Just a quick snapshot of places as they occur to me.
Sushi Yasuda at 43rd and 3rd. The Hyatt at Grand Central,The Har Zion Hotel in Jerusalem, The Chava(http://www.ramah.org.il/programs/chavatour1.html) Summer '85 is never far from my mind- changed me forever. Lalos- It doesn't exist any more, but I remember it well. The lookout spot at camp, David's Observatory, A.T. 11, the basketball courts, the desheh, the chadar, the Attitude Adjustment shop, Lions Canyon, Rose Valley, Carvel at Hamashbir, The Coliseum, A tiny cafe in London whose name I can not remember, beaches in Israel, Maui, LA, Big Sur, Mendocino, Rhoda Street Elementary, The Little League, San Francisco, The Marp, Lake Casitas, Wheeler's Gorge, Friends Orchard, Chefs, Carrows, Soule Park, San Diego Zoo, The Pool at Birmingham High, The Pool at Camp, High Dive, Lair of the Bear- Camp Blue, Phoenix, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Shongum lake- they are a whirling blur of images that parade on by my mind's eye.
To you it looks like gibberish and to me I see my past, present and little whisps of the future.
Thoughts about the Intifada
The Los Angeles Times is running an article that caught my eye about the Intifada.
I think that we may be witnessing the beginning of the breakdown of popular support for the Intifada. And that is very necessary and a good thing for all people. Because the best way to try and reduce the violence is to marginalize the terrorists.
And one way of doing this is to make the Palestinians police themselves. They need to look to each other and force the guns to be put down and the pens to be picked up.
"RAMALLAH, West Bank — When Abu Fahdi joined a Palestinian militant group and took up arms against Israel, he thought he was serving his people. Now he believes he did them only harm.
"We achieved nothing in all this time, and we lost so much," said the baby-faced 29-year-old, who, because of his status as a fugitive, insisted on being identified by a nickname meaning "father of Fahdi." "People hate us for that and wish we were dead."
"We have witnessed the destruction of Palestinian society — its civil institutions, its economy, its infrastructure," said Zuhair Manasra, the governor of Bethlehem. "The result has been a complete disaster for the Palestinians, at all levels. Now we must think how to rebuild."
This month, a poll commissioned by An Najah University in the northern West Bank city of Nablus — traditionally a stronghold of militants — found that more than two-thirds of Palestinians surveyed supported seeking a cease-fire arrangement with Israel. In the past, a similar proportion lent support to continued fighting."
I think that we may be witnessing the beginning of the breakdown of popular support for the Intifada. And that is very necessary and a good thing for all people. Because the best way to try and reduce the violence is to marginalize the terrorists.
And one way of doing this is to make the Palestinians police themselves. They need to look to each other and force the guns to be put down and the pens to be picked up.
"RAMALLAH, West Bank — When Abu Fahdi joined a Palestinian militant group and took up arms against Israel, he thought he was serving his people. Now he believes he did them only harm.
"We achieved nothing in all this time, and we lost so much," said the baby-faced 29-year-old, who, because of his status as a fugitive, insisted on being identified by a nickname meaning "father of Fahdi." "People hate us for that and wish we were dead."
"We have witnessed the destruction of Palestinian society — its civil institutions, its economy, its infrastructure," said Zuhair Manasra, the governor of Bethlehem. "The result has been a complete disaster for the Palestinians, at all levels. Now we must think how to rebuild."
This month, a poll commissioned by An Najah University in the northern West Bank city of Nablus — traditionally a stronghold of militants — found that more than two-thirds of Palestinians surveyed supported seeking a cease-fire arrangement with Israel. In the past, a similar proportion lent support to continued fighting."
"The Apprentice"- Fired Twice in One Week
By MARK McGUIRE, Staff writer First published: Friday, October 1, 2004
"For the second time in two days, Slingerlands native and "Apprentice" contestant Jennifer Crisafulli was apparently fired Thursday -- this time from her real job -- for remarks she made on the NBC reality show.
An official with the Manhattan firm Prudential Douglas Elliman said Thursday that Crisafulli, a 32-year-old real estate agent with the firm, would not be welcomed back because of comments she made on Wednesday night's episode of "The Apprentice."
Crisafulli, who now lives in Manhattan, made remarks that were perceived by some as anti-Semitic.
"We do not intend to have an individual in our organization who subscribes to this point of view," Steven James, Elliman's senior vice president and executive director of sales, told the Times Union on Thursday night. "They are not wanted. They are not needed."
But was she fired? James would not use the word, citing legal reasons, and Crisafulli said no one from Elliman contacted her Thursday. She did say it appeared she was about to be let go, if she hasn't been fired already."
For the full story use the link above. What this demonstrates is that you need to be very careful about what you say in public. Readers already know that I think that she was an idiot for speaking this way and that it was wrong.
As for whether she should have been fired by her "real time" job, well that is a different story. If you do things that are damaging to your employer you place yourself at great risk.
"For the second time in two days, Slingerlands native and "Apprentice" contestant Jennifer Crisafulli was apparently fired Thursday -- this time from her real job -- for remarks she made on the NBC reality show.
An official with the Manhattan firm Prudential Douglas Elliman said Thursday that Crisafulli, a 32-year-old real estate agent with the firm, would not be welcomed back because of comments she made on Wednesday night's episode of "The Apprentice."
Crisafulli, who now lives in Manhattan, made remarks that were perceived by some as anti-Semitic.
"We do not intend to have an individual in our organization who subscribes to this point of view," Steven James, Elliman's senior vice president and executive director of sales, told the Times Union on Thursday night. "They are not wanted. They are not needed."
But was she fired? James would not use the word, citing legal reasons, and Crisafulli said no one from Elliman contacted her Thursday. She did say it appeared she was about to be let go, if she hasn't been fired already."
For the full story use the link above. What this demonstrates is that you need to be very careful about what you say in public. Readers already know that I think that she was an idiot for speaking this way and that it was wrong.
As for whether she should have been fired by her "real time" job, well that is a different story. If you do things that are damaging to your employer you place yourself at great risk.
Kerry said that he would kill the terrorists
Did anyone notice that Kerry said that he would KILL THE TERRORISTS at least three times? And if so, what did you think?
Friday fatigue
It is Friday and my ass is dragging and so is my man servant. Wow, that makes me sound rather biblical. Who wants to read a verse of The Book of Jack. How about humming a bar or two of "When Jack somes Marching home" or that famous standard "Old Mac Tubby the fat old Maid."
I am beat, just worn out, tired and mentally drained. It is not unusual for me to feel this way. By Friday I am normally just tired. Some Friday nights I am so tired that I fall asleep by 9 PM. But lately I have been getting a second win around 10 or so.
No big plans for the weekend, just the usual family business and household chores. I am going to try and get to the gym and see if I can't find time to play a couple of games of basketball. Come to think of it, I better try and do that early in the day because I have to hit Home Depot to pick up some supplies to fix my gate. Just think, if I really did have an ass and a manservant they could go to the store and pick up the supplies for me.
Why, the old manservant could even repair the game himself, saving me time and aggravation. That is the ticket, now all I have to do is find myself a nice man servant.
I am beat, just worn out, tired and mentally drained. It is not unusual for me to feel this way. By Friday I am normally just tired. Some Friday nights I am so tired that I fall asleep by 9 PM. But lately I have been getting a second win around 10 or so.
No big plans for the weekend, just the usual family business and household chores. I am going to try and get to the gym and see if I can't find time to play a couple of games of basketball. Come to think of it, I better try and do that early in the day because I have to hit Home Depot to pick up some supplies to fix my gate. Just think, if I really did have an ass and a manservant they could go to the store and pick up the supplies for me.
Why, the old manservant could even repair the game himself, saving me time and aggravation. That is the ticket, now all I have to do is find myself a nice man servant.
Been Slashdotted?
Wired is running an article about a potential solution to being Slashdotted. Of course I haven't had to worry about this because Commander Taco and crew haven't the foggiest idea that I am around. :)
Thoughts about The Presidency
Americans typically refer to the POTUS as the leader of the Free World. This is a "title" that some Non-Americans really take issue with for multiple reasons, not the least of which is that it implies that their own countries are secondary "citzens of the world."
I'd like to try and get beyond the titles and the packaging. One of the qualities that you really want in a president or any leader for that matter is excellent communication skills. You'd like to have a great orator who can inspire you and make you feel like you are a part of a community. And not just any community, but something great, something special.
But the ability to communicate is not enough by itself. Ideally you'd like to have it stand alongside great thoughts and vision, as well as the ability to translate ideas into action. So it would be something like:
Ideas, Communicate, Action (translation of ideas into action)
I don't have time to make this a long post, so I am going to try and cut to the heart of the matter.
The Presidency is not a one person job. It is too large, too complex and too involved for any one person, regardless of their skills and ability.
So what you really need to be concerned with are the people that surround the president. Who are they, what skills do they have and are they a benefit or a hinderance to the president's ability to lead the country.
I have said many times that I am not a fan of Bush, but I am tired of listening to people gripe about his speech. I don't care if he garbles his words. I don't care if it is too colloquial. All I care about is what he is really saying. Does he speak about policy issues and his vision of the future, and if so, what is going to happen and where are we going.
Substance, not packaging is important.
I'd like to try and get beyond the titles and the packaging. One of the qualities that you really want in a president or any leader for that matter is excellent communication skills. You'd like to have a great orator who can inspire you and make you feel like you are a part of a community. And not just any community, but something great, something special.
But the ability to communicate is not enough by itself. Ideally you'd like to have it stand alongside great thoughts and vision, as well as the ability to translate ideas into action. So it would be something like:
Ideas, Communicate, Action (translation of ideas into action)
I don't have time to make this a long post, so I am going to try and cut to the heart of the matter.
The Presidency is not a one person job. It is too large, too complex and too involved for any one person, regardless of their skills and ability.
So what you really need to be concerned with are the people that surround the president. Who are they, what skills do they have and are they a benefit or a hinderance to the president's ability to lead the country.
I have said many times that I am not a fan of Bush, but I am tired of listening to people gripe about his speech. I don't care if he garbles his words. I don't care if it is too colloquial. All I care about is what he is really saying. Does he speak about policy issues and his vision of the future, and if so, what is going to happen and where are we going.
Substance, not packaging is important.
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