Today and tomorrow a gazillion people will be making New Year's Resolutions. They all tend to fall mainly into the following categories: health and organization. And they tend to get broken. Dieting is boring. Exercising is a struggle. Clutter creeps up and there's no time to deal with it.
Instead of resolutions, why not just set goals? Even if you don't meet them, you may feel good about working towards them and having some purpose. Instead of "I'm going to lose weight," why not "I'm going to enjoy food and do my best not to stress out and overeat." Instead of "I'm going to exercise three times a week," why not "I'm going to move my body more and if I enjoy it, try to tone up." Instead of "I'm going to get organized," how about "I'm not going to worry about needing everything and saving everything." It might be easier to get into good habits that way. If this approach doesn't work, you can always go back to making resolutions, and you can back date them.
What I would love to do is make resolutions for others to follow. Here are some:
1) Every company should make invoices and statements uniform so we don't have to search for what we need. I guarantee you that bookkeepers will love that idea because it will make their jobs easier and faster.
2) Make every invoice and statement have print that is large enough so people can read without reading glasses.
3) Have companies that sell prepared food reduce sodium. People can always add salt.
4) Have Crumbs Bakery reduce the amount of sugar it puts in its cupcakes.
4) Invent an artificial sweetener that really tastes just like sugar and doesn't cause cancer. (Sucralose is slightly better than aspartame, and stevia is weirdly sweet.)
5) Invent a low-carb flour. Make it taste, cook and bake just like real flour.
6) Prosecute those traders and executives who caused the economic collapse in 2008. Incarcerate them if they're found guilty.
7) Democrats, gird your loins if Obama won't and demand a primary.
8) Republicans, concentrate on what's good for the country, not big business.
9) President Obama, bring the troops back home. Give Iraqis compensation for what your predecessor destroyed.
10) All mayors, get real. People are earning less money. They can't afford tax increases. If you continue to raise taxes, you'll drive them out of your cities.
Friday, December 31, 2010
End of a Decade
Today is not just the end of the year, with new hopes, new resolutions, new goals for the coming year. It's the end of a decade that has been hell for many people. Job loss. Wars. Retirement income reduced to next to nothing or lost completely. The disappointment over the Golden Boy's unfulfilled promises. The knowledge that most of those who were guilty of causing the problems are getting away scott-free.
This has been a decade that has changed the way people think about money. It went from easy peasy to getting difficult to anxiety about the future. Will society at large develop the mentality of those who grew up during the Great Depression? My son is 3 /2 and too young to understand what it means to buy something or postpone buying it. I went into thrift mode while I was pregnant with him and was grateful to get hand-me-downs and gifts and to discover thrift shops. I bought things for myself at consignment shops and never felt uncomfortable about it. I know that one point my son will become more choosy about what he wants to wear and I will give in and pay full retail price. And when he's older, he is going to feel the pressure of his peers to dress cool. I am prepared for that. College? We're saving for that. Until tuition costs in England jumped earlier this year, I was seriously thinking about sending my son to Canada or overseas for college. He would not only get an excellent education there, he may fall in love and stay there permanently. It's OK for him to love another country. Hopefully, social safety nets will remain in place overseas, as will paid vacation time.
Our biggest challenge is not to let our son know the anxieties we have about the future. He'll have enough to worry about as he gets older. I want to keep him happy and innocent.
Happy New Year.
This has been a decade that has changed the way people think about money. It went from easy peasy to getting difficult to anxiety about the future. Will society at large develop the mentality of those who grew up during the Great Depression? My son is 3 /2 and too young to understand what it means to buy something or postpone buying it. I went into thrift mode while I was pregnant with him and was grateful to get hand-me-downs and gifts and to discover thrift shops. I bought things for myself at consignment shops and never felt uncomfortable about it. I know that one point my son will become more choosy about what he wants to wear and I will give in and pay full retail price. And when he's older, he is going to feel the pressure of his peers to dress cool. I am prepared for that. College? We're saving for that. Until tuition costs in England jumped earlier this year, I was seriously thinking about sending my son to Canada or overseas for college. He would not only get an excellent education there, he may fall in love and stay there permanently. It's OK for him to love another country. Hopefully, social safety nets will remain in place overseas, as will paid vacation time.
Our biggest challenge is not to let our son know the anxieties we have about the future. He'll have enough to worry about as he gets older. I want to keep him happy and innocent.
Happy New Year.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Snow Drifts
New Yorkers can't stop talking about how Mike Bloomberg's government isn't working to their benefit. They're not being excessively demanding. They're really irked that a city that gets significant snow accumulation each year is suddenly unable to deal with it.
Some streets were not properly plowed and some not at all. A librarian once told me that a former mayor of Bridgeport cut the budget by not plowing the streets, figuring that the snow will melt. He loved libraries and put money towards that. The latter is wonderful, but snow still needs to be removed. Now. Someone can need emergency medical care. In fact, someone did and died because the ambulance couldn't get to the apartment building in time because the snow wasn't plowed.
I have friends who live in other parts of the country and claim that the few times they get snow, the city doesn't have enough snow plows. Poor excuse. They need to employ temporary workers to shovel by hand, if necessary. It will help the local home super centers' revenues and perhaps save lives.
Some streets were not properly plowed and some not at all. A librarian once told me that a former mayor of Bridgeport cut the budget by not plowing the streets, figuring that the snow will melt. He loved libraries and put money towards that. The latter is wonderful, but snow still needs to be removed. Now. Someone can need emergency medical care. In fact, someone did and died because the ambulance couldn't get to the apartment building in time because the snow wasn't plowed.
I have friends who live in other parts of the country and claim that the few times they get snow, the city doesn't have enough snow plows. Poor excuse. They need to employ temporary workers to shovel by hand, if necessary. It will help the local home super centers' revenues and perhaps save lives.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Susan Orlean
Once in a while I check out other writers' websites. Few are really exceptional, so I tend not to expect much. But I was blown away when I visited Susan Orlean's site at www.susanorlean.com.At the top, right next to her name, it says "threat or menace?" Now that's strong and punchy, not unlike her writing. My favorite among her books is My Kind of Place, a collection of articles that are not your typical travel pieces. Even the cover is not your typical travel book. Susan's picture projects energy and each piece is fresh. Her travels include a taxidermy convention, an animal hoarder's house, an Asian fertility site and an Eastern European spa retreat. I wish I'd thought of that book.
One of my goals for 2011 (not resolutions) is to read more good writing because it will make me a better write. Susan's work is at the top of my list.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Cablevision Loses Its Grip
For nearly 36 hours, our cable has been out again -- no television, no Internet, no phones. I realize that strong winds during the snowstorm were the cause of the outage, but I'm dismayed it took so long to fix the problem.
For starters, there is no message about the outage when we called Cablevision from our cell phones. We waited a long time as minutes were being chewed up before we got a human being. It got worse when the person picked up said he was going to schedule a repair service at our house. No, you don't understand, we explained. The whole street is out. It's not a problem just for us. He explained that he must put in a ticket and then if they don't find anything, they consider it a problem with Cablevision's line. I wish someone would explain the bureaucracy. Doesn't it make sense to do that after the cable lines have been fixed and someone is still not getting service?
Cablevision in this area is losing its hold on customers because AT&T is offering fiber in some places. That will make Internet connections faster and, I believe, may cut down on the problems that satellite TV had during inclement weather. Did I mention it's also a little cheaper? Well, Cablevision, you can do something about that and make us happy customers.
For starters, there is no message about the outage when we called Cablevision from our cell phones. We waited a long time as minutes were being chewed up before we got a human being. It got worse when the person picked up said he was going to schedule a repair service at our house. No, you don't understand, we explained. The whole street is out. It's not a problem just for us. He explained that he must put in a ticket and then if they don't find anything, they consider it a problem with Cablevision's line. I wish someone would explain the bureaucracy. Doesn't it make sense to do that after the cable lines have been fixed and someone is still not getting service?
Cablevision in this area is losing its hold on customers because AT&T is offering fiber in some places. That will make Internet connections faster and, I believe, may cut down on the problems that satellite TV had during inclement weather. Did I mention it's also a little cheaper? Well, Cablevision, you can do something about that and make us happy customers.
Narcissus Redux
After reading my recent blog about the oh-so-perfect "Countess" Hadley Nagel and her enviable lineage, Priscilla Fiedelman kindly sent me a link to a court case which involved the countess's parents, Jon and Susan. Apparently the Nagels own a company called A.R. Nagel Co. "Arnco," a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning subcontractor. Note: that sounds more blue collar than blue blood, but that's just part of it. The Nagels allegedly owed B & J Jacobs Co. ("Jacobs") nearly $40,000 to subcontractors for services and materials.
OK, so Susan didn't exactly claim they were rich, just incredibly socially desirable people on both sides of the Atlantic. One has nothing to do with the other. When I worked for Walter Noel, I got to hear his bellowing about the cost of repair to the Ford Taurus (yes, Ford Taurus) Monica used to drive. The Ford service people said that the warranty did not apply to damage done to the car's engine when there was no gas in the tank. This was when the Noels were still struggling financially to convince everyone they were rich. Thank goodness Bernie Madoff saved them from further embarrassment by not having to drive another proletarian car again.
http://cases.justia.com/us-court-of-appeals/F3/35/565/605566/
OK, so Susan didn't exactly claim they were rich, just incredibly socially desirable people on both sides of the Atlantic. One has nothing to do with the other. When I worked for Walter Noel, I got to hear his bellowing about the cost of repair to the Ford Taurus (yes, Ford Taurus) Monica used to drive. The Ford service people said that the warranty did not apply to damage done to the car's engine when there was no gas in the tank. This was when the Noels were still struggling financially to convince everyone they were rich. Thank goodness Bernie Madoff saved them from further embarrassment by not having to drive another proletarian car again.
http://cases.justia.com/us-court-of-appeals/F3/35/565/605566/
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Narcissus and The New York Times
Am I the only one who has been seeing a glut of stories in The New York Times about narcissistic people by those who are all too willing to be the pool in which Narcissus admires himself? Often, it's as much as about "ordinary" people who, for example, found ways to get ink for themselves, but the recent article about socialite Hadley Nagel really took the cake. I've been reading Vogue since high school and Town & Country and W since college, and I know a lot of the society names. I even worked for stockbrokers who had clients in the Social Register. And, of course, I worked for the society wannabees, the Noels. But even they look tame in comparison to Hadley, whose CV, I believe, is too perfect to be true.
The article claims that Hadley is:
It seems to me that George Gurley, the "journalist" who wrote the story, is a bit gullible. Even if she had all this blue blood (which was verified by whom or what?), the rest of the CV? Sounds a bit padded, don't you think?
He mother, Susan, is the author of Marie-Therese, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette's Daughter (2008), Mistress of the Elgin Marbles, and The Influences of the Novels of Jean Giradoux on the Hispanic Vanguard Novels of the 1920s-1930s, a playwright and a professor of humanities of comparative literature, depending on the source, at Marymount Manhattan College (except that the MMC faculty and staff directory doesn't have a listing for her). Oh, well, in the words of the patron saint of the modern moneyed class and their wannabees, facts are stubborn things. And they really aren't that important in this day and age, are they?
The dazzling Miss Nagel is evidently the product of a hyperambitious mother, not unlike Monica Noel. If you didn't have such a wonderful, beautiful, talented, accomplished socialite mother who found or developed Mr. Rich or marry him herself, you can always channel Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, the self-made socialite. It's simple, really. You just have to give people the impression that you're privileged. You edit your social background. One of the Noels' friends simply added a "von" before his last name to make himself seem more aristocratic. The prefixes 'van" or "de" will also work. Try it if your last name sounds German, Dutch or French. If you're lucky, you have enough means to live in a desirable neighborhood or town and to buy tickets to the right galas. You can rent gowns or have them copied by a dressmaker. People see what they want to see, and they want to see the fantasy of success and beauty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/fashion/26DCDEB.html?_r=1&ref=style&src=me&pagewanted=all
The article claims that Hadley is:
- A German countess (according to her mother)
- A descendant through her father's side of two signers of the Declaration of Independence
- A nationally syndicated op-ed writer
- An advocate for social justice and organic agriculture
- An expert shooter and blue-ribbon winner of a rifle competition
- A founder of a model United Nations and two websites
- The youngest registered lobbyist on Capitol Hill
- The model on which the character, Serena, of Gossip Girl was based
- A help to author Vicky Ward in her book about the collapse of Lehman Brothers
It seems to me that George Gurley, the "journalist" who wrote the story, is a bit gullible. Even if she had all this blue blood (which was verified by whom or what?), the rest of the CV? Sounds a bit padded, don't you think?
He mother, Susan, is the author of Marie-Therese, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette's Daughter (2008), Mistress of the Elgin Marbles, and The Influences of the Novels of Jean Giradoux on the Hispanic Vanguard Novels of the 1920s-1930s, a playwright and a professor of humanities of comparative literature, depending on the source, at Marymount Manhattan College (except that the MMC faculty and staff directory doesn't have a listing for her). Oh, well, in the words of the patron saint of the modern moneyed class and their wannabees, facts are stubborn things. And they really aren't that important in this day and age, are they?
The dazzling Miss Nagel is evidently the product of a hyperambitious mother, not unlike Monica Noel. If you didn't have such a wonderful, beautiful, talented, accomplished socialite mother who found or developed Mr. Rich or marry him herself, you can always channel Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, the self-made socialite. It's simple, really. You just have to give people the impression that you're privileged. You edit your social background. One of the Noels' friends simply added a "von" before his last name to make himself seem more aristocratic. The prefixes 'van" or "de" will also work. Try it if your last name sounds German, Dutch or French. If you're lucky, you have enough means to live in a desirable neighborhood or town and to buy tickets to the right galas. You can rent gowns or have them copied by a dressmaker. People see what they want to see, and they want to see the fantasy of success and beauty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/fashion/26DCDEB.html?_r=1&ref=style&src=me&pagewanted=all
Saturday, December 25, 2010
An International Holiday
I'm actually with the rabid Evangelicals on this one: we do live in a Christian society. And I'm OK with that, even though I am an Israeli-born Reformadox Jew. I love Christmas. I think the lights and decorations, when not over the top are pretty, and I love the good feelings that others have. I keep Christmas letters and cards if they have family photos on them so that I can see how the children grow. I love having the day off because almost everything is closed. It's nice not to have to run errands. This is the day I catch up on things such as reconciling bank statements or cleaning up some of the papers on my desk. Then I usually treat myself to a movie.
Today, Christmas fell on a Saturday. With no b'nai mitzvot at our synagogue, our cantor, George Mordecai, took a well-deserved vacation in Florida. There was concern that many people won't show up for regular Shabbat services. Here's what our synagogue's Executive Director, Steve Lander did: he arranged to have kosher Chinese food served as a congregational lunch and Rabbi Hammerman led a post-lunch discussion on the a topic that is very dear to the hearts of Orthodox Jews: the coming of the Messiah.
I never really thought about the Messiah much. I learned about his (or her) arrival sometime in the future. I heard a lot about Moshiah (the Yiddish name for the Messiah) through Chabad, but after my horrible experience with its school, I care a lot less about Orthodoxy and the Messiah. I did learn one thing today: that the coming of the Messiah was something that Maimonides wrote about in his 13 foundations of Judaism (http://www.mesora.org/13principles.html). So it's OK to embrace my faith without believing in the Messiah. That's terrific because it's something that I always had a hard time believing fundamentally. So much of what is in religious text is metaphorical and interpretative. I had to leave before the discussion ended because my son became restless, but knowing that it's not a requirement, after all, to believe in the Messiah, is a burden that was lifted. One of the promises associated with the Messiah is that peace will come. I have to believe that mankind wants peace more than it wants war. I would love to be convinced of that.
Peace and joy always.
Today, Christmas fell on a Saturday. With no b'nai mitzvot at our synagogue, our cantor, George Mordecai, took a well-deserved vacation in Florida. There was concern that many people won't show up for regular Shabbat services. Here's what our synagogue's Executive Director, Steve Lander did: he arranged to have kosher Chinese food served as a congregational lunch and Rabbi Hammerman led a post-lunch discussion on the a topic that is very dear to the hearts of Orthodox Jews: the coming of the Messiah.
I never really thought about the Messiah much. I learned about his (or her) arrival sometime in the future. I heard a lot about Moshiah (the Yiddish name for the Messiah) through Chabad, but after my horrible experience with its school, I care a lot less about Orthodoxy and the Messiah. I did learn one thing today: that the coming of the Messiah was something that Maimonides wrote about in his 13 foundations of Judaism (http://www.mesora.org/13principles.html). So it's OK to embrace my faith without believing in the Messiah. That's terrific because it's something that I always had a hard time believing fundamentally. So much of what is in religious text is metaphorical and interpretative. I had to leave before the discussion ended because my son became restless, but knowing that it's not a requirement, after all, to believe in the Messiah, is a burden that was lifted. One of the promises associated with the Messiah is that peace will come. I have to believe that mankind wants peace more than it wants war. I would love to be convinced of that.
Peace and joy always.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Vacation
Everyone deserves a vacation, and the week before Christmas and New Year's Eve is when a lot of people take off from work. At last! President Obama has something in common with Main Street people. Yes, he and the family are off for another vacation, this time to Hawaii, his birthplace.
Unfortunately, Hawaii is not the ideal spot for a president whose constituents are foaming at the mouth about his frequent partying and vacationing. They get staycations if they're lucky to get time off from work with pay while he and his family goes to one of the most expensive vacation spots in the U.S.
Hawaii real estate, utilities and food are expensive. This gets passed down to vacationers, which is one main reason why the average person on Main Street has yet to visit Hawaii. Airfare and four nights at a Westin or Marriott can easily cost $1,200 per person and that's without food. The Obama's trip, of course, will cost quite a bit more. But do the simple math. A family of four would have to spend nearly $5,000 for less than a week's vacation and that's if they pack their own peanut butter and crackers.
Wouldn't it have been nice if Barry and his family stayed home and did day trips to the inner city and see how poor people live? Maybe he could serve a meal at a homeless shelter. That might help to bring back some of the popularity he once had.
Unfortunately, Hawaii is not the ideal spot for a president whose constituents are foaming at the mouth about his frequent partying and vacationing. They get staycations if they're lucky to get time off from work with pay while he and his family goes to one of the most expensive vacation spots in the U.S.
Hawaii real estate, utilities and food are expensive. This gets passed down to vacationers, which is one main reason why the average person on Main Street has yet to visit Hawaii. Airfare and four nights at a Westin or Marriott can easily cost $1,200 per person and that's without food. The Obama's trip, of course, will cost quite a bit more. But do the simple math. A family of four would have to spend nearly $5,000 for less than a week's vacation and that's if they pack their own peanut butter and crackers.
Wouldn't it have been nice if Barry and his family stayed home and did day trips to the inner city and see how poor people live? Maybe he could serve a meal at a homeless shelter. That might help to bring back some of the popularity he once had.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The New Era of Righteousness
It looks as if the Magen Tzedek will finally make it to the markets. This shield of righteous is a stamp of approval that the food contained in a particular package was made in a socially just manner.
The struggle for the Magen Tzedek has been going on for some five years. Most of the credit goes to Rabbi Morris Allen, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Jacob, a Conservative synagogue in Minnesota. He has been working tirelessly at making this happen despite rabid opposition by the Orthodox movement, which is content with the standard hekshers (stamps) for kosher food. Everyone has seen at least one, most likely the OU, which is on every box of Nabisco cookie and Entenman's cake. For those not familiar with this battle, here's the story in a nutshell. For the most part, Orthodox Jews and many Conservative Jews believe in observing the laws of kashrut, at least in the home. (The Reform movement is now trying to encourage its followers to observe these laws, as well.) It's not just about avoiding pork and shellfish and not mixing meat with cheese. It's about understanding that if you eat meat, an animal died, and that the slaughter should cause the animal the least amount of suffering. Fair? We all agree on that. The problem is when Agriprocessors, the largest producers of kosher meat, was cited for a variety of workplace violations. The owner, Aaron Rubashkin, was convicted on financial fraud (and got a stiffer sentence in comparison to others).
Forget Rubashkin. After he was sentenced and sent to prison, the issue of social justice in food production didn't go away. Rabbi Allen didn't, either. It looks as if the new decade will finally bring a new awareness on how Jews buy food. Kosher isn't proper enough. That food had to be produced by people who worked for fair wages in safe conditions and the animals that lost their lives had to be treated fairly, too. Hey, it's in the Torah. It's an embarrassment that some Jews, especially in the Orthodox movement, cherry pick what's important to them and completely dismiss those who are not like them. They are particularly callous in their treatment of non-Jews, but also in their encounters with converts and Conservative and Reform Jews. I am at least the third generation of Jews to be on the receiving end of such treatment. Shame on them!
Eternal thanks to Rabbi Allen for persevering on this important matter.
Anyone in or near Stamford. Sometime next month Rabbi Jill Jacobs will be at Temple Beth El to talk about Judaism and social justice. She is definitely worth hearing.
The struggle for the Magen Tzedek has been going on for some five years. Most of the credit goes to Rabbi Morris Allen, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Jacob, a Conservative synagogue in Minnesota. He has been working tirelessly at making this happen despite rabid opposition by the Orthodox movement, which is content with the standard hekshers (stamps) for kosher food. Everyone has seen at least one, most likely the OU, which is on every box of Nabisco cookie and Entenman's cake. For those not familiar with this battle, here's the story in a nutshell. For the most part, Orthodox Jews and many Conservative Jews believe in observing the laws of kashrut, at least in the home. (The Reform movement is now trying to encourage its followers to observe these laws, as well.) It's not just about avoiding pork and shellfish and not mixing meat with cheese. It's about understanding that if you eat meat, an animal died, and that the slaughter should cause the animal the least amount of suffering. Fair? We all agree on that. The problem is when Agriprocessors, the largest producers of kosher meat, was cited for a variety of workplace violations. The owner, Aaron Rubashkin, was convicted on financial fraud (and got a stiffer sentence in comparison to others).
Forget Rubashkin. After he was sentenced and sent to prison, the issue of social justice in food production didn't go away. Rabbi Allen didn't, either. It looks as if the new decade will finally bring a new awareness on how Jews buy food. Kosher isn't proper enough. That food had to be produced by people who worked for fair wages in safe conditions and the animals that lost their lives had to be treated fairly, too. Hey, it's in the Torah. It's an embarrassment that some Jews, especially in the Orthodox movement, cherry pick what's important to them and completely dismiss those who are not like them. They are particularly callous in their treatment of non-Jews, but also in their encounters with converts and Conservative and Reform Jews. I am at least the third generation of Jews to be on the receiving end of such treatment. Shame on them!
Eternal thanks to Rabbi Allen for persevering on this important matter.
Anyone in or near Stamford. Sometime next month Rabbi Jill Jacobs will be at Temple Beth El to talk about Judaism and social justice. She is definitely worth hearing.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Why Is This Man Smiling?
Oh, Barry! Where is your courage? You let Main Street down again, poverty is at its highest rate, the federal government is expected to run out of money in two months, and your biggest accomplishment may be the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Have you considered any of the following?
Work your way out of Afghanistan. It's a money pit. Iraq is another matter. The U.S. broke it. It has to fix it. Try sending money for the repairs. Make it the way the U.S. once was and maybe the vast majority of the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds will not care as much who is in power.
Fire Tim Geithner. Ditto for Bernanke. It doesn't matter how they got there. Make it so uncomfortable that they will resign. Ironic, isn't it, that Bernanke, an expert on The Great Depression has done squat to help the U.S. out of The Great Recession?
Dismantle your budding re-election campaign committee. You're no longer the golden boy. You were history the moment you jumped into bed with Wall Street. People don't trust you.
Work your way out of Afghanistan. It's a money pit. Iraq is another matter. The U.S. broke it. It has to fix it. Try sending money for the repairs. Make it the way the U.S. once was and maybe the vast majority of the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds will not care as much who is in power.
Fire Tim Geithner. Ditto for Bernanke. It doesn't matter how they got there. Make it so uncomfortable that they will resign. Ironic, isn't it, that Bernanke, an expert on The Great Depression has done squat to help the U.S. out of The Great Recession?
Dismantle your budding re-election campaign committee. You're no longer the golden boy. You were history the moment you jumped into bed with Wall Street. People don't trust you.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
In 1974, John Le Carre wrote a book called Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy about an intelligence expert who is recalled from forced retirement to hunt down a Soviet mole in the "Circus," the highest rank of the British government's Secret Intelligence Service.
During that time Jonathan Pollard was studying political science at Stanford University. After graduation, he applied for jobs in intelligence, finally landing in naval intelligence. Supervisors considered him unstable, dishonest and kooky, but that didn't stop him from working in the field of intelligence. (Think: U.S. circus.) During the 1980s, he met Israeli Air Force veteran Aviem Sella and began to pass classified information to him in exchange for $10,000 and an expensive diamond and sapphire ring, which he would give to his intended bride, Anne Henderson. In 1985, a co-worker anonymously reported that Pollard removed classified information and a spy story unlike any other began to unfold, leading to Pollard's conviction in 1987 on one count of espionage. He cooperated with American authorities in exchange for a lenient sentence, but received a sentence of life in prison.
For years, there have been efforts to free Pollard, whose sentence is disproportionally harsh in comparison to other spy cases, especially since Pollard was spying for a U.S. ally. Although I am proudly an Israeli by birth and by loyalty, I am not supporting either Pollard nor the U.S. government. That said, I don't understand why the U.S. will not release Pollard on condition that he leaves the U.S. permanently. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to officially and openly appeal for Pollard's release. Israeli is willing to take Pollard. What's the problem? What the Arab nations would think of the U.S.? If anything, it would be cost-effective for the U.S. Most people outside the Jewish community don't even know who Jonathan Pollard or any other spy is. As I said, think: U.S. circus. And it makes Barnum & Bailey look like amateurs.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Envy
Envy is usually not one of my demons. I am a rather analytical person, so when I see people who may have desirable things such as a fabulous house or late model luxury car, I think: does that come with debt?
But yesterday, the green-eyed monster nipped while I was in the Looney Tunes play area with my son. I saw a middle-aged man with a MacBook Air in his nylon bag from the Apple store. It's not that I coveted the MacBook Air (even thought it is awesome). It's that he was in a position to choose to buy it (with or without credit card debt). He is middle-aged and probably working full-time, as is 80% of the population. I got so depressed that when we went down the escalators at Macy's (another of Alex's favorite activities), I wrote a letter to Santa. I wrote: "Give us jobs, please." And I put it in the mail box in the store.
There are so many myths about unemployed and underemployed people. They're lazy. They're not positive. They're too picky. They're this. They're that. After Ken was laid off during a Bloomberg blitz, he took a contract job 700 miles away. It was supposed to be for four months. He fulfilled that contract and stayed on another three months, thus incurring double living expenses. His next job was full-time, and it lasted two years until the bank he worked for laid off 20% of its workforce. Two months later, he took another contract job that had a commute of two hours each way. Lazy? Picky? Negative? I don't think so, except when he gets frustrated that my consulting assignments are sometimes maniacal and that I'm up late hours meeting deadlines.
Imagine that! I am envious not for a new car to replace my 11-year-old beat up station wagon, or for luxury home or for a vacation. I'm envious of having a job with "benefits" so that we can have choices in our lives. I know we're luckier than many people in our position. I know a once middle class family that is now on food stamps. And a former professional who is now on Medicaid. All because none of us knew that the key to corporate survival is to cannibalize everyone around you and everyone beneath you. We forgot to take that course in college.
But yesterday, the green-eyed monster nipped while I was in the Looney Tunes play area with my son. I saw a middle-aged man with a MacBook Air in his nylon bag from the Apple store. It's not that I coveted the MacBook Air (even thought it is awesome). It's that he was in a position to choose to buy it (with or without credit card debt). He is middle-aged and probably working full-time, as is 80% of the population. I got so depressed that when we went down the escalators at Macy's (another of Alex's favorite activities), I wrote a letter to Santa. I wrote: "Give us jobs, please." And I put it in the mail box in the store.
There are so many myths about unemployed and underemployed people. They're lazy. They're not positive. They're too picky. They're this. They're that. After Ken was laid off during a Bloomberg blitz, he took a contract job 700 miles away. It was supposed to be for four months. He fulfilled that contract and stayed on another three months, thus incurring double living expenses. His next job was full-time, and it lasted two years until the bank he worked for laid off 20% of its workforce. Two months later, he took another contract job that had a commute of two hours each way. Lazy? Picky? Negative? I don't think so, except when he gets frustrated that my consulting assignments are sometimes maniacal and that I'm up late hours meeting deadlines.
Imagine that! I am envious not for a new car to replace my 11-year-old beat up station wagon, or for luxury home or for a vacation. I'm envious of having a job with "benefits" so that we can have choices in our lives. I know we're luckier than many people in our position. I know a once middle class family that is now on food stamps. And a former professional who is now on Medicaid. All because none of us knew that the key to corporate survival is to cannibalize everyone around you and everyone beneath you. We forgot to take that course in college.
Secret Ingredients
Comfort food is something everyone loves forever. There are two restaurants that I've known of that take comfort food to the highest level: g/r/a/n/d in Stamford and Rizzuto's in Westport, Ridgefield and West Hartford. The common denominator: truffle oil.
I know that truffle oil is not really made from truffles, but from olive oil and thioether that gives ordinary food a special flavor. It's one of those almost secret ingredients that great chefs use, but most people can't quite detect, like duck fat for flavor. The price of oil made solely from truffles would be exorbitant. Rizzuto's uses both black and white truffle oil in some of their pizzas. (By the way, they use an Italian flour and Sir Galahad whole wheat flour, which I think is part of the King Arthur company. King Arthur is my favorite flour, and Rizzuto's crusts, even the whole wheat one, is wonderful.) The other restaurant, g/r/a/n/d, uses truffle oil in mac and cheese. It's divine. Here's the recipe:
12 ounces elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 + 6 ounces grated gruyère cheese, divided
1 teaspoon chopped black truffles
1 tablespoon black truffle oil
Salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons provençal bread crumbs
Cook macaroni.
In a sauté pan place cream, truffles, truffle oil and 6 ounces cheese. Place cooked macaroni in a non-reactive bowl with reserved 6 ounces cheese and add cream mixture. Mix well. Season to taste and add to a 6 ounce gratin dish. Top each with bread crumbs and broil until golden brown. Serve with a spoon.
To make provençal Bread Crumbs
½ cup panko bread crumbs
2 teaspoons each thyme, parsley and oregano
2 ounces rendered duck fat
Place all ingredients in a food processor until well combined.
Why anyone would buy boxed mac and cheese is beyond me.
I know that truffle oil is not really made from truffles, but from olive oil and thioether that gives ordinary food a special flavor. It's one of those almost secret ingredients that great chefs use, but most people can't quite detect, like duck fat for flavor. The price of oil made solely from truffles would be exorbitant. Rizzuto's uses both black and white truffle oil in some of their pizzas. (By the way, they use an Italian flour and Sir Galahad whole wheat flour, which I think is part of the King Arthur company. King Arthur is my favorite flour, and Rizzuto's crusts, even the whole wheat one, is wonderful.) The other restaurant, g/r/a/n/d, uses truffle oil in mac and cheese. It's divine. Here's the recipe:
12 ounces elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 + 6 ounces grated gruyère cheese, divided
1 teaspoon chopped black truffles
1 tablespoon black truffle oil
Salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons provençal bread crumbs
Cook macaroni.
In a sauté pan place cream, truffles, truffle oil and 6 ounces cheese. Place cooked macaroni in a non-reactive bowl with reserved 6 ounces cheese and add cream mixture. Mix well. Season to taste and add to a 6 ounce gratin dish. Top each with bread crumbs and broil until golden brown. Serve with a spoon.
To make provençal Bread Crumbs
½ cup panko bread crumbs
2 teaspoons each thyme, parsley and oregano
2 ounces rendered duck fat
Place all ingredients in a food processor until well combined.
Why anyone would buy boxed mac and cheese is beyond me.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Cuban Way?
According to Cuban President Raul Castro, there's going to be a whole lot of shakin' going on with the economy. That old Soviet-style commie economic model is going the way of, well, the Soviet Union. People are going to be allowed to go into business for themselves, but that doesn't mean that Cuba will become a capitalist nation. Au contraire, it's supposed to boost socialism. Is this possible? I think it's worth examining. Castro will eliminate 1 million state jobs, but the jobs still need to be done, so they will be done in the private sector in Cuba. The economy is expected to grow 3.1 percent next year instead of the previously projected 2.1 percent.
Again, is this possible? Think about this way: if jobs stay in Cuba, so does the money. Socialism is about the redistribution of wealth. If people in the private sector can earn more money, they will probably pay more in taxes. The economy grows. Tax revenue grows. Everyone wins. And the government is there to make sure that its citizens are protected. It couldn't possibly work out any worse than what the U.S. has, with corporate welfare and practices of serfdom in tech companies.
Again, is this possible? Think about this way: if jobs stay in Cuba, so does the money. Socialism is about the redistribution of wealth. If people in the private sector can earn more money, they will probably pay more in taxes. The economy grows. Tax revenue grows. Everyone wins. And the government is there to make sure that its citizens are protected. It couldn't possibly work out any worse than what the U.S. has, with corporate welfare and practices of serfdom in tech companies.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Needy Families, Don't Bother
'Tis the season of joy and goodwill, but tell that to the 19 million Americans who are living in deep poverty. For the first time since 1996, federal funds for the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) program have completely dried up and Congress passed legislation to end the funding for 2011. This is unconscionable because the number of families that need this funding isn't going down.
I have repeatedly wondered why Americans are so passive. The one thing that even the poorest can do is protest in front of their city halls. Let their mayors nudge the governors and let the governors pester Washington for more money to help people who need the basics: shelter, food, clothing and medical care. Whatever happened to George Bush I's appeal for "a kinder, gentler nation?"
I have repeatedly wondered why Americans are so passive. The one thing that even the poorest can do is protest in front of their city halls. Let their mayors nudge the governors and let the governors pester Washington for more money to help people who need the basics: shelter, food, clothing and medical care. Whatever happened to George Bush I's appeal for "a kinder, gentler nation?"
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Style This!
Once upon a time, the term stylist was used only in connection with hair. Someone who went to school to learn to cut, color and style was called a hairdresser or hair stylist. Fast forward to the 1990s when the term costume designer was antiquated, and for good reason. Few costume designers were actually designing costumes, as Edith Head did for Grace Kelly.
Before the era of reality TV, I took a backstage tour of the daytime show, Another World. Among other things, I saw the costume department, where clothes and accessories were categorized by character. Clothes were hung on rounders. shoes in their original boxes and jewelry in plastic bins. Everything was labeled by the character's name, not the performer's. In those days budgets were still fairly generous. Clothing came from stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and shoes were from Manolo Blahnik. I once read that Susan Lucci wore La Perla bras that cost $250.00 -- and that was for All My Children. I don't know what the bra budgets are these days, but I was impressed at the quality of apparel and accessories. Mostly, I was impressed with how well people were dressed for daytime television. I used to photograph the "stars" at events, and I can tell you that a good stylist -- for clothes and for hair -- as well as a good makeup artist can make a huge difference in how someone looks.
Styling has become a horizontally integrative business. During the real estate bubble, staging homes became a new profession. People who didn't necessarily have degrees in interior design were staging homes. Ads once proliferated for those services. I've noticed at many open houses I've attended that staging hasn't gone away; it's just more subtle than it used to be. The main rules: get rid of the clutter and streamline the rest of your furnishings. No mail, few personal photos and less furniture.
This year, advertising has picked up and I've written about some florists that specialize in holiday decor. Regular poinsettias? A train going around the Christmas tree? Too pedestrian! Now you need to decorate the room around the tree or create a tree for a specific color theme in the room so that nothing clashes. I must admit there's an art to that, and the results can be very dramatic No doubt, professional decorators are the key to making a room look perfect for its size and style, but even amateurs can take traditional holiday decor and raise its level from tacky to ordinary and from ordinary to impressive.
Not being a Christian, I have never had to worry about decorating a tree. (And, in my family, we don't have Hanukkah bushes, either.) If I had to decorate for someone else, here's what I would do:
Before the era of reality TV, I took a backstage tour of the daytime show, Another World. Among other things, I saw the costume department, where clothes and accessories were categorized by character. Clothes were hung on rounders. shoes in their original boxes and jewelry in plastic bins. Everything was labeled by the character's name, not the performer's. In those days budgets were still fairly generous. Clothing came from stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and shoes were from Manolo Blahnik. I once read that Susan Lucci wore La Perla bras that cost $250.00 -- and that was for All My Children. I don't know what the bra budgets are these days, but I was impressed at the quality of apparel and accessories. Mostly, I was impressed with how well people were dressed for daytime television. I used to photograph the "stars" at events, and I can tell you that a good stylist -- for clothes and for hair -- as well as a good makeup artist can make a huge difference in how someone looks.
Styling has become a horizontally integrative business. During the real estate bubble, staging homes became a new profession. People who didn't necessarily have degrees in interior design were staging homes. Ads once proliferated for those services. I've noticed at many open houses I've attended that staging hasn't gone away; it's just more subtle than it used to be. The main rules: get rid of the clutter and streamline the rest of your furnishings. No mail, few personal photos and less furniture.
This year, advertising has picked up and I've written about some florists that specialize in holiday decor. Regular poinsettias? A train going around the Christmas tree? Too pedestrian! Now you need to decorate the room around the tree or create a tree for a specific color theme in the room so that nothing clashes. I must admit there's an art to that, and the results can be very dramatic No doubt, professional decorators are the key to making a room look perfect for its size and style, but even amateurs can take traditional holiday decor and raise its level from tacky to ordinary and from ordinary to impressive.
Not being a Christian, I have never had to worry about decorating a tree. (And, in my family, we don't have Hanukkah bushes, either.) If I had to decorate for someone else, here's what I would do:
- Ditch the Hallmark ornaments. You can find much nicer ones at Sophia's in Greenwich. She once had a tree decorated with safari animals.
- Proportion is key. Most homes, especially older ones, have ceilings that are only 8 feet tall. Don't get a huge tree if the room isn't big.
- Go monochromatic. In my opinion, all white or all blue lights are nicer and easier on the eyes than multicolored lights.
- By all means, wrap garlands and put tinsel throughout the living room and dining room, but don't go overboard.
- Think about what people will see when they drive past your house. A simple wreath at the door and a single candle in each window is lovely. A gigantic snowglobe is not.
While I understand the need for professionals, I do believe it's important to know how to pull your own look together -- in your closet, in your home and in decorating for the holidays.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Christmas Countdown
So far the numbers for retail and e-commerce sales look good. The parking lots at strip malls are packed. I've been getting more assignments for ad copy writing. As prepared as I am for the worst in the job market, I'm taking these signs as good omens for an economic recovery. I'm not expecting miracles, but I'll take anything that's positive.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Day After
I am still bemoaning being another year older. Recently I saw a book with a title about the secrets of birthdays. Naturally, I looked up mine and couldn't believe that this book ever got published. According to the author, my ideal career is surgeon. Wrong, wrong, wrong! No one would want me as a surgeon. I cut biology class on the day the assignment was to dissect an earthworm. Either the author knew the birthday of the acquisition editor of that book or that editor views books the way a supermarket shelf stacker regards cans of peas.
Just for ha-has, I decided to research my birthday. Among a long list of events that happened on December 13, here are two that mean the most to me:
In 1577, Sir Francis Drake set out on his round-the-world voyage. Cool!
In 1949, The Knesset voted to move the capital of Israel to Jerusalem. That's exactly where it should be.
Yesterday also marked the birthdays of:
Just for ha-has, I decided to research my birthday. Among a long list of events that happened on December 13, here are two that mean the most to me:
In 1577, Sir Francis Drake set out on his round-the-world voyage. Cool!
In 1949, The Knesset voted to move the capital of Israel to Jerusalem. That's exactly where it should be.
Yesterday also marked the birthdays of:
- Pope Sixtus V
- Emperor Yongzheng of China
- Kings Eric XIV of Sweden, Henri IV of France and twin princes of Belgium
- Archduke Louis of Austria
- Naturalist Robert Plot
- Scientists Francesco Bianchini, Franz Aepinus, Kristian Birkeland, Philip Warren Anderson
- Activist Ella Baker
- Dramatist Carlo Gozzi
- Inventor and industrialist Ernst Werner von Siemens
- Musicians Josef Lhevinne, Carlos Montoya, Alvin Curran, Ted Nugent, Jeff Baxter, Harry Gregson-Williams, Tom DeLonge, Matt Deis
- Artists Franz von Lenbach, Emily Carr, Marko Maetamm
- Performers Lucien Gutry, Edward LeSaint, Van Heflin, Curd Jurgens, John Hart, Dick Van Dyke, Christopher Plummer, Robert Prosky, Kathy Garver, Johnny Whitaker, Taylor Swift, Darlene Cates, Heino, Eric Flynn, John Davidson, Jim Davidson, Gosta Winbergh, Hwang Jang Lee, Rex Hagon, Wendie Malick, Robert Lindsey, Randy Owen, Tom Verlaine, Paula Wilcox, Steve Forbert, Steve Buscemi, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Morris Day, Jamie Foxx, Laurence Leboeuf, Christie Clark,
- Film producer Richard D. Zanuck ("Story, story, story")
- Writers William Drummond, Heinrich Heine, Drew Pearson, Laurens van der Post, Kenneth Patchen, Alan Bullock, Ross Macdonald, Tamora Pierce, Don Roff
Monday, December 13, 2010
Birthday Blues
Today is my birthday. UGH! Another year older. The last time I was excited about my birthday was when I was 18. Even turning 21 made me feel old and it got worse at 25, 30 and subsequent birthdays. Somehow in my mind, I'm still 12, fighting the same issues I had then: self-esteem, body image, insecurity about what others think. Heaven knows there are enough movies made about high school horrors, but emotionally I'm still stuck in junior high school (now called middle school in many school districts).
There is a positive side to that imprisonment. As cynical as I've become because I'm a middle age victim of corporate America and its governmental enablers, the 12-year-old in me still hasn't lost all hope. Maybe someone will invent a magic wand that really does work.
There is a positive side to that imprisonment. As cynical as I've become because I'm a middle age victim of corporate America and its governmental enablers, the 12-year-old in me still hasn't lost all hope. Maybe someone will invent a magic wand that really does work.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The Great Countdown
There are fewer than three weeks left until the end of the year. No doubt, most people are shopping for Christmas. The rest of us are thinking: OMG, I have to organize may paperwork for taxes. Each year, one of my resolutions is to keep paperwork organized so that I don't have to struggle each year, trying to reconstruct our medical travel expenses, our business expenses, our property rental expenses. So far, I've only addressed the property rental expenses because it requires putting the receipts in one file and the medical travel expenses because I put the new calendar refills in my the Filofax I keep on my desk and the one I take with me.
I'm trying to understand my resistance to keeping tabs on what it costs to do business. It's just a matter of a few receipts from Staples for copier paper and toner cartridges. And reporters notebooks. And pens. And file folders. And then I think about the notes I'm required to keep for certain assignments (because that's in the contract) and try to reconstruct when I can toss them.
The real reason for my resistance is that I've developed serious attention deficit disorder when it comes to paperwork. It just keeps piling up and I can't plow through it. There's no medication for it. I can't even hire someone to deal with it, even if money were no object because he or she would keep asking me if I need this or that and where should it go? Ugh, it's just another thing I need to face -- alone. Well, I guess I'm in good company, judging by all the books and articles there are about dealing with the paper tiger. I know all too well how to deal with it. It's just that I don't want to. But the how to part can be a topic for another blog.
I'm trying to understand my resistance to keeping tabs on what it costs to do business. It's just a matter of a few receipts from Staples for copier paper and toner cartridges. And reporters notebooks. And pens. And file folders. And then I think about the notes I'm required to keep for certain assignments (because that's in the contract) and try to reconstruct when I can toss them.
The real reason for my resistance is that I've developed serious attention deficit disorder when it comes to paperwork. It just keeps piling up and I can't plow through it. There's no medication for it. I can't even hire someone to deal with it, even if money were no object because he or she would keep asking me if I need this or that and where should it go? Ugh, it's just another thing I need to face -- alone. Well, I guess I'm in good company, judging by all the books and articles there are about dealing with the paper tiger. I know all too well how to deal with it. It's just that I don't want to. But the how to part can be a topic for another blog.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
2nd Anniversary, 2nd Suicide
I guess he's guilty. Mark Madoff, 46, son of con man Bernie Madoff hanged himself this morning. His death occurred on the second anniversary of the date that his father confessed to the Ponzi scheme.
There had been a lot of speculation that Bernie's sons knew for a long time about the chicanery in the family business, and people close to him claim that the pressure of ongoing lawsuits was making his state of mind fragile.
This is a tragedy, but it's also yet another act of pure selfishness. His two-year-old son was asleep in the next room. His wife, Stephanie, was in Florida. If he had been tried, convicted and sent to prison, that would have been sad enough, but there might be a chance that he could get off on parole. Better still, he could have apologized publicly and done something behind bars or later to help people. That would have helped remove some of the tarnish off the family name. More important, his family would have been able to visit.
A friend of my father's got desperate and did something illegal. We're not sure what it was exactly, but it had to do with drugs and he was convicted and sentenced to prison for 25 years to life. His family and friends visited. He died of a heart attack while in prison and his widow gave him a funeral with all the honors. The family had lost everything during the ordeal, yet I never once heard her complain that he ruined their lives. That's true, unconditional love. It was there before there was money. It was there when he legally made money. It was there after the great shame.
There had been a lot of speculation that Bernie's sons knew for a long time about the chicanery in the family business, and people close to him claim that the pressure of ongoing lawsuits was making his state of mind fragile.
This is a tragedy, but it's also yet another act of pure selfishness. His two-year-old son was asleep in the next room. His wife, Stephanie, was in Florida. If he had been tried, convicted and sent to prison, that would have been sad enough, but there might be a chance that he could get off on parole. Better still, he could have apologized publicly and done something behind bars or later to help people. That would have helped remove some of the tarnish off the family name. More important, his family would have been able to visit.
A friend of my father's got desperate and did something illegal. We're not sure what it was exactly, but it had to do with drugs and he was convicted and sentenced to prison for 25 years to life. His family and friends visited. He died of a heart attack while in prison and his widow gave him a funeral with all the honors. The family had lost everything during the ordeal, yet I never once heard her complain that he ruined their lives. That's true, unconditional love. It was there before there was money. It was there when he legally made money. It was there after the great shame.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Kids and Creative Thinking
Everyone knows that children have an innate curiosity and wonderful imaginations and they are repressed by parents and teachers. I swore up and down that if I ever had a child I would be calm about his (or her) turning the cup upside down to try to understand gravity as the liquid pours to the floor. Actually, I have been good about that, but I've also given my son few opportunities. I really, really like Thermos straw bottles. Those are the ones that leak the least.
I admit, however, that I have not been so easy going about my son's imagination when it comes to things that are hard to retrieve. Examples: pennies from the slats at the bottom of the refrigerator or CDs between dresser drawers, or worse, from the supermarket counter. Still, I can't help but admire his imagination. I came to understand how he thinks (I think). At his first preschool, the children put a penny in the tzedakah box each day. He has a few tzedakah boxes at home and loved to put pennies in them. I guess he saw the refrigerator as a huge tzedakah box and couldn't convince to put the pennies only where they belong.
For weeks we've been struggling with the CDs. Alex loves music more than anything else. He can sit for hours and listen to CDs on his player. I bought him a used toy cash register which has a drawer that doesn't slide out, but that doesn't bother him. He loves the digital display of numbers and he pretends that the cash register is a CD player. He slides CDs under the register and presses a number and announces the "song." But when he's bored, he tries to slide them in between drawers.
People who teach music and sell instruments claim that children learn math from music. It's true, but not just in the traditional way of counting beats. The digital numbering is a tremendous learning tool. At school, Alex learned to count backward from 10 to 0. At home, the CD player helped him count backward from 25 to 0. On the cash register, he loves to enter a number and then announce it's 70 or whatever. Every kid should have a CD player and cash register, even if the drawer doesn't work!
I admit, however, that I have not been so easy going about my son's imagination when it comes to things that are hard to retrieve. Examples: pennies from the slats at the bottom of the refrigerator or CDs between dresser drawers, or worse, from the supermarket counter. Still, I can't help but admire his imagination. I came to understand how he thinks (I think). At his first preschool, the children put a penny in the tzedakah box each day. He has a few tzedakah boxes at home and loved to put pennies in them. I guess he saw the refrigerator as a huge tzedakah box and couldn't convince to put the pennies only where they belong.
For weeks we've been struggling with the CDs. Alex loves music more than anything else. He can sit for hours and listen to CDs on his player. I bought him a used toy cash register which has a drawer that doesn't slide out, but that doesn't bother him. He loves the digital display of numbers and he pretends that the cash register is a CD player. He slides CDs under the register and presses a number and announces the "song." But when he's bored, he tries to slide them in between drawers.
People who teach music and sell instruments claim that children learn math from music. It's true, but not just in the traditional way of counting beats. The digital numbering is a tremendous learning tool. At school, Alex learned to count backward from 10 to 0. At home, the CD player helped him count backward from 25 to 0. On the cash register, he loves to enter a number and then announce it's 70 or whatever. Every kid should have a CD player and cash register, even if the drawer doesn't work!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Inside Job
If you liked Capitalism: A Love Story, you must see this documentary. If you didn't like Capitalism: A Love Story, you must see this documentary. It's not as entertaining as Michael Moore's documentaries, but it's powerful, well-researched and thought-provoking.
The events that were documented happened in the recent past and we're still suffering from them. We know what happened. We even know much of why it happened. But Inside Job connects the dots -- not just the sequence of events, but the seemingly disconnected forces behind it. Some time ago, I wondered why some college professor who was lucky to be tenured and perhaps earn $100K, would say that the gamblers on Wall Street and in the suburban hedge funds deserved huge bonuses because of the risks they took. (Note: What risks? They were gambling with other people's money, not risking their own.) Now I know. Those profs are being paid by big business. Of course. I've been away from journalism for too long. I should know to follow the money and that no matter what they're talking about, they're talking about money.
Biggest surprise: Putting Iceland's financial woes in this context. It lost 10 times the value of its GDP.
Most irritating thought: Knowing that none of the people who committed this financial disaster have been prosecuted, let alone are they even suffering.
Wall Street is doing just fine, thank you very much. There's an adage on the Street. Bulls make money. Bears make money. The pigs in the middle get slaughtered. We know that first-hand now.
The events that were documented happened in the recent past and we're still suffering from them. We know what happened. We even know much of why it happened. But Inside Job connects the dots -- not just the sequence of events, but the seemingly disconnected forces behind it. Some time ago, I wondered why some college professor who was lucky to be tenured and perhaps earn $100K, would say that the gamblers on Wall Street and in the suburban hedge funds deserved huge bonuses because of the risks they took. (Note: What risks? They were gambling with other people's money, not risking their own.) Now I know. Those profs are being paid by big business. Of course. I've been away from journalism for too long. I should know to follow the money and that no matter what they're talking about, they're talking about money.
Biggest surprise: Putting Iceland's financial woes in this context. It lost 10 times the value of its GDP.
Most irritating thought: Knowing that none of the people who committed this financial disaster have been prosecuted, let alone are they even suffering.
Wall Street is doing just fine, thank you very much. There's an adage on the Street. Bulls make money. Bears make money. The pigs in the middle get slaughtered. We know that first-hand now.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Think Your Money is Safe? Read This.
From guest blogger Kenneth Jay Cohen:
Loss of savings is a daily concern for many people since the economic meltdown more than two years ago. Lately, there have been more threats of loss of savings due to security vulnerabilities in the U.S. government. A new report by the Government Accountability Office states that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation lacks adequate encryption of "sensitive information transmitted over its network." It also found that the FDIC has "inconsistent identification and authentication user controls" and needs to beef up its internal monitoring and auditing practices. One example the GAO cited was the existence of default installation user ideas on some of its UNIX servers. Another is that the data network and voice network are both on the same network.
I'm not a heavy duty UNIX administrator, but I know enough about UNIX. It's an open system that is widely used in servers, on workstations and in mobile devices. It's critical that companies have policies and firewalls in place to avoid unauthorized penetration of their systems.
It's ironic that after all these years, the FDIC increased its insurance protection in case banks went under. Now people have to worry that their savings might be lost because of inadequate data security.
Loss of savings is a daily concern for many people since the economic meltdown more than two years ago. Lately, there have been more threats of loss of savings due to security vulnerabilities in the U.S. government. A new report by the Government Accountability Office states that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation lacks adequate encryption of "sensitive information transmitted over its network." It also found that the FDIC has "inconsistent identification and authentication user controls" and needs to beef up its internal monitoring and auditing practices. One example the GAO cited was the existence of default installation user ideas on some of its UNIX servers. Another is that the data network and voice network are both on the same network.
I'm not a heavy duty UNIX administrator, but I know enough about UNIX. It's an open system that is widely used in servers, on workstations and in mobile devices. It's critical that companies have policies and firewalls in place to avoid unauthorized penetration of their systems.
It's ironic that after all these years, the FDIC increased its insurance protection in case banks went under. Now people have to worry that their savings might be lost because of inadequate data security.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Super Sunday is Over
Last Sunday was the United Jewish Federation's annual Super Sunday. Its timing on the first Sunday in December fits into Hanukkah (although the dates of that holiday changes from year to year on the secular calendar) and as a reminder for people to start thinking about tax deductions before the end of the secular year.
Thank goodness for Caller ID, because we just don't want to give to Federation anymore. Its purpose isn't the same as it was when Israel so badly needed financial help to build a nation. The recent fire in Carmel launched some fundraising, but for similar disasters, it's the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee that emerges with the best planned efforts.
More important, we have a problem with the salaries that some Federation directors get. When Ken and I lived in Michigan, I was shocked to learn that the director was raking in a salary of more than $325,000 per year. Michigan led the way with high unemployment and it costs less than half of what it costs to live in the New York Tri-State area. Recently I read that the director of the Cleveland Federation got a salary of more than $400,000. All this for maintaining an office and recruiting donations and volunteers. Ken, whose work is preventing cybertheft, doesn't earn anywhere near that kind of money. (But it costs banks, financial institutions and hospitals a hell of a lot more to provide free credit monitoring for a year for customers and patients.)
Federation is one of many nonprofit organizations that pay their directors a lot of money. Not all nonprofits are such lucrative places to work at, but it sure makes you think about those little donations you make. Studies have shown that the vast majority of donations to nonprofits are amounts of $15.00-$35.00, which says volumes about Americans' generosity. I worked and volunteered for nonprofits and struggled with the directors who bitched about that. I understood their point: it is a lot of work to process small amounts. That said, it's far easier to lose a benefactor. Someone just has to look at him or her cross-eyed and the money is gone forever. Whatever, it's over for me. Charity begins at the home, especially after The Great Recession.
Thank goodness for Caller ID, because we just don't want to give to Federation anymore. Its purpose isn't the same as it was when Israel so badly needed financial help to build a nation. The recent fire in Carmel launched some fundraising, but for similar disasters, it's the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee that emerges with the best planned efforts.
More important, we have a problem with the salaries that some Federation directors get. When Ken and I lived in Michigan, I was shocked to learn that the director was raking in a salary of more than $325,000 per year. Michigan led the way with high unemployment and it costs less than half of what it costs to live in the New York Tri-State area. Recently I read that the director of the Cleveland Federation got a salary of more than $400,000. All this for maintaining an office and recruiting donations and volunteers. Ken, whose work is preventing cybertheft, doesn't earn anywhere near that kind of money. (But it costs banks, financial institutions and hospitals a hell of a lot more to provide free credit monitoring for a year for customers and patients.)
Federation is one of many nonprofit organizations that pay their directors a lot of money. Not all nonprofits are such lucrative places to work at, but it sure makes you think about those little donations you make. Studies have shown that the vast majority of donations to nonprofits are amounts of $15.00-$35.00, which says volumes about Americans' generosity. I worked and volunteered for nonprofits and struggled with the directors who bitched about that. I understood their point: it is a lot of work to process small amounts. That said, it's far easier to lose a benefactor. Someone just has to look at him or her cross-eyed and the money is gone forever. Whatever, it's over for me. Charity begins at the home, especially after The Great Recession.
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Nicest Nore'aster
Where I live, a nor'easter is a rather nasty storm which dumps heavy rains and snow and produces fierce winds. We're getting a new storm that's really nice -- more availability of Eastern European skincare. Anyone who has traveled extensively in Europe knows that Western Europeans (other than the Scots, Irish and Welsh) are not attractive people. The French and Italian know how to dress, but they're really not good looking people. Go east and you'll think that it's against the law not to be beautiful. No wonder so many of the top models are from countries that once made up the Soviet bloc. They have attractive features and beautiful skin. Thus, I was thrilled to note that there are more places than ever in Lower Fairfield County to find European skincare.
It started out with Williams and Warren, a day spa in a newly built shopping square in Darien. Williams and Warren (www.williamsandwarren.md) is the only place in the area that sells Erno Laszlo products. The Hungarian-born dermatologist was a pioneer in creating products with pH balance. Conventional wisdom, mainly from the French, insists that soap is drying. Erno Laszlo says otherwise. When I began using Laszlo (OMG - 24 years ago!), my skin was still oily. I would wash my face at least thrice daily in the summer when the oil would continue to flow. Dermatologists and beauty editors say that's too often, but I felt dirty and oily unless I washed my face more often. I used Erno Laszlo's Regular Normalizer Shake-It in the morning and Heavy Controlling Lotion at night. My skin felt clean 24/7. Once morning I nearly forgot to wash my face because it didn't feel oily at all. Several years ago I went for my first professional facial. Look, Ma, no blackheads! Even the esthetician admitted she couldn't do better. After I got married, I got my husband to use Erno Laszlo's Sea Mud Soap and his skin improved. Even when we're cutting back on expenditures, we won't use any other soap. One bar lasts six months for the two of us. When my son reaches adolescence, he's going to use it, too, and he won't have to worry about acne.
Later I learned about Mario Badescu products. I tried them and liked them, but went back to Erno Laszlo because I prefer soap and water to cleansing lotions. The name Badescu is Romanian in origin, but little is known about the founder except that he started out giving European facials in a two room salon in New York. Mario Badescu products and facials have a strong following among celebrities of all ages. As with the Laszlo products, Mario Badescu skincare was hard to find outside New York City and Nordstroms. Recently, Ulta began carrying the line and the newly opened Greenwich Pharmacy and Stamford Natural and Organic offers them. It seems that the company is making a concerted effort to make this prestigious line less exclusive. Fine!
Alfya Murtazina, a native of the Ukraine, recently opened Alfya Skincare Beauty and Spa (www.alfyaskincare.com), where she incorporates Russian methods in her approach to skin care. Unlike most day spas, Alfya makes your experience more personal. It's not a conveyor belt set in a tranquil place, but a place that has superior customer relations.
When I was in Hungary nearly 10 years ago, I followed the suggestion of our tour guide and bought Helia-D skin care cream. This cream is legendary, even though the company has only emerged as a success since the 1980s. When I bought it, it cost the equivalent of $3.33, but it felt like a $75.00 cream. I was happy to discover that you can get it on the Internet at www.helia-d.net for $24.99 (sometimes less). Even with the shipping, it's a terrific bargain.
All I can say is that the French have better publicity. And that Creme de la Mer? I tried it and thought it felt like the original Nivea cream my grandmother used religiously on her face. She had few wrinkles even when she died in her mid-90s. I use that on my eyes. It doesn't feel luxurious, but it's really not bad and works just as well as Creme de la Mer for a lot less money. Let the wind blow from the North and the East. It's good for the skin!
It started out with Williams and Warren, a day spa in a newly built shopping square in Darien. Williams and Warren (www.williamsandwarren.md) is the only place in the area that sells Erno Laszlo products. The Hungarian-born dermatologist was a pioneer in creating products with pH balance. Conventional wisdom, mainly from the French, insists that soap is drying. Erno Laszlo says otherwise. When I began using Laszlo (OMG - 24 years ago!), my skin was still oily. I would wash my face at least thrice daily in the summer when the oil would continue to flow. Dermatologists and beauty editors say that's too often, but I felt dirty and oily unless I washed my face more often. I used Erno Laszlo's Regular Normalizer Shake-It in the morning and Heavy Controlling Lotion at night. My skin felt clean 24/7. Once morning I nearly forgot to wash my face because it didn't feel oily at all. Several years ago I went for my first professional facial. Look, Ma, no blackheads! Even the esthetician admitted she couldn't do better. After I got married, I got my husband to use Erno Laszlo's Sea Mud Soap and his skin improved. Even when we're cutting back on expenditures, we won't use any other soap. One bar lasts six months for the two of us. When my son reaches adolescence, he's going to use it, too, and he won't have to worry about acne.
Later I learned about Mario Badescu products. I tried them and liked them, but went back to Erno Laszlo because I prefer soap and water to cleansing lotions. The name Badescu is Romanian in origin, but little is known about the founder except that he started out giving European facials in a two room salon in New York. Mario Badescu products and facials have a strong following among celebrities of all ages. As with the Laszlo products, Mario Badescu skincare was hard to find outside New York City and Nordstroms. Recently, Ulta began carrying the line and the newly opened Greenwich Pharmacy and Stamford Natural and Organic offers them. It seems that the company is making a concerted effort to make this prestigious line less exclusive. Fine!
Alfya Murtazina, a native of the Ukraine, recently opened Alfya Skincare Beauty and Spa (www.alfyaskincare.com), where she incorporates Russian methods in her approach to skin care. Unlike most day spas, Alfya makes your experience more personal. It's not a conveyor belt set in a tranquil place, but a place that has superior customer relations.
When I was in Hungary nearly 10 years ago, I followed the suggestion of our tour guide and bought Helia-D skin care cream. This cream is legendary, even though the company has only emerged as a success since the 1980s. When I bought it, it cost the equivalent of $3.33, but it felt like a $75.00 cream. I was happy to discover that you can get it on the Internet at www.helia-d.net for $24.99 (sometimes less). Even with the shipping, it's a terrific bargain.
All I can say is that the French have better publicity. And that Creme de la Mer? I tried it and thought it felt like the original Nivea cream my grandmother used religiously on her face. She had few wrinkles even when she died in her mid-90s. I use that on my eyes. It doesn't feel luxurious, but it's really not bad and works just as well as Creme de la Mer for a lot less money. Let the wind blow from the North and the East. It's good for the skin!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
La Bete II
One of the most memorable plays I ever saw was La Bete, written by the then 32-year-old playwright, David Hirson, in rhyming couplets. Although my fellow audience members enjoyed it, the New York critics were outright vicious and the play closed after three weeks. Soon it went across the pond and was a big hit in London. It was recently revived in London and brought back to New York for a limited but seemingly successful run.
The title is French for stupidity, but it's a double entendre for the character Valere, played brilliantly by Mark Rylance. The battle of mediocrity overtaking excellence in 17th century France begins as Valere, a rather disgusting actor-playwright is chosen by the princess (played appropriately regally by Joanna Lumley) to join forces with Elomire (read: Moliere, played nobly by David Hyde-Pierce). Valere goes into a 20 minute egotistical monologue about himself -- a reason in itself to see the show. Another amusing role is that of Doreen, the young maid who announces things in charades with only one word as a hint. This production has a more lavish set than the first one in New York, but I think that the best improvements were omitting the intermission, changing the gender of the royal patron and having a dynamic cast.
Still, the critics have been dissatisfied. It's out of envy, in my opinion. About nine years after La Bete flopped on Broadway, Mr. Hirson's second play, Wrong Mountain, was produced on the Great White Way. Although I didn't care for the lead, Ron Rifkin, I loved the play. It was a variation of the same theme as La Bete -- high art versus low. This play was not written in rhyming couplets, but it proved, at least to me, that Mr. Hirson is highly literary. I, for one, wish he had a patron like the Princess who can help him get more plays produced. Even if his plays are not perfect, they are ambitious and well-crafted and I felt privileged to have seen them.
The title is French for stupidity, but it's a double entendre for the character Valere, played brilliantly by Mark Rylance. The battle of mediocrity overtaking excellence in 17th century France begins as Valere, a rather disgusting actor-playwright is chosen by the princess (played appropriately regally by Joanna Lumley) to join forces with Elomire (read: Moliere, played nobly by David Hyde-Pierce). Valere goes into a 20 minute egotistical monologue about himself -- a reason in itself to see the show. Another amusing role is that of Doreen, the young maid who announces things in charades with only one word as a hint. This production has a more lavish set than the first one in New York, but I think that the best improvements were omitting the intermission, changing the gender of the royal patron and having a dynamic cast.
Still, the critics have been dissatisfied. It's out of envy, in my opinion. About nine years after La Bete flopped on Broadway, Mr. Hirson's second play, Wrong Mountain, was produced on the Great White Way. Although I didn't care for the lead, Ron Rifkin, I loved the play. It was a variation of the same theme as La Bete -- high art versus low. This play was not written in rhyming couplets, but it proved, at least to me, that Mr. Hirson is highly literary. I, for one, wish he had a patron like the Princess who can help him get more plays produced. Even if his plays are not perfect, they are ambitious and well-crafted and I felt privileged to have seen them.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Scenes from New York
This is my favorite playground - New York's theatre district at night
My husband in front of one of our favorite restaurants.
A visitor from Zendik Farm (www.zendik.com)
Hard to argue with the message and a contrast to the commerce in the area, such as the chocolate shops.
Scenes from the M&M store on 48th Street, where you can get a lesson on almost everything you can do with an M&M character:
Including a Real Simple inspired way of making your bagged candy look more upmarket:
Finally, our destination:
Friday, December 3, 2010
La Bete - I
Tonight I'm going to see a revival of one of my favorite plays - La Bete by the gifted David Hirson.This morning I read about a different bete -- the presidency of Barack Obama. La Bete is brilliant. The other bete lives up to the French definition that means stupidity. La Bete dazzles. So does the other bete. You leave La Bete feeling elated. You leave the other bete feeling deflated, disappointed, disillusioned, demoralized and devoid of hope.
As readers of this blog know, I gave up on voting more than six years ago and never regretted it. I didn't buy into Obama's hope and change sing-a-long, as so many others did. These days I read comment after comment about people who deeply regret having voted for him. Most of them seem to numb to be angry. Those whose anger is bubbling over are calling him a placater, fraud, wuss, spineless, sheep in wolf's clothing, jellyfish, colossal disappointment, closet Republican and one-term deal. Major ouch!
So far they've called him almost everything but a modern day Charlie Brown who keeps believing that Lucy will not take away the ball she promises to hold down for him to kick. His dealings with the Repugnicans is nothing short of S-M. He is as much a sadist against the American people and a masochist for letting the opposition party whip him into submission. His newest move -- to freeze government workers' salaries is meaningless, especially since more and more people who work for the government workers are employed as contractors. But then, his record is horrific:
As readers of this blog know, I gave up on voting more than six years ago and never regretted it. I didn't buy into Obama's hope and change sing-a-long, as so many others did. These days I read comment after comment about people who deeply regret having voted for him. Most of them seem to numb to be angry. Those whose anger is bubbling over are calling him a placater, fraud, wuss, spineless, sheep in wolf's clothing, jellyfish, colossal disappointment, closet Republican and one-term deal. Major ouch!
So far they've called him almost everything but a modern day Charlie Brown who keeps believing that Lucy will not take away the ball she promises to hold down for him to kick. His dealings with the Repugnicans is nothing short of S-M. He is as much a sadist against the American people and a masochist for letting the opposition party whip him into submission. His newest move -- to freeze government workers' salaries is meaningless, especially since more and more people who work for the government workers are employed as contractors. But then, his record is horrific:
- Guantanamo Bay? Still open.
- The war in Iraq? Still going on.
- The war in Afghanistan? Worse than ever.
- Healthcare reform? Huge gift to the insurance industry. (And this is by a president who smokes and has a surgeon general who is fat.)
- Change? With foxes Geithner, Summer and Bernanke in the henhouse?
- The BP Oil spill? A manual in how not to handle a crisis.
- The trip to Asia. Lost luggage.
- Employment? Not for the middle class and poor.
- Federal pay freezes? That doesn't even add up to window dressing. The number of federal jobs going to contract workers has been increasing. The pay is negotiated between the recruiter and the contract worker. Even in private sector contract jobs, the pay is often fixed for the entire contract, which can be two years.
- His cabinet and advisers. After mid-term elections that go against their party (and future hopes), most presidents make a change. If he were a fraction as smart as people believe, he would have fired them.
- Tax cuts? Despite his abysmal record, he will still command big bucks for speeches and his next book. That's why he doesn't want to them to expire.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Another Fraud
Forgive me for being skeptical about people and how they present themselves, but this article in the New Haven Register validates my point. http://newhavenregister.com/articles/2010/12/02/news/metro/doc4cf724772ed2d613975375.txt.
Another con man in a nice suit who presented himself as a smart hardworking, church-going type of guy -- the kind you can trust with your money and your church's money. Oh, yes, many houses of worship have money. I learned this back in the days when I worked at PaineWebber and a congregational church had some serious money which was invested in Ranger Oil and other companies.
Gregory Loles of Easton bilked $10 million from 15 accounts since 2001, including St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange. The SEC canceled the registration of his firm, Apeiron Capital Management Inc. in 1998, but three years later he had an epiphany. He could still pass himself of as an investment adviser! He put the money into arbitrage bonds which didn't exist while he paid personal bills and ran an auto racing business. He told the church board that he managed the money of five or six rich Greek families and shipping firms. His problem is that he only stole about $10 million, which is small potatoes in today's fraud market, so he is going to go to jail. The AIG and big banking executives committed a much bigger fraud, so they're free. The moral of the story: Crime pays only if you think really big.
Another con man in a nice suit who presented himself as a smart hardworking, church-going type of guy -- the kind you can trust with your money and your church's money. Oh, yes, many houses of worship have money. I learned this back in the days when I worked at PaineWebber and a congregational church had some serious money which was invested in Ranger Oil and other companies.
Gregory Loles of Easton bilked $10 million from 15 accounts since 2001, including St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange. The SEC canceled the registration of his firm, Apeiron Capital Management Inc. in 1998, but three years later he had an epiphany. He could still pass himself of as an investment adviser! He put the money into arbitrage bonds which didn't exist while he paid personal bills and ran an auto racing business. He told the church board that he managed the money of five or six rich Greek families and shipping firms. His problem is that he only stole about $10 million, which is small potatoes in today's fraud market, so he is going to go to jail. The AIG and big banking executives committed a much bigger fraud, so they're free. The moral of the story: Crime pays only if you think really big.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tired of Giving In
Exactly 55 years ago a seamstress did something that changed the course of history. She refused to give up her seat on the bus so that a white male can sit down. Hooray for Rosa Parks. Other black women have done that before, but with Rosa, the timing was right for, what President Obama promised, "change you could believe in."Rosa was a secretary at the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, but she wasn't representing the organization when she refused the bus driver's order to give up her seat. By 42, she was just "tired of giving in." She paid for her actions. The local department store which employed her fired her. She moved to Detroit and found similar work. Later she worked as a secretary and receptionist to Congressman John Conyers, but she will always be remembered as an ordinary woman who commanded the nation's respect.
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