Audio books . . .
A number of my books are available in audio editions; here's link to a few at audiobookstand.com:
http://www.audiobookstand.com/quicksearch.asp?search=defelice&callingPage=quicksearch
The future of (financial) warfare . . .
. . . is now.
Item:
BEIJING — Aided by at least $43 million in assistance from the government of Massachusetts and an innovative solar energy technology, Evergreen Solar emerged in the last three years as the third-largest maker of solar panels in the United States.But now the company is closing its main American factory, laying off the 800 workers by the end of March and shifting production to a joint venture with a Chinese company in central China. Evergreen cited the much higher government support available in China.. . .Evergreen, in announcing its move to China, was unusually candid about its motives. Michael El-Hillow, the chief executive, said in a statement that his company had decided to close the Massachusetts factory in response to plunging prices for solar panels. World prices have fallen as much as two-thirds in the last three years — including a drop of 10 percent during last year’s fourth quarter alone.
Chinese manufacturers, Mr. El-Hillow said in the statement, have been able to push prices down sharply because they receive considerable help from the Chinese government and state-owned banks, and because manufacturing costs are generally lower in China.
“While the United States and other Western industrial economies are beneficiaries of rapidly declining installation costs of solar energy, we expect the United States will continue to be at a disadvantage from a manufacturing standpoint,” he said.
Even though Evergreen opened its Devens plant, with all new equipment, only in 2008, it began talks with Chinese companies in early 2009. In September 2010, the company opened its factory in Wuhan, China, and will now rely on that operation.
Full article here.
Question: Do you charge someone with treason in a case like this, or just call them a smart businessman?
Snow & cigars
Much more difficult than dealing with the snow (ten??? inches? - piece of cake) is answering the perennial question: . . . What's the best cigar to use while snowblowing?
It has to be strong, but not too strong. Most importantly, it needs a good, durable wrapper that won't fall apart under the pressure of the swirling winds.
Field tests are underway.
Second question: is the 'no beer before 10 a.m.' rule suspended on snow days?
Much more difficult than dealing with the snow (ten??? inches? - piece of cake) is answering the perennial question: . . . What's the best cigar to use while snowblowing?
It has to be strong, but not too strong. Most importantly, it needs a good, durable wrapper that won't fall apart under the pressure of the swirling winds.
Field tests are underway.
Second question: is the 'no beer before 10 a.m.' rule suspended on snow days?
Stealth fighter?
Item:
China Is Said to Test Stealth Fighter as Gates Visits
Everyone wondering why the aircraft is so large might think about what sort of uses a stealthy airframe might be best put to.
Here's a hint - what were the American "stealth fighters" used for in the First Gulf War?
In any event, it's been quite a while since the days of close-in dogfighting where small, highly maneuverable airframes were the biggest asset. Being able to carry long-range missiles, hold a lot of fuel and house advanced sensors are at least arguably a lot more important today than how tightly you can turn.
It hurts to say that. But if you're looking for an old-fashioned furball, you're a heck of a lot more likely to get it in, say, the next installment of Ace Combat than in real life.
And yes, I guarantee you will get it in the next Ace (Assault Horizon, for those of you not following along).
The tank on water skis . . .
Item: Marine landing craft likely to be axed.
The problem isn't the Marines, or even the idea of the new landing craft - it's the fact that it took over twenty years to develop and still wasn't a reality.
Developing landing craft in WWII didn't take 20 months. I'm not saying weapons should be rushed into existence, but for crapsake . . . what do you have around the house that was made 20 years ago?
The best Marine weapon remains a Marine.
Item: Marine landing craft likely to be axed.
The problem isn't the Marines, or even the idea of the new landing craft - it's the fact that it took over twenty years to develop and still wasn't a reality.
Developing landing craft in WWII didn't take 20 months. I'm not saying weapons should be rushed into existence, but for crapsake . . . what do you have around the house that was made 20 years ago?
The best Marine weapon remains a Marine.
Twain and the N word . . .
Speaking of Mark Twain, he's recently back in the news as publishers are planning to an edition of Huck Finn that replaces the word white boys can never say with "slave."
Does anyone else think the controversy has actually helped keep him relevant? Even though it actually has zero to do with the book.
Speaking of Mark Twain, he's recently back in the news as publishers are planning to an edition of Huck Finn that replaces the word white boys can never say with "slave."
Does anyone else think the controversy has actually helped keep him relevant? Even though it actually has zero to do with the book.
What we're up against . . .
From Pakistan:
From Pakistan:
ISLAMABAD -- Lawyers showered the suspected assassin of a liberal Pakistani governor with rose petals as he entered court. Some 170 miles away, the prime minister joined thousands to mourn the loss of the politician, who dared to challenge the demands of Islamic extremists.
The cheers and tears across the country Wednesday underscored Pakistan's journey over the past several decades from a nation defined by moderate Islam to one increasingly influenced by fundamentalists willing to use violence to impose their views.
Even so-called moderate Muslim scholars praised 26-year-old Mumtaz Qadri for allegedly killing Punjab province Gov. Salman Taseer on Tuesday in a hail of gunfire while he was supposed to be protecting him as a bodyguard. Qadri later told authorities he acted because of Taseer's vocal opposition to blasphemy laws that order death for those who insult Islam.
As Qadri was escorted into court in Islamabad, a rowdy crowd patted his back and kissed his cheek as lawyers at the scene threw flowers. On the way out, some 200 sympathizers chanted slogans in his favor, and the suspect stood at the back door of an armored police van and repeatedly yelled "God is great."
Full story, which goes on to say that many Pakistani are appalled, here.
Medical math
In my left hand is a bill from the doctor. In my left hand is a copy of the insurance company's processing of a claim for the same service.
The doctor's bill claims they sent the insurance company a bill for $140.
The insurance company, which provides an itemized list of the billed services, says they were billed $73.
The insurance company says they paid $25, because a) the doctor charged $20 for something not covered and b) overcharged for the rest.
The doctor claims he got $47.79. (Not counting the $50 copay for the visit.)
The doctor says I owe $10.46. Why exactly isn't clear, since his math isn't even in the ballpark. ($140 minus $47.79? Or even $73 minus $47.79?)
The insurance company doesn't say I owe anything, but if the $20 charge isn't covered, obviously that would be the likely amount.
So what do I do?
Write a check for $10.46 and go have a beer.
In my left hand is a bill from the doctor. In my left hand is a copy of the insurance company's processing of a claim for the same service.
The doctor's bill claims they sent the insurance company a bill for $140.
The insurance company, which provides an itemized list of the billed services, says they were billed $73.
The insurance company says they paid $25, because a) the doctor charged $20 for something not covered and b) overcharged for the rest.
The doctor claims he got $47.79. (Not counting the $50 copay for the visit.)
The doctor says I owe $10.46. Why exactly isn't clear, since his math isn't even in the ballpark. ($140 minus $47.79? Or even $73 minus $47.79?)
The insurance company doesn't say I owe anything, but if the $20 charge isn't covered, obviously that would be the likely amount.
So what do I do?
Write a check for $10.46 and go have a beer.
Rangers at Dieppe
A couple of people have asked about the photo where the Ranger was misidentified as a Canadian. This is it. Ranger Henry is in the middle distance.
For a full explanation and a better picture, you can check out Rangers at Dieppe, available on line at B&N, among others, here. (I got the hint that this might be an American from a Canadian; the full story is in the book.)
A couple of people have asked about the photo where the Ranger was misidentified as a Canadian. This is it. Ranger Henry is in the middle distance.
For a full explanation and a better picture, you can check out Rangers at Dieppe, available on line at B&N, among others, here. (I got the hint that this might be an American from a Canadian; the full story is in the book.)
Larry's new game
Persian Incursion is a simulation war game that presents a timely what-if: What if Israel tried to take out Iran's nukes? Could it?
The answer: it depends. (But it's definitely doable.)
You can order the game here, among other places.
Persian Incursion is a simulation war game that presents a timely what-if: What if Israel tried to take out Iran's nukes? Could it?
The answer: it depends. (But it's definitely doable.)
You can order the game here, among other places.
There is no border there
Item:
There have been numerous stories and accounts in all sorts of places explaining a) why this is necessary and b) the fact that, contrary to news accounts . . . well, never mind.
If you're going to deal with the "militants," you have to hit them where they live. Giving them safe haven anywhere, let alone in a place where they've been steadily intermarrying and otherwise integrating into the social fabric, makes exactly zero sense.
Pretending otherwise is ridiculous.
And I'm waiting for someone to show me the thick bright line on the ground between the two countries.
Item:
NATO today denied a report saying that top U.S. military commanders are considering launching elite ground raids into Pakistan to try to capture or kill militants along the border with Afghanistan, and speed up security gains before American troops start pulling out in July 2011.
There have been numerous stories and accounts in all sorts of places explaining a) why this is necessary and b) the fact that, contrary to news accounts . . . well, never mind.
If you're going to deal with the "militants," you have to hit them where they live. Giving them safe haven anywhere, let alone in a place where they've been steadily intermarrying and otherwise integrating into the social fabric, makes exactly zero sense.
Pretending otherwise is ridiculous.
And I'm waiting for someone to show me the thick bright line on the ground between the two countries.
Bad news for Iran
Item:
Item:
A test of the United States' only long-range missile defense system failed Wednesday -- the second failure this year in two tries.The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said both the intermediate-range ballistic missile target and the long-range interceptor missile launched successfully, radar and sensors worked properly and the "kill vehicle" deployed. But the "kill vehicle" didn't hit the target.
"Program officials will conduct an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the failure to intercept the target," the agency said. "The next flight test will be determined after identification of the cause of the failure."
The less chance of intercepting their missiles, the more chance of an attack.
(CNN story here. Eventually, this WILL work. It's just a question of when "eventually" is . . .)
More on a Dieppe Ranger
I was recently very lucky to be contacted by some of the surviving members of Howard Henry's family.
Readers of Rangers at Dieppe may remember that Henry died on the beach during the attack; I was able to determine that he's the American misidentified as a Canadian in one of the most famous photos of the battle and its aftermath.
The family was kind enough to provide me with some additional information, and help me correct one thing that's wrong in the book. Contrary to what I had thought from my research, Henry was not shipped back to the U.S. after the war, but rather is buried in Normandy.
(If you haven't read the book: Attached as an observer to a Canadian unit, he went out on one of the bloodiest beaches. There's no real indication of when or exactly how he died, but even getting out of the landing craft at that point would have taken an immense amount of courage.)
Interestingly, Herman had been in the cavalry before going to Europe and joining the Rangers. I haven't looked through all the records, but that may make him one of the few original Rangers with that background.
He was T-4 at the time of his death; that would be roughly the equivalent of a sergeant today. You generally got that rank because of a service specialty, but at this point I'm not sure what Henry's was. It wasn't listed in the original records.
I'll post more updates as I get them. (You can go my Rangers at Dieppe website here; I haven't updated it with the new information yet.)
I was recently very lucky to be contacted by some of the surviving members of Howard Henry's family.
Readers of Rangers at Dieppe may remember that Henry died on the beach during the attack; I was able to determine that he's the American misidentified as a Canadian in one of the most famous photos of the battle and its aftermath.
The family was kind enough to provide me with some additional information, and help me correct one thing that's wrong in the book. Contrary to what I had thought from my research, Henry was not shipped back to the U.S. after the war, but rather is buried in Normandy.
(If you haven't read the book: Attached as an observer to a Canadian unit, he went out on one of the bloodiest beaches. There's no real indication of when or exactly how he died, but even getting out of the landing craft at that point would have taken an immense amount of courage.)
Interestingly, Herman had been in the cavalry before going to Europe and joining the Rangers. I haven't looked through all the records, but that may make him one of the few original Rangers with that background.
He was T-4 at the time of his death; that would be roughly the equivalent of a sergeant today. You generally got that rank because of a service specialty, but at this point I'm not sure what Henry's was. It wasn't listed in the original records.
I'll post more updates as I get them. (You can go my Rangers at Dieppe website here; I haven't updated it with the new information yet.)
Taxes and Cliff Lee
In the frenzy over whether Cliff Lee will choose the Yankees or the Rangers, a number of sports reporters have generated stories on how Texas has a huge advantage over NY because of the state and city tax rates.
Hopefully the reporters get someone else to do their taxes.
First of all, in Lee's bracket, the tax professionals do a heck of a lot more than pump in a couple W2s on the return and efile the sucker. Tax planning is an art as well as a science. But just to show how silly the whole process is, let's say for the sake of argument that by playing in New York, Lee will subject himself to state and city taxes at the highest rates - 8.6 percent and 3.65.
That's 12.2 percent. Of course, that's the highest rate, not the actual effective rate, but why quibble?
At $23 million a year - I'm arbitrarily choosing the $140/6 year offer - that would work out to $2.8 mil a year in taxes. Decent money, even for a millionaire. (It's also where most of the first wave of stories stop.)
Except that Lee almost certainly wouldn't live in NYC, so he'd only be taxed on the games that he played here (the rest are taxed by the other cities, just as they would be if he were a Ranger). So slice that bill in half = $1.4 million.
Thing is, he also gets some credit on his federal tax return for paying local taxes, the same as you do. Even a simple return starts to get complicated from this point, but even with generous rounding in the government's favor the bill is down to $1 million per year. That's not even half the amount of extra money he'd pick up in endorsements in NYC over Texas. Even if he didn't want to do those endorsements, do you really feel the Yankees would lose Lee over a million dollars a year?
The truth is, Lee's choice ISN'T going to be about money, let alone taxes. He's getting a boatload no matter what. If he chooses Texas over the Yankees, it's not going to be because the state doesn't have income tax - it's because he wants to play there. And vice versa.
Whichever team he doesn't choose will just have to live with that.
In the frenzy over whether Cliff Lee will choose the Yankees or the Rangers, a number of sports reporters have generated stories on how Texas has a huge advantage over NY because of the state and city tax rates.
Hopefully the reporters get someone else to do their taxes.
First of all, in Lee's bracket, the tax professionals do a heck of a lot more than pump in a couple W2s on the return and efile the sucker. Tax planning is an art as well as a science. But just to show how silly the whole process is, let's say for the sake of argument that by playing in New York, Lee will subject himself to state and city taxes at the highest rates - 8.6 percent and 3.65.
That's 12.2 percent. Of course, that's the highest rate, not the actual effective rate, but why quibble?
At $23 million a year - I'm arbitrarily choosing the $140/6 year offer - that would work out to $2.8 mil a year in taxes. Decent money, even for a millionaire. (It's also where most of the first wave of stories stop.)
Except that Lee almost certainly wouldn't live in NYC, so he'd only be taxed on the games that he played here (the rest are taxed by the other cities, just as they would be if he were a Ranger). So slice that bill in half = $1.4 million.
Thing is, he also gets some credit on his federal tax return for paying local taxes, the same as you do. Even a simple return starts to get complicated from this point, but even with generous rounding in the government's favor the bill is down to $1 million per year. That's not even half the amount of extra money he'd pick up in endorsements in NYC over Texas. Even if he didn't want to do those endorsements, do you really feel the Yankees would lose Lee over a million dollars a year?
The truth is, Lee's choice ISN'T going to be about money, let alone taxes. He's getting a boatload no matter what. If he chooses Texas over the Yankees, it's not going to be because the state doesn't have income tax - it's because he wants to play there. And vice versa.
Whichever team he doesn't choose will just have to live with that.
Big Brother ponders the future . . .
Item:
What lesson do you figure Iran, China, et al, are drawing from this?
And which Western country do you think will be the first to "license" internet channels?
(Full story here.)
Item:
Computerworld - The retaliatory attacks by pro-WikiLeaks activists are growing in strength as hackers add botnets and thousands of people download an open-source attack tool, security researchers said today.
What lesson do you figure Iran, China, et al, are drawing from this?
And which Western country do you think will be the first to "license" internet channels?
(Full story here.)
A wakeup call
Item:
The fact that they're stunned is the real news. Maybe in another twenty years they'll actually start addressing the situation with something more than misguided pablum and time-wasting bs.
From the body of the story:
He is Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education. The fact that he actually realizes there's a problem is something, I guess.
Full story is here. Check the graphic out and see how we rank behind places like Poland, Hungary . . .
Item:
Top Test Scores From Shanghai Stun Educators
The fact that they're stunned is the real news. Maybe in another twenty years they'll actually start addressing the situation with something more than misguided pablum and time-wasting bs.
From the body of the story:
“I know skeptics will want to argue with the results, but we consider them to be accurate and reliable, and we have to see them as a challenge to get better,” he added. “The United States came in 23rd or 24th in most subjects. We can quibble, or we can face the brutal truth that we’re being out-educated.”
He is Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education. The fact that he actually realizes there's a problem is something, I guess.
Full story is here. Check the graphic out and see how we rank behind places like Poland, Hungary . . .
Christmas spirit . . .
We were up at West Point Sunday, in time to stop in at the West Point Band's holiday concert.
It was a great show. I even got to sing . . . fortunately with a thousand or so other people drowning me out.
'Twas the Night Before Hanukkah* brought the house down - gotta be a first for a Christmas concert.
Who says the Army's not fun?
* By Kenny Ellis, who appeared with the band and the NY Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet, along with Mst. Sergeant Mary Kay Messenger and Stf. Sgt. Alexis Cole. He did some songs from his CD, Hanukkah Swings. Check his website out here.
We were up at West Point Sunday, in time to stop in at the West Point Band's holiday concert.
It was a great show. I even got to sing . . . fortunately with a thousand or so other people drowning me out.
'Twas the Night Before Hanukkah* brought the house down - gotta be a first for a Christmas concert.
Who says the Army's not fun?
* By Kenny Ellis, who appeared with the band and the NY Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet, along with Mst. Sergeant Mary Kay Messenger and Stf. Sgt. Alexis Cole. He did some songs from his CD, Hanukkah Swings. Check his website out here.
Printer problems*
Printer problem in Iraq - Watch more Funny Videos
This is how I'm feeling today . . .
* A classic. HP, HP. . .
Printer problem in Iraq - Watch more Funny Videos
This is how I'm feeling today . . .
* A classic. HP, HP. . .
Hope for us alll . . .
Item:
Item:
Star Spangled Banner to Be Sold at Auction -
Missing T makes Star Spangled Banner worth $300,000
The typo clinched the copy's authenticity. So you see? I insert all those mistakes so the book will be more valuable . . .
. . . One unique feature of the first edition is that it contains a noticeable misspelling. "Carr was in such a hurry to rush this into print that he worked carelessly and misspelled the word patriotic," says Coover, pointing out that Carr listed it as pariotic (see gallery above). "Carr also omitted Francis Scott Key's name as poet."
China in the middle?
Hardly.
One thing I don't understand when it comes to North Korea - why does anyone in the U.S. want China to mediate?
If they're successful in ending the North Korean-manufactured "crisis", they've strengthened their role as a growing superpower region. And if they're not successful, they've prolonged a crisis that serves their other interests.
From China's perspective, conflict between the two Koreas has been one more stick to use as leverage when dealing with the U.S.: "We may be waging currency war against you, but if you retaliate, North Korea may just blow up Seoul."
The truth is, China doesn't have as much influence over North Korea as seems to be commonly assumed. It can't stop North Korea from attacking the south, let alone change the country's paranoid narcissistic nationalism.
The real solution is for South Korea to prove that North Korea is a paper tiger. The problem is that South Korea is not prepared for an actual war, let alone one where nuclear weapons might be used.
If North Korea continues to back itself a corner, real conflict is inevitable. the miracle is that it hasn't happened yet.
Hardly.
One thing I don't understand when it comes to North Korea - why does anyone in the U.S. want China to mediate?
If they're successful in ending the North Korean-manufactured "crisis", they've strengthened their role as a growing superpower region. And if they're not successful, they've prolonged a crisis that serves their other interests.
From China's perspective, conflict between the two Koreas has been one more stick to use as leverage when dealing with the U.S.: "We may be waging currency war against you, but if you retaliate, North Korea may just blow up Seoul."
The truth is, China doesn't have as much influence over North Korea as seems to be commonly assumed. It can't stop North Korea from attacking the south, let alone change the country's paranoid narcissistic nationalism.
The real solution is for South Korea to prove that North Korea is a paper tiger. The problem is that South Korea is not prepared for an actual war, let alone one where nuclear weapons might be used.
If North Korea continues to back itself a corner, real conflict is inevitable. the miracle is that it hasn't happened yet.
The (over) Zen of shaving . . .
It was a slow night at the local philosophy emporium. Down at the other end of the bar, I heard the following conversation:
Guy 1: . . . It was smooth, really, really smooth.
Guy 2: I'll bet.
Bartender (coming over): What, are you talking about sex? This is a family place.
Guy 1: Naw. Shaving.
Bartender: Shaving?
Guy 1: Wet shaving. I just got a new single blade razor, some creme. It's not like regular shaving. It's a whole lather experience . . .
Bartender: No more beer for you tonight.
It was a slow night at the local philosophy emporium. Down at the other end of the bar, I heard the following conversation:
Guy 1: . . . It was smooth, really, really smooth.
Guy 2: I'll bet.
Bartender (coming over): What, are you talking about sex? This is a family place.
Guy 1: Naw. Shaving.
Bartender: Shaving?
Guy 1: Wet shaving. I just got a new single blade razor, some creme. It's not like regular shaving. It's a whole lather experience . . .
Bartender: No more beer for you tonight.
Must've been a new deputy on that night . . .
I guess this would not be a good time to tell my Willie Nelson story.
(News story here.)
Living country music legend Willie Nelson was charged with possession of marijuana after six ounces were discovered aboard his tour bus in Texas, according to a U.S. Border Patrol spokesman.
I guess this would not be a good time to tell my Willie Nelson story.
(News story here.)
Shocking, just shocking*
What a coincidence, no?
Times story here.
Worm Was Perfect for Sabotaging Centrifuges
Seriously, though, the episode does show the reach of cyberwarfare, which is about as asymmetric as you can get.
*Apologies to Julius Epstein, et al (writers on Casablanca).
RW: Domino Theory
So to answer some questions.
First, Dick's website is the best place to catch him:
http://www.dickmarcinko.com/
Second, yes, the rumors are true - Domino Theory is set mostly in India and Pakistan.
There are always a lot of reasons to do things, but a big part of the reason in this case is that's where the flash points are. And if you're going to deal with terrorist threats that affect the U.S. (or Afghanistan), ultimately you have to talk about those countries.
Of course, I really like the food. Some of the music, though . . .
So to answer some questions.
First, Dick's website is the best place to catch him:
http://www.dickmarcinko.com/
Second, yes, the rumors are true - Domino Theory is set mostly in India and Pakistan.
There are always a lot of reasons to do things, but a big part of the reason in this case is that's where the flash points are. And if you're going to deal with terrorist threats that affect the U.S. (or Afghanistan), ultimately you have to talk about those countries.
Of course, I really like the food. Some of the music, though . . .
RW update
OK, latest rumor is confirmed - next Rogue Warrior, to be called Domino Theory, will be out in time for Father's Day.
Keep checking Dick's website for further information and better details, coming soon.
For the record: The book is complete. Dick suffered no permanent injuries in its creation.
My (mental & physical) health is always another story . . .
OK, latest rumor is confirmed - next Rogue Warrior, to be called Domino Theory, will be out in time for Father's Day.
Keep checking Dick's website for further information and better details, coming soon.
For the record: The book is complete. Dick suffered no permanent injuries in its creation.
My (mental & physical) health is always another story . . .
Modest proposals
My personal Yankees ticket agent called yesterday to ask how things were going, see if I wanted an upgrade, and welcome any suggestions for improvements I might have.
At least that's what I heard on the voice mail message he left.
Funny coincidence that he left the message the same day the team announced they were boosting prices*. Naturally, my first suggestion would be that they lower the price of tickets - and make parking free.
Realizing that's not going to happen - and that it's very unlikely that the players will visit my section before the game to share a hot dog (tricky with the oxygen mask they'd have to wear up there) - I scaled back my suggestions for improvements. They now include:
- Install a garlic fries stand behind my seats.
- Add a sausage option to the pizza selections. (Bring back the Stromboli and I'll consider the price hike justified.)
- Give Cousin Brewski cans of Murphy's Stout to hawk in the stands.
- Turn one of the upstairs sections into a cigar smoking zone.
- Stop rearranging the traffic flow and parking lots every homestand.
- Go back to a system where you pay before you park, so it's easier to get out. (Given that they're bumping parking prices beyond what I pay for my seat, this probably isn't going to affect me - I'll be walking to the games. And back.)
- Stop blacking out controversial replays - these are exactly the ones we want to see.
Finally, see if you can do something about the obnoxious Red Sox fans who always sit by us. I don't mind it so much when the Yanks are actually playing Boston, especially since the fans are such bad losers, but it's trying when NY is playing KC.
Especially when the Yankees lose.
Which brings me to a suggestion that I'm sure all fans can agree on: Make sure the home team wins when I'm at the Stadium.
*Allegedly because fans were getting huge markups on StubHub. That's a real joke, as anyone who's tried to sell tickets there can attest.
My personal Yankees ticket agent called yesterday to ask how things were going, see if I wanted an upgrade, and welcome any suggestions for improvements I might have.
At least that's what I heard on the voice mail message he left.
Funny coincidence that he left the message the same day the team announced they were boosting prices*. Naturally, my first suggestion would be that they lower the price of tickets - and make parking free.
Realizing that's not going to happen - and that it's very unlikely that the players will visit my section before the game to share a hot dog (tricky with the oxygen mask they'd have to wear up there) - I scaled back my suggestions for improvements. They now include:
- Install a garlic fries stand behind my seats.
- Add a sausage option to the pizza selections. (Bring back the Stromboli and I'll consider the price hike justified.)
- Give Cousin Brewski cans of Murphy's Stout to hawk in the stands.
- Turn one of the upstairs sections into a cigar smoking zone.
- Stop rearranging the traffic flow and parking lots every homestand.
- Go back to a system where you pay before you park, so it's easier to get out. (Given that they're bumping parking prices beyond what I pay for my seat, this probably isn't going to affect me - I'll be walking to the games. And back.)
- Stop blacking out controversial replays - these are exactly the ones we want to see.
Finally, see if you can do something about the obnoxious Red Sox fans who always sit by us. I don't mind it so much when the Yanks are actually playing Boston, especially since the fans are such bad losers, but it's trying when NY is playing KC.
Especially when the Yankees lose.
Which brings me to a suggestion that I'm sure all fans can agree on: Make sure the home team wins when I'm at the Stadium.
*Allegedly because fans were getting huge markups on StubHub. That's a real joke, as anyone who's tried to sell tickets there can attest.
The sound of silence
Strange thing happened today - no one called me.
Over the past week or so, I've gotten phone calls from Ed*, Newt, Sarah, Bill and a whole bunch of other old and close friends, all trying to persuade me to save the Union from imminent collapse, and worse.
Obviously they mistook my voting enrollment - NOE (Not Otherwise Enrolled, in NY the only way to be a true independent) - for Wants to be Bothered on the Phone While Working.
Was kind of nice to hear from Ed, though. Haven't seen him since the time at the county fair when the crazy man tried to shake his hand and ended up spitting all over me.
* Ed= Ed Koch, former mayor of NYC.
Strange thing happened today - no one called me.
Over the past week or so, I've gotten phone calls from Ed*, Newt, Sarah, Bill and a whole bunch of other old and close friends, all trying to persuade me to save the Union from imminent collapse, and worse.
Obviously they mistook my voting enrollment - NOE (Not Otherwise Enrolled, in NY the only way to be a true independent) - for Wants to be Bothered on the Phone While Working.
Was kind of nice to hear from Ed, though. Haven't seen him since the time at the county fair when the crazy man tried to shake his hand and ended up spitting all over me.
* Ed= Ed Koch, former mayor of NYC.
Utterly irresponsible leak ...
WASHINGTON — American intelligence officials in September intercepted several packages containing books, papers, CDs and other household items shipped to Chicago from Yemen and considered the possibility that the parcels might be a test run for a terrorist attack, two officials said Monday night.
Egos kill.
(Yes, there was more.)
Rogue Warrior
PR types want me to stop being so flip when I talk about upcoming releases.
Huh? I thought that was pretty much my job description.
But to be serious: The next installment in the Rogue Warrior series is finished, and is awaiting publication. At last report, the publisher hadn't set the exact date. Well maybe they had, but if so it's a secret, at least from me.
(I'm not being flip! It's true! It's true! But then again, I'm often the last to know.)
A lot of the story is set in India. The title is Domino Theory . . . or at least it was, since sometimes that stuff changes as we get closer to publication. It's a reference to a serious theory Dick lays out in the book.
No double-entendre intended.
PR types want me to stop being so flip when I talk about upcoming releases.
Huh? I thought that was pretty much my job description.
But to be serious: The next installment in the Rogue Warrior series is finished, and is awaiting publication. At last report, the publisher hadn't set the exact date. Well maybe they had, but if so it's a secret, at least from me.
(I'm not being flip! It's true! It's true! But then again, I'm often the last to know.)
A lot of the story is set in India. The title is Domino Theory . . . or at least it was, since sometimes that stuff changes as we get closer to publication. It's a reference to a serious theory Dick lays out in the book.
No double-entendre intended.
Not an insignificant development
Chinese Supercomputer Wrests Title From U.S.
Chinese Supercomputer Wrests Title From U.S.
A Chinese scientific research center has built the fastest supercomputer ever made, replacing the United States as maker of the swiftest machine, and giving China bragging rights as a technology superpower.
Story here.
(Yes, it's largely symbolic. No, it doesn't lessen its significance.)
Opening day
Wood chopping season opened in earnest over the weekend with red cedar. Still a little green at the core after six months of aging, but the season is young.
The swinging of the axe always raises the important philosophical questions, to wit: What is the proper beer to drink while chopping wood?
I went with Murphy's for opening day. Hard to go wrong with a good stout, even if the afternoon was on the warm side
Next week: Is using a star-shaped splitter cheating?
Wood chopping season opened in earnest over the weekend with red cedar. Still a little green at the core after six months of aging, but the season is young.
The swinging of the axe always raises the important philosophical questions, to wit: What is the proper beer to drink while chopping wood?
I went with Murphy's for opening day. Hard to go wrong with a good stout, even if the afternoon was on the warm side
Next week: Is using a star-shaped splitter cheating?
Did I do wrong?
So I'm in the parking garage after the Yankee game Wednesday, and unfortunately chose the wrong lane to park in - a mistake that gained me more than a half-hour of carbon emissions as I waited in line to get out. (They've been changing the patterns in the lot over the past few months, and now they have them perfected - it's almost impossible to get out quickly if you actually spend any time in the Stadium itself. Which I'm sure is why they felt justified in jumping the price to $40.)
Anyway, this guy in a new Mercury Fusion knockoff tries to cut in line. Like he's got a snowball's chance in hell, even though I am in a good mood since the Yanks won.
Out he jumps from his car and gives me this long sob story about having to get out quickly because he has to see his grandfather in the hospital. Now mind you, he's just gotten into his car, which means he hit the bar after the game. That or he got on the train and remembered in Westchester that he had actually driven.
I of course asked where the hospital was. He said on Long Island and even elaborated on the route he was taking.
It was a long and actually amusing sob story, even if it was total bs. In the end, he was so full of bull that I let him in. He was last seen merrily cutting someone else off and heading at a steady snail's pace toward the exit.
Should have I told him that he cut into the wrong line, and that going out that exit would add at least another hour to his trip?
Nah. And I wasn't influenced by the Mets decal on his bumper, either.
So I'm in the parking garage after the Yankee game Wednesday, and unfortunately chose the wrong lane to park in - a mistake that gained me more than a half-hour of carbon emissions as I waited in line to get out. (They've been changing the patterns in the lot over the past few months, and now they have them perfected - it's almost impossible to get out quickly if you actually spend any time in the Stadium itself. Which I'm sure is why they felt justified in jumping the price to $40.)
Anyway, this guy in a new Mercury Fusion knockoff tries to cut in line. Like he's got a snowball's chance in hell, even though I am in a good mood since the Yanks won.
Out he jumps from his car and gives me this long sob story about having to get out quickly because he has to see his grandfather in the hospital. Now mind you, he's just gotten into his car, which means he hit the bar after the game. That or he got on the train and remembered in Westchester that he had actually driven.
I of course asked where the hospital was. He said on Long Island and even elaborated on the route he was taking.
It was a long and actually amusing sob story, even if it was total bs. In the end, he was so full of bull that I let him in. He was last seen merrily cutting someone else off and heading at a steady snail's pace toward the exit.
Should have I told him that he cut into the wrong line, and that going out that exit would add at least another hour to his trip?
Nah. And I wasn't influenced by the Mets decal on his bumper, either.
Conversation
Me: N told me this married woman was hitting on him and asked for advice.
Her: N? Married woman?
Me: Her husband was going away.
Her: She asked you for advice?
Me: That's not so hard to believe. He wanted to know what I would do.
Her: What'd you say?
Me: I said it would depend on what she looked like.
Her: You are so paying for lunch.
Me: N told me this married woman was hitting on him and asked for advice.
Her: N? Married woman?
Me: Her husband was going away.
Her: She asked you for advice?
Me: That's not so hard to believe. He wanted to know what I would do.
Her: What'd you say?
Me: I said it would depend on what she looked like.
Her: You are so paying for lunch.
Going Rogue . . .
Bunch of questions about Rogue Warrior in the queue. Some answers, in no particular order:
A: Best place to hook up with Dick is at his website: www.dickmarcinko.com
A: Yeah, he does.
A: The next book is coming out . . . well, the publisher hasn't said, at least not to us. Soon, though, because we've just finished writing it. And we're working on one after that, and on and on...
A: Speaking of the next book, yes, it's based on stuff that Dick's involved in.
A: No.
A: No.
A: I can't speak for Dick on that.
A: I don't know any secret cheats to the game, outside of the ones you can find anywhere on the web.
A: Of course.
A: I like her, too.
A: I wasn't involved in writing 'One Perfect Op,' but it's a good story and frankly, if Dick endorses it, that's good enough for me. So yes, highly recommended.
A: No comment.
A: Dick's pretty busy, but you should try through his website (see above).
A: I do.
A: My favorite is the first, though I'm always partial to the one we're working on at whatever moment I'm asked.
A: I'm not sure how much I should give away, but the basic setting is India and the U.S., with more of it in India.
A: Heh. It's your funeral.
Bunch of questions about Rogue Warrior in the queue. Some answers, in no particular order:
A: Best place to hook up with Dick is at his website: www.dickmarcinko.com
A: Yeah, he does.
A: The next book is coming out . . . well, the publisher hasn't said, at least not to us. Soon, though, because we've just finished writing it. And we're working on one after that, and on and on...
A: Speaking of the next book, yes, it's based on stuff that Dick's involved in.
A: No.
A: No.
A: I can't speak for Dick on that.
A: I don't know any secret cheats to the game, outside of the ones you can find anywhere on the web.
A: Of course.
A: I like her, too.
A: I wasn't involved in writing 'One Perfect Op,' but it's a good story and frankly, if Dick endorses it, that's good enough for me. So yes, highly recommended.
A: No comment.
A: Dick's pretty busy, but you should try through his website (see above).
A: I do.
A: My favorite is the first, though I'm always partial to the one we're working on at whatever moment I'm asked.
A: I'm not sure how much I should give away, but the basic setting is India and the U.S., with more of it in India.
A: Heh. It's your funeral.
Missing the point
There have been a spate of articles, largely in the financial press, over the last few days about the mortgage lying crisis, how halting mortgages to get things right is bad for the economy, and how everybody oughta just shut the hell up and move on.
The stories miss the point: the banks acted - and are STILL acting - irresponsibly. They operated AND ARE STILL operating as if they are above the law.
Which is why we are here in the first place.
So it DOES matter how these are unwound. More of the same leads to . . . more of the same.
(Even the NYT is starting to catch on. Story here on Burger King bankers.)
There have been a spate of articles, largely in the financial press, over the last few days about the mortgage lying crisis, how halting mortgages to get things right is bad for the economy, and how everybody oughta just shut the hell up and move on.
The stories miss the point: the banks acted - and are STILL acting - irresponsibly. They operated AND ARE STILL operating as if they are above the law.
Which is why we are here in the first place.
So it DOES matter how these are unwound. More of the same leads to . . . more of the same.
(Even the NYT is starting to catch on. Story here on Burger King bankers.)
Now that they have all our jobs . . .
. . . what will they take next?
. . . what will they take next?
China, Angered by Peace Prize, Blocks Celebration
Story.
My five dollar seats . . .
So as a fan I have to say that it's great that the Yankees swept the division series on the one hand, but it does mean I don't get to use my five dollar playoff tickets to see Home Game 2 (ALDS Game 4).
Which is kind of a bummer, since it technically renders moot any possible bragging about getting into the playoffs for half the cost of a beer. (Actually even less than that, if you get a draft from the cute Beers of the World girl.)
So as a fan I have to say that it's great that the Yankees swept the division series on the one hand, but it does mean I don't get to use my five dollar playoff tickets to see Home Game 2 (ALDS Game 4).
Which is kind of a bummer, since it technically renders moot any possible bragging about getting into the playoffs for half the cost of a beer. (Actually even less than that, if you get a draft from the cute Beers of the World girl.)
They're not "flawed" . . .
As in this headline from AP . . .
. . . the mainstream media doesn't really get it: the documents in question aren't "flawed," they're a fraud on the court. They're the equivalent of a witness perjuring himself at a trial.
If you can't get that straight, you really can't understand the depth of the problem.
As in this headline from AP . . .
Up to 40 states plan inquiry into foreclosure data
. . . the mainstream media doesn't really get it: the documents in question aren't "flawed," they're a fraud on the court. They're the equivalent of a witness perjuring himself at a trial.
If you can't get that straight, you really can't understand the depth of the problem.
Iran's nuke program . . .
. . . making steady progress. Of a sort:
Translation: Not only are their computers riddled with bugs, but they're leaking waste all over the place.
If they keep going like this, the Israelis won't have to blow the reactors up . . . they'll do it themselves.
LA times story here.
. . . making steady progress. Of a sort:
Reporting from Beirut —Iran's atomic energy chief said that a delay in the launch of the nation's first nuclear power plant was not caused by a powerful computer virus that has crippled data management systems across the world — but his explanation may not have reassured Persian Gulf residents.
Ali Akbar Salehi blamed a leak in the pool now holding the fuel rods for the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
"A small leak was observed in a pool next to the reactor and was curbed," he said in comments over the weekend that were reported Monday by the official Islamic Republic News Agency. "This leak caused the activities to be delayed for a few days. The leak has been fixed and the core of the reactor is now working properly."
Translation: Not only are their computers riddled with bugs, but they're leaking waste all over the place.
If they keep going like this, the Israelis won't have to blow the reactors up . . . they'll do it themselves.
LA times story here.
What newspapers (used to be) all about
“All I ever wanted to do was to be a journalist, and I didn’t want to leave Ogdensburg,” he explained. . . .He knows nearly everyone in the city, often introducing people by citing the names of their parents and grandparents. He regularly visits people at St. Joseph’s nursing home. And when people call on Sunday to complain about a missing paper, he often drives out to deliver it in person.
Not only are community newspapers and newspapermen like this a vanishing breed; so are the communities.
Story here.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
