Friday, October 29, 2010

Message to the Tea Party


Hey T.P.ers, I get the anger, and disillusionment. The government, in too many cases, has let us down; taxes, the economy, the war, etc. I hear ya'. I feel your pain (didn't someone else already say that!). So, I GET IT!

What I don't get is the people you've chosen to change the course of our nation! They're all bordering on insanity or, at least, incompetence! Here are just some of the candidates you've picked to advance your platform of discontent: Angle won't answer even the most basic questions. Whitman is almost as elusive when it comes to the issues. O'Donnell thinks she's a witch. Paul hates just about everybody. Paladino just plain hates. And the "Queen Bee", Palin, makes up words at a rate faster than I do (but I make mine up deliberately!).

How will these people truly make a difference?! How CAN they make a difference? T.P.ers often complain that too many politicians are "elitists" and "over-educated". Since, when is pursuing a degree from some of the most challenging universities in the country (and, therefore, demonstrating intellect) a liability?! I don't want someone who didn't have the persistence or chops to complete an advanced degree making critical decisions for me. I certainly don't want someone who is out of touch with me making those calls but I DO want someone who can think their way out of a paper bag!!

So, guys, when you can present me with someone who meets that basic requirement and is NOT a mental defective, I'll listen AND even consider voting for them.

Have a nice day! :)

photo: F. LoBuono caption: Independence Hall, Philadelphia.

Words to Live by 10/29/10


Don't be afraid to let your freak flag fly. It's liberating!!!!!! :)

photo: C. LoBuono

Word for the Day




Accomplimize

It's a word I created combining "accomplish" and "compromise". I believe it's how shit gets done!

photo: F. LoBuono

Thought for the Day


Don't let anger, fear, and disillusionment cloud your judgement on election day!

photo: F. LoBuono Caption: The Capitol as seen in the reflecting pool.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

More from the Cesspool of Worthless Knowledge - 2


The term the whole nine yards actually comes to us from the military. During WWII, fighter planes were equipped with 27 feet of .50 caliber ammunition belts. So, if you used, or spent, all of your ammunition you went through 27 feet or the whole 9 yards of bullets.


photo: F. LoBuono Caption: Flushing Meadows Park, Queens NY

From the "Cesspool of Worthless Knowledge"


The average adult, human head weighs about 10 pounds. The weight of excrement in any given one depends on the politician it belongs to. :)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Social Commentary 5 / The Politics of Fear


I never saw Barrack Obama as a savior, some Black Messiah. What I did see was a dynamic, dedicated, educated, hip young guy of mixed race, willing to take on the ENORMOUS task of slowing, if not reversing the downward trend America found itself in. The 8 years of the Bush administration had taken a huge toll on the economy and the international standing of America itself. One had only to travel abroad during this period to experience the shock and sadness Europeans (and others) had at the state of affairs in the U.S. Our hearts were struck by 9/11 and we rallied briefly as a nation. But this triggered a series of devastating missteps. WMD's proved to be a bald faced lie. Osama Bin Laden escaped. The war dragged on, and hundreds of thousands died. The administration pursued a housing policy that proved disastrous. Morale was waning.

On FaceBook, I was told that, claiming these were the obstacles that the new administration was struggling with to overcome, "was the coward's approach". After calling her out on this most personal attack, I recognized what I was dealing with. This comment came less than 6 months into the Obama Administration! I realized that, to a surprising, and disturbingly large, percentage of this population, Barrack Obama would never make things right. And people HATE him for it.

And, this, in my opinion, is the cornerstone of what became the Tea Party philosophy. They channel fear, anger, and discontent, always looking for the negative. They were NEVER willing to work with the new guy! This left me wondering "why"? Only a fool could not see that, after Bush, the country was in dire straights. For chrissake, at one point his approval rating dropped to 17%! Holy shit, how much more do you need. Yet, from the very beginning, Tea Partiers looked for every tiny bit of information that would bolster their claim that Obama was some commie-pinko-fag! Again, I ask "why"? Just for shits and grins, wouldn't you want to give a new guy a chance?!

They claim they gave him a chance and he fucked it up. I say BULLSHIT! They never gave this guy a chance and they never will. They hated him from the very beginning. The questions still begs "why"? Taking into account the virulence with which they attack him, and have from the very beginning, I say it smacks of RACISM. The Secret Service has stated that death threats against the President are at an all-time high. It seems to stick in their craws that a black man (mostly) is running the country. They would counter by saying, "yeah, running it into the ground"! But how can you say that when you have never given this administration one iota of assistance or support. You are working hard to doom it to failure. The Tea Party message is one based on fear, discontent, and misinformation. And, if you read between the lines, their fire is stoked by the flames of racism. It can be subtle, but it's there.

There are the ridiculous allegations that Obama was not born in the U.S. They claim he is a Muslim, like that should even matter to those who call themselves TRUE Americans! When he tried to prop up the economy, he was socialist. When he tried to reform the health car system, he was a communist. When he tried to end an illegal war, he was a pussy. When he tried to reform education he was an elitist. Give me a freakin' break! If you say NO to everything then there is no chance of moving forward. There's a big difference when, disagreeing in a discussion, one says, "well, I don't think that I agree" and "no, no, no"! The Tea Party is saying NO, NO, NO.

To me, it's a logical conclusion to make: they want him to fail because they just plain hate him. And, why? Because he is black. It's so deep and so subtle, many don't even realize that's the reason they don't like him. Sad, but that's the way it still is in this country.

Look I'm dissatisfied, too, Obama has been far from perfect. He's made his share of mistakes and, perhaps, has not yet realized his true potential. But we are still fairly early in the game and I remain hopeful that he will continue to grow and our country with him. I am still willing to support him, especially since the Tea Party has not offered me a viable alternative. When they can come to me with a candidate with the mental acumen, political savvy, the "right pedigree", the toughness, the vision, and who is not INSANE, call me. At least I'll listen.


photo: F. LoBuono Caption: Obama supporters Invesco Field, Denver

Brain Droppings 2


I don't know if there is a "post racial" (as some people label this presidency) in this county- yet. Racism is alive and well. And it's everywhere.

Here's a follow up: My biggest problem with the Tea Party is the underlying message of racism hidden under the guise of discontent and anger. Make no mistake about it. From my observations, most anti-Obamaites can't stand the very fact that he is black (at least mostly) and he is the President. Pure and Simple.

I viewed a news story from the CBS affiliate in Atlanta the other day of a Tea Party Rally organized for "Blacks and Latinos". I observed a handful of minorities - at best. Video doesn't lie. Check out any Tea Party rally anywhere in the country and what will you see: old, angry, white folks. This is the state of racism in our country. Yes, indeed. It IS alive and well, and everywhere. Pity!!!!!!

Photo: F. LoBuono Caption: Invesco Field, Denver. Obama's nomination acceptance speech

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Brain droppings 1


How many different combinations can you come up with for the initials "PC"? We'll start with its original meaning of "politically correct" and go from there. OK, here are some of mine:

positively cheesy

political crap

pure coincidence

post coitus

poorly conceived

private corner

personal conviction

petulant creep

pacifist commitment

pitchfork cowboy

pandering crony

paltry crumpet

pagan crusade

OK. There's a few to get us started. Some of them evev work pretty well in the current political environment, don't you think?! See what you can add!

photo: F. LoBuono

Social Commentary #4/On The Abolishment of War


Open Your Eyes!

10/26/10

It’s happened again. As it has for centuries. As it will again. Five soldiers have been accused of murdering innocent civilians. They are U.S. Army troops who were stationed in Afghanistan. At first, I purposely did not reveal their nationality or location. In a sense, it’s irrelevant. It could have been any soldiers of any nationality at any time or place. It is the nature of war. It turns young, innocent boys into killers. By its very nature it is Survival of the Fittest and The Law of the Jungle. It is the Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now. It is as General William T. Sherman put it a speech after the Civil War: “There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell”.

Then why do we continue to wage it? Some will say that it is in our nature. War and conflict have always been part of the human experience. And it will be as long as we exist on this planet. But I refute that. Are we not thinking, feeling, and, supposedly rational beings? Isn’t it our intellect that separates us from the beasts of the earth? Isn’t our capability for sublime thought and feeling that makes us closest to whatever highest power we choose to follow? Does this not lead to a divine spirituality that every human being strides for under the guise of whatever religion we choose? If this is truly a search for a certain sense of divinity why, then, do we constantly fall into the same trap? We must seek the true spirituality of higher ground.

So, why do we constantly glorify war? We worship its heroism. We lionize the Pat Tillman’s of the world even when, had he lived, he would have been the first person to tear down the pedestal he had been placed on! We salute our returning troops as conquering heroes yet express outrage when photos of flag draped caskets are published. It’s all part of the same experience! This is the point: you can’t have one without the other. We have to open our once eyes once and for all to see war for what it truly is. There is a great scene in the film “Bridge on the River Kwai”. The British colonel who is in charge of the POW’s is entreating the Japanese camp commander to follow the rules of the Geneva Convention. The commander cuts he off and says, “don’t speak to me of rules. This is WAR”!

Dana Holmes, the mother of Pfc. Andrew Holmes, one of the accused soldiers, says the Army bears the major responsibility for her son’s behavior. She claims he left an innocent 18 year old and came back a beaten and broken man, physically and emotionally. Well, that’s what happens to many (most?) young people when you place them in a meat grinder called combat! It changes them forever, and not always for the better. And, as we evolve as a species, our reaction to the stress of combat has become increasingly destructive. The homeless rate for veterans is the highest it’s ever been. The suicide rate for veterans is appalling. I’m hoping that this latest calamity among our veterans is an evolutionary reaction within our brains to finally provide us with a gene that will prevent us from thinking that anything truly good can come from war.

And no generation is immune to it. Whether it’s a “just” war or not, it’s still a brutal business. Even “the greatest generation” suffered terribly the consequences of war. I thought this was powerfully realized in the last episode of “Pacific”, recently broadcast on HBO. As his father feared, Eugene’s soul was seared.

Of course, we should do a better job of making sure that our veterans receive the proper attention necessary to overcome the horrors they have experienced. But, in a sense, that’s like putting a band-aid on an axe wound. Also, we would be treating the symptom but not the cause. And that cause is our glorification of war AND its warriors. For example, whenever we mention the cadets of The USMA at West Point, they are usually referred to “the best of their generation” and “the future leaders of America”. Well, that they may indeed be the case but why are they always singled out for those honors? Aren’t other students from other schools and university just as worthy of such titles? Aren’t great teachers, chemists, doctors, lawyers, accountants, technicians, scientists, etc., etc., good enough for such consideration? Yet, whenever I hear another school mentioned during a college football game or other event, I don’t hear those terms used on such a regular basis.

At times of unpopular conflicts, I often hear “hate the war, not the warriors”. But, to me, this is becoming trite. Since Vietnam we seem to have heard that term in increasing volume. It started during Vietnam in reaction to the shameful behavior returning veterans experienced in this country. Since then, we’ve done a much better job of separating these young people from the often flawed decisions of their superiors. But even this is getting thin as a defense. In a volunteer army, it’s the recruits’ responsibility to understand that, upon that commitment, his ass belongs to someone else. And the decisions made by those people may, often, not have his or her best interests at heart.

Of course I respect those young people who serve in the military. But no more so than I do young people who dedicate their lives to other means of public service. And I would ask all young people (like Pfc. Holmes) and their parents/guardians (like Dana Holmes) to understand that joining the military is more than “be all you can be”. It can have truly deadly consequences.

I leave you with this. It’s also from General Sherman: “I confess, without shame, that I am sick and tired of fighting – it’s glory is all moonshine: even success the most brilliant is over dead and mangled bodies, with the anguish and lamentations of distant families appealing to me for sons, husbands, and fathers. . . It’s only those who have never heard a shot, never heard the shriek and groans of the wounded and lacerated . . . that cry aloud for more vengeance, more desolation. “ (May 1865)


photo: F. LoBuono

Monday, October 25, 2010

Creative Writing: A Love Affair


3/9/10

“A Love Affair”

It’s an affair that has lasted for nearly 30 years. It was love at first sight and it remains just as strong today. No, I’m not writing about my wife (I haven’t know her for that long!). I’m writing about the neighborhood that I called home for so many years: White Avenue in South Nyack, NY. I spent the summer of my life on that block. And what a bountiful time it was. We seemed to change and grow together - an ascending scale on a growth chart plotting a steady rise. The neighborhood evolved from a haven for crack cocaine dealers to a solid, diverse, middle-class one. And I rose from a struggling outsider to a successful member of a thriving community.

It was October of 1984 when I arrived, just off a failed romance; I was nearly broke and emotionally exhausted. In other words, I was down on my luck. And, at first, so was White Avenue. You could see that the neighborhood had once been solidly middle-class. The block has a mixture of architectural styles ranging from 1950’s ranch homes to a handful of modest Victorians. But like many small towns, once the bedrock businesses left, so did the prosperity. This begins a pattern of long, slow decay. Over the years, Nyack and South Nyack had experienced more than one cycle of “boom and bust”. In fact, South Nyack had been virtually cut in two when the NY State Thruway linked up with the Tappan Zee Bridge. The village lost one third of its beautiful, historic Victorian homes AND it’s entire downtown. So, this was just the latest “bust”. But when I came here I could feel the hint of “boom” still lurking in the atmosphere. It felt like it might be the end of the bust and, perhaps, the beginning of the next boom. It was strangely analogous to my state of mind.

When I pulled up to view a perspective apartment at 20 White, an unusual thing happened. I heard a women’s voice call out. At first, I couldn’t figure out where it came from. Then I looked up and discovered that it was originating from the small roof that covered the porch. There was a woman sunbathing there! She called out again, “are you looking to rent the apartment on the bottom floor”? I replied, “yes”. She said, “don’t move. I want to check you out”! It turned out to be the proverbial “beginning of a beautiful friendship”. Mary Alice (MA) lived on the top floor with her 3 children: Jane, Gary, and Rory. Raised in Rockland, she became my first friend in the neighborhood. MA turned out to be one of the most unique and special human beings I have ever encountered and, as it turned out, the perfect metaphor for White Ave.: soulful, thoughtful, nurturing, and free. I was hooked. I rented the apartment that afternoon.

In the beginning, it was not easy. There was a rocky out-cropping on the end of my front lawn, near the street. It’s a perfect place to sit, chill and watch the world go buy. The crack heads used to think so too. I used to collect the empty crack vials from the previous night’s ”swinging soiree” on my front lawn and give them to the police. I’d ask them, “What are you going to do about it”? Well, they actually did do something about it. With the blocks’ assistance, gradually, the drug dealing ended. The safe house that was diagonally across from me was emptied and sold to a Vietnam Vet and his young family. This was typical up and down the whole block. And we flourished. A terrific young couple, Andrew and Maureen, bought the house next to me, facing Franklin St. He was a carpenter and together they were restoring the old, run-down Victorian to its former glory. I met long-time White Ave. residents like Anthony and his family. There was Jim, another Vietnam vet and activist, Susan his wife and family. Cliff, Barbara and their kids had lived on the block it seemed forever. There was Robin and her daughter. And we experienced a steady flow of newcomers like Joanne, Vicki, and Cheryl. Gidi was a transplanted Israeli scientist, now at Lamont-Dougherty, and lived with his eventual wife, Laura, a child psychologist. For a time, they occupied the upstairs apartment from me. There was the Tibetan family headed by Tashi and Tashi (husband and wife with the same name – cool!). There were whites, blacks, browns, yellows and people of every shade in between. We sat on our porches and waived as our neighbors drove by. We had family barbeques attended by most of the block. Heck, we even threw a block party of our own. Kids played touch football in the street. We watched the teenagers, decked out in their “go to the prom” finest, pose for the obligatory family photo. We buried cherished family pets in our backyards. We experienced the fullness of community life.

It reminded me of those magical summer evenings, sitting together on my grandmother’s porch in Brooklyn, letting the world flow by but at the same time being connected to it. In the truest sense of the word, I felt like I was home for the first time since I had left the safety and security of my parents so many years before.

Eventually, my lot improved and I outgrew my apartment at #20. I was ready to buy my first home. I began looking early in the Spring of 1996. I didn’t have to look far. There was a small, 3 bedroom Victorian that would fit my budget and was, in fact, within walking distance - literally. It was virtually across the street at 61 White! The house, like the neighborhood, was a little worn but had the potential to be everything I needed in a home. If you had any vision, you could see it. Once again, White Avenue and I were locked in step on a steady rise to respectability.

It was the easiest move that I ever made. I never even rented a moving truck. I rolled, hauled, and carted everything by hand, across and up the street. In another neighborhood that may have seemed strange. But not in ours. It was why I loved it so much. People cared about how and why they lived there. They also respected the way you chose to live your life. This was just another day in our neighborhood.

I continued my professional and personal growth at 61 White. I cultivated a small garden in my backyard. I was making more money so I could make changes and improvements on the house itself. And, once again, the block continued on the same steady path of progress as my own. We had created a momentum that propelled the entire neighborhood in a positive direction. In a way, we were the poster children for urban renewal. Once a haven for undesirables, our neighborhood now was culturally, ethnically, racially, and professionally diverse. In hindsight, it seemed nearly perfect.

The neighborhood was thriving and this must include change. Like an ocean current whose churning waters provide for the very cycle of life, White Avenue was also churning. For various reasons, many long time residents moved on. MA and her brood, Andrew and Maureen, Robin, Jim and Susan, all reluctantly left our little enclave. My life was changing too. I met my wife, Catherine, and we married in 2000. She and her 3 sons moved into 61 White in the summer of that year. She shared the same passion for our neighborhood as I did. But our tiny but “spacious for two/maybe three house” was now stretched to the breaking point. It became more and more of a challenge to squeeze five adults into that space. Leaving our beloved neighborhood became inevitable.

We moved to a big, old house in Haverstraw in the Spring of ’06. We saw a similar situation and the same potential here that I had experienced in Nyack. Catherine is heavily involved with a local civic association trying very hard to reverse the town’s fortunes. Once again, it has proved to be a long and arduous venture but we remain hopeful that our labors will eventually yield the same positive results.

As for South Nyack: after renting the house at 61 for a few years, we just recently sold it. The new owners seem to be a really nice, young couple. They plan to marry this Spring and build their lives in the little house on White Ave. It continues. And I smile.

Note: During the course of writing this, I discovered that my friend and neighbor, Andrew Sipp, had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I was devastated. He was a great friend and wonderful neighbor. He leaves behind Maureen and a daughter he loved dearly. I can’t drive by the old neighborhood without shedding a tear for our beloved Andrew. Life goes on.

Photo: F. LoBuono Caption: The Tappan Zee Bridge at Night

A Necessary and Must Read Disclaimer


I feel it important to issue the following disclaimer:

The opinions and comments offered by me on this blog are solely my own and should not be associated with any other individual or organization. I am NOT responsible for the opinions or comments of those who choose to respond. Photos are my own unless otherwise agreed to and properly credited. Quotes from other parties will be credited. Paraphrasing will be noted.


photo: Cat LoBuono Caption: These guys enforce the rules!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

A Greedy Little Fox


Having worked for Cablevision a number of years back, and having been let go by them, there's no love lost between us. I was unimpressed with Jim Dolan from the first time I met him. Let's just say he's not a commanding presence. Now, with that said, I have to still side with them in this latest contract fiasco with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, the owner of Fox and My9. It's a classic case of corporate greed where the biggest losers will be, of course, the consumer.

News Corp wants to extort a huge sum of money from Cablevision for the right to air its programming. I could give the figures and the comparisons to other broadcasters. Suffice it to say that it far exceeds the amount charged by any other broadcaster. In fact, it equals a number of them combined. From my understanding, Cablevision has made a number of counter offers. News Corp is not taking. Cablevision has agreed to binding arbitration. News Corp has not. Cablevision offered to keep Fox and 9 on the air while negotiating. Fox pulled their programming. Are you getting the picture? News Corp has stonewalled every attempt at mediation. In classic Murdoch fashion, News Corp is playing hardball, using their leverage to dig in their heels. They have the NY Giants. They have the World Series, for cryin' out loud! That gives them clout. They also encourage people to choose alternatives like satellites and the Internet. However, keep in mind, they may be viable alternatives for now, but just for now. Believe me, when their contracts expire with News Corp, ol' Rupert will pull the same thing.

As always, the ultimate issue is about money. Because the internet has so radically changed the broadcast industry (and not for the better), broadcasters (like News Corp) have got to find new ways to create revenue. But they also see these contract renewals with cable providers as a last chance to grab the big bucks from, what some see, as a dying industry.

Also, people send their money to the cable providers so they are often seen as the villains. It's where their hard earned cash goes, not to Fox. Shitty customer service hasn't help. They are often seen as faceless, unseen drones who plug in some wires, take your money and then disappear. For years Cable Service providers held exclusive franchise rights in most areas, adding to the feeling that didn't have to care. The industry has been fighting that image for years.

But in this case, on balance, they seem to the ones at lease willing to compromise on some level. News Corp has not budged. I think it's part of Rupert Murdoch's mad plan to dominate all media and, then, the world!

Ultimately, the biggest losers will be US, the consumers. Cablevision is NOT that altruistic! They will not eat whatever cost they final settle on with News Corp. They'll pass it on - to us!! The best we can hope for is that News Corp does eventually comprises and comes down in their demands.

In the meantime, I'm living well without Fox. The Giants are on Mondays Night Football (ESPN). The Yankees have been eliminated from the playoffs, so screw the World Series. And I can watch "Family Guy" on TBS or Comedy Central.

So," Mr. Czar of All Media" Murdoch, I'm doing just fine without Fox. If fact, I think better: you can't get a dime out of me now!

Photo: F LoBuono


To the victor, the spoils.


My beloved NY Yankees went down to defeat last night, ending the ALCS and their season. And it was a sad affair. It wasn't just that they had lost (and to a damn good team), it was how they lost. They went out with a whimper. How ironic was it to watch the games highest paid player watch a third strike slip by, as if defining the season's futile end? Well, they'll all be watching two, hard working, risk taking, charmed teams slug it out for all the marbles.

The defending and freakin' 27 time World Champions were outplayed in every phase of the game. To quote Bruce Willis in "Die Hard", they "got butt f. . d on national TV"!

Now we New Yawkas are a demanding bunch. New York is acknowledged as the most competitive city on the planet. Yes, we're a little aggressive, too. You gotta problem with dat buddy? Anyway, New York is about striving to be the best at everything - and on a daily basis. We demand it in ourselves AND in are ball clubs, especially the NY Yankees. They have come to symbolize the very nature of what it is to live and work in NYC. Much like the City itself, they are about the business of winning. The fact that they wear PINSTRIPED uniforms is no accident - literally. They were designed to give the Yankees the aura of team whose business was winning baseball games. And these NY Yankees have the payroll to prove it. To lose in such poor fashion (3 hits against a pitcher who just 2 years ago was pitching in Japan and had a losing record this year) just ain't gonna cut it in this town! And so it is.

With that said, we are certainly no sore losers. Texas did all the right things as a TEAM. They pitched well, ran aggressively, hit effectively, and fielded almost flawlessly. They did all the things necessary to win. And, duh, guess what? They won; beautifully, handily, impressively. They're an excellent team with a great story to tell. I didn't want to like their manager, Ron Washington, but I do. As a manager, he made all the right moves. And his personality was honest, straight forward, and positive. Watching him gyrate on the dug-out steps with every big hit was a blast. So, good for the Texas Rangers. To the victor belong the spoils.

As for me, it's football season. Go Blue. Go Giants!

Friday, October 22, 2010

On the NY Yankees.


It hurts me deeply to see the NY Yankees, 27 time World Champions, play so poorly in a game they needed to win so badly. I don't mind losing a tough, well-played game. But this?! Their poor pitching was only underwhelmed by their lack of hitting. They made an average starter look like a Cy Yound Award winner. Dreadful. They sucked in every phase of the game and should be embarassed by their performance tonight.

I know we New Yawkers are a demanding bunch and expect to win it all everytime. I, for one, know that this is not possible. But it would have been nice for them to freakin' show up. I hate things that suck!!!!!!!

photo: F. LoBuono

Social Commentary 3


More fallout from the NPR/Juan Williams Fiasco: It has been reported that billionaire philanthropist and champion of liberal causes George Soros recently donated $2 million to NPR. Of course, this added fuel to the firestorm being stoked by the conservative pundits: should National PUBLIC Radio (funded in a VERY small part by the US Government) accept large private, donations from people with obvious political agendas. Of course, this donation, considering its source, sticks in the craw of all red-blooded, American conservatives.

Well, I'll leave that discussion for another day. What I will say is this: George Soros is a hero. Like my father-in-law, he is a Hungarian immigrant who barely escaped the communists during the Hungarian Revolution. Like my father-in-law, he is a self-made man who made his way with hard work, guile, and intelligence. They are menches. I once heard Soros respond to a question regarding his liberal stance. He responded (paraphrasing), " I know what it's like to live without freedom and I'll do everything within my power to make sure that it doesn't happen here".

Need we say more?

photo: F. LoBuono

Stop. Take notice.


As I have for so many years now, I cross the George Washington Bridge at about 2:30 every afternoon. Because it's been so long, it's easy to be lulled in a mindless, rote state of mind: leave the house at 2. Hit the tolls at 2:25. Clear the bridge at 2:30. Arrive in mid-town just before 3. Day after day. But there is ALWAYS one spot that shakes me from my stupor. As you exit off the GWB and head down-town on the West Side Highway, you make a long, looping turn on the approach road. This allows for a sweeping vista, south, all the way down the Hudson River to the tip of Manhattan Island. It is simply breathtaking! The sun is usually in the perfect spot to turn the river into a quicksilver ribbon. Ships of all sizes and shapes plow the surface, creating magnificent patterns in the silver glow. The skyscrapers are also illuminated, but in a golden light instead of silver. The City appears as a jewel of silver and gold, layed out in all its glory for us to marvel at. So it was today.

As the City stretches out before you, you can't help but notice how big and powerful it is. It is mighty. This is no "Second City". It could only be the center of our universe. There could no other.

And this molten, silver sliver called the Hudson River is the ribbon that holds it all together - as it has for centuries. And I allow my mind to drift. I'm easily transported back in time. The scene has been the same as it has changed over the course of 4 centuries to the point it is today: a sprawling, brawling, brawny place pulled along by the eternal river.

All this in about 15 seconds, or the time it takes me to make that big, looping turn onto the West Side Highway - and back to reality.

photo: F. LoBuono

Words to Live By #1


Be careful what you wish for. You just may get it.

Social Commentary 2


I'm no great fan of Juan Williams but his dismissal by NPR is, simply put, disgraceful. The first mistake they made was reacting way too quickly. They should have taken more time to investigate the entire incident. On the surface, Williams' statement appears crass and over-reaching. But, if you hear the entire interview and take that quote in context, he was much more balanced in his approach than NPR would have you think.

And, in a sense, this is even besides the point. In spirit, NPR is supposed to be the embodiment of free speech and thought. Depriving a man of his chosen livelihood for making provocative statements, even those that oppose your POV, is disingenuous on the part of NPR and just DAMN wrong!

Besides, it give the conservative pundits plenty of ammunition to load their cannons with and blast away at (now) liberal fodder! AND, Mr. Williams just signed a big, fat, new contract with Fox. Shame on you NPR!!!!!

photo: F. LoBuono

Social Commentary 1


It's strange, but the first thing that I reflected on after creating the blog was this: Blogs are like butt holes, everyone has one. I just hope mine doesn't stink too much.

photo: F. LoBuono

Welcome


Blog Entry 1

10/22/10

Welcome to my new blog Talk Frank. Please forgive the rather obvious and trite name but all the others I had in mind were already taken. It was a last dish effort at making it at least somewhat clever. And, hopefully, it is an accurate description of what I hope to accomplish with it. It will be an open and honest forum, certainly on my part, to the exchange of ideas that drive our very existence. Without the communication of ideas, there is no society. With no society, there is no human race.

So, off the soapbox – for now! I’ll also be sharing other musings like poetry, fiction, commentary, photography, and a host of other shit that, for my money, make the world go ‘round. It won’t be for the faint hearted, that’s for sure. It will be a no-holds barred attempt at truly provocative, honest, open discourse. So, if you can’t take the heat get, the fuck out of the kitchen. All other intrepid travelers are welcome to sojourn with me.

F

photo: F. LoBuono