New Year's Eve 2016

F LoBuono

We should commit to making the world a better place EVERYDAY. But, should you need the incentive, so be it - HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR, ALL!

TalkFrank's Message for the New Year

Words and photo by F LoBuono

This is the time of year when people experience a great deal of emotion. For most of us it is joyful. But, for some, it can be downright painful. Where many of us have the pleasure and warmth of family and friends, others feel the pang of loneliness and abandonment. And, that can be devastating.

What can we do or say to someone who is suffering?

Well, first, we can be present. Let someone who is hurting know that you are THERE for them. They are not really alone. Sometimes, a simple phone call with a kind word is enough. And, that ain't so hard to do now, is it? Also, if you can, plan to visit someone you know who might be alone and hurting. It really takes such little effort. And, it can save a life.

Often, because of their situations, people can be overcome simply by looking for the answers to their problems.  They ask, why am I alone or why is this bad thing happened to me and why isn't life easier, etc.?

Well, I may not have the answers but I can offer this: sometimes, it is not necessary to know ALL of them anyway. In fact, it is impossible to. We must learn to accept what we cannot even understand, much less CHANGE. It always reminds of the title of a popular Broadway show from the late 70's called Your Arms to Short to Box with God. The musical took the title from a 1927 sermon, "The Prodigal Son", by James Weldon Johnson.

Now, anyone who knows me also knows that I am not a formally religious person - it's just too restrictive for me. Still, I do believe that there is a higher consciousness that drives the Universe in some way. The issue is that consciousness is SO MUCH higher than our own we can never even hope to fully understand it (Buddhists believe that Enlightenment is reached if, and when, we do - a discussion for another post). Hence, the title. Sometimes, we must just accept what is given us without reservation or question. It just IS. When we learn to accept what we cannot change, our lives will improve and we can move forward in peace and harmony.

And, that is a good thing.

So, I hope that you are not suffering my friends and that the New Year brings you health, happiness, and, above all else, PEACE.

Today's MOZEN: The Day After Christmas, 1944

F LoBuono

He was just one among millions. Still, they were an exceptional group - The Greatest Generation. There may never be another bunch quite like them.

My father was the son of Sicilian immigrants. His father ran a grocery business in Cliffside Park, N.J. until he died suddenly of a heart attack when my old-man was just 12. Being the oldest boy in a family with a widowed mother and 3 other siblings (he had an older and a younger sister as well as a younger brother), he was forced to become the primary bread winner. Of course, his entire family helped out but most of the responsibility fell on his shoulders. Then came the depression and after that, WWII. Life couldn't have been easy for any of them.

Still, they did their duty when it mattered most.

Both my father and his brother, Ralph, joined the service and went off to fight. My father, Joseph, became a combat engineer and served with Patton's legendary 3rd Army while his brother became a tanker with the equally lauded 2nd Armored Division. During the course of the War, both saw considerable amounts of combat - from Normandy to The Battle of the Bulge.

My father rarely spoke of his "hard core" war experiences. He would often tell me that he actually enjoyed being in the Army but not of the more difficult times he experienced in combat. Perhaps, he wanted to spare me the horrific details. But, he did speak of one: it was the day after Christmas, 1944. After a forced march through terrible winter conditions, he and his outfit reached the division that became known as The Battling Bastards of Bastogne - the 101st Airborne. Their defense of that rail-head town was the key to the allied victory at The Bulge, perhaps the most crucial battle of the war. Their stubborn resistance against the German Army became almost mythical when their commanding officer, General Anthony McAuliffe, responded to a request to surrender with this simple, eloquent response: NUTS!

The cold was brutal and their was no shelter for the troops. Sleeping in foxholes, my father remembered the awful, punishing cold. And, when they weren't fighting the terrible conditions, they were battling the Germans. But, they never stopped. They knew brave men were dying in Bastogne and that the 3rd Army was not only their only hope but also the key to an Allied victory. They also knew that if they didn't make it, the war could still be lost.

But, they did make it. And, they did win the battle and, subsequently, the war.

So, today, on this day after Christmas 2016, when you kickback, enjoying the gifts you given and received, drinking your wine and eating your left-overs in the warmth and comfort of your living rooms, remember those sacrifices made on our behalf on this very day 72 years ago.

On My Health

As open as I want to be with this blog, I don't often share details concerning very personal issues like finances or health. Not only is it generally no one's business, it's boring - who gives a shit?! But, at times, not sharing with people who genuinely care is rude - especially since some word has already leaked out.

So, here it is:

This past Tuesday, I went to do the laundry in the basement of our apartment house. While I was loading the machine a horrible feeling came over me. It was as if I KNEW something terrible was either happening or going to happen to me or someone close to me. It filled me with dread and actually made me weak in the knees. I gathered myself, shook off the feeling, and continued with my laundry. I remember leaving the room - and that's ALL I remember.

Here's what I am told happened next:

My next door neighbor heard a load CRASH on the porch. When he looked out he saw me convulsing on the porch deck. While his wife called 911, he rushed out to attend to me. He said that I was "completely gone", kicking and foaming at the mouth. After a time, I tried to right myself only to collapse again. When I did say something, it was incoherent babbling. Eventually, the paramedics game and loaded me unto a gurney for a trip to Nyack Hospital.

At the hospital I continued my incoherent behavior. Tests were taken and my blood pressure was found to be over 200!! Not good. It may have caused a small stroke. After more tests and some medication, I began to be myself again - weird but coherent. After 14 miserable hours, I dismissed myself from the hospital and walked the mile home (at 4am - see WEIRD). But, this is a story for another day.

I am the first to admit that I am terrible with my own health care. I haven't been to a doctor for a checkup in over 25 years - haven't had to - my health has always been EXCELLENT. Well, this has been a serious wake-up call and I have appointments with healthcare professionals to deal with it. I may be crazy but, generally, I'm not stupid! I don't want to die - not tomorrow anyway!

Let me take this moment to assure everyone that I am fine - for now - and am moving forward to make sure that it doesn't happen again. I would also like to THANK everyone for the outpouring of concern and support that I have been receiving. YOU will help me beat this!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALL!!

GOOD WILL TO ALL 2016

Words and photo by F LoBuono

As a young man, I was, in many ways, obsessed with violence. ALL of my heroes were Men of Machismo: Heracles, Caesar, Napoleon, Patton, Marciano. The more powerful, the better. All of them seemed to have achieved greatness, if not immortality, through violence. I admired the strongest, the toughest, the fastest, the meanest. They dripped with testosterone. I loved war movies and could spend countless hours playing with toy soldiers. At my parents house in Fort Lee, I would stage huge battles by organizing the acorns I gathered from the trees in the yard into elaborate armies. Of course, I was the Field Marshall.

I played the most violent sports. I LOVED playing football and excelled particularly at the defensive positions. In fact, despite my lack of great size or speed, I set my college football team record for the most tackles in a single season (the team was eventually disbanded). I enjoyed the physicality of the game. I boxed, entering a tournament at Rutgers University as a light-heavyweight. I was also a college weightlifting champion.

I looked for things that were the most physically challenging. I continually drove myself to do more and more difficult things. I needed to prove something- not only to others but, most importantly, to myself. I needed to KNOW that I could take it. And, I always believed that to think it was not enough - you had to LIVE it.

At the same time, I was incredibly conflicted. In my heart and in my very soul, I am a truly gentle person - so much so that I think that I did all of these violent and physical things to hide that fact: it's not easy being a gentle man in a VIOLENT WORLD. We are surrounded by images of macho-men who settle disputes at the end of gun barrel. I needed to prove that I COULD be as violent in order to survive in a world where violence is virtually worshipped. And, it hasn't changed. In the time it has taken me to write this, with my TV on in the background, there have been 3 commercial ads for new films - one more violent than the next.

But, the older that I get the more committed I am to the path of NON-violence.

I have always believed in the transcendent power of love and remain convinced that the path of non-violence is the ONLY way to the salvation of the human race. TRUE courage lies in the ability to accept this. We have been shown the Way countless times by a multitude of messengers that we sometimes worship and still too often ultimately ignore. At this time of year, we call it Christmas Spirit. Whether, we practice it for what it actually represents is a matter of interpretation.

If we don't have the courage to resist our baser instincts, especially to retaliate when we are wronged, we are destined to repeat the cycle of violence and we will never achieve peace in our time. And, being wronged isn't restricted solely to the physical. Mental transgressions are often more painful and long lasting. I found myself particularly egregious with the later. I have learned to control my temper, mostly, physically, but I'm still still capable of mental warfare. And, if I am guilty of these things, I must acknowledge that they exist in others. In extension, if we wish for others to forgive us our sins, we must respond in kind.

It really is that simple.

But, it is also HARD because it takes an extraordinary amount of courage. It takes the fortitude of belief. It means letting go. But, to do so you must first ask (and, answer) this: if you have no fear in the face of brutality, who is the more courageous - the brute, or the one who resists the brute? Millions profess this every Sunday but few LIVE it. You know, turn the other cheek and stuff. You either accept the doctrine or you don't.

Now, at this moment in history, at this time of  the Season, when we prepare to receive The Prince of Peace and profess Good Will to All Men, we must recommit ourselves to the WORD - not withstanding the strictly religious connotation - and the word is  LOVE - Only love Conquers Hate.


MERRY CHRISTMAS-HAPPY HOLIDAY-PEACE ON EARTH

Today's MOZEN: Summer vs. Winter

F LoBuono

There are those who revel in the cold weather. They find it clean and refreshing - much needed relief from the summer's swelter. I am not one of them. In fact, no matter how Zen I try to be about it, Winter is just not for me.

Perhaps, it's my Sicilian genes and dark skin. But, it never gets too hot for me -especially if I can get to the water. Wading and swimming are great but a nice, cold shower will do in a pinch. I can always cool off with water. This is not the case for me in the cold weather. In winter, once I get cold there seem to be days when I feel like I may never get warm again.

So, it's pretty simple: Hot, humid weather may be uncomfortable. But, freezing cold weather with a biting wind thrown in for good measure is downright painful.

That is all.

Today's MOZEN: They Deserve One Another.

F LoBuono

Of the hundreds of interviews I have been involved with as either a producer, correspondent, or photographer, there is one that sticks out in my mind as simply the worst EVER: Kanye West.

Period.

A few years back, just as he was becoming a "mega star", a CBS News producer and I (I was shooting) were scheduled to meet with West for an interview at his suite of rooms at The Mandarin Hotel at Columbus Circle in New York. I remember the room being crowded with dozens of sycophants and other hangers-on.There was barely enough room to set up my gear. Eventually, as he finally entered the room, West's minions were so impressed by his presence that they almost gasped. He took his seat and the interview began without further drama.

After a few minutes of informal banter, the producer asked Mr. West who some of his early influences might have been. Without hesitation, this was his response (paraphrasing):

I really haven't had any influences. I see my myself and my work as totally unique. There really has never been anyone quite like me.

Really.

And, the interview continued in that vein - each comment more arrogant than the last. I have never experienced a person more full of themselves than Kanye West. But, then again, even though I have photographed him, I have never actually met Donald Trump.

Now, Kanye is currying favor with this Giant of Self-inflated Importance, the President-elect himself.

All I can say is that they deserve one another.

In Memory: Sandy Hook

Words and photos by F LoBuono

I debated all day with myself if I should make a comment. It's the anniversary, if you will, of the massacre of 26 innocents at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. It's just too damned tough to even think about.

Of the hundreds, if not thousands, of assignments I have drawn in my 30+ years in television, this one was simply the worst. Everything about it sucked. The weather was abysmal. The hours brutal. And, the story just heart rending. The pain in that town was palpable. The residents were completely devastated. Working there was like being at a funeral 24 hours a day. After a time, we had worn out our welcome and the town folk simply wanted us GONE. And, as soon as our assignment was complete, we were glad to oblige. We also just wanted to get home and hug our loved ones.

I think of those innocent ones from time to time. And, I give pause to pray that it never happens
again . . .

When You Think About It: STRENGTH OF CHARACTER

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Strength of Character:

A term we hear all of the time. Three brief words (well, two, really) that have great significance. But, have you ever given any thought as to their actual meaning?

I have.

A lot.

• It is having the audacity to say NO when everyone around you is saying YES, YES, YES!
• It is never to violate your core principles.
• It is always taking the moral high ground as you know it to be in your heart.
• It is listening to your soul when it whispers "caution".
• It  is having faith in your ability to judge what is right and wrong.
• It is understanding the difference between knowledge and wisdom.
• It is standing up for those who lack the strength or resources to defend themselves.
• It is hearing and then speaking the voice of reason.
• It is being fearless of consequence in the light of what is right.
• It is never to yield to greed or avarice.
• It is rising every time you get knocked down.
• It is to speak truth, even if it should prove to be unpopular or dangerous.
• It is to persevere against all odds in the pursuit of equality for all.
• It is to deny all forms of bigotry, racism, sexism, and hatred.
• It is having respect for all things, including yourself.
• It is acknowledgement of the flaws in all things, including yourself.
• It is acknowledgement of the good in all things, including yourself.
• It is the willingness to die anonymously if necessary for the greater good.

I was taught these things by my parents who were given them by their parents, and so on. They have been reinforced by own life experiences. So far, they have served me well. These are the ideals that I gravitate towards and, fortunately, have found in my closest friends.

I would expect no less in those who lead us.

This is why I was so shocked and disappointed by the outcome of the Presidential election.

I am not a political scientist and have never claimed to be. I have a brain and I use it to make informed decisions as to the direction I would like to see our Country move in, i.e. I am opinionated and not afraid to express it. However, at some point, I'm no expert and, after time, it all becomes just so much palaver to me - all political expediency and phony promises. So, I look for Strength of Character in a leader - or, more accurately, ask if they even posses it before I make my ultimate choice.

Certainly, we are all different and, therefore, may have slightly different values. However, at the core, we are more similar than we are different. So, I look to see if a person posses enough of my basic principals to consider them at least a "good person". That is the individual I will choose to follow.

Arguably, Hillary Clinton may have been seen as the most qualified candidate. But, she was also perceived by many as flawed if not downright shady! It was a strong enough perception to cost her the election. And, THIS, I simply do not understand.

When I analyzed the characteristics of each candidate I found that Ms. Clinton possessed at least SOME of the characteristics I would define as admirable. In Mr. Trump I found NONE. I did not see one redeeming quality in his character. I never believed in his policies (or LACK of them) in the first place. Then, to not stand for ONE thing I see as admirable was just too much for me to overcome. I would never support a person of his moral fiber.

But, as I have written, that is water under the bridge.

What concerns me now is that Mr. Trump continues to demonstrate his lack of character by appointing Cabinet members who are as devoid of good conscious as he is! In fact, it's deplorable. It's almost as if he is doing it for spite. Choice after choice, with rare exception, has been another poke in the eye of anyone who had the temerity to oppose him! That is unless they "repent" and kowtow to his rule. Then they get rewarded with a job. Furthermore, they are not only mostly unqualified, they stand in direct opposition to the very agencies they were chosen to represent. Despite GOP claims to the contrary, this can only create mass confusion and discord at a time when we need unity and cooperation more than ever.

Simply put, they don't even seem like good people. Certainly, from their behavior, they share little, if any, of the characteristics I would consider admirable. I could name many but, in the interest of time, allow me to use former Texas Governor and GOP Presidential candidate, Rick Perry, as just one example. During the campaign, he knocked Mr. Trump in the strongest terms possible, basically calling him unfit for office. I know that during campaigns candidates can attack each other in strong terms. But, this was personal and visceral. THEN, during a debate, Mr. Perry suggested eliminating certain Governmental agencies, INCLUDING the one Mr. Trump has now nominated him to run (Energy). And, if this were not bad enough, during that same debate, Mr. Perry badly fumbled his attempt to even present it as a platform, finally ending his embarrassment with an "oops"! Now, he's kissing the President-elect's ass to get a job.

The hypocrisy is simply appalling.

Really.

You can't make this shit up.

Folks, in the final analysis, I try to keep things simple. It keeps my head from exploding. I am no expert on foreign policy or economics. But, I DO know good people. And, unfortunately, I don't see very many in the future running our Country. So, we must remain vigilant and, like never before, hold our leaders accountable for their actions. You said that's what you voted for - well act like it. Don't let him (them) get away with turning the United States of America in his (their) personal fiefdom.

Today's Mostly True Story: Dollar Bills on a Christmas Tree.

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Stella is truly a child of what is known as The Great Depression.

Born in 1924, she was the eldest of four in a family of Sicilian immigrants. Her father, whom she adored, was a stone mason from San Salvatore di Fitalia, a small, Baroque village high in the mountains above Messina. When he came to New York as a young man he brought with him a skill that virtually doesn't exist in the States anymore: he did the fancy plaster-work friezes that adorn some of New York's most exclusive buildings. Ironically, despite the meager wages he earned in his day, they now say it's a dead art because it's just too expensive to reproduce today. And, he worked hard - very hard for his meager wages. My mother would regale us of stories of her father, coming home after a ridiculously long day with his underwear in a bag because he had sweat through them.
,
Even with all of his efforts, times where still lean. He had my grandmother, my mother, and her brothers and sisters to feed - a total of 6 mouths. Living in the Brooklyn home he had toiled so hard to buy, they struggled to get by. But, my grandfather and grandmother made sure that they were safe and fed. And, as is the tradition in Sicilian families, food is life, in every sense of the word. Meals may not have been fancy, but with my grandmother's skill as a cook and my grandfather's persistence as a laborer, they were always hardy and they NEVER went hungry. Still, there were many other of life's pleasures that were denied them.

One Christmas Eve at the height of the Depression, my grandfather, as the story is told by my mother, gathered the family together and said, "I'm sorry, my dear ones, but times are just too hard and we just can't afford a tree or gifts this year". Understanding, but, still, disappointed, the children went to bed. When they woke in the morning and made their way downstairs, much to their amazement, they found a Christmas tree, fully decorated in the living room. And, instead of presents UNDER the tree, pinned TO the tree were dollar bills - one for each of them.

When I saw her today and we discussed what plans we might make for the holidays she told me the story again and added this: "Frankie, to this day, it's the best Christmas present I've ever had". She's going to be 93.

Merry Christmas. All.

Epilogue:


This all happened before I was born and my brother Charlie was still alive. My parents were happier then, even though money was tight., if barely existed. After Charlie was reported drowned, they changed, so Stella tells me. I didn't know them before this personal tragedy, but I do remember that we always had a tree, a live one, and celebrated Christmas in a big way with my aunt's family. When my father died, things again changed but my mother and I still had a Christmas tree and she and I decorated it together. The family has grown now including my parents' great, grand children and every Christmas that we all spend together is a treasure to store as memories.

                                                         Anna Maria Vitanza-Gagliardi

Epilogue II:

Prior to the depression they were far from poor. They had three children in the 20's and went from the village to Boro Park to Ave W where they purchased a house and I believe either bought or assisted in the purchase of his sister's house. Grandma said he was pulling in around 120 a week at that time and they were able to afford such luxuries as good furnishings and a player piano. He also had a used Packard. I don't know if you can remember, Chris Sheldon, but he did the arches and the crown and dental moldings and ceiling medallion s on Ave W. The walls were always oil painted and rag rolled. In the WPA years Grandpa worked in the Empire State Building and did stone work on one of the bridges that cross Coney Island Creek. I know he traveled out of State to get work at this time.

                                                                                  Frank J. Vitanza

When You Think About It: To Ferry or Not To Ferry

Words and photo by F LoBuono

As a source of pride, the Nyacks like to be collectively known as the "River Villages". Much of the early history of our area is inexorably linked to the life of the river itself. It's importance as a source of transportation and commerce was worth fighting to preserve - literally. Control of the river during the American Revolution was considered a key to victory. This significance continued through the 18th, 19th, and late into the 20th centuries. But, with the creation of the automobile and the subsequent boom in highway construction, the use of the river faded. Simply put, cars got us from point A to point B faster. And, in a modern world, speed was considered king.

However, there have been consequences associated with that change – not all of them good. Today, we are faced with a glut of cars and the corresponding ills associated with them: air and noise pollution, and the bane of our existence – traffic. These things erode the quality of our lives both physically and emotionally.

Improved public transportation is a key. And, one way, in my opinion, to accomplish that is to use what has always been available to us – The River. We just need the right vehicle to navigate it.

Certainly, there will be challenges with placing and operating a ferry within the Nyacks. There are the issues of parking as well as increased village traffic and the problems associated with that. Infrastructure, including a ferry slip, must be created. Who will pay for that? Who will operate the ferry and can it be done cost effectively? These and other questions/concerns need to be addressed publicly and, hopefully, answered/addressed directly.

There is no doubt that a ferry will contribute to the changing face of our villages. We are already being confronted with the dilemma of how much growth we can take (see TZ Vista). The economic forces of expansion are considerable. So, the question remains: can we do it in a way so that change is seen as positive? I believe that with proper planning, based on resident input, we can work out the details to our benefit.  And, those benefits would include (hopefully) increased foot traffic for local businesses as well as a more civilized commute to NY City for the many residents who do so.

The ferry proposal is not new. I was living here the last time it was suggested. Even though I knew there would be strong opinions on both sides, I was shocked at the level of vitriol it created between opposing camps. I hope that, this time, no matter what you point of view might be on to “Ferry or not to Ferry” we can respect the notion that we all want what’s best for our Villages.

Today's MOZEN:CHANGE

F LoBuono

They wanted change - and we're getting it. All of us. Whether we wanted it or not. They were tired of the status quo and, to their credit, did something about it. They said 'NO MORE CLINTONS". Instead, they elected a man with no political experience what-so-ever, Donald J. Trump. And, as the man of his word he has always proven himself to be (nod-nod, wink-wink), he is beginning to implement the changes he promised and his followers so thoroughly wished for. He's got the BULLY PULPIT he has so desperately desired his entire life - and, he's damn well going to use it to advance his agenda! Evidence of this can be found in his endless, baffling Tweets and his approach to the administration of his office.

The Country, and I think it safe to say, the World, will be a fundamentally different place because of those changes. The choices he is making for his Cabinet send a clear message as to the direction he will take us.

And, in my mind, it ain't good.

For Secretary of Education he has chosen a billionaire businesswoman with virtually NO experience in education. She is also a vocal opponent of PUBLIC EDUCATION, preferring the FOR PROFIT school voucher system. She is NO friend of teachers or their Union.

To head the Environmental Protection Agency he has chosen a man heavily invested politically in the fossil fuel business. He is also an inveterate denier of climate change. One MUST ask how a man with such views can head an agency with the words ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION in its title?

The Department of Labor is to be led by a billionaire businessman from the Fast Food industry who has been an outspoken critic of increasing the MINIMUM WAGE. This MUST be seen as a blow to organized labor and working people all over the County.

His proposed National Security Adviser regularly quotes FALSE NEWS sites as sources of accurate information. And, this is the man charged with keeping us safe.

To shepard the Small Business Administration, Mr. Trump has chosen ANOTHER billionaire businesswoman who contributed massive amounts of money to his campaign and is known, along with her husband, for making professional wrestling famous.

The nominated Commerce Security is ANOTHER billionaire businessman renowned for saving failed companies AND for aiding Mr. Trump in restructuring his dept and retain his holdings from his failed Atlantic City casino. No patronage here.

He has chosen a man to head Housing and Urban Development who not only has zero experience in the housing industry but his personal story lends little to his resume. He's a surgeon!

And, the list goes on.

People are saying "give him a chance". And, "it all just might work". Well, that may seem reasonable. However, it just might NOT work and therein lies my fear. I suppose that the Beatles may have said it best in their song "We Can Work It Out":

Think of what you're saying
You can get it wrong and still you think that it's alright
Think of what I'm saying,
We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night
We can work it out,
We can work it out

I sure hope so . . . 

When You Think About It: What's in a Photograph?

F LoBuono with Jen Palmieri

It's a simple photograph - two friends meet, greet, and smile. I could never have anticipated the reaction it created.

Jen Palmieri is a friend. The fact that she also happened to be Hillary Clinton's Director of Communication is irrelevant to me. What position people hold in life plays no significant role in who I choose as a friend. The are either good people or they aren't. And, Jen is one of the best.

I met her about 10 years ago when she married one of my closest childhood buddies and we've been good friends ever since. I have always found her to be witty, intelligent, and charming. When you go out to dinner with them, she is often interrupted with important messages from the likes of Leon Panetta or Nancy Pelosi. Still, she is gracious enough to not allow it to divert her full attention from you and the evening. This, I'm sure cannot be easy for either one of them. But, she always seems to be upbeat. When I would run into her while I was covering the campaign, she seemed perpetually smiling - even when her boss was taking a beating over one issue or another. And, she always appeared indefatigable! When I met her at the VP debate in Virginia I expressed to her how exhausted I was just covering the event. I could only imagine how tired she must have been. But, she poo-pooed that smiling, laughing, and saying, "hey, this is what it's all about". I admired her stamina!

When I had this photo made, it was with the idea to send it to her husband (my friend) with the quotation: hey, look  who I found!? It was all so INNOCENT. There was absolutely NO political intent what-so-ever: just two old friends sharing a hug and smile.

Then the comments started coming in.

I received ugly, vitriolic posts from people I not only have never met but had NO idea who they even were! Mike M. said: two, very big pieces of worthless SHIT (his capitals). and,"liberal piece of Clinton sucking scum".  Brian W. exclaimed: "she's deplorable" and "you should be embarrassed to call her friend." Loretta M-H claimed, "who insults Catholics?"! (referring to a leaked email accusing of anti-Catholic bias. By the way, she IS Catholic).

Really.

I can only imagine the ugliness that lurks in the hearts of these people. How can you make a simple photograph of two friends the object of such hate? These people were ANGRY with her AND me, simply because she is my friend and they disagreed with the candidate she represented. Perhaps, this is the new way - the Trump way. He has certainly emboldened the haters to do what they do best: hate.

Look, there is anger and disappointment in the Clinton camp. They failed - miserably. Despite winning the popular vote, she will not be President. This, I'm sure is devastating to Jen and her husband. In fact, I know that it is. And, perhaps, over dinner someday, we can discuss exactly what went wrong. But, that's a conversation for another day.

In the meantime, I am proud to call her friend and will defend that bond for as long as we remain as such, i.e. FOREVER.

Today's MOZEN: Welcome to the Age of Trumpism

F LoBuono

What can you say that hasn't already been said? It is what it is. Ain't gonna' change. You get what you pay for. Read it and weep. Se la vie. And, so on and so forth. You can use every cliche' and hackneyed phrase that you can muster, but the FACT remains:

Donald Trump will be President of the United States.

In the last view weeks there have been a plethora of articles, mostly of the "hand-ringing" type, warning of the potentially devastating effects a Trump administration would have on the middle class. This may or may not be the case. I KNOW which side my feelings lie. But, only time and history will tell with certainty. Besides, that's not THE point.

It's too fucking late.

From the VERY beginning of the campaign, Trump's millions of followers could not be shaken in their devotion to him - NO MATTER WHAT he may have said to insult millions of fellow Americans. As long as he didn't insult THEM, it was just fine. NO MATTER WHAT false promise he may have made to them, it was irrelevant. He promised THEM. He said "believe me" and that was enough. One of the few things he was absolutely right about was the statement he made saying that he could shoot someone on Park Ave. and it still wouldn't matter to his minions.

And, I ask you friends, now that he was WON IT ALL, why, in heaven's name, would THEY change that ??

A recent focus-group interview on CNN with Trump supporters showed a shocking misinterpretation, if not a flat out denial, of the facts involving the Presidential campaign. Simply because Mr. Trump claimed something to be true was enough for them - the latest being his outrageous and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. It was frightening to watch.

Despite his momentary lucidity when he rolled back some of his more outrageous campaign promises, he is back to the old DONALD - arrogant, bellicose, patronizing. His latest "Victory Tour" is amble evidence of his enormous ego. And, instead of Draining the Swamp he has simple re-populated it with more old alligators. He has filled his Cabinet so far with Washington and Wall St. insiders.

Welcome to the age of TRUMPISM.

And, I ask you friends, now that he has WON IT ALL, why, in heaven's name, would HE change that?

So, please spare me the articles deriding Trump's plans. I never believed him from the beginning.

And, I ask you friends, now that he was WON IT ALL, why, in heaven's name, would I change that?

No, second guessing and speculation about our future is not for me. I live day to day, doing the best that I can to live my life in a just and fair way. I see no need to change that now. I suggest that you do the same.

Today;s MOZEN: Stop Blaming the Media

Words and photo by F LoBuono

The media, the blanket term we use for the providers of information (at least that's what we hope they do), has taken its fair share of abuse these days. Some of it is warranted. Much of it is not. It's easy to blame the media for all the ills of the world. It's right in front of us in so many forms each and every day making it "accessible" for criticism.

When it's justified, I encourage critical review of the media. It DOES help to keep us honest. However, so much blame is affixed to us that is simply nonsense.

It is true, and disappointing to me, that the media, i.e. "the news" has become inundated with stories and features that can be seen as less than newsworthy. In addition to the hard news reported on a daily basis, local news is filled with gossip and what we in the business call "infotainment". An "Eye on Entertainment" report is included in virtually every nightly local newscast. However, people should keep in mind that news outlets air these stories in response to viewers' demands for MORE entertainment-like features. None of these decisions are made in a vacuum. Focus groups conducted by the industry consistently demonstrate what the public wants - entertainment.

So, in a sense, you are getting what you asked for.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the media, i.e. the News, is a BUSINESS. Nationally, it is a multi-billion dollar industry that employees tens of thousands of people. And, by the nature of ALL business positive cash flow is essential. It was not always this way. For years, news was "immune" to the rigors of profit and loss. But, those days are long gone. Profit rules. Therefore, now there is pressure to produce not only for content, but for money. This is one of the sad reasons that Donald Trump received so much news coverage during the Presidential campaign. In a classic case of Catch 22, it was no accident that the higher he drove the ratings, the more coverage he got.

Still, at least by my experience, the news outlets that I have worked for have ALWAYS functioned with the highest integrity. I have witnessed, on a daily basis, journalists who work their butts off to tell honest, informative, and balanced stories. If others have experienced otherwise, let them speak up and demonstrate how. Are they always right? Of course not! But, are they correct far more often than wrong? Absolutely.

Besides many people blame the news for the ills of society simply because they expect it to always be there and to always be perfect. Of course, that's impossible. And, furthermore, most people seem to be lazy when it comes to acquiring information. Instead of seeking the truth themselves through multiple sources (as a GOOD journalist does) they prefer to be spoon fed their information by a third party. In other words, it's EASY to BLAME. It's HARDER to KNOW.

There is no excuse. So, stop the blame game. The truth is there for the taking. You just need to make the effort.

Today's MOZEN: Arrogance

F LoBuono

TEMET NOSCE!

Know thyself!

Temet Nosce! This inscription is located near the entrance to the ancient Greek temple at Delphi. Delphi is the place were the ancient Greeks went to hear their fate and receive guidance as predicted by the Pythia, or Oracle, who presided there. Through a kind of hypnotic trance, she answered the pilgrims' questions in a cryptic language left to interpretation.

The expression, as it is presented at Delphi, is usually depicted with an exclamation point suggesting that is a command rather just a suggestion.

I have always held this in my heart as one of the keys to living a complete, honest, and, therefore, rewarding life.

However, because this involves a sense of confidence in one's abilities (which includes acknowledgement of our shortcomings), it is often seen as ARROGANCE.

Of all my failings, perhaps I am excused of this more than all others. And, that disturbs me - to a degree. Arrogance is a particularly egregious fault. It implies that one sees oneself as "better" than others. This is hurtful, particularly because one of my goals in life is to do no harm. However, this is not possible. We simply cannot live a life of conviction without stepping on some toes. This is inevitable and, therefore, MUST be an accepted risk. And, I have. Still, this can leave others with the impression of arrogance.

The key to having strong opinion, and having them "accepted", is finding a way to express them with strength and honesty without sounding dogmatic. This is, indeed, a challenge that I often struggle with. Still, I realize that this is part of the process.

In my work as a journalist, I strive for impartiality, i.e. balance in my stories. This is our creed. However, as I have expressed before, there is a difference between reporting and editorializing. I have always tried to separate the two. However, it is not possible to not have one cross-over into the other. And, ALWAYS, expressing TRUTH, as you see it, MUST be the most important factor. Recently, international award winning reporter Christiane Amanpour, has been exhorting reporters to be truthful, not neutral, saying "truth is not biased".

When I feel that I armed with the truth, my approach can be seen as aggressive. I make my points forcefully. But, I also do so respectfully. I never use pejoratives and avoid personal attacks. I do my best to accept other, differing opinions. Of course, when conversations get contentious, especially on social media, I can lose my cool just like everyone else. However, I am aware of how loud I can be and how obnoxious that can seem - especially if I believe that someone is wrong on the "facts". I do KNOW MYSELF.

To stifle myself would be to NOT know myself. THAT is not what I am. I am loud and proud. It is part of my essence. I DO like myself (at least mostly). And, I'm working on being more EFFECTIVE in my interactions. To not be so is to earn the label arrogant - something that I know in my heart I am not. And, I believe that those who know ME, understand my intentions. To not be truthful with MYSELF is the ultimate dishonesty.

Today's MOZEN: Shame on You!

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Please forgive what might become an epic rant, full of vulgarity. But, I just can't help myself. I just read a post from a man I thought that I respected - an Italian-American. Good guy with a sense of community. Really. It was about a Muslim-American woman who no longer feels safe wearing her head scarf. The reaction to her was simply DEPLORABLE: "Go home, sand nigger". "Good riddance". "Who gives a shit - LEAVE", were just some of the quotes.

REALLY???

This is what we've become????

LISTEN DOUCHE BAGS - you have NO CLUE as to what it means to be an AMERICAN. You're the first scumbags to wave the flag in someone's face without having a REAL clue as to what it truly means TO BE A REAL AMERICAN. It's written all over the world's GREATEST SYMBOL OF FREEDOM - the Statue of Liberty. Instead of using it like a weapon, read it. BELIEVE it. LIVE it!

The New Collossus
Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Today's MOZEN: BLACK FRIDAY

F LoBuono

BLACK FRIDAY
is to
AVARICE
as a
4TH of July
HOT DOG EATING CONTEST
is to
GLUTTONY.

i.e. The Super Bowl of Bad Human Behavior

TalkFrank's Thanksgiving Message

Words and Photo by F LoBuono

These are the times that try men's souls.
                                               Thomas Paine, "The American Crisis" -  December 23, 1776

Wow. A strange way to begin a Thanksgiving message? Perhaps. But, certainly, considering the current state of affairs in America, not inappropriate.

Those words, written almost exactly 240 years ago, still ring true today. A most contentious and brutal campaign season has left us with the most controversial leader of my lifetime as President, Donald Trump. The fact that he won the election despite losing the popular vote by nearly 2 million people to Hillary Clinton has created a palpable rift among the populous. In fact, it would not be hyperbole to say that most Clinton supporters are simply devastated. And, those people fear the direction that Mr. Trump appears to be pointing us in. In other words, they feel they have little to be truly thankful for.

But, that's not what Thanksgiving is all about - at least not to me.

On this day, the world can take care of itself - and, it will if we just take a moment to count our own blessings. No matter how small they may seem to be, when we acknowledge the good in our lives, we assist in its healing. And, the good things ARE there: family, friends, food, health, home, safety, serenity, peace, light, love, and life. I have these things and I wish you all the same.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Today's MOZEN: WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!

Words and photo by F LoBuono

America, wake up! The Country we once knew is gone. November 8th changed all of that. Get it through your heads: The reports on the death of the GOP were greatly exaggerated. In fact, just the opposite happened. The Republicans now rule in ways beyond their wildest dreams. They control the Presidency, Congress, and, soon, the Supreme Court. And, the feckless, impotent Democrats are, once again, left looking like scolded children.

You can scream. You can hold your breath. You can stomp your feet. You can walk out of every Broadway production known to mankind and Donald Trump is still going to be President. And, the GOP is going to make your lives as miserable as possible - unless, of course, you happen to be a millionaire or billionaire. This is my take on things, anyway. I hope for all of us that I'm wrong. But, based on the past performance of the GOP, I don't think that I am. How they managed to convince working people that they are actually for THEM, with a track record of Union busting and anti-labor legislation, is baffling to me!

The sad thing is that we could have changed towards THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. We were offered a chance to say NO to bigotry, misogyny, and greed. Instead, we choose them as NEW American values. More disturbing is the thought that, perhaps, they always were . . .

As for the future, we all would like to think that no one man can change America that much. Well, it ain't just one man. Trump is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath will lie a mountain of icy, mostly white men with malice in their hearts. I'm sure that they believe in their vision. Unfortunately, I do not. But, I'm just one little shit-head with a blog. What can I, or anyone else like me, do against the MACHINE? I fear the damage done. The Orange Genie is out of the bottle.

Certainly, I don't want to sound like such a pessimist. By nature I tend to be more "up" than "down". But, this is the real deal, gang. This new administration has the will AND the power to put into a play a vision of America that excludes instead of includes, negates when it should affirm, and punishes rather than rewards. But, unfortunately, that's America. Apparently, at least it is now.

And, I have no answers . . .

Today's MOZEN: NOT Girl Power

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Well, ladies, I hate to do this but I have a bone to pick with y'all. While it's true that white men voted for Donald Trump in sufficient numbers for him win the election, white women share the "blame", as well. CNN exit polls have indicated that nearly 53% of white women voted for Trump over Hillary Clinton. The fact that Clinton is a woman and Trump made several disparaging, if not down-right misogynistic, statements about women seemed to have little, if any, effect on many women. Their reasoning seem to be encapsulated in these quotes:

"That's because he's not working off a TelePrompTer or a script fine tuned by a consultant and focus groups," the Women for Trump site stated. "We look at his actions, not his words."

and

"Groping is a healthy thing to do. When you're heterosexual, you grope, okay? It's a good thing," Jane Biddick, a female Trump supporter, told New York Magazine.

Really.

And, by my own empirical observations on Facebook and other social media, MANY women flat-out despised Ms. Clinton in ways they could not even articulate beyond "I don't trust her". How they could come up with that conclusion after Ms. Clinton's successful defense in the Benghazi investigation AND the judgment by the FBI that there was no criminal intent in the e-mail fiasco, baffles me. It even infuriates me to think that SO many women were willing to vilify Hillary for her indiscretions while giving the obviously sexist and misogynistic Trump a pass. On a personal basis, I know that all the women that I have close associations with were OUTRAGED at the prospect. Still, I had other friends and family (women) who insisted that Trump's transgressions with women were irrelevant. IRRELEVANT???? How can the character of a man who will lead hundreds of millions be irrelevant? I'm sorry ladies for the vulgar comparison but, with that kind of logic, I assume that it's OK to "grab women who voted for Trump by the pussy simply because I only mean it in good male-type fun"!!

Really.

So, ladies, please spare me the holier than though attitude when it comes to this election. In addition to the tens of millions of voters who never even showed up, there's plenty of blame to go around. And, many of you share the burden.

Epilogue: First, let me thank EVERYONE for their comments. This is a passionate time and everyone's emotions seem to be especially raw. I get it. And, I appreciate the participation. If I might add my two-cents worth (surprise - surprise): I'm a big "character" guy. I will follow anyone that I believe shares the same values of honesty, compassion, passion, fairness, and equality that I do. I see NONE of these things in Mr. Trump. None. And, I've felt that way from the very beginning. He's a bully - and the worst kind of bully - a rich one who pays others to do his dirty work. I cannot follow someone that I don't respect. And, I have NEVER respected him - not from day one. From before the time he MOCKED a disabled reporter to his denigration of certain ethnic groups to the continued bully pulpit tactics, Mr. Trump has shown me nothing to be admired. Nothing. And, you women who "defend" him. Let me add this: if he spoke of the women I associate with in the way he spoke on that bus, he'd have to answer to me. And, I'm a MAN. Ladies, if you wanted to be treated as equals, then act like one!!!!!!!!!!! Don't take that shit!!!!!!!!!!! But, it's too late now. The damage is done. Now, live with it.

Today's MOZEN: Joannie

Words and photo by F LoBuono

In the beginning, I only knew her as The Woman Who Waits (first published 12/13/2013 http://talk-frank.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-short-story-woman-who-waits.html). A solitary figure, she stood in front of her apartment building on Broadway in Nyack in all types of weather, often for hours, smiling, waiving, and spreading love and good cheer to whomever she met. Children were particularly fond of her most gentle nature.

After a time, I got to know Joan, or Joannie, as I affectionately named her. She calls me "Al" because I remind her of Al Pacino  (although she says that I'm better looking!). She is part of a large family in the area with many sisters, all characterized by their red hair. I learned that Joannie had been through a lot in her time on earth. As a younger woman, she lost many years to addiction and, from time to time, still struggles with those stubborn demons. One of the ways that she dealt with her misfortune was, instead of feeling sorry for herself, to give back to others in the most simple of ways - by spreading joy to everyone who came in contact with her. And, through this, she became one of our towns most beloved figures. I look at her as what the Buddhists call a Bodhisattva or Spirit Guide, i.e. one that, by example, helps to show us the path to righteousness and salvation.

About two years ago, Joannie felt like she needed a change. So, she decided to move in with one of her sisters in California. Of course, this left a huge hole in the collective consciousness of our little village. It was as if someone had let some of the love escape. We could not help but notice the loss of her calming presence. But, ultimately, it was a good move for her and she is thriving. She has found comfort in her renewed faith, the foundation of her recovery.

We speak on the phone from time to time. But, Joannie is not much of a "phone person". That's OK. I don't need to talk to her to feel her presence. She will always be a part of this place and, therefore, me. Besides, like today, she does get back for the occasional visit with her sisters. We met for breakfast this morning at Johnnie Cakes and, of course, it was like we had never been apart. She beamed when she saw me and the feeling was mutual. Love and affection just exudes from this women. We made a few stops along Broadway to visit some old friends. The reaction was always the same: JOANNIE!! So good to see you. We LOVE you! It did her heart and mine, good.  At her request, we held hands and prayed together. She is always trying to save my soul - and, despite my misgivings about formal religion, I always accept her blessings - ALWAYS.

After a few hours, it was time to go our separate ways. Joannie would be returning to California in the morning. But, there was no sadness - only joy in each others company with the knowledge that we will always be there for one another.

God Speed, Joannie.

She would like to hear that - from me.

:)

Today's MOZEN: Joannie

Words and photo by F LoBuono

In the beginning, I only knew her as The Woman Who Waits (first published 12/13/2013 http://talk-frank.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-short-story-woman-who-waits.html). A solitary figure, she stood in front of her apartment building on Broadway in Nyack in all types of weather, often for hours, smiling, waiving, and spreading love and good cheer to whomever she met. Children were particularly fond of her most gentle nature.

After a time, I got to know Joan, or Joannie, as I affectionately named her. She calls me "Al" because I remind her of Al Pacino  (although she says that I'm better looking!). She is part of a large family in the area with many sisters, all characterized by their red hair. I learned that Joannie had been through a lot in her time on earth. As a younger woman, she lost many years to addiction and, from time to time, still struggles with those stubborn demons. One of the ways that she dealt with her misfortune was, instead of feeling sorry for herself, to give back to others in the most simple of ways - by spreading joy to everyone who came in contact with her. And, through this, she became one of our towns most beloved figures. I look at her as what the Buddhists call a Bodhisattva or Spirit Guide, i.e. one that, by example, helps to show us the path to righteousness and salvation.

About two years ago, Joannie felt like she needed a change. So, she decided to move in with one of her sisters in California. Of course, this left a huge hole in the collective consciousness of our little village. It was as if someone had let some of the love escape. We could not help but notice the loss of her calming presence. But, ultimately, it was a good move for her and she is thriving. She has found comfort in her renewed faith, the foundation of her recovery.

We speak on the phone from time to time. But, Joannie is not much of a "phone person". That's OK. I don't need to talk to her to feel her presence. She will always be a part of this place and, therefore, me. Besides, like today, she does get back for the occasional visit with her sisters. We met for breakfast this morning at Johnnie Cakes and, of course, it was like we had never been apart. She beamed when she saw me and the feeling was mutual. Love and affection just exudes from this women. We made a few stops along Broadway to visit some old friends. The reaction was always the same: JOANNIE!! So good to see you. We LOVE you! It did her heart and mine, good.  At her request, we held hands and prayed together. She is always trying to save my soul - and, despite my misgivings about formal religion, I always accept her blessings - ALWAYS.

After a few hours, it was time to go our separate ways. Joannie would be returning to California in the morning. But, there was no sadness - only joy in each others company with the knowledge that we will always be there for one another.

God Speed, Joannie.

She would like to hear that - from me.

:)