few months. I have worked with two of them to make some possible system fixes - one person can make a difference. (See Penny Ronning - go Penny).

One  leads by example, not with a tea bag.

PS
A few years ago my wife had to be seen by 23 separate doctors in a years time - (If you are Diabetic be very careful, and be well) - now you sort of get the picture - it can get complicated. Most of the doctors I know prefer government programs, they can plan better - insurance companies drive them insane.

Lillian Part 2 - 1953 Life gets Scarier for Lil

1953- October (day to be added)
2:30 AM
I awaken to Harry calling for Lil in the bathroom next to my bedroom, across the hall from their bedroom -
"Lil, Lil help... he sounds ill and I go to the bathoom door and look into the small room to see Lil trying to help Harry as he's coughing up blood. That was the last night I saw my father alive, or at all. I have forgotten almost everything about Harry prior to that night. Lil made me go to my room, and she just did what she always did, she took control of the situation. These lessons in handling what life smacks in your face helped me, especially in the Army. Most of the time Lil was in control, but...I was sent to stay with my Uncle Jack and Aunt Sylvia Gordon, and cousin Robert Gordon and Sanrda Gordon, for about two weeks while Harry was in the hospital. Harry had a bleeding Ulcer and the operation wasn't handled well. Harry passed away at the age of 44, I was 8, and Lil was 42. Today this condition is almost simple to take care of without problems. I've been told by Harry's close friends that he was a gentle, soft spoken, intelligent and creative person. He made a crystal radio in half a walnut shell. He remodelled our house and did beautiful wood work on the porch, turned a walk in pantry into a comfortable breakfast nook area with custom made benches and furniture, the linoleum floor was hand cut and designed by him. I remember the green shamrock cut and fitted into the floor ceter. He worked for Bendix during WW II. The other memory I have of him is at Chrismas 1952(?), Harry put up a Christmas tree because I wanted one, and there was a train set under the tree, and I had a stocking with my name on it. Later in her life Lillian denied that that ever happened, after all we were Jewish, and I went to Hebrew School. Well, I still have the stocking that hung on our fireplace mantle. (Sorry mom).
In the Jewish religion when a person dies, you cover the mirrors in the house, have the family over to your house, and for a week, you sit "Shivah" (that's how it would sound in Hebrew). It's a sort of extended wake, but in this case the wife sits there and the family and friends come with food, the Rabbi comes over and spends time with the family. That was the weakest I ever saw my mother (other than her unhealthy periods). My first cousins spent time with me, my cousin Lee Walsky stands out in my memory because he brought me books to read and tried to cheer me up. I love books because Lee did this for me. He was an athelete and a great teacher, his sister Martha was another great influence on me. She was about 12 or so years older than me, and she always loved me so much (and I her - my big sister in a way)- very kind and thoughtful, she helped Lil, as did my godmother Aunt Katy's daughter Lil Kurshner Rosenberg. At this point all these people knew I was adopted, I did not know. They just loved me. My mothers sorority sisters were there and hovered over me to make sure I was OK. They all knew I was adopted. My "Aunt" Sonya Litwak, loved me so much, it is hard to express how much love these women showed me at this tough time. Both Cousin Martha Walsky, and "Aunt" Sonya said they wanted to marry me when I grew up. How do you thank people for that kind of love - you pay it forward in your life! Do unto others...show the love. My mothers family was also very influential at that point, my mother helped start a cousins club with her relatives; and she helped run The Shack Family Circle with Harry's sisters and kept the family close until the mid 1960's.
Mom got a job and started work at the Jewish Community Center, six days a week many times. She was back at work after a long gap. I often went to work with her on weekends, or when I was out of school. I helped her at the office, learned to use the office equiptment. Lil also taught me to cook, clean, sew, and other skills, so I would be as self sufficient as possible. If anything happened I could face it like she did. She was not only a leader, manager, organizer, and teacher for me on so many things - she was the glue that kept the family together. She took control of Harry extended family for many years and kept us close for many years. She also kept the family in line politically, at family meetings while playng poker, she was a great card player, she would discuss politics and her ideas. She encouraged my interest in politics at a young age. She was also very tough, read Part 3 - please watch the times begin to change. You'll also meet Sally and Fluffy and 60 feet of Roses -"Mama Liked the Roses".

Lillian Part 3 -Roses, Puppy Dogs, and Fights.

1954-1959 Growing up fast.
Lillian adjusted to our new life and as always managed. At first if mom had to work long hours, I'd be shuffled out to a neighbors house for dinner, or at one of my friends houses to wait for her.
Hair salon
Silver's Bakery
The Smoke House
Bus to Newark
Kreske's
Woolworths
Sears records department i if you want records earn them
First records - Elvis, Old Shep, Rip it Up
Elvis - Jewish Bar Mitzvah and gospel music. Sing Boy Sing
Ed lHaupt loans me his guitar
Serious thought about being a Rabbi
Religion goes, Lil's reaction


Asbury Park, NJ - Part Time and Politics

A city to save. One of the places I lived from 1971-77. At the Empress Motel we had a state NJ Young Democrats Convention. The McGovern wing of the party fought the regular conservative Democrats. Great debates, great fun, great friends. I met my future wife Joan Gamberg, David Don (like a brother to Joan and I) ,and several close friends during this pivotal time. Taught part time as a substitute teacher in 1972 at Asbury Park High School. Too close to my return from Viet Nam to be patient enough to teach. Turned down offer at CBS TV with Walter Cronkite, low pay, 3 year Internship (should I have - Don't Look Back). We lived near the Inkwell, listen to "Subterranean Homesick Blues", Bob Dylan. Thanks Mr.Z. Oh and a hi to Madame marie, the psychic near my apartment, down the block on the boardwalk, (look into Bruce S.) Robert Gordon, Dave Edmunds, (Gary thanks for getting us on the bus to meet Dave).
Lived on First avenue 1 1/2 blocks from the beach. 10th Ave (Bruce) was not very far. Bruce put the band together, and played around the corner from my apartment. Lots of clubs, lots of bands, loved the music and the circle. Argued with the mayor about demolishing an Art deco theatre, The Mayfair, we lost that fight. Music, music, music was created.

Maukie - the virtual cat