How about a little change of pace?...here's a poem I wrote... as the backdrop for my book by the same name....rayray
If I were blind
And couldn’t see
I wonder how the world
Would be
We’d have to lend
A special ear
To every sound
Loud and clear
Every touch
Magnified
Every smell
Categorized
The color green
What does it mean?
We would learn a life
Never seen
Only felt
Only smelt
Only heard
Every word
But the truth, in fact
of being blind
Has little to do
With seeing fine
It’s all about beliefs
You see
That clouds our vision
Dramatically
We have our role
And keep it tight
Never open
No insight
That’s the blindness
Of which I speak
It’s reciprocal
Is what I seek
Clear in purpose
Opened wide
Be forgiving
From inside
Accept that life
Is just about
Breathing in
And breathing out
Enjoy each moment
While it lasts
Because before you know it
It’s in the past.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The unemployment Stimulus package
In the aftermath of the Senate vote...60/40 for the unemployment extension.. I would like to say....Bravo.... to the supporters who withstood...the strong filibuster...no doubt.....that this democratic option was certainly exercised to its fullest extent ....however.... the underlying philosophy... by the opposition still remains troubling to me....
Because it has become a philosophy of confusion...and the solution is found in separating issues... so people can clearly understand...better perhaps....or for worse...but either way...as long as the core facts are made apparent to most Americans....
There is so much confusion....that I thought I would just capture a few thoughts...that came to me yesterday....in an emotional way...and ...I needed to calm down a little....to write effectively...although sometimes just getting the thought out is all that is needed...even.. when things seem so obvious....but I think some of these thoughts are worth mentioning again...
1.Unemployment is a benefit that these workers qualified for. It is not a hand out... nor charity. It is the equivalent of less than minimum wage...
2.Unless you earned it you don’t get it...those collecting the benefit were all good wage earners that lost their jobs.
3.Employers pay Payroll tax...to the State... for this possibility/potentiality... and...That is why it’s there... like insurance for losing a job.. it is not a freebee...it is the cost of having a business in America and hiring employees to help a business grow.. which adds to the good and services that comprise our national economy....this extends to workers compensation costs for when employees are injured on a job. Should we castigate a disabled employee..for collecting on workers comp?
4. Here’s some food for thought.......When you give an hungry person or a family... $300 dollars...what do you think he/she will do with the money?.... if you answered ..eat....then you are right...so the money is not going to buy crack cocaine or speed or alcohol...it is going to go to the essentials that a family needs to survive...
5.So when we re-circulate this $12,000,000,000 (that’s 12 Billion dollars) of funds back to the workers who earned the right to that money...what happens to that money?...if you answered... its spent....you are right again!!!...the money is put back into the economy in the form or all kinds of consumer purchasing....
6. In fact.. if they stopped paying these qualified benefits to those 30,000,000 (thirty million) or so unemployed Americans...the economy would continue to tank even further..
7.This is the perfect example of biting ones own nose to spite one’s face...
8.the Hard-line approach taken by the filibustering Senators...was not only morally misguided...but proved that they did not see the connection at all... to the increase in spending activity...which will stimulate the economy...estimated to be $1.60 of economic growth for every $1.00 dollar of unemployment.....so....on the 12 billion spent.... it adds nearly 20,000,000,000..(nearly 20 billion real spending activity and economic growth into the economy....rayray
Because it has become a philosophy of confusion...and the solution is found in separating issues... so people can clearly understand...better perhaps....or for worse...but either way...as long as the core facts are made apparent to most Americans....
There is so much confusion....that I thought I would just capture a few thoughts...that came to me yesterday....in an emotional way...and ...I needed to calm down a little....to write effectively...although sometimes just getting the thought out is all that is needed...even.. when things seem so obvious....but I think some of these thoughts are worth mentioning again...
1.Unemployment is a benefit that these workers qualified for. It is not a hand out... nor charity. It is the equivalent of less than minimum wage...
2.Unless you earned it you don’t get it...those collecting the benefit were all good wage earners that lost their jobs.
3.Employers pay Payroll tax...to the State... for this possibility/potentiality... and...That is why it’s there... like insurance for losing a job.. it is not a freebee...it is the cost of having a business in America and hiring employees to help a business grow.. which adds to the good and services that comprise our national economy....this extends to workers compensation costs for when employees are injured on a job. Should we castigate a disabled employee..for collecting on workers comp?
4. Here’s some food for thought.......When you give an hungry person or a family... $300 dollars...what do you think he/she will do with the money?.... if you answered ..eat....then you are right...so the money is not going to buy crack cocaine or speed or alcohol...it is going to go to the essentials that a family needs to survive...
5.So when we re-circulate this $12,000,000,000 (that’s 12 Billion dollars) of funds back to the workers who earned the right to that money...what happens to that money?...if you answered... its spent....you are right again!!!...the money is put back into the economy in the form or all kinds of consumer purchasing....
6. In fact.. if they stopped paying these qualified benefits to those 30,000,000 (thirty million) or so unemployed Americans...the economy would continue to tank even further..
7.This is the perfect example of biting ones own nose to spite one’s face...
8.the Hard-line approach taken by the filibustering Senators...was not only morally misguided...but proved that they did not see the connection at all... to the increase in spending activity...which will stimulate the economy...estimated to be $1.60 of economic growth for every $1.00 dollar of unemployment.....so....on the 12 billion spent.... it adds nearly 20,000,000,000..(nearly 20 billion real spending activity and economic growth into the economy....rayray
Monday, July 19, 2010
Election day...... in July?..
You might find it rather odd that I would say that it’s Election Day in July... tomorrow.........
We normally think of that occurring in November... on the 2nd Tuesday. But this year its different...This year Election Day is tomorrow...7/20/10.
This is the day that the Senate is supposed to vote on the Unemployment extension bill...
There will be more eyes focused on the Senate in Our nation’s Capital... in Washington DC...than anywhere else in the country...Tomorrow the Senate is under the looking glass... exposed and vulnerable.
Tomorrow the Senators, who oppose this bill, might as well pack their bags and hit the road.... if this doesn’t pass, maybe not tomorrow, but as soon as their incumbent seat becomes available.
They will be gone...for their failure to have the guts... to face the fact... that they failed the American Worker....and callously...and stubbornly and ..with malice....blamed the American worker for its failure to prioritize the issues that have crippled our country and blamed it on lazy American workers..who are unemployed and desperately need these funds to survive and feed their family...it borders on treason.. in the name of fiscal accounting.....and... its entirely possible that the damage has already been done...
The Republican senators.. who acted as a bloc...to filibuster all attempts to come to a decent solution...mocked the American worker by their inaction....and yet they want to retake their powerful seats and drive this country forward...Are they kidding?
Tomorrow is truth or consequences.....
Truth...because they must recognize that people, the American people come first, not political party...and consequences... are that they will be removed from their esteemed place in the Senate...one by one.
They never conceived that they were playing with fire. That’s how arrogant they have become.....and now on the fortnight of history...they could salvage their situation...or they will get burnt beyond recognition...
I have hope that they have the clarity... to come to their collective senses and for once ...do the right thing and extend the benefits.... and possibly... finally...feel connected to the collective sigh of relief that will emanate from every town... in every city.... by every family... and by every person... who has been under the extreme pressures that comes from a lack of money in this crazy world we live in.....rayray
We normally think of that occurring in November... on the 2nd Tuesday. But this year its different...This year Election Day is tomorrow...7/20/10.
This is the day that the Senate is supposed to vote on the Unemployment extension bill...
There will be more eyes focused on the Senate in Our nation’s Capital... in Washington DC...than anywhere else in the country...Tomorrow the Senate is under the looking glass... exposed and vulnerable.
Tomorrow the Senators, who oppose this bill, might as well pack their bags and hit the road.... if this doesn’t pass, maybe not tomorrow, but as soon as their incumbent seat becomes available.
They will be gone...for their failure to have the guts... to face the fact... that they failed the American Worker....and callously...and stubbornly and ..with malice....blamed the American worker for its failure to prioritize the issues that have crippled our country and blamed it on lazy American workers..who are unemployed and desperately need these funds to survive and feed their family...it borders on treason.. in the name of fiscal accounting.....and... its entirely possible that the damage has already been done...
The Republican senators.. who acted as a bloc...to filibuster all attempts to come to a decent solution...mocked the American worker by their inaction....and yet they want to retake their powerful seats and drive this country forward...Are they kidding?
Tomorrow is truth or consequences.....
Truth...because they must recognize that people, the American people come first, not political party...and consequences... are that they will be removed from their esteemed place in the Senate...one by one.
They never conceived that they were playing with fire. That’s how arrogant they have become.....and now on the fortnight of history...they could salvage their situation...or they will get burnt beyond recognition...
I have hope that they have the clarity... to come to their collective senses and for once ...do the right thing and extend the benefits.... and possibly... finally...feel connected to the collective sigh of relief that will emanate from every town... in every city.... by every family... and by every person... who has been under the extreme pressures that comes from a lack of money in this crazy world we live in.....rayray
Thursday, July 15, 2010
"Can you visualize the problem?
Sometimes numbers can be very deceiving....and particularly hard to understand.... Here’s an example that really hits HOME.
It is estimated that 1,000,000 homes will be foreclosed upon this year...and the scope of that problem is very difficult to understand...so I thought I would put this into a different perspective in order to more clearly visualize what this means...
If the average lot size of a foreclosed home... is 100 ft wide... that equals 100,000,000 feet... (one hundred million feet)
1 mile = 5,280 feet...therefore....if these foreclosed houses were lined up side to side...the length would be approximately 19,000 miles.......
That’s the same as... New York to San Francisco...back and forth
7 times........rayray
It is estimated that 1,000,000 homes will be foreclosed upon this year...and the scope of that problem is very difficult to understand...so I thought I would put this into a different perspective in order to more clearly visualize what this means...
If the average lot size of a foreclosed home... is 100 ft wide... that equals 100,000,000 feet... (one hundred million feet)
1 mile = 5,280 feet...therefore....if these foreclosed houses were lined up side to side...the length would be approximately 19,000 miles.......
That’s the same as... New York to San Francisco...back and forth
7 times........rayray
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
"You're Fired".. George started it...
I just got the news over the internet.....that George Steinbrenner died today...If you’re a Yankee fan...whether you liked him or not, you’ll pay your respects...Probably... Yankee hats will be worn all over the City this week...kind of like... a Jewish shiva....tear the black rim a little......
However, if you’re not a Yankee fan...like from Boston...or...anywhere else...the tenor may not be as respectful...
Most people will remember him as a tyrannical owner...who spent wildly in an effort to win at all salary cost...and then... when he did...he would stick it back in your face...and shuffle the deck before the new season...like clockwork...
So many marquis players and managers have come through his corporate suite...and some... went out ...with the original words uttered.......long before “The Donald” popularized the expression...YOU’RE FIRED!!.....
He was the Original Sports Mafia Boss, who ruled with an iron fist...but always attracted and kept the great players around, and paid them well... of course.....and.... deep down.... he knew how good they were...but would never outwardly let on to that... or that he cared.
That seemed like his M.O. ...so...the great players would want to always prove to the boss.... how good they were....and that’s how he always got the most out of them...and the championships speak for themselves.
Interestingly.... he always wanted the Late Billy Martin around...and with all of Billy's repeated firings.....he seemed to give Billy numerous chances to redeem himself and repent....George was one of Billy’s 12 steps...lol...ultimately Billy died, and in a strange sort of way...he probably missed him...as..we will miss George.
Undoubtedly...we are bound to see another monument in Center field...and....in spite of it all...and any ill feelings we may have.... about his style of management.......he deserves to be there...forever enshrined at Yankee Stadium....rayray
However, if you’re not a Yankee fan...like from Boston...or...anywhere else...the tenor may not be as respectful...
Most people will remember him as a tyrannical owner...who spent wildly in an effort to win at all salary cost...and then... when he did...he would stick it back in your face...and shuffle the deck before the new season...like clockwork...
So many marquis players and managers have come through his corporate suite...and some... went out ...with the original words uttered.......long before “The Donald” popularized the expression...YOU’RE FIRED!!.....
He was the Original Sports Mafia Boss, who ruled with an iron fist...but always attracted and kept the great players around, and paid them well... of course.....and.... deep down.... he knew how good they were...but would never outwardly let on to that... or that he cared.
That seemed like his M.O. ...so...the great players would want to always prove to the boss.... how good they were....and that’s how he always got the most out of them...and the championships speak for themselves.
Interestingly.... he always wanted the Late Billy Martin around...and with all of Billy's repeated firings.....he seemed to give Billy numerous chances to redeem himself and repent....George was one of Billy’s 12 steps...lol...ultimately Billy died, and in a strange sort of way...he probably missed him...as..we will miss George.
Undoubtedly...we are bound to see another monument in Center field...and....in spite of it all...and any ill feelings we may have.... about his style of management.......he deserves to be there...forever enshrined at Yankee Stadium....rayray
Friday, July 9, 2010
Labron decides on Miami..... "Sobe" it......
I do feel a little sense of sympathy for Cleveland this morning...now that Lebron’s die is cast........He was their favorite son....he grew up there....they had him for 7 years professionally...He put the Cavs...on the NBA map... they loved him, enjoyed him, it gave Cleveland and its fan base... something to be real proud of...as the economy of that region has been driving young people out of the Midwest...the hallowed Midwest...Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit etc....these are hard working cities...whose people embody the American spirit...and who helped build the heart of this country...Pity... that they just don’t seem to get the respect nor recognition they deserve... Labron represented that respect they so desperately desire.
So...This was a big blow to them last nite...when he uttered the words...South Beach....we call it Sobe.
The glitter and glitz it represents, runs against the Midwesterners grain..which is why so many Midwestern retirees..opt for the west coast of Florida..in places like Ft. Myers,Sarasota, Tampa, and St Pete... rather than the East coast of Florida... and...this aspect will sting for a long time.
But their upsetness is not because of his decision to make changes...that any 25 year old would make when he decides that its time to leave home...and forge a new life...none of us could blame a young , single, successful, wealthy professional to move on and experience all that life has to offer...
The real hurt is more out of selfishness and loss of hope than anything else...they wished he would cling onto them as they had to him... It was a typical dependency reaction...and now they will have to go through a withdrawal of sorts...just like an addict must experience.. in order to break free of an addiction. perhaps even, the grief steps....
He is only one man in the world, who ultimately, like anyone else, stands alone and makes choices in his own best interest, for the betterment of himself and his family...
The people in Miami are very fickle sports fans and don’t need a hero.
We just love the excitement and having fun.... we already have Shula, and Marino, Wade and the Hurricanes (in the good yrs)...and Miami Beach....
Labron will add a lot of spice to this town...but not define it......and I promise you...that his bachelor’s pad will be second to none...and let’s face it....playing 81 games at home in the Winter wont hurt too much either... btw.....better get your tickets now...they wont last long......rayray
So...This was a big blow to them last nite...when he uttered the words...South Beach....we call it Sobe.
The glitter and glitz it represents, runs against the Midwesterners grain..which is why so many Midwestern retirees..opt for the west coast of Florida..in places like Ft. Myers,Sarasota, Tampa, and St Pete... rather than the East coast of Florida... and...this aspect will sting for a long time.
But their upsetness is not because of his decision to make changes...that any 25 year old would make when he decides that its time to leave home...and forge a new life...none of us could blame a young , single, successful, wealthy professional to move on and experience all that life has to offer...
The real hurt is more out of selfishness and loss of hope than anything else...they wished he would cling onto them as they had to him... It was a typical dependency reaction...and now they will have to go through a withdrawal of sorts...just like an addict must experience.. in order to break free of an addiction. perhaps even, the grief steps....
He is only one man in the world, who ultimately, like anyone else, stands alone and makes choices in his own best interest, for the betterment of himself and his family...
The people in Miami are very fickle sports fans and don’t need a hero.
We just love the excitement and having fun.... we already have Shula, and Marino, Wade and the Hurricanes (in the good yrs)...and Miami Beach....
Labron will add a lot of spice to this town...but not define it......and I promise you...that his bachelor’s pad will be second to none...and let’s face it....playing 81 games at home in the Winter wont hurt too much either... btw.....better get your tickets now...they wont last long......rayray
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Knock Knock...who’s there?...Orange....Orange who?
I am so happy that the Dutch are in the World Cup final game this Sunday vs.Spain... I just love that sea of Orange....
They have popularized an already popular color...and as Americans.... so many things we love are orange...I am still trying to figure out how the Netherlands got associated with Orange...it’s even in their National Anthem....Were they vitamin C deficient?
I am going to google it....(google has become a verb) and get back to you on that.. ok...I’m back on that...
The answer: Orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family. The lineage of the current dynasty -- the House of Oranje-Nassau -- dates back to Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). But while the color orange has royal roots in the Netherlands, today it symbolizes a broader pride in the country and in being Dutch.
But....here are some of the more popular things we associate with the color orange.... off the top of my head...I’m certain there are more......
A Clockwork Orange....I still don’t understand the movie
The Syracuse Orangemen- great university and b ball and lacrosse teams
Orange Crush...a great popular soda of mine...growing up
Orange Crush...the Great Denver Bronco defense...back when.. And their fans...
O.J. Simpson...sorry...I couldn’t help it...
Pumpkins and Halloween and Candy Corn.....my favorite holiday...
Orange Juice.. Tropicana...expensive ...but great marketing...
The Orange Bowl... stadium....classic games...Miami and Nebraska
Tennessee Volunteers..
The old Tampa Bay Buccaneers...it was a joke...really
Bob’s Barricades.... that s.o.b... must be filthy rich by now
Orange cones...I was a soccer dad....I had a ton of them
Orange sprinkles...very tasty....
Humorette...great ice cream treat...
Florida....full of them... the Sunshine State
Duck a l’orange...expensive..but tasty
Orange beef..great Chinese cuisine..hot as hell
Orange Sunshine...don’t ask mom....please (LSD)
Orange sherbet....and sorbet...oh la la
Some Nasty school zone crossing guards...
Carrots....still hanging with peas...Forest and Jenny
Carrot top....what happened to him?
Redheads....they are really orange heads/carrot tops...still makes my knees weak
Felons jailwear....just an observation....no personal experience..yet
Come to think of it....If you have anything orange in your wardrobe...you are either...someone looking for attention or you are a freak of sorts...or you are rooting for the Dutch on Sunday....enjoy the game
Oh... here’s the first verse..from the Dutch National Anthem. they may want to skip... mentioning Spain on Sunday....lol
William of Nassau, scion
Of a Dutch and ancient line,
I dedicate undying
Faith to this land of mine.
A prince I am, undaunted,
Of Orange, ever free,
To the king of Spain I've granted
A lifelong loyalty (only if they win)
....rayray
They have popularized an already popular color...and as Americans.... so many things we love are orange...I am still trying to figure out how the Netherlands got associated with Orange...it’s even in their National Anthem....Were they vitamin C deficient?
I am going to google it....(google has become a verb) and get back to you on that.. ok...I’m back on that...
The answer: Orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family. The lineage of the current dynasty -- the House of Oranje-Nassau -- dates back to Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). But while the color orange has royal roots in the Netherlands, today it symbolizes a broader pride in the country and in being Dutch.
But....here are some of the more popular things we associate with the color orange.... off the top of my head...I’m certain there are more......
A Clockwork Orange....I still don’t understand the movie
The Syracuse Orangemen- great university and b ball and lacrosse teams
Orange Crush...a great popular soda of mine...growing up
Orange Crush...the Great Denver Bronco defense...back when.. And their fans...
O.J. Simpson...sorry...I couldn’t help it...
Pumpkins and Halloween and Candy Corn.....my favorite holiday...
Orange Juice.. Tropicana...expensive ...but great marketing...
The Orange Bowl... stadium....classic games...Miami and Nebraska
Tennessee Volunteers..
The old Tampa Bay Buccaneers...it was a joke...really
Bob’s Barricades.... that s.o.b... must be filthy rich by now
Orange cones...I was a soccer dad....I had a ton of them
Orange sprinkles...very tasty....
Humorette...great ice cream treat...
Florida....full of them... the Sunshine State
Duck a l’orange...expensive..but tasty
Orange beef..great Chinese cuisine..hot as hell
Orange Sunshine...don’t ask mom....please (LSD)
Orange sherbet....and sorbet...oh la la
Some Nasty school zone crossing guards...
Carrots....still hanging with peas...Forest and Jenny
Carrot top....what happened to him?
Redheads....they are really orange heads/carrot tops...still makes my knees weak
Felons jailwear....just an observation....no personal experience..yet
Come to think of it....If you have anything orange in your wardrobe...you are either...someone looking for attention or you are a freak of sorts...or you are rooting for the Dutch on Sunday....enjoy the game
Oh... here’s the first verse..from the Dutch National Anthem. they may want to skip... mentioning Spain on Sunday....lol
William of Nassau, scion
Of a Dutch and ancient line,
I dedicate undying
Faith to this land of mine.
A prince I am, undaunted,
Of Orange, ever free,
To the king of Spain I've granted
A lifelong loyalty (only if they win)
....rayray
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