I'm tempted to purchase a new VCR tape (sorry, I'm so dated that I still don't use a DVD burner) and tape a few hours of MTV tomorrow, as it is their 25th anniversary of airing. As this is an important milestone, I would hope that they spend this day in retrospect of their roots, while learning from doing so.
I was 11 years old when they debuted August 1, 1982, and I became an instant junkie, watching it all the time. Over time, though, their producers must have become a little giddy and starting focusing on spots other than the music that made it famous. I really have not been a fan of anything the network has produced in the last ten years; Beavis & Butt-head being about the only original presentation I would watch.
Especially these days, critics wonder how MTV can still mean "Music Television", when you might have music videos for a two-hour stretch in the AM, and from then on be a teenager's soap opera channel. Many of these silly shows don't have anything to do with music. The material in these shows panders to the lowest common denominator, with cheap thrills & drunken parties every day with unreal characters swearing like sailors half the time.
"Reality Show" my rear end!
America spends its spare time wondering where they've lost touch with the young people in this country; why they're not as civilized as generations before them. Wanting your MTV these days differ greatly from my day watching them... the slogan meant something and was true to its roots without degrading anyone. Why do we see shows like this, when this country is striving to be so politically correct?
To their credit, MTV has aired some retrospective material on other anniversaries before. Something tells me, however, that the 25th anniversary will not promote enough shows that do justice to the original material. If this is so, I will credit certain "peer pressure", meaning the current generation can't stomach one day without their hip-hop soap operas.
Come on. I don't think that one day out of 365 is asking too much to deviate from the routine and give the original MTV generation (the ones responsible for helping establish it) what they want:
Their MTV, their way.
July 31, 2006
July 30, 2006
Putt-putt is meant to challenge
My father got interested in golf when I was in grade school and attempted to pass the love for the greens onto me. I never gained that love of the game as much as I did love for the quiet atmosphere of the big courses.
My talent in the real game was and is very limited, so I was introduced to mini putt-putts at an early age. I took to them right away, especially the ones on the family's yearly excursions to Niagara Falls (since Michigan didn't have many choices in mini-courses).
The enjoyment of those putt-putts never went away; I just haven't had time to putt that much. There are two courses within five miles of me, so I went to one this past week.
One thing for sure is that it's never fun going alone, probably because I'm used to someone being there with me. But what else takes out the fun is the actual construction of the holes: originality & fantasy are sorely lacking.
I remember those early years & smile. A wayward first putt - BONK - into the side of a windmill. A weak putt on the next hole - UGH - it didn't get up the slope and runs back past me. Getting that trick shot through the clown's mouth or between the elephant's hooves was funny no matter if I made it through or not. The obstacles only added to the game, and even for a semi-serious student like me, they presented a needed challenge. And finishing up the round on the 18th hole by shooting the ball through a Skee-Ball set of rings (free game) made me want another round without question. Shooting 70 in a round could still be considered under par.
The course I went to this week had none of it. Half the holes were straight shots; only a few had the slightest dog-leg curves. Obstacles? None. They put in heavier felt on some of the holes to simulate sand or rough, but in the most unreachable sections of the hole (read: only moronic putts will get you there). There's no challenge or anxious moments on those holes, which ends up explaining why every darn hole was a Par 2. You'll never end up getting below par unless you do hole-in-ones all the way. Plus, the actual course was stacked on four levels, so you had to walk stairs half the time.
It was just as I was leaving that I discovered there was another set of 18 holes on the opposite side of the property. I decided to glance at it because I was disappointed at throwing away $5 for a lack of challenge. Keeping the money was wise. Though the course was on one level, the holes were just as plain, save for one ramp - which could easily be bypassed and land you near the hole anyway.
I've spent part of the afternoon wondering if I think into this issue too much. Eh, I think not. Many youngsters out there don't care how they play or what they have to face. I was just one of the few that did, and the course quality & variety struck me back then.
There was simply no novelty in my visit last week - although that doesn't mean I'll be taking to the real links anytime soon. A man's gotta know his limitations.
My talent in the real game was and is very limited, so I was introduced to mini putt-putts at an early age. I took to them right away, especially the ones on the family's yearly excursions to Niagara Falls (since Michigan didn't have many choices in mini-courses).
The enjoyment of those putt-putts never went away; I just haven't had time to putt that much. There are two courses within five miles of me, so I went to one this past week.
One thing for sure is that it's never fun going alone, probably because I'm used to someone being there with me. But what else takes out the fun is the actual construction of the holes: originality & fantasy are sorely lacking.
I remember those early years & smile. A wayward first putt - BONK - into the side of a windmill. A weak putt on the next hole - UGH - it didn't get up the slope and runs back past me. Getting that trick shot through the clown's mouth or between the elephant's hooves was funny no matter if I made it through or not. The obstacles only added to the game, and even for a semi-serious student like me, they presented a needed challenge. And finishing up the round on the 18th hole by shooting the ball through a Skee-Ball set of rings (free game) made me want another round without question. Shooting 70 in a round could still be considered under par.
The course I went to this week had none of it. Half the holes were straight shots; only a few had the slightest dog-leg curves. Obstacles? None. They put in heavier felt on some of the holes to simulate sand or rough, but in the most unreachable sections of the hole (read: only moronic putts will get you there). There's no challenge or anxious moments on those holes, which ends up explaining why every darn hole was a Par 2. You'll never end up getting below par unless you do hole-in-ones all the way. Plus, the actual course was stacked on four levels, so you had to walk stairs half the time.
It was just as I was leaving that I discovered there was another set of 18 holes on the opposite side of the property. I decided to glance at it because I was disappointed at throwing away $5 for a lack of challenge. Keeping the money was wise. Though the course was on one level, the holes were just as plain, save for one ramp - which could easily be bypassed and land you near the hole anyway.
I've spent part of the afternoon wondering if I think into this issue too much. Eh, I think not. Many youngsters out there don't care how they play or what they have to face. I was just one of the few that did, and the course quality & variety struck me back then.
There was simply no novelty in my visit last week - although that doesn't mean I'll be taking to the real links anytime soon. A man's gotta know his limitations.
July 29, 2006
CEO: short of meal money
It happened again, like approximate clockwork: I wasn't paid for all the hours I put in on my last pay period, which included a sixteen-hour marathon last Wednesday. Situations like this, which happen four or five times a year, make it very hard to play the good soldier and be the versatile employee my company wants their workers to be.
Other people were shorted - one was missing 30 overtime hours on his paycheck. They basically drag this guy from one end of the well to the other: he signs up to work five hours overtime, they keep him for sixteen. All of it, written off on his check.
Most blame the corporate headquarters for not processing the overtime information. Overlooked, perhaps, might be the actual payroll company. Without divulging the name, this payroll processing company has handled paychecks on two of my other jobs some years back. And in each job, I remember going to my supervisor on more than one occassion, saying I was shorted on hours. You have to question the competency of this company in the long-term, since it totals over 10 years of payroll errors.
Whether their reasoning is fair or not, the other workers affected have every right to feel angry. The image of the fat CEO leaning back in their recliner is in everyone's minds as they feel the middle class is being squeezed out of society. Are the millionaires having that much trouble? Was the rent on their 40-room mansion late? Couldn't they afford pizza for a third time that day? Corporate greed begins at the top, and the only ones who can't see it are themselves. Just ask anybody in the pertroleum business.
I'll bet the CEO of the payroll company doesn't have a broken bathroom faucet to fix, like I do. It will take more juggling in order to fit that, as well as the rent, in for this month. Too bad there can't be citizens arrests of these CEOs in order to balance the scale & right the wrongs of our lives.
Other people were shorted - one was missing 30 overtime hours on his paycheck. They basically drag this guy from one end of the well to the other: he signs up to work five hours overtime, they keep him for sixteen. All of it, written off on his check.
Most blame the corporate headquarters for not processing the overtime information. Overlooked, perhaps, might be the actual payroll company. Without divulging the name, this payroll processing company has handled paychecks on two of my other jobs some years back. And in each job, I remember going to my supervisor on more than one occassion, saying I was shorted on hours. You have to question the competency of this company in the long-term, since it totals over 10 years of payroll errors.
Whether their reasoning is fair or not, the other workers affected have every right to feel angry. The image of the fat CEO leaning back in their recliner is in everyone's minds as they feel the middle class is being squeezed out of society. Are the millionaires having that much trouble? Was the rent on their 40-room mansion late? Couldn't they afford pizza for a third time that day? Corporate greed begins at the top, and the only ones who can't see it are themselves. Just ask anybody in the pertroleum business.
I'll bet the CEO of the payroll company doesn't have a broken bathroom faucet to fix, like I do. It will take more juggling in order to fit that, as well as the rent, in for this month. Too bad there can't be citizens arrests of these CEOs in order to balance the scale & right the wrongs of our lives.
July 28, 2006
No longer natural ability
That seems to be the rallying cry in sports these days.
Perfection in any field is virtually impossible to achieve, yet seems to always be the focus of a few misguided individuals. Barry Bonds & his baseball crew come to mind, as does Floyd Landis, recent "winner" of the Tour de France.
Why do sports figures see the need to be larger than life "superfreaks" who awe the fans just to get that Nike deal or the front-page headlines? If they played by the rules and relied on their natural abilities, they may still get a good headline or two. Apparently, the need for instant fame rivaling a Babe Ruth, Wilt Chamberlain or Walter Payton is too great to pass up, so steroids allegedly play a role in the athletes' plans.
The biggest black eye now is Landis' win at the Tour de France. I like parity in sports, so I began to get tired of Lance Armstrong winning year after year. Now another American wins the race, but it's barely over before the accusations start flying about how he took controlled substances which may have aided his win. Remember, only a few years ago, the same accusations were swirling around Armstrong.
If found guilty (which may or may not come out at a press conference he scheduled for today), that title should be stripped immediately and given to the runner-up; no questions asked. You were always taught in school that cheaters never win. Yes, he is innocent until proven guilty, but as is also taught in school, sooner or later you will be caught.
The time has come for people to rely on natural ability in sports. That's not necessarily a longshot if you think it over. Honesty in training & routine will truly give the impression that anyone can achieve inner glory and respect among their peers.
The genetic superfreaks probably take one glance at a photo of Babe Ruth in his prime and say "I don't want to end up like that!" Ruth was definitely not the physical specimen you would see in the fitness magazines. But his ability was raw & natural. In my opinion, he earned each one of those 715 home runs. A genetic superfreak overtook him, and now he is getting the headlines he thinks he so richly deserves - but examine those headlines closely. Chances are, they aren't the headlines he truly wants to read.
We've lost the glory days in which athletes really wanted to participate in sports for love of the game. I have a love for baseball since my early days in high school, and I wanted to try out for the high school baseball team. I thought better of it due to nerves, realizing I wouldn't be earning many scholarships. But the team would have gained an eager student to the game and would have promoted it as far as he could - and that's good public relations.
You always want to build support for the sport you play. That's "building", as in confidence & support -- not unearned muscle & ability.
Perfection in any field is virtually impossible to achieve, yet seems to always be the focus of a few misguided individuals. Barry Bonds & his baseball crew come to mind, as does Floyd Landis, recent "winner" of the Tour de France.
Why do sports figures see the need to be larger than life "superfreaks" who awe the fans just to get that Nike deal or the front-page headlines? If they played by the rules and relied on their natural abilities, they may still get a good headline or two. Apparently, the need for instant fame rivaling a Babe Ruth, Wilt Chamberlain or Walter Payton is too great to pass up, so steroids allegedly play a role in the athletes' plans.
The biggest black eye now is Landis' win at the Tour de France. I like parity in sports, so I began to get tired of Lance Armstrong winning year after year. Now another American wins the race, but it's barely over before the accusations start flying about how he took controlled substances which may have aided his win. Remember, only a few years ago, the same accusations were swirling around Armstrong.
If found guilty (which may or may not come out at a press conference he scheduled for today), that title should be stripped immediately and given to the runner-up; no questions asked. You were always taught in school that cheaters never win. Yes, he is innocent until proven guilty, but as is also taught in school, sooner or later you will be caught.
The time has come for people to rely on natural ability in sports. That's not necessarily a longshot if you think it over. Honesty in training & routine will truly give the impression that anyone can achieve inner glory and respect among their peers.
The genetic superfreaks probably take one glance at a photo of Babe Ruth in his prime and say "I don't want to end up like that!" Ruth was definitely not the physical specimen you would see in the fitness magazines. But his ability was raw & natural. In my opinion, he earned each one of those 715 home runs. A genetic superfreak overtook him, and now he is getting the headlines he thinks he so richly deserves - but examine those headlines closely. Chances are, they aren't the headlines he truly wants to read.
We've lost the glory days in which athletes really wanted to participate in sports for love of the game. I have a love for baseball since my early days in high school, and I wanted to try out for the high school baseball team. I thought better of it due to nerves, realizing I wouldn't be earning many scholarships. But the team would have gained an eager student to the game and would have promoted it as far as he could - and that's good public relations.
You always want to build support for the sport you play. That's "building", as in confidence & support -- not unearned muscle & ability.
July 26, 2006
All things should take holiday
My camping experience is very limited, being held to an overnight camp 100 miles north of me in 1979. What little I remember about it these days included the fact there were very few modern conveniences offered there, such as television & phones. Now at that age, I became homesick very easily, and the absence of those items made the feeling worse. I was glad to come home after just one night there.
But I wasn't old enough to realize that the lack of those conveniences were part of the point. You were near a lake with a beach, there were many sporting opportunities, times for arts & crafts, sing-a-longs, and even a good old-fashioned Tarzan Swing above one of the creeks. If I would take the trip years later, I might have appreciated the rustic settings more. These days, pure appreciation would be an understatement, as I always seek an escape in my mind from the hectic world of today.
A simple week at somewhere secluded would be a bonus - nobody to bother you, no signs of the outside world intruding. Many people own tents & campers these days, and camping is like a religion to most of them; the highlight of their summer. But just glancing through an article on campers recently, some of them decide to bring forced conveniences with them. Their work comes with them. Some Winnebagos are even seen with satellite TV dishes sticking out of them.
My question: How do you consider that a vacation? I've heard of some places advertising their grounds "with all the conveniences of home". Does it have to resemble home that closely? You could even argue that the term "vacation" has lost its primary definition in today's world.
Why does the world have to follow you wherever you go? I'm sure a workplace can survive one long weekend without the cellphones & briefcases accompanying the sleeping bags. But the satellite TV was something else. Perhaps it might be the first time a family really gets to experience a wooded setting, like my second grade camp. Don't you get away from the house to get away from the routine, which can mean kids in front of the TV non-stop? They can certainly watch "SpongeBob" at home... this is supposed to be a lot different than home. They should be taking advantage of the walking, hiking, nature appreciation & more.
I would like to think there's a shred of truth to the term "The Land That Time Forgot." But if people can't forget their routines & leave them at home, how should we expect "time" to forget anything?
We can't be on the clock forever.
But I wasn't old enough to realize that the lack of those conveniences were part of the point. You were near a lake with a beach, there were many sporting opportunities, times for arts & crafts, sing-a-longs, and even a good old-fashioned Tarzan Swing above one of the creeks. If I would take the trip years later, I might have appreciated the rustic settings more. These days, pure appreciation would be an understatement, as I always seek an escape in my mind from the hectic world of today.
A simple week at somewhere secluded would be a bonus - nobody to bother you, no signs of the outside world intruding. Many people own tents & campers these days, and camping is like a religion to most of them; the highlight of their summer. But just glancing through an article on campers recently, some of them decide to bring forced conveniences with them. Their work comes with them. Some Winnebagos are even seen with satellite TV dishes sticking out of them.
My question: How do you consider that a vacation? I've heard of some places advertising their grounds "with all the conveniences of home". Does it have to resemble home that closely? You could even argue that the term "vacation" has lost its primary definition in today's world.
Why does the world have to follow you wherever you go? I'm sure a workplace can survive one long weekend without the cellphones & briefcases accompanying the sleeping bags. But the satellite TV was something else. Perhaps it might be the first time a family really gets to experience a wooded setting, like my second grade camp. Don't you get away from the house to get away from the routine, which can mean kids in front of the TV non-stop? They can certainly watch "SpongeBob" at home... this is supposed to be a lot different than home. They should be taking advantage of the walking, hiking, nature appreciation & more.
I would like to think there's a shred of truth to the term "The Land That Time Forgot." But if people can't forget their routines & leave them at home, how should we expect "time" to forget anything?
We can't be on the clock forever.
July 25, 2006
New! Construction savings!
Figuratively speaking, especially if you are a Michigan resident, the state has been "attacked by the orange barrels" for about six years now. For the uninformed, it means the state has made up for over 30 years of inactivity by hurriedly fixing the deplorable roads in the state, which were once ranked the worst in the country.
The ultimate goal was to have 90% of the roads in passable shape by the year 2010. There is progress, but at ultimate costs: detours extrodinare and much driver headache. Don't even ask about conditions when the actual detours are being repaired. Freeways have received the most attention, and there are times entire stretches of freeway are closed for two or three days at a time as they commence around-the-clock work.
What bothers me is that sometimes, the road being entirely closed is not necessary. In a three-mile stretch, there may only be a half-mile area of "impact", meaning the rest of the road is passable. Why inconvenience drivers more than they already are? Note that I do not condone the old "cold-patch" with asphalt as is normally done here. I'm suggesting digging up the impact areas only, patch those with good ol' concrete, level it off, and have the road look like it did 30 years before, without the massive construction costs and headache.
It's happened on Michigan Avenue near my house this past June & July. At first I thought it was a complete makeover, which would spell trouble for that busy stretch of street. Within six weeks, however, the project was done, exactly the way I had just mentioned. I took the entire route to see for myself yesterday, and it was smoother than in cases where the road had been totally replaced.
Did the governor's office over-react when they put this "big fix" into effect? Not necessarily - I for one was tired of getting the suspension in my car adjusted every thousand miles. The over-reaction lies in how they go about fixing it; trying to be so perfect. In effect, the only thing perfect is the annoyed attitude drivers get over lane shifts & detours.
Are we taking pictures of these "success cases", people? I'm sure Michigan, cheap & poor as it is, would like encouragement to save money.
The ultimate goal was to have 90% of the roads in passable shape by the year 2010. There is progress, but at ultimate costs: detours extrodinare and much driver headache. Don't even ask about conditions when the actual detours are being repaired. Freeways have received the most attention, and there are times entire stretches of freeway are closed for two or three days at a time as they commence around-the-clock work.
What bothers me is that sometimes, the road being entirely closed is not necessary. In a three-mile stretch, there may only be a half-mile area of "impact", meaning the rest of the road is passable. Why inconvenience drivers more than they already are? Note that I do not condone the old "cold-patch" with asphalt as is normally done here. I'm suggesting digging up the impact areas only, patch those with good ol' concrete, level it off, and have the road look like it did 30 years before, without the massive construction costs and headache.
It's happened on Michigan Avenue near my house this past June & July. At first I thought it was a complete makeover, which would spell trouble for that busy stretch of street. Within six weeks, however, the project was done, exactly the way I had just mentioned. I took the entire route to see for myself yesterday, and it was smoother than in cases where the road had been totally replaced.
Did the governor's office over-react when they put this "big fix" into effect? Not necessarily - I for one was tired of getting the suspension in my car adjusted every thousand miles. The over-reaction lies in how they go about fixing it; trying to be so perfect. In effect, the only thing perfect is the annoyed attitude drivers get over lane shifts & detours.
Are we taking pictures of these "success cases", people? I'm sure Michigan, cheap & poor as it is, would like encouragement to save money.
July 23, 2006
Ending before the beginning
Whoever is in charge of determining sales seasons & other patterns at your typical department store has to sit with me sometime & have a chat. Especially this time of year, these patterns can upset me for certain reasons.
It's the age-old story: parents dread when school lets out for the summer. I've only seen it from one angle: as the student. Therefore, I always enjoyed my summers filled with nothing constructive. These were filled with fun times as I bonded with friends, got to know my parents more, and went on family vacations. I savored every moment of those times, especially as school drew near.
But what happened this year? A mere three weeks after the local schools let out, radio stations were already blasting "back to school" ads. That's right; some stores get into the back-to-school routine about the same time they're going through their graduation sales. Some of the joy of relaxation is muted almost from the time you leave that school building, as they want you to think of books & teachers three months before its time.
We're getting into the warm weather now, and the marquee at the mall is already describing an end-of-season clearance sale. The calendar says summer still has two months to run. Fall fashions debuting already? What if my summer outfit rots suddenly and I have to shop for replacements? I would look dumb in a fall coat this time of year.
Years ago, I would keep an annual log stating when the first Christmas commercial would air on TV. Once it was on September 18th. I remember the date vividly, because it wasn't every day I would run out of the house screaming "WHY?" Sure enough, Marshall Fields had their displays up & running just after I actually went back to school.
Why do we have to think three months ahead?
Perhaps I need to see life from that other angle: as a parent, before I can figure out what Madison Avenue is preaching. We are always taught to look ahead far enough in advance so we can prepare ourselves in any situation. But I still take issue about these campaigns cutting into the symbolic presence summer brings. This means we have to start thinking about snow scrapers, shovels, winter storm warnings and slush, when we should be thinking about where the neighborhood pool party is.
Kids, they say, grow up too fast because they're not given time to actually be kids. Thinking light-years ahead makes them play grown-up roles before they can handle it. People forget about the "here and now" in life; enjoying the moments as they happen.
I'm enjoying the summer of warm weather, which we don't get enough of in Michigan. I don't need an overpaid CEO of a department store telling me to think ahead.
It's not my brain they possess, after all.
It's the age-old story: parents dread when school lets out for the summer. I've only seen it from one angle: as the student. Therefore, I always enjoyed my summers filled with nothing constructive. These were filled with fun times as I bonded with friends, got to know my parents more, and went on family vacations. I savored every moment of those times, especially as school drew near.
But what happened this year? A mere three weeks after the local schools let out, radio stations were already blasting "back to school" ads. That's right; some stores get into the back-to-school routine about the same time they're going through their graduation sales. Some of the joy of relaxation is muted almost from the time you leave that school building, as they want you to think of books & teachers three months before its time.
We're getting into the warm weather now, and the marquee at the mall is already describing an end-of-season clearance sale. The calendar says summer still has two months to run. Fall fashions debuting already? What if my summer outfit rots suddenly and I have to shop for replacements? I would look dumb in a fall coat this time of year.
Years ago, I would keep an annual log stating when the first Christmas commercial would air on TV. Once it was on September 18th. I remember the date vividly, because it wasn't every day I would run out of the house screaming "WHY?" Sure enough, Marshall Fields had their displays up & running just after I actually went back to school.
Why do we have to think three months ahead?
Perhaps I need to see life from that other angle: as a parent, before I can figure out what Madison Avenue is preaching. We are always taught to look ahead far enough in advance so we can prepare ourselves in any situation. But I still take issue about these campaigns cutting into the symbolic presence summer brings. This means we have to start thinking about snow scrapers, shovels, winter storm warnings and slush, when we should be thinking about where the neighborhood pool party is.
Kids, they say, grow up too fast because they're not given time to actually be kids. Thinking light-years ahead makes them play grown-up roles before they can handle it. People forget about the "here and now" in life; enjoying the moments as they happen.
I'm enjoying the summer of warm weather, which we don't get enough of in Michigan. I don't need an overpaid CEO of a department store telling me to think ahead.
It's not my brain they possess, after all.
Household happenings howl hilarity
You may actually see a typo or two in this entry. The computer configuration has been changed yet again, as we are renting another new, flat-screen TV through which the computer runs now. In four years here, this is the sixth television in the room.
All these TVs were courtesy of my roommate, who has a thing for rent-to-own places. If history repeats itself, this new TV will also be gone by October and he'll be left grappling for another portable one to take its place - simply because he cannot afford the payments. I do not attempt to help or intervene because: 1. He makes the decisions on them, and 2. I am happy with my bedroom television and do not feel the need to change it with the seasons.
Cosmetically, the living room is undergoing a metamorhposis. Infrastructure-wise, it remains the same: slowly deteriorating.
I've rented the last three places I've stayed, but this seems to be the first one that doesn't require strict inspections every few years. In Lincoln Park, I remember being upset at the inspector for intentionally finding defects that neither me nor my ex-girlfriend remember seeing. Hairline cracks in the basement cinder blocks are going to void the house? But, come to think of it, the house didn't match any other one on the block, and perhaps the city wanted to demolish the house to improve neighborhood character. I moved out later, so I improved my character.
The next residence only lasted eight months, until I was told of the place we're at now. But in one inspection, you'd think a billboard screaming "quarantine" would have been placed there. Honestly, he didn't take care of the place and the city was on him about it.
In ways, we're lucky to have an absentee landlord situation. If he stays away to give us space, that's fine... but since it's his house, wouldn't he be interested in finding out its condition? Not under pressure by the city to prep the house for inspection, some things are spiraling out of control.
The front porch, for instance. Now here's some cinder block gone to pot. Everything to the right of the porch step has disintegrated just since we moved in. He's been told twice about the porch, and claims he'll get back to it. Hasn't happened yet. Central air was promised two years ago and, to this day, remains half-installed. The backyard water spigot is fed by a PVC water hose. PVC and no copper? Shake your head with me. I'm on my third different pipe in four years and it's already springing holes. And don't even ask me about the purple walls in the living room (I'm sorry, I guess it's called lavender).
I don't do anything to the house myself, simply because it's not my own. I leave it to the owner, but you wouldn't think anyone owns this house, since he's never around. He does say he seldom stops by, because we take such good care of the house, he doesn't have to worry about us.
But infrastructure maintenance is a must. At this rate, the house will slowly turn into a scene from inner Detroit.
All these TVs were courtesy of my roommate, who has a thing for rent-to-own places. If history repeats itself, this new TV will also be gone by October and he'll be left grappling for another portable one to take its place - simply because he cannot afford the payments. I do not attempt to help or intervene because: 1. He makes the decisions on them, and 2. I am happy with my bedroom television and do not feel the need to change it with the seasons.
Cosmetically, the living room is undergoing a metamorhposis. Infrastructure-wise, it remains the same: slowly deteriorating.
I've rented the last three places I've stayed, but this seems to be the first one that doesn't require strict inspections every few years. In Lincoln Park, I remember being upset at the inspector for intentionally finding defects that neither me nor my ex-girlfriend remember seeing. Hairline cracks in the basement cinder blocks are going to void the house? But, come to think of it, the house didn't match any other one on the block, and perhaps the city wanted to demolish the house to improve neighborhood character. I moved out later, so I improved my character.
The next residence only lasted eight months, until I was told of the place we're at now. But in one inspection, you'd think a billboard screaming "quarantine" would have been placed there. Honestly, he didn't take care of the place and the city was on him about it.
In ways, we're lucky to have an absentee landlord situation. If he stays away to give us space, that's fine... but since it's his house, wouldn't he be interested in finding out its condition? Not under pressure by the city to prep the house for inspection, some things are spiraling out of control.
The front porch, for instance. Now here's some cinder block gone to pot. Everything to the right of the porch step has disintegrated just since we moved in. He's been told twice about the porch, and claims he'll get back to it. Hasn't happened yet. Central air was promised two years ago and, to this day, remains half-installed. The backyard water spigot is fed by a PVC water hose. PVC and no copper? Shake your head with me. I'm on my third different pipe in four years and it's already springing holes. And don't even ask me about the purple walls in the living room (I'm sorry, I guess it's called lavender).
I don't do anything to the house myself, simply because it's not my own. I leave it to the owner, but you wouldn't think anyone owns this house, since he's never around. He does say he seldom stops by, because we take such good care of the house, he doesn't have to worry about us.
But infrastructure maintenance is a must. At this rate, the house will slowly turn into a scene from inner Detroit.
July 21, 2006
Where does this take him?
I've held my job at the airport for five years this coming August; longer than any job I've had before, and it's an understatement to say I don't like it. I am not a loafer by trait, but when you consider the amount of labor & frustration the job entails, the urge to loaf or call in sick pops up more often than not.
Pure logic, coupled with adult thinking, keeps me there: where else will I go with no safety net? Decisions made on the spur of the moment have to be kept in check; knee-jerk reactions to unpleasant realities (overtime galore) can be costly. We had one today, and for a totally illogical reason.
What scratches the head even more is that this person did not display these frustrations at any time during his tenure; he was one of the easier people to get along with and definitely was well-liked. He was very flexible and often covered work shifts for those who could not come in. It's perplexing, to say the least.
A plane was due in three hours later than usual last night, and the supervisor placed the guy's name on the roster for that last flight. The disdain was uncharacteristically evident in his face. He had plans for last night, which he now had to cancel due to operational needs, and he was not taking it well. He stewed more when others went up and teased him about it. I can understand how upset you can be if others rub it into you, but his productivity went down from that point.
Long story short, he ended up placing someone else's name in his place on the duty roster without letting the supervisor know. Caught at his own game, his frustrations got the best of him, and he quit on the spot. Many questions were asked of the remaining workers (they may ask me later today), and everyone was wondering where this guy's logic was.
Every job requires a degree of responsibility, whether we like it or not. And in the airline business, overtime is common because we must service the planes that come in late. Sometimes the sacrifices to one's personal life seem overbearing, but they must be dealt with. These must have been plans to meet the queen or something, if work couldn't get in the way. What was wrong with reshuffling or rescheduling plans?
He shot himself in the foot, and truth be told, I don't know if I should feel sorry for him like others say they did. If he had communicated with his supervisor before scratching his name off the roster, they would have allowed the switch to take place. One positive talk away from actually getting his way - but it never entered the equation.
I always have to watch myself for mental lapses at work (the physical lapses are a daily occurrence and they know it). Taking a time-out is known to be beneficial and this would have helped the guy. Instead, he shut his mind and went with his gut, which ended up getting punched. Now he has no job to come to tomorrow... and no one dares approach a day knowing there's no money coming in.
It means we're another guy short, which means more work for me and more overtime. I roll my eyes, sigh, and punch the pillow at night, but if it's meant to be, so be it. It's a part of life that can't be shut out if you want to make a good name for yourself and your resume.
True friends understand the importance of working your job, and not your emotional reactions to it. If not, it may be time for new friends.
Pure logic, coupled with adult thinking, keeps me there: where else will I go with no safety net? Decisions made on the spur of the moment have to be kept in check; knee-jerk reactions to unpleasant realities (overtime galore) can be costly. We had one today, and for a totally illogical reason.
What scratches the head even more is that this person did not display these frustrations at any time during his tenure; he was one of the easier people to get along with and definitely was well-liked. He was very flexible and often covered work shifts for those who could not come in. It's perplexing, to say the least.
A plane was due in three hours later than usual last night, and the supervisor placed the guy's name on the roster for that last flight. The disdain was uncharacteristically evident in his face. He had plans for last night, which he now had to cancel due to operational needs, and he was not taking it well. He stewed more when others went up and teased him about it. I can understand how upset you can be if others rub it into you, but his productivity went down from that point.
Long story short, he ended up placing someone else's name in his place on the duty roster without letting the supervisor know. Caught at his own game, his frustrations got the best of him, and he quit on the spot. Many questions were asked of the remaining workers (they may ask me later today), and everyone was wondering where this guy's logic was.
Every job requires a degree of responsibility, whether we like it or not. And in the airline business, overtime is common because we must service the planes that come in late. Sometimes the sacrifices to one's personal life seem overbearing, but they must be dealt with. These must have been plans to meet the queen or something, if work couldn't get in the way. What was wrong with reshuffling or rescheduling plans?
He shot himself in the foot, and truth be told, I don't know if I should feel sorry for him like others say they did. If he had communicated with his supervisor before scratching his name off the roster, they would have allowed the switch to take place. One positive talk away from actually getting his way - but it never entered the equation.
I always have to watch myself for mental lapses at work (the physical lapses are a daily occurrence and they know it). Taking a time-out is known to be beneficial and this would have helped the guy. Instead, he shut his mind and went with his gut, which ended up getting punched. Now he has no job to come to tomorrow... and no one dares approach a day knowing there's no money coming in.
It means we're another guy short, which means more work for me and more overtime. I roll my eyes, sigh, and punch the pillow at night, but if it's meant to be, so be it. It's a part of life that can't be shut out if you want to make a good name for yourself and your resume.
True friends understand the importance of working your job, and not your emotional reactions to it. If not, it may be time for new friends.
July 20, 2006
Loan given, loan taken
This is not the first time I've supposedly been approved for a loan... but it's the first time the approval is legitimate! Allbeit, money is not involved.
I've been loaned to the afternoon shift at work for the next month, until August 15th. This coming on the heels of a seventeen-hour shift at work yesterday, which had its share of drama to be sure.
Word had trickled down that management now had the right to force workers to stay on a 24-hour shift if the need ever arised. Five of us got together in my department and it took but ten seconds to declare that a state law had to prohibit that. Immediately, three co-workers were on the phone with various state government officials in an attempt to prove their theory correct. After all, the old work handbook did state that workers couldn't be "mando'd" more than 90 minutes per day.
The official ruling? Michigan no longer has a rule limiting overtime requests. If the company (or any other company) wants to keep us around the clock, there's no rule protecting worker rights in this case. I knew there had to be a rule in there somewhere, but evidentally, it was quietly struck down and the situation was buried in the back page of the newspaper. You have to wonder if the state really cares about its workers; all the news articles pointing to our bad economy would have you coming up with an automatic "no".
With the work we do, which is very manual-labor-intensive, what's going to happen when we work 100 hours per week? Reflexes are dulled, judgement is impaired, and what happens if we run over someone at work due to those factors and are fired for it?
I can smell a potential lawsuit coming a mile away.
But the supervisors know that 20 hours' work performance per day is beyond my capabilities right now; hence the loan to afternoons. They are six workers shy and they said my moving to the shift would prove beneficial to both parties. I have mixed reactions to the move right now, since this means being outside for two hours at night, which I hate.
You can't argue with Saturday/Sunday off, though. It's as normal a schedule as the airport will allow!
I've been loaned to the afternoon shift at work for the next month, until August 15th. This coming on the heels of a seventeen-hour shift at work yesterday, which had its share of drama to be sure.
Word had trickled down that management now had the right to force workers to stay on a 24-hour shift if the need ever arised. Five of us got together in my department and it took but ten seconds to declare that a state law had to prohibit that. Immediately, three co-workers were on the phone with various state government officials in an attempt to prove their theory correct. After all, the old work handbook did state that workers couldn't be "mando'd" more than 90 minutes per day.
The official ruling? Michigan no longer has a rule limiting overtime requests. If the company (or any other company) wants to keep us around the clock, there's no rule protecting worker rights in this case. I knew there had to be a rule in there somewhere, but evidentally, it was quietly struck down and the situation was buried in the back page of the newspaper. You have to wonder if the state really cares about its workers; all the news articles pointing to our bad economy would have you coming up with an automatic "no".
With the work we do, which is very manual-labor-intensive, what's going to happen when we work 100 hours per week? Reflexes are dulled, judgement is impaired, and what happens if we run over someone at work due to those factors and are fired for it?
I can smell a potential lawsuit coming a mile away.
But the supervisors know that 20 hours' work performance per day is beyond my capabilities right now; hence the loan to afternoons. They are six workers shy and they said my moving to the shift would prove beneficial to both parties. I have mixed reactions to the move right now, since this means being outside for two hours at night, which I hate.
You can't argue with Saturday/Sunday off, though. It's as normal a schedule as the airport will allow!
Area declared "Skid Row"
About a month back, I wrote concerning a man who I thought was faking his case and trying to extort money from myself, as well as other passers-by... where my refusal to "help him" had me declared unchristian.
I got another of those people yesterday morning. Boy, they come out of the woodwork and never seem to stop these days.
Immediately upon getting out of the car, this overweight man who actually looked healthy enough passed me a long-winded note, which stated he had just been released from the local hospital (here we go again) after a "horrific" car accident, and that he needed a total of $118.00 worth of bus fare to get home to Huntsville, AL. He claimed to have $83 of it but needed the passers-by to contribute the other $35.
Why was it in a note? It claimed that the accident claimed his ability to talk verbally, and everything had to be done via notes or mime.
I told him I was sorry, but after I bought my items at the Speedway gas station, that I would be broke. He snatched the note from me and wrote "every little bit counts". Well, this was proof positive that he wasn't deaf, which meant he should've been able to talk. I repeated what I said and went into the store. There were three others in line to get gas and he immediately went to each of them - I was able to duck out of there when he was on the other end of the property.
A recent, horrific accident? There was not one bandage on this guy. There was no limp in his walk, no arm in a sling, no facial cuts or even bruises. Just the fact that he couldn't talk, supposedly. In fact, in chatting with the clerk inside, she told me he tried to hit her up for money, and that followed a lady from a few days before who blatantly tried to hit up for money to support her cocaine habit (fortunately, the police nabbed her).
I almost suggested the clerk call the police again, but since I didn't want to be saddled with another problem, I left the matter to them because I had a job to go to.
This is crazy. This is an area surrounding the nation's 11th busiest airport, with police stations within a mile, the Airport Authority within half a mile, and this area appears as run-down as a classic skid row area. And to think that just to the north of this area, planners & architects are planning a multi-million dollar aeropark, casino and horse raceway?
As mentioned above, today I begin afternoon shifts again. Hopefully, the silver lining strikes in the form of no more confrontations like this. I'll have the heart to help the proper person... but sadly, these people are so far removed.
I got another of those people yesterday morning. Boy, they come out of the woodwork and never seem to stop these days.
Immediately upon getting out of the car, this overweight man who actually looked healthy enough passed me a long-winded note, which stated he had just been released from the local hospital (here we go again) after a "horrific" car accident, and that he needed a total of $118.00 worth of bus fare to get home to Huntsville, AL. He claimed to have $83 of it but needed the passers-by to contribute the other $35.
Why was it in a note? It claimed that the accident claimed his ability to talk verbally, and everything had to be done via notes or mime.
I told him I was sorry, but after I bought my items at the Speedway gas station, that I would be broke. He snatched the note from me and wrote "every little bit counts". Well, this was proof positive that he wasn't deaf, which meant he should've been able to talk. I repeated what I said and went into the store. There were three others in line to get gas and he immediately went to each of them - I was able to duck out of there when he was on the other end of the property.
A recent, horrific accident? There was not one bandage on this guy. There was no limp in his walk, no arm in a sling, no facial cuts or even bruises. Just the fact that he couldn't talk, supposedly. In fact, in chatting with the clerk inside, she told me he tried to hit her up for money, and that followed a lady from a few days before who blatantly tried to hit up for money to support her cocaine habit (fortunately, the police nabbed her).
I almost suggested the clerk call the police again, but since I didn't want to be saddled with another problem, I left the matter to them because I had a job to go to.
This is crazy. This is an area surrounding the nation's 11th busiest airport, with police stations within a mile, the Airport Authority within half a mile, and this area appears as run-down as a classic skid row area. And to think that just to the north of this area, planners & architects are planning a multi-million dollar aeropark, casino and horse raceway?
As mentioned above, today I begin afternoon shifts again. Hopefully, the silver lining strikes in the form of no more confrontations like this. I'll have the heart to help the proper person... but sadly, these people are so far removed.
July 18, 2006
Revisiting old travel literature
Now's probably as good a time as any.
It was an immediate family tradition for the three of us to head to Niagara Falls every July for almost 20 consecutive years. It was the only place my mother could get away to in order to truly relax. She had much stress in her life in later years, and was thankful for that 5 or 6-day getaway from the regular routine. As I entered my teens and began picking up on the local history at Niagara, I grew a deep appreciation for the area and its relaxation potential.
We went to Myrtle Beach twice & Orlando once. The days were crammed with stuff to do and places to see. More time was spent napping in-between outings than we probably cared to believe. However, being to Niagara Falls as often as we were, we no longer branded ourselves "tourists", but "vacationers". That's about the highest compliment which can be paid to those who enjoy getaways.
Unfortunately, times changed for me and as a result, I've only been to Niagara twice since my mom's illness in 1997-98. That would be unheard of a decade ago, but the responsibilities of real life came upon me by then, and I just couldn't spare the time to get away. I now seem to be on a 3-year cycle of going there (2000, 2003), and this year would be the year to go.
I only hope I can, if for nothing more than to snap me out of the funk I've been in for years. At least now, unlike then, I have a car, and I'm beginning to trust it more. I even laugh when I tell friends that a 5-hour trip to Niagara will take me ten hours, because I'll be stopping to rest every half-hour. Now, more than ever, it would definitely be worth it.
So I'm checking out all the Niagara sites (and there are some darn good ones out there), as well as pulling out old travel literature from the 1960s & 70s my parents collected. Those simple brochures take me back to a simpler time & place where you actually didn't have to worry about life.
Perfect cure for the worry-wart in me.
------------------------
Addenum to previous post: I'm happy to say my friend from work is not going to Lebanon after all. It didn't even take my convincing him; he was able to watch the news himself & find out that the entire area is one dangerous place. I fear even opening a newspaper now. In 35 years of walking around the planet and in 30 years of reading newspapers, I can never remember so much bad news & terrifying images squeezed into a single edition.
It was an immediate family tradition for the three of us to head to Niagara Falls every July for almost 20 consecutive years. It was the only place my mother could get away to in order to truly relax. She had much stress in her life in later years, and was thankful for that 5 or 6-day getaway from the regular routine. As I entered my teens and began picking up on the local history at Niagara, I grew a deep appreciation for the area and its relaxation potential.
We went to Myrtle Beach twice & Orlando once. The days were crammed with stuff to do and places to see. More time was spent napping in-between outings than we probably cared to believe. However, being to Niagara Falls as often as we were, we no longer branded ourselves "tourists", but "vacationers". That's about the highest compliment which can be paid to those who enjoy getaways.
Unfortunately, times changed for me and as a result, I've only been to Niagara twice since my mom's illness in 1997-98. That would be unheard of a decade ago, but the responsibilities of real life came upon me by then, and I just couldn't spare the time to get away. I now seem to be on a 3-year cycle of going there (2000, 2003), and this year would be the year to go.
I only hope I can, if for nothing more than to snap me out of the funk I've been in for years. At least now, unlike then, I have a car, and I'm beginning to trust it more. I even laugh when I tell friends that a 5-hour trip to Niagara will take me ten hours, because I'll be stopping to rest every half-hour. Now, more than ever, it would definitely be worth it.
So I'm checking out all the Niagara sites (and there are some darn good ones out there), as well as pulling out old travel literature from the 1960s & 70s my parents collected. Those simple brochures take me back to a simpler time & place where you actually didn't have to worry about life.
Perfect cure for the worry-wart in me.
------------------------
Addenum to previous post: I'm happy to say my friend from work is not going to Lebanon after all. It didn't even take my convincing him; he was able to watch the news himself & find out that the entire area is one dangerous place. I fear even opening a newspaper now. In 35 years of walking around the planet and in 30 years of reading newspapers, I can never remember so much bad news & terrifying images squeezed into a single edition.
Darn those on commission
Without getting into the specifics of why, I have not been a very mobile person the past few years. They say as you get older, you lose joy & pleasure for the things that made you smile. I'm not saying I'm older than dirt or that life will become impossible, but I have slowed down over time and (as detailed elsewhere), I don't make it out to events or places like I used to.
When I do go out, it's usually solo as most of my friends are either just work associates, have busy schedules of their own, or live too far out of the way. I don't really go out to socialize, either: most of the time, I'd rather stay out of people's way and stick to what I need to do.
So imagine my indignation this morning, when I did some forced travelling to avoid being stuck with the roommate. I went to three stores: Borders Express (bookstore), GameStop (which sells PC games) and OfficeMax. Not even five steps into each place, and I had a salesperson on me from the get go. "Can I help you find something?" "Do you need me to direct you someplace?"
All the fun has gone out of browsing around. Though I gravitate to the humor, sports & local history sections of the bookstore, I never have a specific book in mind. I don't need to feel pressure to buy a certain book or check out a certain section. I can be my own guide in these stores - the sections are clearly labeled - and if I just want to read for a few minutes to put my mind at ease, that should be a customer's right. When I can't go at the slow pace I want to, it spoils the entire trip.
Gaming stores? I don't get catalogs in the mail saying what's hot out there, so I never go in with a certain game in mind. I know which games I don't want, but attacking me within three feet of the store entrance will set my mind into unnecessary overdrive. If I want overdrive, I'll go to work on my days off!
The funny thing about office supply stores is that I used to be mesmerized by them, thinking of how I had to have a place like this to own when I grew up. I used to hold a semi-professional job years ago and always browsed for things I thought could fix up my office space. Those days are past, and I went in, this time knowing exactly what I wanted. But I wanted the right to browse the aisles & find what I needed.
Nope. The attack came from no less than two hungry salespeople just feet inside the door, and I just wanted to hide and scream, "What happened to the innocence of browsing?"
Most stores now seem to teach their employees the new-car showroom brand of helping people (read: commission pay). You can never expect shopping for a car to be low-stress, even if money is not the object. They never seem to be satisfied with a customer just exploring; each customer must be a productive customer & have an agenda already figured out.
That, in my opinion, is grating in regular stores, and keeps arming me with the constant excuses to stay home more & more.
Darn those people on commission - and to the ones that train them. There's no leisurely shopping at your local malls anymore.
When I do go out, it's usually solo as most of my friends are either just work associates, have busy schedules of their own, or live too far out of the way. I don't really go out to socialize, either: most of the time, I'd rather stay out of people's way and stick to what I need to do.
So imagine my indignation this morning, when I did some forced travelling to avoid being stuck with the roommate. I went to three stores: Borders Express (bookstore), GameStop (which sells PC games) and OfficeMax. Not even five steps into each place, and I had a salesperson on me from the get go. "Can I help you find something?" "Do you need me to direct you someplace?"
All the fun has gone out of browsing around. Though I gravitate to the humor, sports & local history sections of the bookstore, I never have a specific book in mind. I don't need to feel pressure to buy a certain book or check out a certain section. I can be my own guide in these stores - the sections are clearly labeled - and if I just want to read for a few minutes to put my mind at ease, that should be a customer's right. When I can't go at the slow pace I want to, it spoils the entire trip.
Gaming stores? I don't get catalogs in the mail saying what's hot out there, so I never go in with a certain game in mind. I know which games I don't want, but attacking me within three feet of the store entrance will set my mind into unnecessary overdrive. If I want overdrive, I'll go to work on my days off!
The funny thing about office supply stores is that I used to be mesmerized by them, thinking of how I had to have a place like this to own when I grew up. I used to hold a semi-professional job years ago and always browsed for things I thought could fix up my office space. Those days are past, and I went in, this time knowing exactly what I wanted. But I wanted the right to browse the aisles & find what I needed.
Nope. The attack came from no less than two hungry salespeople just feet inside the door, and I just wanted to hide and scream, "What happened to the innocence of browsing?"
Most stores now seem to teach their employees the new-car showroom brand of helping people (read: commission pay). You can never expect shopping for a car to be low-stress, even if money is not the object. They never seem to be satisfied with a customer just exploring; each customer must be a productive customer & have an agenda already figured out.
That, in my opinion, is grating in regular stores, and keeps arming me with the constant excuses to stay home more & more.
Darn those people on commission - and to the ones that train them. There's no leisurely shopping at your local malls anymore.
July 15, 2006
In the name of a friend's safety
The federal government has really been gung-ho in putting their own mark on the long-volatile Middle East situation since they were elected in 2000. The mark they have provided is obviously not the mark we were hoping to see; then again, should we be surprised? "Blissful Ignorance" seems to rule the day where our government is concerned, and a lot of breakdowns happening recently could probably be traced to some ill-advised decisions, made without much thought and plenty of prejudice.
My friend & co-worker came from Lebanon and he has been planning a trip back to see his family since April. Though I am sure he's aware of the bad news coming from the area this past week, he is undeterred. Each day the news seems to get worse from there, and we all fear for his safety. He shrugs it off as saying it's no big deal, but we know better.
I'm not saying that a series of events take precedence over the importance of family, and I know he is concerned about them more than ever. I only wish the timing of his visit was more, well, timely.
I will only get so far into the argument to say that whatever happens in the Middle East is meant to happen - as long as our country is not negatively involved in any way. Perhaps diplomacy & democracy are not seen in the same light there as we see it here. We value democracy and it is our backbone. The other countries cannot or choose not to accept it - rights they have as an existing country. Bad blood has been shed in neighboring countries for generations and it will likely continue. Perhaps they need to be left alone with their theories for survival, and their ways of taking care of their own people, and the enemy.
I always hated the U.S. being referred to as the "world's watchdog". Our government isn't even watching what's happening in its own territory.
My friend & co-worker came from Lebanon and he has been planning a trip back to see his family since April. Though I am sure he's aware of the bad news coming from the area this past week, he is undeterred. Each day the news seems to get worse from there, and we all fear for his safety. He shrugs it off as saying it's no big deal, but we know better.
I'm not saying that a series of events take precedence over the importance of family, and I know he is concerned about them more than ever. I only wish the timing of his visit was more, well, timely.
I will only get so far into the argument to say that whatever happens in the Middle East is meant to happen - as long as our country is not negatively involved in any way. Perhaps diplomacy & democracy are not seen in the same light there as we see it here. We value democracy and it is our backbone. The other countries cannot or choose not to accept it - rights they have as an existing country. Bad blood has been shed in neighboring countries for generations and it will likely continue. Perhaps they need to be left alone with their theories for survival, and their ways of taking care of their own people, and the enemy.
I always hated the U.S. being referred to as the "world's watchdog". Our government isn't even watching what's happening in its own territory.
July 13, 2006
Paying for place, not name
There's very little chance that you know a real-life millionaire. Without a doubt, however, there's no question we wouldn't mind knowing one, or experiencing their lifestyles. Having "money to burn" sounds impossible even when thought of seriously, but some people turn out to have all the luck.
Say that you know a millionaire, however, and want to know where they spend their excess loot. Watch, as none of them are likely to tell you they spend their money on airport food or other concessions. It will take too big a slice out of their pie!
Airlines get the bulk of their money by having airplanes land. This still leaves a gap for other functions to help contribute, and I understand the gap being there. But to see some of these prices are absolutely ridiculous.
Just for kicks, I took a look at the display next door to National Coney Island, where I get my dose of french fries. A 16 ounce bottle of water that normally costs about $1.59 goes for $2.39 if you're flying. Double it to 32 ounces and you're paying over $3.00. (Hint, hint: there's a drinking fountain next to the store for free.)
A fruit basket with small slices of fruit: $2.99. Milk: $1.79 for 12 ounces. Compare that with the $1.99 discount cost I can get at the drugstore for a gallon, and $1.10 for the same thing in the vending machine downstairs. Juice: $2.29 for the same amount. Apples amount to $2.00 apiece, and there's been no nationwide shortage of apples that I can recall.
If you smoke, forget it. A pack of regular smokes goes for $7.50, and that's BEFORE tax. Couple that with the ban on lighters, and you'll want to quit. A regular large souvenir T-shirt can fetch as high as $20.00. Is this giving you a headache? Well, be prepared to spend $2.00 for two aspirin and a plastic cup that leaks water every which way.
Even when I made a stop in Chicago recently and saw an actual bakery in the concourse, they wanted over $3.00 for one measly slice of cake. I didn't take it, but can bet all I would have received was a sliver that would barely settle the stomach. I can get a whole cake with all the slices I want for only $5.00 more at Kroger.
The airport prides itself on saying that travellers need to be well-prepared for their journey. Part of this preparation undoubtedly lies with this: Eat, drink & smoke all you can at home and at your destination. Without sacrificing your wallet, arm, leg or first-born, there's no middleman in the battle for your personal satisfaction at the airport.
And hopefully, no riches-to-rags stories to write home about in the near future.
Say that you know a millionaire, however, and want to know where they spend their excess loot. Watch, as none of them are likely to tell you they spend their money on airport food or other concessions. It will take too big a slice out of their pie!
Airlines get the bulk of their money by having airplanes land. This still leaves a gap for other functions to help contribute, and I understand the gap being there. But to see some of these prices are absolutely ridiculous.
Just for kicks, I took a look at the display next door to National Coney Island, where I get my dose of french fries. A 16 ounce bottle of water that normally costs about $1.59 goes for $2.39 if you're flying. Double it to 32 ounces and you're paying over $3.00. (Hint, hint: there's a drinking fountain next to the store for free.)
A fruit basket with small slices of fruit: $2.99. Milk: $1.79 for 12 ounces. Compare that with the $1.99 discount cost I can get at the drugstore for a gallon, and $1.10 for the same thing in the vending machine downstairs. Juice: $2.29 for the same amount. Apples amount to $2.00 apiece, and there's been no nationwide shortage of apples that I can recall.
If you smoke, forget it. A pack of regular smokes goes for $7.50, and that's BEFORE tax. Couple that with the ban on lighters, and you'll want to quit. A regular large souvenir T-shirt can fetch as high as $20.00. Is this giving you a headache? Well, be prepared to spend $2.00 for two aspirin and a plastic cup that leaks water every which way.
Even when I made a stop in Chicago recently and saw an actual bakery in the concourse, they wanted over $3.00 for one measly slice of cake. I didn't take it, but can bet all I would have received was a sliver that would barely settle the stomach. I can get a whole cake with all the slices I want for only $5.00 more at Kroger.
The airport prides itself on saying that travellers need to be well-prepared for their journey. Part of this preparation undoubtedly lies with this: Eat, drink & smoke all you can at home and at your destination. Without sacrificing your wallet, arm, leg or first-born, there's no middleman in the battle for your personal satisfaction at the airport.
And hopefully, no riches-to-rags stories to write home about in the near future.
Long live Sanders' comeback
Speaking of cakes (up above)... As a lifelong Detroiter, what a good feeling for me to find out one of the true Detroit staples, Sanders confectionaries, is beginning to make a comeback.
We still have Awrey Bakeries in the area as a mass-producer of baked goods (which have likely been seen all over the country), but Sanders was strictly Detroit and served strictly on a mom-and-pop level, not a business-like, chain-store one which shows no individuality.
Sanders has been in existence since 1871 and has never really gone away despite suffering through a costly bankruptcy and store foreclosure in the early 1990s. They were the last of a long-since-gone breed of soda fountains. Nowadays you find those mostly in re-created diners which teach history, not serve food.
They had some of the best ice cream, and more than a few people from Michigan will tell you about their classic chocolate "bumpy cake". Any cake they made was good, and you knew they made it fresh. I frequented the Sanders in Southgate for many years in the 70s and 80s. Every birthday cake I had from 1972 to 1989 was a Sanders cake - no exceptions. I can remember my mother placing the order every March and I was always so excited.
We lost a lot of culture when Sanders scaled back considerably; as of recently you might find their hot fudge or an occassional box of ice cream, but that was it. But the chain is making a comeback; slowly but surely. They have a location in Livonia and are planning to expand to Rochester Hills, among other places. Two of the four places are even bringing back the old soda fountain service center, and I know I'll be there for its grand re-opening.
And how's business? The chain stores, owned by Morley Candy Makers, are performing off the charts, according to a couple news articles I've read.
Long live this comeback. A book I read on Sanders last week said that Detroiters never stopped loving the company or its products, and refuse to let it go to the back burner. Let's hope this appreciation starts a comeback of history that will warm many a heart - not to mention cause more people to go off their diets!
We still have Awrey Bakeries in the area as a mass-producer of baked goods (which have likely been seen all over the country), but Sanders was strictly Detroit and served strictly on a mom-and-pop level, not a business-like, chain-store one which shows no individuality.
Sanders has been in existence since 1871 and has never really gone away despite suffering through a costly bankruptcy and store foreclosure in the early 1990s. They were the last of a long-since-gone breed of soda fountains. Nowadays you find those mostly in re-created diners which teach history, not serve food.
They had some of the best ice cream, and more than a few people from Michigan will tell you about their classic chocolate "bumpy cake". Any cake they made was good, and you knew they made it fresh. I frequented the Sanders in Southgate for many years in the 70s and 80s. Every birthday cake I had from 1972 to 1989 was a Sanders cake - no exceptions. I can remember my mother placing the order every March and I was always so excited.
We lost a lot of culture when Sanders scaled back considerably; as of recently you might find their hot fudge or an occassional box of ice cream, but that was it. But the chain is making a comeback; slowly but surely. They have a location in Livonia and are planning to expand to Rochester Hills, among other places. Two of the four places are even bringing back the old soda fountain service center, and I know I'll be there for its grand re-opening.
And how's business? The chain stores, owned by Morley Candy Makers, are performing off the charts, according to a couple news articles I've read.
Long live this comeback. A book I read on Sanders last week said that Detroiters never stopped loving the company or its products, and refuse to let it go to the back burner. Let's hope this appreciation starts a comeback of history that will warm many a heart - not to mention cause more people to go off their diets!
July 12, 2006
Another predictable All-Star sham
As much as I love baseball (and have since 1982), I have never liked the All-Star Game. That it remains a popularity contest is just part of the reasoning, but now we already know who has home-field advantage in the 2006 World Series: Ho-hum; the American League.
I can remember Commissioner Bud Selig mentioning that All-Star Games would be more in the forefront with the saying "This time it counts". I thought he was originally out to fix the roster sizes after that disastrous tie game a few years back. What did that problem have to do with who gets home-field advantage? That was not the problem.
The game has been a fix since the fans regained the vote in 1970. Prior to that, what was wrong with managers, coaches and players voting on who they liked best? I was not alive at that time, but I am under assumption that fans were in an uproar, and I guess it's true that you do what the fans want. But the way the fans pick the starters is just out of control.
In the last ten games, the National League has not won once. Suppose they are in the midst of a record-smashing 20+ game losing streak. Does this mean that for at least ten consecutive years, the AL will have the Series advantage? Is that really fair to the fans of the National League style? I have to laugh when, in the same press conference, Selig talked about parity around the league being the goal. Parity means being fair, sir! (And don't even talk about parity; betcha those darned Atlanta Braves will come back & win that damn NL East for a 15th consecutive year!)
Commissioner Selig has been a success on some baseball issues; an utter failure in others. The All-Star game has had his fingerprints on it for some time now, and it's about time they're wiped out with Windex soon.
I can remember Commissioner Bud Selig mentioning that All-Star Games would be more in the forefront with the saying "This time it counts". I thought he was originally out to fix the roster sizes after that disastrous tie game a few years back. What did that problem have to do with who gets home-field advantage? That was not the problem.
The game has been a fix since the fans regained the vote in 1970. Prior to that, what was wrong with managers, coaches and players voting on who they liked best? I was not alive at that time, but I am under assumption that fans were in an uproar, and I guess it's true that you do what the fans want. But the way the fans pick the starters is just out of control.
In the last ten games, the National League has not won once. Suppose they are in the midst of a record-smashing 20+ game losing streak. Does this mean that for at least ten consecutive years, the AL will have the Series advantage? Is that really fair to the fans of the National League style? I have to laugh when, in the same press conference, Selig talked about parity around the league being the goal. Parity means being fair, sir! (And don't even talk about parity; betcha those darned Atlanta Braves will come back & win that damn NL East for a 15th consecutive year!)
Commissioner Selig has been a success on some baseball issues; an utter failure in others. The All-Star game has had his fingerprints on it for some time now, and it's about time they're wiped out with Windex soon.
July 11, 2006
Changing "pyramid schemes"
How old is the fallacy of get-rich-quick? How believeable is it? And how honest is it?
From an outsider, to a semi-insider and back out again, I can tell you the experience isn't much more than what you might think it is.
This is not to say that one cannot become rich by being self-made. Winning the lottery or using your talents to get ahead in life are the main and most legal ways of becoming comfortable from a fiscal standpoint. Who can believe that a private corporation could make it possible?
I couldn't believe I got suckered in to one of those pyramid schemes three years ago, more in an effort to win the respect & affections of the neighbor's grand-daughter at the time. This is an online business which shall go nameless for the sake of argument, which states that if you buy enough of a company's product and sell that name to others, you are not only promoting the "shopping-at-home" concept, you are making money for yourself by becoming an online salesman.
It seemed strange to me from the beginning that it required so much effort from you just to get ahead. I believe in hard work, but when it comes to sacrificing your meager household budget to get a less-than-100% return, it doesn't seem to make sense. Thankfully, though I got involved, I did not get involved too heavily to where I couldn't afford rent or other bills.
This group was billed as a caring, team-oriented effort who helped the weaker members as well as the strong; not unlike a union at an auto company. You were not provided pressure as you were encouraged to promote the service at your leisure. Now the granddaughter has elected to switch companies because the old one began telling her what to buy, from whom, in what quantities, and when. Looking for moral support, she didn't get it. What about when I had the breakdown last year? Not one call from that group, so I dumped it like a bad habit. The whole thing ended up a sham and dictatorship, and at least it got to her.
But then she switches to a company that is more vague than the other, and keeps believing in the fruitless promise that she'll be rich, retired, and well-off in a year or less. That's as believeable these days as Publisher's Clearinghouse.
In this tight economy, we may as well consider ourselves working stiffs who don't get the money we deserve. It's important to stay realistic, live within our means, and not let some fallacy or misinterpreted story put us in trouble.
Honest, self-made work always prevails in the end. As cumbersome as it sounds, doesn't it truly make a person more fulfilled than any company claims it can?
The jury shouldn't be out for long.
From an outsider, to a semi-insider and back out again, I can tell you the experience isn't much more than what you might think it is.
This is not to say that one cannot become rich by being self-made. Winning the lottery or using your talents to get ahead in life are the main and most legal ways of becoming comfortable from a fiscal standpoint. Who can believe that a private corporation could make it possible?
I couldn't believe I got suckered in to one of those pyramid schemes three years ago, more in an effort to win the respect & affections of the neighbor's grand-daughter at the time. This is an online business which shall go nameless for the sake of argument, which states that if you buy enough of a company's product and sell that name to others, you are not only promoting the "shopping-at-home" concept, you are making money for yourself by becoming an online salesman.
It seemed strange to me from the beginning that it required so much effort from you just to get ahead. I believe in hard work, but when it comes to sacrificing your meager household budget to get a less-than-100% return, it doesn't seem to make sense. Thankfully, though I got involved, I did not get involved too heavily to where I couldn't afford rent or other bills.
This group was billed as a caring, team-oriented effort who helped the weaker members as well as the strong; not unlike a union at an auto company. You were not provided pressure as you were encouraged to promote the service at your leisure. Now the granddaughter has elected to switch companies because the old one began telling her what to buy, from whom, in what quantities, and when. Looking for moral support, she didn't get it. What about when I had the breakdown last year? Not one call from that group, so I dumped it like a bad habit. The whole thing ended up a sham and dictatorship, and at least it got to her.
But then she switches to a company that is more vague than the other, and keeps believing in the fruitless promise that she'll be rich, retired, and well-off in a year or less. That's as believeable these days as Publisher's Clearinghouse.
In this tight economy, we may as well consider ourselves working stiffs who don't get the money we deserve. It's important to stay realistic, live within our means, and not let some fallacy or misinterpreted story put us in trouble.
Honest, self-made work always prevails in the end. As cumbersome as it sounds, doesn't it truly make a person more fulfilled than any company claims it can?
The jury shouldn't be out for long.
Congrats: Young cousin #6
Congratulations are in order to my cousin Raymond and his wife Celeste on the birth of their third child on Saturday, Lauren Elizabeth. From all accounts, this was another healthy birth that went without a hitch.
It's funny how births on my mother's side of the family seem to go in cycles. My mother's family has been very small, especially when considering the immediate family members. Until I was nearly 18 years old, I remained the baby of the family. Since that time (1988), there have been six additions to the family; three boys & three girls.
In the process of getting to re-know this phase of the family, I have seen all but the newborn in the past sixteen months. The family splintered apart some time ago and I do have regrets that I've not spent more time with them. Last week on my trip to see my cousin's house, the kids hardly recognized me. Years ago, that would never have happened.
But the good feelings about a new family addition never waver in spite of never seeing them. This bodes well for the next generation, which will be very well-represented.
Congratulations again!
It's funny how births on my mother's side of the family seem to go in cycles. My mother's family has been very small, especially when considering the immediate family members. Until I was nearly 18 years old, I remained the baby of the family. Since that time (1988), there have been six additions to the family; three boys & three girls.
In the process of getting to re-know this phase of the family, I have seen all but the newborn in the past sixteen months. The family splintered apart some time ago and I do have regrets that I've not spent more time with them. Last week on my trip to see my cousin's house, the kids hardly recognized me. Years ago, that would never have happened.
But the good feelings about a new family addition never waver in spite of never seeing them. This bodes well for the next generation, which will be very well-represented.
Congratulations again!
July 7, 2006
Don't fret if you can't decide
One of the strongest boyfriend/girlfriend relationships I have known has actually cooled down. This young couple seemed to have a lot going for each other, and she was always beaming when it came to discussing her boyfriend.
Everything was going well, then all of a sudden things ground to a halt over indeciveness. I can only be led to believe that the indeciveness was over when the big wedding date would be; as I'm sure other less important indecisions could be shrugged off, or worked on.
Let's face it, marriage is a big decision to make. And without saying that marriage is a sham (which it's not), it's not an issue I would make immediate decisions on. The point is: Do not fret if that issue is what can't be decided upon.
Through eight girlfriends, I've only been engaged one time, in 1998. The events leading up to that engagement were actually devoid of pressure and came about so easily that it surprised me. A diamond ring didn't even signify this event: all that was needed was a $7 black pearl ring from T.J. Maxx because, according to the girl, it was the thought that counted. We may have broken up five months later, but even in that short a time span, the "date" was never discussed. I had just finished up my associate's degree but was contemplating getting credits towards a bachelor's degree. She was inching her way through college, not so sure of her major. But she was very social, being a member of the college's student senate and had a very active life outside of school.
It was good enough for both of us to know that we reserved ourselves for each other; we knew it was going to happen, but the date was out of our control. Who wanted to do all the planning on who to invite, where to hold it, and even a Plan B if things didn't work? Neither of us, because we were still working on our futures.
People in this day & age can get married for the wrong reasons; but just as importantly they can get married before their time. What can result are plenty of broken hearts that can take the mental life out of people. Why is there so much pressure to squeeze so much into so little time? Life cannot be enjoyed if it has to stick to a strict timeframe.
The pressure was hardly on this young couple until they were discussing wedding plans. A decision couldn't be made, so now the whole thing apparently heads south. What about all that was worked on to build the relationship to that peak? I wouldn't consider that worth tearing it all apart. Rather, I would feel safer putting plans on hold, and not plunge into them headfirst without knowing the consequences. Where's the need to impress people by being so quick and efficient with the marriage question? Relationships take time and each step needs to be ascended very slowly.
I wish the young couple in question nothing but the best. Perhaps a time of rest is called for before they go in over their heads. As time passes and they make the right decisions, it will only strengthen the bond between them. It's a good way to test their smarts and see how completely compatible they really are, because compromise can never be stressed enough.
Without being married before, I can venture to say that is what keeps most marriages humble - and happy.
Everything was going well, then all of a sudden things ground to a halt over indeciveness. I can only be led to believe that the indeciveness was over when the big wedding date would be; as I'm sure other less important indecisions could be shrugged off, or worked on.
Let's face it, marriage is a big decision to make. And without saying that marriage is a sham (which it's not), it's not an issue I would make immediate decisions on. The point is: Do not fret if that issue is what can't be decided upon.
Through eight girlfriends, I've only been engaged one time, in 1998. The events leading up to that engagement were actually devoid of pressure and came about so easily that it surprised me. A diamond ring didn't even signify this event: all that was needed was a $7 black pearl ring from T.J. Maxx because, according to the girl, it was the thought that counted. We may have broken up five months later, but even in that short a time span, the "date" was never discussed. I had just finished up my associate's degree but was contemplating getting credits towards a bachelor's degree. She was inching her way through college, not so sure of her major. But she was very social, being a member of the college's student senate and had a very active life outside of school.
It was good enough for both of us to know that we reserved ourselves for each other; we knew it was going to happen, but the date was out of our control. Who wanted to do all the planning on who to invite, where to hold it, and even a Plan B if things didn't work? Neither of us, because we were still working on our futures.
People in this day & age can get married for the wrong reasons; but just as importantly they can get married before their time. What can result are plenty of broken hearts that can take the mental life out of people. Why is there so much pressure to squeeze so much into so little time? Life cannot be enjoyed if it has to stick to a strict timeframe.
The pressure was hardly on this young couple until they were discussing wedding plans. A decision couldn't be made, so now the whole thing apparently heads south. What about all that was worked on to build the relationship to that peak? I wouldn't consider that worth tearing it all apart. Rather, I would feel safer putting plans on hold, and not plunge into them headfirst without knowing the consequences. Where's the need to impress people by being so quick and efficient with the marriage question? Relationships take time and each step needs to be ascended very slowly.
I wish the young couple in question nothing but the best. Perhaps a time of rest is called for before they go in over their heads. As time passes and they make the right decisions, it will only strengthen the bond between them. It's a good way to test their smarts and see how completely compatible they really are, because compromise can never be stressed enough.
Without being married before, I can venture to say that is what keeps most marriages humble - and happy.
July 6, 2006
Flashbacks highlight fantastic 4th
No, not the mentally insane kind of flashbacks, just a return to what I knew before, even if it was only ten hours long.
Yet I almost chose to waste another holiday as I did not feel motivated enough to get out of bed. That is, until my aunt called and said she was marching in the Wyandotte July 4th parade. I figured, why not, since it's been since 1995 that I saw a parade down there. Plus, I was encouraged by my father (Hi Dad) to get some photos, and I got the camera fixed.
Voila, motivation!
The last time I honestly was a spectator at a parade was probably 1970-something. For six years I marched in it with a drum corps I was a member of. Point is, I had forgotten how long the parade actually was, since it's one of Michigan's biggest. It was 127 units long, and you guessed it, my aunt was in unit 126. Nonetheless, I had fun in spite of the high humidity, and saw some other people I hadn't seen there in years. It is always fun to come back to your old stomping grounds and see what's changed and what's remained the same. The changes shock me until I realize I don't visit my old haunts more than three times a year, and then only for a glancing look - not a three-hour stay. Immediately, I was feeling "at home" again.
From there, I took a trip to my cousin's house three miles down despite my not feeling well. Thankfully, they had air conditioning running, and I was able to check on the progress of their complete house renovation, which has taken nearly five years. They are making progress and are doing much of the work themselves. My two youngest cousins hardly know me, but they were in a good mood nonetheless and it made the whole trip worthwhile.
My first square meal in eons came next, followed by just my fourth trip to a movie theater this decade. I ended up seeing "Superman Returns", which I wasn't too kind to in this space initially. I was wrong: there was no 21st-century romance plot involved and the movie tried to be true to the four chapters which preceded it. Without giving away details, it was easily the darkest of the movies, the longest, and sometimes the most puzzling. It didn't have a conclusive ending, which bodes well for the sequel. Christopher Reeve is still the Superman actor to me, but it wasn't all bad. I'll comment more when it's on DVD so not to spoil it for those who want to see it. It definitely wasn't all thumbs-down.
I visited my mom's gravesite and had to pull a lot of weeds out, since they don't seem to take care of things down there like they used to. A trip past the house I spent 21 years in wrapped up the trip, and thirty-five photos later, I was back home, exhausted but finally satisfied that a day of mine was so productive & pleasing.
Thomas Wolfe always said you can't go home again. But I say you can always visit. Seeing these people, places & events were very pleasant flashbacks for me, reminding me of a happier time in life.
Sometimes, all it takes is proper motivation.
Yet I almost chose to waste another holiday as I did not feel motivated enough to get out of bed. That is, until my aunt called and said she was marching in the Wyandotte July 4th parade. I figured, why not, since it's been since 1995 that I saw a parade down there. Plus, I was encouraged by my father (Hi Dad) to get some photos, and I got the camera fixed.
Voila, motivation!
The last time I honestly was a spectator at a parade was probably 1970-something. For six years I marched in it with a drum corps I was a member of. Point is, I had forgotten how long the parade actually was, since it's one of Michigan's biggest. It was 127 units long, and you guessed it, my aunt was in unit 126. Nonetheless, I had fun in spite of the high humidity, and saw some other people I hadn't seen there in years. It is always fun to come back to your old stomping grounds and see what's changed and what's remained the same. The changes shock me until I realize I don't visit my old haunts more than three times a year, and then only for a glancing look - not a three-hour stay. Immediately, I was feeling "at home" again.
From there, I took a trip to my cousin's house three miles down despite my not feeling well. Thankfully, they had air conditioning running, and I was able to check on the progress of their complete house renovation, which has taken nearly five years. They are making progress and are doing much of the work themselves. My two youngest cousins hardly know me, but they were in a good mood nonetheless and it made the whole trip worthwhile.
My first square meal in eons came next, followed by just my fourth trip to a movie theater this decade. I ended up seeing "Superman Returns", which I wasn't too kind to in this space initially. I was wrong: there was no 21st-century romance plot involved and the movie tried to be true to the four chapters which preceded it. Without giving away details, it was easily the darkest of the movies, the longest, and sometimes the most puzzling. It didn't have a conclusive ending, which bodes well for the sequel. Christopher Reeve is still the Superman actor to me, but it wasn't all bad. I'll comment more when it's on DVD so not to spoil it for those who want to see it. It definitely wasn't all thumbs-down.
I visited my mom's gravesite and had to pull a lot of weeds out, since they don't seem to take care of things down there like they used to. A trip past the house I spent 21 years in wrapped up the trip, and thirty-five photos later, I was back home, exhausted but finally satisfied that a day of mine was so productive & pleasing.
Thomas Wolfe always said you can't go home again. But I say you can always visit. Seeing these people, places & events were very pleasant flashbacks for me, reminding me of a happier time in life.
Sometimes, all it takes is proper motivation.
This news was worth 50 cents
Two articles in today's Detroit News were of special interest... but note I didn't necessarily mean positive interest.
First Article:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/SCHOOLS/607060362&SearchID=73249850338295
Impression: I can see where a news story could poke fun of spelling issues by misspelling a few words - but nearly four paragraphs' worth? That's almost an insult to the average human. Yet, judge for yourself.
Second Article:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NATION/607060353&SearchID=73249850278331
Impression: Regarding the death of Kenneth Lay, former Enron chief, and whether it was a coincidence so close to his sentencing date. I do believe it was of the most ironic kind of coincidence, yet it was coincidence nonetheless; nothing intentionally planned. His death has rubbed his detractors the wrong way. I just say, whatever happened, happened.
(P.S. Sorry the links to these stories are so long & drawn out.)
First Article:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/SCHOOLS/607060362&SearchID=73249850338295
Impression: I can see where a news story could poke fun of spelling issues by misspelling a few words - but nearly four paragraphs' worth? That's almost an insult to the average human. Yet, judge for yourself.
Second Article:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NATION/607060353&SearchID=73249850278331
Impression: Regarding the death of Kenneth Lay, former Enron chief, and whether it was a coincidence so close to his sentencing date. I do believe it was of the most ironic kind of coincidence, yet it was coincidence nonetheless; nothing intentionally planned. His death has rubbed his detractors the wrong way. I just say, whatever happened, happened.
(P.S. Sorry the links to these stories are so long & drawn out.)
July 3, 2006
A well-served local WalMart phobia
Now that my camera has been fixed, I hope to take a spin out to the site of the old Wonderland Mall in Livonia today, which the newspapers here have reported on its inevitable demolition.
This calls into mind the theories of the "donut hole", the dying central core of an area, and the Wal-Martization of society I've subscribed to for years.
In urban sprawl, for instance, as an inner city ages, the people start moving further out into suburbia. As those suburbs age, more farmland is taken up by newer housing. In each instance, the new outer ring is trying to out-shine & out-do everything the inner ring(s) used to provide. By the time the rings are four to five layers thick, no one even wants to see what happened inside the "donut hole" that used to be the thriving city. Think of drug-laden neighborhoods and rotting infrastructure among the top culprits.
Wonderland Mall is a case in point, built in the 1950s as state-of-the-art. But its leadership could not, or did not know how to, compete with newer malls being built near the area. When a new mall would be built, Wonderland did not know how to win those shoppers back. Food courts & carnival rides, for example, could only go so far. The result was a ghost mall that pointed to the sad commentary of what it was, and what it could never be again.
What's replacing it? Danger, danger Will Robinson! A Wal-Mart.
The common man has lost ground to the corporate giant again, and I ask those who worked hard to get that big box there: where was their energy to convince Wonderland's owners to save the mall, instead of the corner being yet another site of this non-union, mom-and-pop-store-destroying behomoth?
Wal-Mart is destroying our society; it's eliminating the variety we knew shopping malls to provide. There remain traditionalists who hope this cycle reverses itself (although with money doing the talking, it's unlikely).
Getting back to malls, Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills is now the premiere shopping mall in the Detroit area. Not long ago, it was the Somerset Collection just north of the city. It has tried to re-make itself, unlike Wonderland, but the results have been mixed. How much longer before the mixed results turn flat, the donut hole gets wider, and the endless sprawl of WalMarts continue?
Boy, does tradition need a voice, now more than ever.
This calls into mind the theories of the "donut hole", the dying central core of an area, and the Wal-Martization of society I've subscribed to for years.
In urban sprawl, for instance, as an inner city ages, the people start moving further out into suburbia. As those suburbs age, more farmland is taken up by newer housing. In each instance, the new outer ring is trying to out-shine & out-do everything the inner ring(s) used to provide. By the time the rings are four to five layers thick, no one even wants to see what happened inside the "donut hole" that used to be the thriving city. Think of drug-laden neighborhoods and rotting infrastructure among the top culprits.
Wonderland Mall is a case in point, built in the 1950s as state-of-the-art. But its leadership could not, or did not know how to, compete with newer malls being built near the area. When a new mall would be built, Wonderland did not know how to win those shoppers back. Food courts & carnival rides, for example, could only go so far. The result was a ghost mall that pointed to the sad commentary of what it was, and what it could never be again.
What's replacing it? Danger, danger Will Robinson! A Wal-Mart.
The common man has lost ground to the corporate giant again, and I ask those who worked hard to get that big box there: where was their energy to convince Wonderland's owners to save the mall, instead of the corner being yet another site of this non-union, mom-and-pop-store-destroying behomoth?
Wal-Mart is destroying our society; it's eliminating the variety we knew shopping malls to provide. There remain traditionalists who hope this cycle reverses itself (although with money doing the talking, it's unlikely).
Getting back to malls, Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills is now the premiere shopping mall in the Detroit area. Not long ago, it was the Somerset Collection just north of the city. It has tried to re-make itself, unlike Wonderland, but the results have been mixed. How much longer before the mixed results turn flat, the donut hole gets wider, and the endless sprawl of WalMarts continue?
Boy, does tradition need a voice, now more than ever.
July 2, 2006
Pyros are for professionals
I know that fireworks have been a Fourth of July tradition for hundreds of years. It is interesting to see an outstanding, professionally-produced and executed show. The best ones I've seen have come from orchestral accompaniment, especially when they play "1812 Overture".
Notice I said professional above. This leaves out the amateurs and the fools who want to put on their own show. In Michigan, there are issues with that, not counting the huge injury risk one takes.
According to the law, anything that explodes or shoots up in the air is illegal. This eliminates virtually everything but hand-held sparklers and those fun little "balls" that bounce around & change color. Do we see that in this neighborhood? Absolutely not: bottle rockets are the order of the day. The louder, the better. Not only can I hear a firecracker blast three blocks away, but I can actually see the flash of light from that distance.
Considering I live three blocks from a police station, you have to wonder why they're not going after these lawbreakers (which indeed they are) and collecting money to balance the city's budget. That is not a joke. Why can't a law be forced to any degree when people know the consequences: second or third-degree burns, or even worse?
Perhaps half the fireworks fired off by amateurs are bought in Ohio. In my book, doesn't matter where they were bought; if they're fired in Michigan, that's a no-no. I can even remember back 15 or 20 years when this became the rage in the old neighborhood: half the time, there was no parental guidance for these teenagers, stoned on something, who lit a fuse and teased their friends by remaining in the danger zone until the last second.
They don't even consider the consequences: they just care about showing off. And that's what today's people are doing as well. Now I know it's impossible to nab everyone that does this. But it's not something I would recommend doing. And if the use is blatantly obvious and a policeman is in the vicinity - why not put an end to the amateur theatrics and place public safety first?
Let the Fourth of July come in with a bang. Just be sure the "bang" doesn't involve a body part.
Notice I said professional above. This leaves out the amateurs and the fools who want to put on their own show. In Michigan, there are issues with that, not counting the huge injury risk one takes.
According to the law, anything that explodes or shoots up in the air is illegal. This eliminates virtually everything but hand-held sparklers and those fun little "balls" that bounce around & change color. Do we see that in this neighborhood? Absolutely not: bottle rockets are the order of the day. The louder, the better. Not only can I hear a firecracker blast three blocks away, but I can actually see the flash of light from that distance.
Considering I live three blocks from a police station, you have to wonder why they're not going after these lawbreakers (which indeed they are) and collecting money to balance the city's budget. That is not a joke. Why can't a law be forced to any degree when people know the consequences: second or third-degree burns, or even worse?
Perhaps half the fireworks fired off by amateurs are bought in Ohio. In my book, doesn't matter where they were bought; if they're fired in Michigan, that's a no-no. I can even remember back 15 or 20 years when this became the rage in the old neighborhood: half the time, there was no parental guidance for these teenagers, stoned on something, who lit a fuse and teased their friends by remaining in the danger zone until the last second.
They don't even consider the consequences: they just care about showing off. And that's what today's people are doing as well. Now I know it's impossible to nab everyone that does this. But it's not something I would recommend doing. And if the use is blatantly obvious and a policeman is in the vicinity - why not put an end to the amateur theatrics and place public safety first?
Let the Fourth of July come in with a bang. Just be sure the "bang" doesn't involve a body part.
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