Not A Mystery

The political commentator who fancies himself America’s Pinata recently criticized a number of Obama nominees because they didn’t credit public programs as having any influence in their successes.

Instead they acknowledged such things as parental support, mentors, and teachers. Mr. Pinata should have the common sense to know that most of us would credit the people in our lives before a nameless government program. Whatever.

Because of the recent Sotomayor nomination, Lizette Alvarez and Michael Wilson interviewed a number of high profile ‘graduates’ of the Projects in NY City for a recent article in the NY Times.  In addition to (obviously) Sonia Sotomayor, can you say Jay Z., Howard Schultz (Starbucks), Lloyd C. Blankfein (Goldman Sachs), Whoopi Goldberg, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wesley Snipes, and the list goes on.

What’s more important are the thousands of ‘graduates’ (not famous) we never hear about who are also doing just fine.

Although I didn’t grow up in the Projects I did grow up in the Bronx, and all kids pretty much played the same games in the streets. It was a kick to read about what I played as a kid: stickball, stoopball, one wall handball, tag and ringolevio. I’ve never even seen ‘ringolevio‘ written;  that alone was worth the price of admission! Blast from the past. And if you can’t remember how to play, here’s your wikipedia link.

Here we are several weeks later, and those Chrysler lawyers are still doing manual labor. I guess they are worried about being outsourced, so they stick to their handcarts. Something about guys who get up to $1,000/hr. for their services actually pulling their own carts makes me feel good.

Still Doing Drayage

It’s also possible that the cart-guys have not yet made partner. Do you suppose they warn them about this in law school?

By the way, for those of you in Rio Linda, ‘Drayage’ is a fancy term for ‘Hauling’.

Continuity-wise here is the original post.

I’m retired, and have no complaints about my career. At least officially. But I always thought I would have been more successful if I was about 6 inches taller, or had a great chin like say, Cary Grant. I was pretty sure of this.

Last week I received an email from Robin, a Scottish friend, who has been a long time Burns fan; Burns Night and all that.

Since Scott and I made our trip to Orkney and stayed in the “Bothy” on the Pier at Stromness…I have got into some of the art and culture of Orkney. One aspect that might interest you is George Mackay Brown (the bard of Orkney). It’s a lot easier going than some of Burns and really captures the essence of the place.

So I went to George Mackay Brown’s website, and was gob-smacked. Take a look at George’s chin. Simply amazing, my new hero. And I’m not even into his poetry yet.

George Mackay Brown 1921 - 1996

Here are your links: GMB Website, Wikipedia. George Mackay Brown is considered to be one of the great Scottish poets of the 20th century, to say nothing of a face sporting the Gold Standard of Big Chins.

Having researched more deeply into OECD’s Society at a Glance that was the basis for our last post, I am coming to the conclusion that I was born in the wrong country. Is it too late to get French?

When they are not on strike, the French spend almost double the time we Americans do eating and drinking. If you do the math, we are talking almost 10 work-weeks each year. Wait…I made a slight mistake: that’s 10 American work-weeks, which would be more like 12 French work-weeks.  For those of you in Rio Linda, that’s 3 months.

They also spend more time sleeping. You would too, after a meal like that.

From "Society at a Glance 2009" - OECD

Certainly thought-provoking, from The Economist. This chart begs for explanations.  I wonder whether the data was observed or subject-reported. In my own case I would not take the time to self-report, as it would cut into my own leisure time.

Teddy Bear Optional

And for the record, leisure time should definitely be an equal opportunity pursuit. More to come, as this is a topic close to my heart and I lay claim to professional status in the area of leisure time.

We watched Will Smith in Seven Pounds last night, and I give it 5 stars. In addition to being a great tearjerker, it has a bit of mystery. Plus I think Will Smith is an outstanding actor. When they make a film about Barack Obama, he will get the part for sure…check out his ears!

Haunted by a secret, Ben Thomas looks for redemption by radically transforming the lives of seven people he doesn’t know. Once his plan is set, nothing will be able to stop him. At least that’s what he thinks. But Ben hadn’t planned on falling in love with one of these people and she’s the one who will end up transforming him.

Here are links to film summaries. Be careful, they are spoilers, and you want to watch the film before you read them.

Prior to the film’s release, the title Seven Pounds was considered a “mystery” which the studio refused to explain. Early trailers for Seven Pounds also kept the film’s details a mystery. Director Gabriele Muccino explained the intent: “The [audience] will not know exactly what this man is up to.”

I like this spoiler at Wikipedia the best, but this link has more pics at IMDB.

In 2003 a team of thieves broke into a vault two floors beneath the Antwerp Diamond Center and made off with at least $100 million worth of loose diamonds, gold, jewelry, and other spoils.

From Wired Magazine: 17.04

The vault was thought to be impenetrable. It was protected by 10 layers of security, including infrared heat detectors, Doppler radar, a magnetic field, a seismic sensor, and a lock with 100 million possible combinations. The robbery was called the heist of the century, and even now the police can’t explain exactly how it was done.

Eventually the thieves were caught. How? Because of a retired guy with time on his hands… Read more…

I used to play golf before I retired. I do a lot of things backwards.

Today I got an offer for a product that set my geek heart a-pounding. A Blu-Ray Putter, from my friends at Herrington Catalog. The only thing it doesn’t have is a power brick. If it had a power brick I’d take up golf again in a flash. Absolutely.

Blu-Ray Putter - But Can It Display HD?

Invented by Dr. Ci Moo Song, the former head of research at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology and a professor of aerospace engineering at Sejong University, the DiXX Blu utilizes advanced motion sensors and a computer mounted on the club head to provide instant feedback on all aspects of the putting stroke.

… Each DiXX Blu includes a removable computer terminal that uses its patented Inertial Navigation and Micro Electro-Mechanical System to analyze key elements of a successful putt including Face Angle, Impact Position, Swing Path, and Swing Tempo.

… The terminal also allows you to choose straight-back-straight-through or the arc path … as well as Pro or Standard Mode, depending on skill level. Remove the terminal and insert the included playing module and you are ready to play in any USGA event.

Now if this was available when I was playing golf I might still be  ‘in the game‘, but I won’t tell whether it would have been due to my skill level, or love of the gizmo.

You guess.

Let’s start off by saying that Coffee Cards are a great gift item! I received one for a special occasion the other day, and it provided me many hours of pleasurable sipping and lounging around at my local Peet’s. Brilliant.

But the mystery to me is that these cards are marketed as “re-loadable debit cards”; a convenience item. Why in the name of French Roast would you re-load the thing instead of just using a debit card? I don’t mean to pick on Peet’s (who make and sell my favorite coffee), they just happen to be a recent example of good ideas gone wild.

Peet's "re-loadable debit card"

The card, which takes of valuable wallet/purse space, offers to my mind no discernible benefit over a normal debit card.  Click on the card image and take a look at the FAQ’s for the card, and you decide. Please post a comment and give us your thoughts.

On the other hand, Starbuck’s market a Gold Card, that includes a discount on coffee and freebies on those special occasions like birthdays.

Starbuck's Card Offers More Than Debit

You have to pay $25/year  up-front for this card, but it seems like a better deal to me.  I won’t hold it against Starbuck’s that the ‘Gold‘ card is actually black. Whatever.

Take your pick, or try cash.

I’ve been a CSAA member for over 40 years, and have always been happy with their services. So imagine my disappointment today when I opened a membership offer from them that is nothing but a series of bad directions.

Read more…

Turns out I don’t have to become a Walmart Greeter after all; move over and make room for me cubicle-ites!