Arrivederci, Roma.

Today, February 28th, is the Pope's last day in office. Henceforth, Benedict XVI will be known as Pope Emeritus. Nothing I can write today could bump him off the front page. Now 115 Cardinals will gather to elect his successor. Some think he will come from the Southern Hemisphere. Others say that after the last two being Polish and German that the Italians will be back "in". We haven't heard from the oddsmakers in Las Vegas yet. I am curious how many ballots it will take. They want it accomplished by Palm Sunday March 24th so we will have a new Pontiff for Easter Sunday. The black smoke is a false alarm - watch for the white smoke - that makes it official. Ora pro nobis.
tjs
Next -Flower Show

Oscar Withdrawal

Last Sunday we had Oscar Meyer weiners for lunch, Steak Oscar for dinner but since we couldn't crash the Vanity Fair after party, I ended up having to wash the dishes. Such is life when you back a loser. My sentimental favorite was Robert DeNiro, more so as he played a fanatical Philadelphia Eagles fan. I actually saw two of the nine films being judged which is more than my normal yearly average. Now it's on to more mundane things like sequester, income tax preparation, Dow Jones tanking and continued gridlock in Washington. I'm waiting for the early spring as promised by the groundhog.
tjs
Next - Arrivederci, Roma!

Raising Awareness

I have heard of raising Cain, raising Taxes, raising the roof and even raising at poker. But now I read of possibly raising a whole town. Highlands, N.J. sits at sea level and is constantly flooded during the full moon and was devastated by Sandy. The Corps of Engineers has studied the problem for some time and now there is a proposal to raise the town eight to ten feet. It would require perhaps 3.5 million cubic yards of fill at a cost of approx. $25 Milliion. There is precedent for this approach as the city of Galveston, Texas was raised 17 feet after the tragic hurricane of 1900. Call it climate change, global warming or blame El Nino but it appears that our coastal communities will continue to be threatened for some time to come.
tjs
Next - TBA
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/nyregion/highlands-nj-proposes-raising-the-borough-to-escape-hurricanes.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fNew%20York%20and%20Region%2fColumns%2fOur%20Towns

Fore!

A friend recently shared a facebook posting that appeared to be obsessed with the President's recent golf outing during Presidents Weekend. These folks are too young to remember President Eisenhower who, it is reported, played 800 rounds while in office. That equates to two foursomes per week plus chipping around on the south lawn. What I was witnessing was the downside of the Internet as the commentary was both snarky and disrespectful. But pre-Internet these people had no place to go to vent their anger. This led to burning the breakfast toast, kicking the dog and finger-waving in traffic.
Ah, but now they can see their vitriolic comments in print, vent their venom and bask in their fifteen minutes of fame - all of which should contribute to a more pleasant household atmosphere. So, three cheers for the Internet with all its flaws and hackings.
tjs
Next -TBA

A Sweet Tooth

  

Per N.Y. Times by Isabel Kershner 2/19/13 dateline Jerusalem - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has an ice cream budget of $2700. a year. That equates to $52. per week which is more than my wine budget. His favorite flavor is pistachio - coincidentally, pistachio nuts are one of the premier exports of Iran - but doubt Bibi would entertain from that source. He spent his high school years in the Philadelphia suburbs so perhaps that might be the source of his sweet tooth. He has since cancelled the contract with the ice cream parlor but other consumers have flocked to the place to make up for any lost business. As they say "There is no such thing as bad publicity."
tjs
Next - Thievery Abounds

Thievery Abounds!

  
  Tuesday we learned of a diamond heist at Brussels Airport - right off the tarmac. The thieves wore uniforms - Willie Sutton would have been proud. Wednesday it was six goats stolen from a farm in rural Pennsylvania. Now I can see the attraction of the "ice" but what of the goats? Were they after the goathair or the milk for cheese - (I happen to like goat cheese with honey) or perhaps it was some disgruntled Cubs fans attempting to "reverse the curse" at Wrigley Field? In another lifetime I made periodic visits to rural Pennsylvania - in Lancaster County the Amish folks have those black buggies with the orange triangle on the rear. You have to be attentive to their presence on the highway. And now if motoring thru that country you also have to watch out for the goats grazing by the roadside. As Stan Laurel used to say "If it isn't one thing it's another, Ollie."
tjs
Next - FORE! (Mon.)

Back Home Again

During my last twenty-two years in Jacksonville I found the shopkeepers to be both cordial and courteous. Similar to Cheers - "Everybody knew my name." But now I am back home in the big city.
Last week my wristwatch "light" went out so my wife took it to a local watch maker, Gianini. The fellow on duty said to her "You shouldn't have tried to take the back off yourself - you might have bent it - the watch maker is off today - leave it - we'll look at it and call you." Two hours later I got the call  "Your watch is ready." So I hustled down to reclaim it. The man said - "You needed a battery -that'll be $10.60 - my breakfast cost more than that." I asked what he had for breakfast and he refused to tell me. I asked if he changed the day and date on the dial. He said he knew the date and for $10.60 I was lucky to get what I got. I asked if it was his name on the door. He said "No, he's dead." He also said that battery would last a year and you won't have to come in again for a year.
What joy to learn that. And then I remembered that old saw "Abuse me, I'm homesick!"  But since February only has 28 days I will probably have to reset the "date" - I don't dare go back to the late Gianini - moreover, my year isn't up yet.
tjs
Next -A Sweet Tooth

Big Loser

A family member has suggested that we hold a weight loss contest during Lent. Due to my age I will exempt myself from such activity. But a skeptic thought that everyone would cheat.  My questions would be : are we weighing in dressed or undressed? and what about the difference in scales, etc. I'm sure civility will prevail and we will have a winner - or loser - on Easter Sunday.
The down side to weight loss is you may need a new wardrobe. It is said that the comedian Jackie Gleason traveled with three wardrobes - portly - extra large - and humungus - all depending on what he might be binging on. He did have wild fluctuations of weight. He played the role of Minnesota Fats in the movie The Hustler (1961) It was alleged that his tailor was Omar the Tent Maker.
tjs
Next - Back Home Again

EMail Overload

Just before the turn of the century, when I was still in the market place, I would spend two hours at the end of the day cleaning up the CRT tube. This was just for in-house communications as my partner handled the PC traffic. Fast forward fifteen years and "E-Mail has turned from delight to deluge." Some folks have multiple E-Mail accounts plus Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, etc to attend and respond to. "Checking e-mail is like performing triage" so says the co-founder of Mailbox. And one of the culprits is the "reply all" button - that coupled with the CYA messages will drive you up the wall. Also, it shouldn't take ten back and forth messages to arrange a lunch date. Jenna Wortham amplifies the problem and potential solution.
tjs
Next - TBA - Off for Presidents' weekend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/technology/when-e-mail-turns-from-delight-to-deluge.html

Looking Back

Today I got to thinking about an old boss. Circa 1944/1945 I worked after school in a pharmacy for Doc. L. - he subsisted on cigarettes and coke but he was good to me. I was a combination soda jerk, dishwasher and errand boy. On the soda fountain we had to eat our mistakes which wasn't hard to take. Washing dishes gave me time to contemplate - also gave me dishpan hands - a term we haven't heard lately. But the evening errands included a trip to the local poker group which rotated into various houses. They insisted on fresh playing cards every time and they tipped generously which made my week. Doc had a 1938 Buick which he tried to keep running as we were under wartime gas rationing. When he developed a leak in the gas tank he worked out a patch using soft Fels Naphtha soap - a trick that worked. Then came August 15, 1945 - VJ Day - Doc refused to close - so we stood outside watching the neighbors parading by beating their pots and pans - the war in the Far East was over. (Photo VJ Day Times Square NYC - mostly female faces)
tjs
Next - E-mail Overload

The Snowman

The snowmen I have seen in the last several days rivaled those of my youth. If the snow was deep enough and wet enough we would roll it into the right size for mounting. We used anthracite coal for eyes and buttons as most of the homes were heated by coal furnaces. The ashes produced were excellent for covering snow and ice to provide traction as we had not yet seen the rock salt of today. But as more homes converted to gas heat there was only one neighbor left with coal and his ashes were in demand. There is another definition of "snowman" as most golfers know. When you score an eight on a par four hole, the figure eight by its shape is called a "snowman." I have had my share of these snowmen in July. We feel for our friends in the Northeast still grappling with the aftermath of Nemo.
tjs
Next - Looking Back

Carnival

Today, February 12th, is known as Shrove Tuesday, in the Christian world, the day before Lent begins. In Europe it is also known as Faschnaut Day (or Donut Day). In New Orleans it is Mardi Gras where the krewes parade. Hopefully, you have been fortified with a breakfast of sugar coated beignets. Further south, the Cariocas in Rio are parading their samba bands. It is Carnival! Some years ago I was in Port of Spain, Trinidad at this time of year. The Hilton Hotel was built on the side of a mountain so after entering the lobby you took the elevator DOWN to your room. They called it the Upside Down Hilton. After checking out on a Saturday I went to the airport to catch a flight home. The PANAM agent said "It's too bad you are leaving as tomorrow the steel bands are rehearsing in the savanna park. If you could stay over we could put you up in the PANAM guest house." And so it was. The Esso steel band and a dozen others were competing in the noonday sun with the aroma of rum in the air. It was quite a spectacle. Their music is infectious - akin to Lionel Hampton on the vibes but at a higher pitch. PANAM was another great U.S. Flag carrier no longer on the scene. So, let the Lenten season begin and work off all those donuts.
tjs
Next - The Snowman

Snow Disposal

The folks in New England will have thousands of cubic yards of snow to dispose of. They probably won't be permitted to dump in rivers or streams. I remember years ago some communities in the Midwest loaded their snow into railroad gondola cars and sent the trains down south to melt. In a similar north to south operation I recall an icing situation that occurred on one of our ships coming westbound from Europe in midwinter.  Before arriving in New York she took a lot of spray which froze everything on deck including all the cargo containers in their stacks. Upon arriving at her Hudson River pier no amount of steaming could penetrate the ice coating. After several fruitless days she upped anchor and headed south until she picked up the warm Gulf Stream current and the ice began to melt. Then she headed back to New York but by that time she was a week late which further disrupted our schedule. I seem to recall one of our mariners telling me that "we dumped a few tons of ice on Castro's doorstep."
tjs
Next - Carnival

Potpourri XIV

After 22 years in Florida I now have to relearn how to parallel park.

Also, I now have to deal with snow again. I have noticed one of my neighbors - with snow approaching - will extend his windshield wipers at ninety degrees perpendicular to windshield to prevent them from freezing to the glass surface. He drives a Saab so I guess that's how they do it in Sweden.

Quote of the week - The late mayor Ed Koch once said "When I leave Manhattan I get the bends."

They are predicting a strong northeaster storm tonight, Friday - with heavy rain and snow. I thought the groundhog told us to expect an early spring.

Sunday, February 10th, ushers in the Chinese New Year - 2013 is the year of the Snake. The symbolic animal is believed to impart certain characteristics on those born during that year. No further comment.
tjs
Next - TBA

Climate Change

The current warmer winter weather is reaching up north to our 49th state - Alaska - and having an effect on the traditional dogsled races - the most famous of which is the Iditarod - a 1000+ mile trek from Anchorage to Nome scheduled for first week in March. Some readers may recall that Sarah Palin's husband was a former winner of this race.  The high temperature in Anchorage on February 5th was 33 Fah.  Most sled dogs run best at temperatures ranging from minus 20 Fah. to Zero Fah. so the dogs can risk overheating. Some "mushers" are now breeding dogs with thinner coats and shorter fur. Sledders in northern Minnesota are pushing their race dates back from January to March. So when they call "Mush, you huskies!" let's hope there is enough snow under foot for them.
tjs

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/sports/warm-weather-forces-changes-ahead-of-iditarod-race.html?emc=eta1

 Next - TBA

Grand Central

Last week marked the one hundreth anniversary of the opening of Grand Central Station which transformed the face of then "uptown" Manhattan. In the heyday of rail passenger traffic it was the hub for the New York Central's Twentieth Century Limited to Chicago and the Atlantic Coast Line's Silver Meteor to Florida.  As long distance rail service waned, there was talk of demolishing this building but concerned citizens including Jaqueline Onassis spearheaded a drive to have the station designated a historical landmark. During the years 1976/1979 I passed thru this station commuting to and from Yonkers hardly pausing to appreciate the architecture and the star filled ceiling. As you approached the train platforms in the evening there were the bar car stewards doling out their "attitudinal adjustments" to sooth the nerves of harried commuters enroute to Westchester and Connecticut. The great hall was a popular meeting place under the clock and if you had time to pause and people-watch there was a cozy dining area on a small balcony overlooking the main floor and their brie was warm and runny. During the great blackout of July 1977 I was caught in the city and the great station was dark and idle. I had the option to sleep on its steps that night but a friend took me in to use the sofa. Those were the days!
tjs
Next - TBA

Travel Tips

I read where New York City is removing all the "DO NOT HONK" signs from all the poles in the city. The fine for honking was $350. but hardly ever enforced. These signs are a relic of Mayor Ed Koch's administration circa  mid 1980s. So, is the city admitting defeat? Every cabbie in Manhattan thinks it is their birthright to blow that horn - and they do it even to move up in a taxi line. I lived in Jacksonville, Florida for 22 years and we drivers never blew horns - although there was a lot of tailgating. My suspicion is that the city wants the vacated space on the poles to erect some other "DO NOT" sign. Stay tuned.

Travel - I Read where the Imperial Hotel in Vienna will iron your newspaper so you can avoid getting ink on your hands. And I thought the print newspaper was dying out!

Read where airline etiquette dictates that the middle seat in three across coach has "dibs" on both armrests in the down position - lest you do some arm wrestling with your neighbor.

Also that the TSA has just recently permitted  snow globes in carry-on bags. I never knew they were taboo.
tjs
Next - Grand Central

To Pee ....or Not to Pee!

Last week I saw on TV that several zoos were providing IPads for chimpanzees and orangutans who were fascinated with the colors and pictures on the screens. A keeper remarked that the hairy friends do get bored and this gets their attention. It reminded me of a story out of London ten years ago. The article goes "Give an infinite number of monkeys an infinite number of typewriters, the theory goes, and they will eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare." So the researchers left a computer in the monkey enclosure at a zoo in southwest England, home to six crested macaques. Then they waited. "They pressed a lot of Ss - a few As and Ms over five pages of text. Then they urinated all over the keyboard." So they had a lot of Ss - and a lot of Pee - at the end a few As and Ms - that spells SPAM. Thank goodness the send key jammed. Someone should have told them that key in the upper right stood for delete - not excrete. Anyway, it appears that Shakespeare is safe for a while.
tjs
Next - Travel Tips

Groundhog Day

Thank God we are thru with January - the cruelest of months. Tomorrow - February 2nd - is known as Groundhog Day as all eyes look north to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to observe that furry fellow known as Punxsutawney Phil as he is induced to leave his burrow. Folklore has it that if he sees his shadow he will hustle back into his hole and we will have six more weeks of winter. Let's hope it is a cloudy day. But his usefulness may be fading as we have seen such strange weather patterns of late and perhaps Phil has not heard of Climate Change and Global Warming. And he certainly hasn't read the Farmer's Almanac.  So,  Friend Phil, don't Forget, Folks don't Fancy Flawed Forecasts from Furry Fellows.
tjs
Next - TBA (Mon.)