You really have to hand it to politicians, because for people who seem and act brain-dead 99.9% of the time, they come up with some ingenious stuff if their incumbency's threatened.
Because, right now we have a Congress that should, and likely will, be tossed out on it's collective ear from the House in November, with an unexpectedly large turnover happening in the Senate too. That's because folks are fed up with getting nothing but inane lip service from "leaders" who couldn't get a Girl Scout troop out of a park, much less the woods, with a pack of guide dogs, radar tracking devices, geo-guidance systems hook-ups, Sherpa guides and a self-reading compass.
So, what does the president do when he realizes his majority's over and in twenty-four months or so he'll be sliding a greased rail out of D.C. too? Well, for starters he's going to pump another $50 billion of taxpayer money into an infrastructure rebuild that will likely help no one but a targeted few. (See yesterday's entry for details.) And, then today he added a 100% deduction for business investment in "growth."
Now, whether these two Republican-like plans can help the economy or not remains to be seen, but what's critical to the administration is the timing. Because these two plans will be banged around for a while before being enacted, which should bring their kick-off dates near or right after election day. Consequently, when everything turns around because Congress has been blown out and businesses start to hire again, banks start to lend and job markets open, the administrations plan will run right along with the tide and the guy with the biggest pulpit in the world will take credit for all that will happen positively and continue to seek re-election.
The really good news though, is that I'm not really too bright. So, if I can see what's being done to manipulate the public's mind, so can everyone else. And that means the administration's story won't likely be bought by voters.
The really bad news is that the cost to the taxpayers so far by the administration and Congress is almost $14 trillion dollars. And even though all of us have now learned explicitly to the nth degree to never trust any politician, the tuition's awfully expensive.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
BloggeRhythms 9/6/2010
I was going to add a few more thoughts about public education in the U.S. today, because I believe it's current worthless existence and monetary drain on the system is a critically important subject. But then a news item caught my eye that's worth a couple of keystrokes.
It seems the president wants to spend some more taxpayer funds in the following way. "Vowing to find new ways to stimulate the sputtering economy, President Obama will call for long-term investments in the nation's roads, railways and airports that would cost at least $50 billion, administration officials say."
Now, if the administration really thought about it, where would that money actually go? Well, right off the top about 40% would likely go directly into the pockets of the major contractors (as profits) who'd win artificially rigged bids, and I'd guess about half or more of that would kick right back to the big-time politicos who allowed and greased the bid-rigging. And that $20 billion or so wouldn't hit our economy at all, because it would go right into some off-shore accounts to avoid discovery, or worse yet...taxes.
Of course, that still leaves $30 billion to play with. Well, between licenses, permits, filings, hearings, court costs and fees, let's say $10 billion will be spent in local jurisdictions, legislatures, offices and courts allowing politicos and shakers and movers down the line to share in the windfall. Naturally then, there's a chance that some of that money might wind up in local bars and restaurants where the payoffs would be made under the tables. So, I guess, with all those new bucks in play, a few waitresses will see an increase tips.
Then, naturally, there'd be a need for plans, designs, architectural drawings, schematics, blueprints, forms and supporting paperwork. So, I guess, some out-of-work architects, engineers and technicians might get some temporary employment while the plans are drawn up, and then hit the streets again looking for permanent jobs. In all, perhaps this might add up to five or ten million bucks in government spending to a group of highly-skilled folks.
Then of course there are the folks who operate the big equipment, bull-dozers, cranes, earth movers, scrapers, back-hoes, lift trucks, even vans and trucks. At their wage-rates the costs would be substantial, even after their unions took 10% or so off the top to re-line their coffers. So, let's say another $5 billion gets spent here, some of which due to items like mortgage payments and food might even trickle back into the economy.
If my arithmetic's correct, then, there's still about $14.5 billion to play with. And, lets see...what jobs are left? The one's where all the work is of course. There'll be a huge need for people to swing picks and shovel dirt all day long, to make the roads nice and smooth, and others to hammer spikes into railroad ties or put cones on the road during construction. Unless you're an Indian or some other kind of unique person that can accomplish the difficult high steel work on bridges, which would put you into a greatly needed class of your own.
And that brings me right back to education in the U. S., because now I completely understand our public school system. Our brilliant, foresightful educators knew that this fiscal debacle was coming and thus, prepared their students for it by making sure that every recess included some time spent in a sandbox with a pail and shovel. And in that way they insured that when the government opened the floodgates to a world of opportunity in highway construction, their students were well trained in earth-moving and ready for it.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
It seems the president wants to spend some more taxpayer funds in the following way. "Vowing to find new ways to stimulate the sputtering economy, President Obama will call for long-term investments in the nation's roads, railways and airports that would cost at least $50 billion, administration officials say."
Now, if the administration really thought about it, where would that money actually go? Well, right off the top about 40% would likely go directly into the pockets of the major contractors (as profits) who'd win artificially rigged bids, and I'd guess about half or more of that would kick right back to the big-time politicos who allowed and greased the bid-rigging. And that $20 billion or so wouldn't hit our economy at all, because it would go right into some off-shore accounts to avoid discovery, or worse yet...taxes.
Of course, that still leaves $30 billion to play with. Well, between licenses, permits, filings, hearings, court costs and fees, let's say $10 billion will be spent in local jurisdictions, legislatures, offices and courts allowing politicos and shakers and movers down the line to share in the windfall. Naturally then, there's a chance that some of that money might wind up in local bars and restaurants where the payoffs would be made under the tables. So, I guess, with all those new bucks in play, a few waitresses will see an increase tips.
Then, naturally, there'd be a need for plans, designs, architectural drawings, schematics, blueprints, forms and supporting paperwork. So, I guess, some out-of-work architects, engineers and technicians might get some temporary employment while the plans are drawn up, and then hit the streets again looking for permanent jobs. In all, perhaps this might add up to five or ten million bucks in government spending to a group of highly-skilled folks.
Then of course there are the folks who operate the big equipment, bull-dozers, cranes, earth movers, scrapers, back-hoes, lift trucks, even vans and trucks. At their wage-rates the costs would be substantial, even after their unions took 10% or so off the top to re-line their coffers. So, let's say another $5 billion gets spent here, some of which due to items like mortgage payments and food might even trickle back into the economy.
If my arithmetic's correct, then, there's still about $14.5 billion to play with. And, lets see...what jobs are left? The one's where all the work is of course. There'll be a huge need for people to swing picks and shovel dirt all day long, to make the roads nice and smooth, and others to hammer spikes into railroad ties or put cones on the road during construction. Unless you're an Indian or some other kind of unique person that can accomplish the difficult high steel work on bridges, which would put you into a greatly needed class of your own.
And that brings me right back to education in the U. S., because now I completely understand our public school system. Our brilliant, foresightful educators knew that this fiscal debacle was coming and thus, prepared their students for it by making sure that every recess included some time spent in a sandbox with a pail and shovel. And in that way they insured that when the government opened the floodgates to a world of opportunity in highway construction, their students were well trained in earth-moving and ready for it.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Sunday, September 5, 2010
BloggeRhythms 8/5/2010
Since there's still TNBNT, I can continue yesterday's theme. Because although I meant what I wrote about the public education vacuum, some might have thought my beliefs a bit extreme. But then I was talking to a friend last evening who not only agreed with my conclusions, but began a discussion questioning about how kids really learn today.
After I'd considered his question a moment, a light went on. Because many of today's kids seem well-informed for their ages, know accurate details and facts, yet aren't getting that input from teachers. So, where's the knowledge coming from? The obvious answer, staring me right in the face even as I sit here and type, is computerization and the Internet.
And, as I said to my friend yesterday, that led me to another question to which I think I found an interesting answer. What single person has done more for education in the U.S. today than the entire 4,685,708 individuals in the public school system put together. The obvious answer: Bill Gates.
Because, between computer programs operating on software he created and providing access to the Internet, theres' more information available to kids today than in any library I've ever heard of. Even the Library of Congress's volumes have been digitized, one way or another. They can pick any subject they want, do a Google search and the most current information appears instantaneously on their screens. In most cases, they'll find access to hundreds of thousands of pages, some going back for years and years. In fact, that's often how I double check the accuracy of the data in my own daily BloggeRhythms.
What's more, as compared to the value of information doled out in today's schools, downloaded information's far more accurate and timely than what's in any outdated textbooks written by some biased "educators." Because, for the sake of "political correctness," avoidance of lawsuits for slander, and poorly smoke-screened political agendas the pap published in academia is so watered down, slanted, biased and downright untrue it's not worth the paper its printed on. Consequently, the kids aren't being educated at all in school, they're being brain-washed.
And, aside from the value of instant access to just about any information one could reasonably need, what else has Mr. Gates accomplished, teaching wise? Well, in order to gain access to the wonders of mind-stimulating programs and information, even if it's only to play games, kids have to read. Better yet, they have to learn how to type. And, the only way they can get better, or out-score themselves is to read and type still better and faster. So, what do you think the average kid's going to prefer, going sword to sword with Darth Vader in a digitized struggle of life and death, or trudging through some endless tome about some huckleberry named Finn?
So, I guess the questions really are, what do today's kids have to learn to survive and succeed and then, where do they acquire the necessary knowledge? As for me, I further disbelieve their education's deriving from schools, because computer savvy kids seem considerably brighter and more articulate than most of the teachers I've ever encountered. Beyond that, computerization gives kids access to information they need and want, not some archaic curricula chosen by elitist esthete's.
I myself, for example took a chemistry course in high school, and except for the hours in class can't think of a time where I've ever needed, wanted or used a formula ever since, with the exception of the bottles of it I gave to my infant kids. Aside from that, the only dissected frogs I've seen outside of a park or in the woods since school came on a plate (legs only) smothered in garlic butter, herbs and spices and cost about twenty bucks. Then again, I might have saved that money had I studied French on-line and known what I'd ordered, because it was a really bad mistake...those leg things are just awful.
I'm sure that the longer I sit here, the stronger I can support my point, but I believe I've already made it. And, going back to yesterday's entry, while my jotting might have seemed a bit extreme when I typed it, reading back my own words today makes me conclude once more that if all the public school educators suddenly disappeared for whatever reason...education-wise, no one would notice at all or care.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
After I'd considered his question a moment, a light went on. Because many of today's kids seem well-informed for their ages, know accurate details and facts, yet aren't getting that input from teachers. So, where's the knowledge coming from? The obvious answer, staring me right in the face even as I sit here and type, is computerization and the Internet.
And, as I said to my friend yesterday, that led me to another question to which I think I found an interesting answer. What single person has done more for education in the U.S. today than the entire 4,685,708 individuals in the public school system put together. The obvious answer: Bill Gates.
Because, between computer programs operating on software he created and providing access to the Internet, theres' more information available to kids today than in any library I've ever heard of. Even the Library of Congress's volumes have been digitized, one way or another. They can pick any subject they want, do a Google search and the most current information appears instantaneously on their screens. In most cases, they'll find access to hundreds of thousands of pages, some going back for years and years. In fact, that's often how I double check the accuracy of the data in my own daily BloggeRhythms.
What's more, as compared to the value of information doled out in today's schools, downloaded information's far more accurate and timely than what's in any outdated textbooks written by some biased "educators." Because, for the sake of "political correctness," avoidance of lawsuits for slander, and poorly smoke-screened political agendas the pap published in academia is so watered down, slanted, biased and downright untrue it's not worth the paper its printed on. Consequently, the kids aren't being educated at all in school, they're being brain-washed.
And, aside from the value of instant access to just about any information one could reasonably need, what else has Mr. Gates accomplished, teaching wise? Well, in order to gain access to the wonders of mind-stimulating programs and information, even if it's only to play games, kids have to read. Better yet, they have to learn how to type. And, the only way they can get better, or out-score themselves is to read and type still better and faster. So, what do you think the average kid's going to prefer, going sword to sword with Darth Vader in a digitized struggle of life and death, or trudging through some endless tome about some huckleberry named Finn?
So, I guess the questions really are, what do today's kids have to learn to survive and succeed and then, where do they acquire the necessary knowledge? As for me, I further disbelieve their education's deriving from schools, because computer savvy kids seem considerably brighter and more articulate than most of the teachers I've ever encountered. Beyond that, computerization gives kids access to information they need and want, not some archaic curricula chosen by elitist esthete's.
I myself, for example took a chemistry course in high school, and except for the hours in class can't think of a time where I've ever needed, wanted or used a formula ever since, with the exception of the bottles of it I gave to my infant kids. Aside from that, the only dissected frogs I've seen outside of a park or in the woods since school came on a plate (legs only) smothered in garlic butter, herbs and spices and cost about twenty bucks. Then again, I might have saved that money had I studied French on-line and known what I'd ordered, because it was a really bad mistake...those leg things are just awful.
I'm sure that the longer I sit here, the stronger I can support my point, but I believe I've already made it. And, going back to yesterday's entry, while my jotting might have seemed a bit extreme when I typed it, reading back my own words today makes me conclude once more that if all the public school educators suddenly disappeared for whatever reason...education-wise, no one would notice at all or care.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Saturday, September 4, 2010
BloggeRhythms 9/5/2010
TNBNT, but yesterday's entry got me thinking about re-deploying funds to help the economy. Because it seems to me that it's pretty clear that no one in the private sector with any money at all is going to risk investing or expansion until the current administration and Congress are gone for good.
What my arithmetic demonstrated was that by eliminating the 165,413 folks involved in government, it's support or related occupations, amounting to .00055138 of the population, some 28,800,000 unemployed, or 9.6%, in the general public would likely have a chance of getting hired almost overnight.
Well, it dawned on me this morning that my idea sounds a lot like Socialism or Communism, where wealth and assets are seized by those in power and redistributed across the population rather than earned. And, that certainly wasn't my point. All I was trying to do was, come up with a way to remove those from the economic system who get paid but either don't work or are incapable of doing anything worthwhile. And, the most obvious folks in that category are anyone involved in politics or its support, most especially the ones holding office.
But, taking my idea a step further today, I was thinking about where else there was a category of folks who were worthless, yet bringing in considerable incomes (notice I didn't say "working".) And right there, staring me in the face was a humongous source of money if redirected in a positive way. Because, according to localschooldirectory.com there are currently 4,685,708 individuals in the public school system.
There are 873,477 Administrators nationwide, 3,609,955 Instructional Staff, and 202,276 Non-instructional personnel, all told. And, not only are these folks draining money out of the public's pockets every day, for doing absolutely nothing, they continually seek higher wages. Beyond that, when they retire from doing nothing to doing even less, they keep getting paid handsomely, no matter.
So, now it seems, my funds re-deployment idea might be getting somewhere because by eliminating 4,851,127 (4,685,708 in schools, 165,413 governmental) people who are drains on the economy and worthless, 28,800,000 who are looking for work would now have a much better chance, because businesses would hire, banks would lend and the country's economy would start churning again.
And, as far as the 4,851,127 are concerned, I guess they'd have to start really yelling and screaming about their terminations to get some attention, because if they don't, no one will notice they're gone.
That's it for today folks
Adios
What my arithmetic demonstrated was that by eliminating the 165,413 folks involved in government, it's support or related occupations, amounting to .00055138 of the population, some 28,800,000 unemployed, or 9.6%, in the general public would likely have a chance of getting hired almost overnight.
Well, it dawned on me this morning that my idea sounds a lot like Socialism or Communism, where wealth and assets are seized by those in power and redistributed across the population rather than earned. And, that certainly wasn't my point. All I was trying to do was, come up with a way to remove those from the economic system who get paid but either don't work or are incapable of doing anything worthwhile. And, the most obvious folks in that category are anyone involved in politics or its support, most especially the ones holding office.
But, taking my idea a step further today, I was thinking about where else there was a category of folks who were worthless, yet bringing in considerable incomes (notice I didn't say "working".) And right there, staring me in the face was a humongous source of money if redirected in a positive way. Because, according to localschooldirectory.com there are currently 4,685,708 individuals in the public school system.
There are 873,477 Administrators nationwide, 3,609,955 Instructional Staff, and 202,276 Non-instructional personnel, all told. And, not only are these folks draining money out of the public's pockets every day, for doing absolutely nothing, they continually seek higher wages. Beyond that, when they retire from doing nothing to doing even less, they keep getting paid handsomely, no matter.
So, now it seems, my funds re-deployment idea might be getting somewhere because by eliminating 4,851,127 (4,685,708 in schools, 165,413 governmental) people who are drains on the economy and worthless, 28,800,000 who are looking for work would now have a much better chance, because businesses would hire, banks would lend and the country's economy would start churning again.
And, as far as the 4,851,127 are concerned, I guess they'd have to start really yelling and screaming about their terminations to get some attention, because if they don't, no one will notice they're gone.
That's it for today folks
Adios
Friday, September 3, 2010
BloggeRhythms 9/3/2010
Since it's still a case of TNBNT, I was thinking about the president's plan for another, smaller, stimulus package. That got me to thinking about why the plans already in effect haven't helped the economy at all. And that brings me to an obvious conclusion: This administration has created its own Catch 22's.
The situation is that there's plenty of money already in the hands of those who can help the economy, such as big business, but they won't spend any of it until the current Congress and administration are gone, and unable to damage them any more. On the other side of that coin, small business which employs the majority of the work force, can't hire because the banks won't lend them any money. And the banks won't lend at all until the current administration and Congress are gone, because of their fear of both entities ineptitude and inane policies.
So, I guess the answer is, if Congress and the administration truly wanted to stimulate the economy, and do something for people as they promised while running for office, they'd all resign and then the economy would likely boom.
Because, according to LegiStorm Data "nearly 2,000 House of Representatives staffers pulled down six-figure salaries in 2009, including 43 staffers who earned the maximum $172,500 — or more than three times the median U.S. household income. …Though a small percentage of the overall congressional work force, their numbers are growing at a rapid rate under the Democratic Congress. The number of staffers earning within the upper 3 percent of House salaries — currently $163,358 or more — has increased by nearly 39 percent in the past four years."
Then, out of curiosity I did some more homework to try to find the areas where jobs are really plentiful, and people are well compensated, if not overly so. As it turns out there are 34,750 lobbyists currently in Washington,DC. That averages to more than 79 folks per Congressperson, if my math's right. On top of that there are approximately 16,766 staffers employed. 10,000 by the House and 6,766 by the Senate according to the Cato Institute.
The Washingtonian says that there are about 80,000 attorneys practicing in greater DC right now, and the DC Bar Association boasts 91,865 members all told. The Office of Executive Personnel Management estimated that there are 32,797 people in non-government, but related or supported jobs. And last of all, only a dinky 1100 political consultants -2.05 per member of Congress aside from their staffs.
Well, as they say, you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs and lot's of good comes from sacrifice. So, a little bit more arithmetic tells me that the total number of 165,413 folks listed above in government support or related occupations equates to .00055138 of the population. At the same time, there are 9.6% or 28,800,000 unemployed in the general public. Thus, 165,413 resignations will create almost 29 million jobs practically overnight.
Now, realistically, I know that the resignations won't happen, primarily because those in office don't really give a damn about what's good for their constituents or country and never will. But not to worry, because in November at least there'll be a solution for the current crop of incumbents. The only problem is that the unemployment rate will rise again.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
The situation is that there's plenty of money already in the hands of those who can help the economy, such as big business, but they won't spend any of it until the current Congress and administration are gone, and unable to damage them any more. On the other side of that coin, small business which employs the majority of the work force, can't hire because the banks won't lend them any money. And the banks won't lend at all until the current administration and Congress are gone, because of their fear of both entities ineptitude and inane policies.
So, I guess the answer is, if Congress and the administration truly wanted to stimulate the economy, and do something for people as they promised while running for office, they'd all resign and then the economy would likely boom.
Because, according to LegiStorm Data "nearly 2,000 House of Representatives staffers pulled down six-figure salaries in 2009, including 43 staffers who earned the maximum $172,500 — or more than three times the median U.S. household income. …Though a small percentage of the overall congressional work force, their numbers are growing at a rapid rate under the Democratic Congress. The number of staffers earning within the upper 3 percent of House salaries — currently $163,358 or more — has increased by nearly 39 percent in the past four years."
Then, out of curiosity I did some more homework to try to find the areas where jobs are really plentiful, and people are well compensated, if not overly so. As it turns out there are 34,750 lobbyists currently in Washington,DC. That averages to more than 79 folks per Congressperson, if my math's right. On top of that there are approximately 16,766 staffers employed. 10,000 by the House and 6,766 by the Senate according to the Cato Institute.
The Washingtonian says that there are about 80,000 attorneys practicing in greater DC right now, and the DC Bar Association boasts 91,865 members all told. The Office of Executive Personnel Management estimated that there are 32,797 people in non-government, but related or supported jobs. And last of all, only a dinky 1100 political consultants -2.05 per member of Congress aside from their staffs.
Well, as they say, you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs and lot's of good comes from sacrifice. So, a little bit more arithmetic tells me that the total number of 165,413 folks listed above in government support or related occupations equates to .00055138 of the population. At the same time, there are 9.6% or 28,800,000 unemployed in the general public. Thus, 165,413 resignations will create almost 29 million jobs practically overnight.
Now, realistically, I know that the resignations won't happen, primarily because those in office don't really give a damn about what's good for their constituents or country and never will. But not to worry, because in November at least there'll be a solution for the current crop of incumbents. The only problem is that the unemployment rate will rise again.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Thursday, September 2, 2010
BloggeRhythms 9/2/2010
TNBNT
A friend and I often discuss the way professional sports, and especially athlete's attitudes, have changed over the years. In my case, I believe that the "pro's" have become such one way streets, caring only about themselves, I've simply given up. Because, for years, I lived and died with my teams, ferociously supporting their efforts and rooting my heart out, but today, with the exception of golf and football, I watch no sports at all and care nothing at all about any of them.
It's hard for me to say precisely which sport I cared about most when younger. Because I played several and loved them all. But I guess the two leaders would be baseball and basketball, playing incessantly all summer and continuing indoor basketball through the winter.
I also swam competitively, and did some diving (no triple gainers or back flips off thirty foot boards though.) A little pick-up football here and there, though nothing really worth mentioning. And, later in life, though I don't really think it's a "sport" but more of a pastime, up until this very season, I played about a gazillion rounds of golf all told.
So, because of my own interest in these activities, professionals were very important, because they set examples and illustrated the finer points of the games. Beyond that, they demonstrated the epitome of professionalism on the field (this was before the press began disclosing the other aspects of pro's lives.) And then, it seems, one by one, my illusions began blowing up.
The first to go was basketball, which was horrible for me because of my passion for the Knicks. But my heroes were long gone by the time Dennis Rodman showed up in her wedding dress with more tatoo's than skin. And I don't know why they called Jordan "Air" because he "walked" an awful lot more than he flew. Then, of course, there was Barkley a totally uncoordinated sack of blob who possessed a 5000 watt mouth. Putting it all together, those clowns and their disciples killed a wonderful sport.
As I recall, though its fuzzy because it was a while ago, the last baseball game I watched (for only about two minutes) was when the Boston Red Sox showed up with most of the (guys?) having longer hair than my daughter. I stayed tuned for a couple of minutes because I thought they were showing the line-up for the Miss America contest. But no, when it turned out that these ladies were really the Red Sox, I changed the channel and haven't gone back to baseball since.
So, one by one, between agents, sponsors and uncaring players themselves grabbing for every nickel with both hands, each of the professional sports is slowly eroding their fan base and drifting closer and closer to non-existence. And, I can certainly see that happening.
Because, for the reasons listed, I was really upset when I could no longer stomach these poor excuses for athletes ruin great sports. And I couldn't imagine getting along without them, even though I couldn't stand the participants. Yet, now it's quite a few years later and I not only don't miss them, I'll never go back because, except for the memories, they're completely out of my life.
But, there's one memory that stands out that I think illustrates how the great ones used to be. Many, many years ago there was this baseball player who had a TV show on NBC in New York. I got tickets and was in the audience one Saturday afternoon watching that show: Joe DiMaggio's Dugout. His guest that day was Dick Kazmaeir, Princeton quarterback who'd just won the Heisman trophy.
I had a huge autograph collection at the time, so when the show was over I hung around for a few minutes. And, lo and behold, Joltin' Joe and his guest stayed on the stage, sitting and talking together. I politely approached and asked Mr. D for his autograph to which he smiled and instantly agreed. Then I sheepishly told him I'd accidentally left my stuff at home in the excitement to get to the show, so I had no pen. He pulled one out of his jacket pocket.
When I further explained that I had no paper either, he calmly reached for an empty Wheaties box, the sponsor, and tore off the top. After he signed the box top and handed it to me, I gratefully thanked him and turned away, about to leave. That's when he stopped me and asked "What about him?" nodding at his guest. "What about him?" I asked him back. Mr. DiMaggio replied that he thought I'd want Mr. Kazmier's autograph too, and asked for the box top back, then gave it to the quarterback to sign.
Obviously, I never forgot that experience and its impact, despite how many years have gone by. The class, humanity and kindness displayed by an all-time legend make quite an impression. And perhaps, that's one of the things that set the true athletes apart. Because today I not only don't remember anything good any athletes done (except Arnold Palmer, Chad Pennington and Dick Lynch) I don't even remember to watch any of their games.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
A friend and I often discuss the way professional sports, and especially athlete's attitudes, have changed over the years. In my case, I believe that the "pro's" have become such one way streets, caring only about themselves, I've simply given up. Because, for years, I lived and died with my teams, ferociously supporting their efforts and rooting my heart out, but today, with the exception of golf and football, I watch no sports at all and care nothing at all about any of them.
It's hard for me to say precisely which sport I cared about most when younger. Because I played several and loved them all. But I guess the two leaders would be baseball and basketball, playing incessantly all summer and continuing indoor basketball through the winter.
I also swam competitively, and did some diving (no triple gainers or back flips off thirty foot boards though.) A little pick-up football here and there, though nothing really worth mentioning. And, later in life, though I don't really think it's a "sport" but more of a pastime, up until this very season, I played about a gazillion rounds of golf all told.
So, because of my own interest in these activities, professionals were very important, because they set examples and illustrated the finer points of the games. Beyond that, they demonstrated the epitome of professionalism on the field (this was before the press began disclosing the other aspects of pro's lives.) And then, it seems, one by one, my illusions began blowing up.
The first to go was basketball, which was horrible for me because of my passion for the Knicks. But my heroes were long gone by the time Dennis Rodman showed up in her wedding dress with more tatoo's than skin. And I don't know why they called Jordan "Air" because he "walked" an awful lot more than he flew. Then, of course, there was Barkley a totally uncoordinated sack of blob who possessed a 5000 watt mouth. Putting it all together, those clowns and their disciples killed a wonderful sport.
As I recall, though its fuzzy because it was a while ago, the last baseball game I watched (for only about two minutes) was when the Boston Red Sox showed up with most of the (guys?) having longer hair than my daughter. I stayed tuned for a couple of minutes because I thought they were showing the line-up for the Miss America contest. But no, when it turned out that these ladies were really the Red Sox, I changed the channel and haven't gone back to baseball since.
So, one by one, between agents, sponsors and uncaring players themselves grabbing for every nickel with both hands, each of the professional sports is slowly eroding their fan base and drifting closer and closer to non-existence. And, I can certainly see that happening.
Because, for the reasons listed, I was really upset when I could no longer stomach these poor excuses for athletes ruin great sports. And I couldn't imagine getting along without them, even though I couldn't stand the participants. Yet, now it's quite a few years later and I not only don't miss them, I'll never go back because, except for the memories, they're completely out of my life.
But, there's one memory that stands out that I think illustrates how the great ones used to be. Many, many years ago there was this baseball player who had a TV show on NBC in New York. I got tickets and was in the audience one Saturday afternoon watching that show: Joe DiMaggio's Dugout. His guest that day was Dick Kazmaeir, Princeton quarterback who'd just won the Heisman trophy.
I had a huge autograph collection at the time, so when the show was over I hung around for a few minutes. And, lo and behold, Joltin' Joe and his guest stayed on the stage, sitting and talking together. I politely approached and asked Mr. D for his autograph to which he smiled and instantly agreed. Then I sheepishly told him I'd accidentally left my stuff at home in the excitement to get to the show, so I had no pen. He pulled one out of his jacket pocket.
When I further explained that I had no paper either, he calmly reached for an empty Wheaties box, the sponsor, and tore off the top. After he signed the box top and handed it to me, I gratefully thanked him and turned away, about to leave. That's when he stopped me and asked "What about him?" nodding at his guest. "What about him?" I asked him back. Mr. DiMaggio replied that he thought I'd want Mr. Kazmier's autograph too, and asked for the box top back, then gave it to the quarterback to sign.
Obviously, I never forgot that experience and its impact, despite how many years have gone by. The class, humanity and kindness displayed by an all-time legend make quite an impression. And perhaps, that's one of the things that set the true athletes apart. Because today I not only don't remember anything good any athletes done (except Arnold Palmer, Chad Pennington and Dick Lynch) I don't even remember to watch any of their games.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
BloggeRhythms 9/1/2010
TNBNT -but the president did deliver a speech last night, about the troop withdrawal from Iraq. And it must have been really important, because I had to search through a whole day's worth of other stories to find out about it. Seemed to me, nobody cared much about what he had to say on the subject, thus it wasn't given much attention or space in the news.
What's most interesting though is, that 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq in a so-called "advisory" capacity, which means they're relieved from the shooting war. And, I suppose, if you buy that rhetoric, our guys will just be hanging around, helping the Iraqis run their country.
But, I find that hard to believe. Because it seems that the withdrawal's simply the fulfillment of a campaign promise to have our troops out by the end of August 2010 (except for the 50,000 advisors left behind.) And, should the situation heat up again over there, I think we'll be right back in the middle of the warfare loop in a heartbeat. Of course, there's also the droves of mercenaries, CIA folks and Haliburton people who don't get mentioned at all.
Which leads me to ask, if Haliburton was the Devil incarnate, and ripping off U.S. funds in carloads as the president insisted during the last campaign -how come they're still there with larger contracts than ever from the Pentagon? Could it be, as the last president said, they're the only people on Earth who know how to do what they do?
But, now that our war mongering is over, and we're done in Iraq, I guess we can concentrate on the anti-war president's pet project. Leveling Afghanistan. Because as anyone can plainly see, an uprising anti-American like Saddam was never a threat, regardless of what was learned about him. But, those guys living in holes in Afghanistan, who'd never be able to organize themselves into any kind of real threat because they don't even get along with each other, are worth the billions we're using against them.
And, speaking of funds, the president mournfully mentioned the huge expense of the Iraq war due to the insistence of the last administration to enter that fray. But if he'd have done his homework he'd have found that the costs of Iraq were minimal as incursions like that usually go, and aren't a drop in the bucket compared to the financial holocaust caused by his own party's destruction of the world-wide real estate business, stock exchanges, banking system, automobile debacle, insurance industry and greater and greater daily reliance on foreign oil.
So, I guess as I've typed here before, it only matters what corners they put the mirrors in when politicians want to make a point. But, that's how they exist, and all they know how to do, and so be it. The real crime though is, listening to them, or worse..keeping them in office.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
What's most interesting though is, that 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq in a so-called "advisory" capacity, which means they're relieved from the shooting war. And, I suppose, if you buy that rhetoric, our guys will just be hanging around, helping the Iraqis run their country.
But, I find that hard to believe. Because it seems that the withdrawal's simply the fulfillment of a campaign promise to have our troops out by the end of August 2010 (except for the 50,000 advisors left behind.) And, should the situation heat up again over there, I think we'll be right back in the middle of the warfare loop in a heartbeat. Of course, there's also the droves of mercenaries, CIA folks and Haliburton people who don't get mentioned at all.
Which leads me to ask, if Haliburton was the Devil incarnate, and ripping off U.S. funds in carloads as the president insisted during the last campaign -how come they're still there with larger contracts than ever from the Pentagon? Could it be, as the last president said, they're the only people on Earth who know how to do what they do?
But, now that our war mongering is over, and we're done in Iraq, I guess we can concentrate on the anti-war president's pet project. Leveling Afghanistan. Because as anyone can plainly see, an uprising anti-American like Saddam was never a threat, regardless of what was learned about him. But, those guys living in holes in Afghanistan, who'd never be able to organize themselves into any kind of real threat because they don't even get along with each other, are worth the billions we're using against them.
And, speaking of funds, the president mournfully mentioned the huge expense of the Iraq war due to the insistence of the last administration to enter that fray. But if he'd have done his homework he'd have found that the costs of Iraq were minimal as incursions like that usually go, and aren't a drop in the bucket compared to the financial holocaust caused by his own party's destruction of the world-wide real estate business, stock exchanges, banking system, automobile debacle, insurance industry and greater and greater daily reliance on foreign oil.
So, I guess as I've typed here before, it only matters what corners they put the mirrors in when politicians want to make a point. But, that's how they exist, and all they know how to do, and so be it. The real crime though is, listening to them, or worse..keeping them in office.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
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