Defending our Blizzard Governor and NYC Mayor

Everybody is an expert. Everybody is a Monday morning Quarterback. We had a dire Blizzard of 15 forecast covering all points from NYC North and East. What happened was NYC was spared but out east on Long Island the blizzard hit hard. Decisions were made which were courageous and I believe correct.

First of all let me make one thing clear, NYC didn't escape fully. Manhattan got 8 inches but Queens got a little under a foot, so did Brooklyn. This isn't a dusting this is real snow. But out East from Old Bethpage, Plainview to Orient they got 18 to 30 inches. They are digging out the day after and will continue to do so for quite some time.

The Mayor and Governor made some great decisions, shut down the roads, all but most needed cars off the roads, shut down the railroads and subways. Now they are being questioned for making hasty decisions. The Weather people are being derided for making a poor forecast and are being made to make defensive rebuttals. But let me say to all who were disappointed for New York City's little snowfall you are all nuts. NYC lucked out but the rest of the forecast area didn't including all the way up to New England. Just who is crazy enough to want more snow in an urban area? Only the crazies because everything is shut down for weeks in some great snow falls.

The decision to shut down the Rails, Subways and roads were  shown to be correct because the plowers were able to do there jobs and get the roads back to being passable with only minor delays, there were no stuck cars on the roads and no deaths. The subways came back to service right away with slow service the first days. But there were no stuck trains to move which made the process easier and faster.

The people in charge, our elected officials and their appointed officials acted promptly and this whole area came through Blizzard 15 re-markedly well. What more can be asked of all involved? The weather people did really well giving early notice so everyone could be prepared which helped in making correct decisions on the ground which saved lives and time for recovery. The hard hit areas will definitely say the prognosticators were right on. We here in NYC can be thankful that the storm shifted 50 miles which lessened the impact on our City. When one thinks about all the decisions that have to be made including interpretations of weather information I can only come to the conclusion that all deserve our thanks and appreciation for a job well done.

    

Sometimes Being Politically Correct Is Wrong

The Academy Awards made their announcements and suddenly everyone was in an uproar. The critics, and there are many, you know who they are they're the ones who can't do it so they criticize it, were upset that there wasn't enough women nominated in the director's category nor were there enough blacks. "Selma" had a double whammy a first time women director who is black and to make it a triple whammy the lead who played Martin Luther King wasn't nominated for best actor. The Academy was accused of being racist, against women and too damn old. What everyone failed to mention "12 Years A Slave" which was very Black ran away with everything in 2013 including the very talented and pretty young actress, Lupita Nyong'o.  Last year everything was politically correct this year wasn't. For the record I saw all the pictures that were nominated and while "Selma" was excellent as was David Oyelowo  as Dr. King in my estimation they weren't better than others nominated in their category. I was all for last years winners and not against this years nominations. I would vote for the best picture and the best in other categories not based on color or gender but if I thought the truly were the "best". Hope that doesn't make me a racist.  Another note I think "Birdman" is not as good as everyone seems to think it is does that make me against old white men and non-American Directors?

Bill Maher said we are warehousing our old people by putting them in nursing homes now while some 50 years ago more people died at home. He seemed to indicate that we are dumping off our old rather than taking care of them. My guess is he never had to put anyone he loved in a nursing home because he would know it was done because the loved ones aged to a point that they couldn't be taken care of at home. That this is a heart wrenching decision and one that is financially draining, maybe not for a guy like Bill Maher but for ordinary folk it can put one into bankruptcy. Comparing to what was done many years ago should be done with the realization the population is living much longer, the dementia's are deeper, the people are frailer and it is safer and better to have them in "God's waiting Room". He should also be aware that for many they do not abandon their loved ones but visit daily and are their most strongest advocates. By the way the people, Nurses, Nurses Aides, Doctors Porters, cooks and housekeepers are for the most part very generous in their attention and love, yes that's right LOVE, they shower on people who can't take care of themselves. They for the most part do a very backbreaking and difficult job, and do it well. Check it out Bill!

I like Bill Maher but he isn't always right or should I say politically correct. He found fault with Pope Francis'
saying if you say something insulting, while referring to the present situation with France's satire magazine and the Prophet, you can expect consequences. He was in no way saying violence is the answer and he has deplored the recent massacre, but being Latin he used the figure of speech "If you insult my mother expect a punch in the face.  He even made a farcically thrown punch. Maher criticized the Pope as being hypocritical because he was representing Jesus, the Prince of Peace and the Catholic Religion which espoused peace.
First of all I doubt very much if this Pope gives a rat's A** if Bill Maher approves or disapproves of him. He does care if he is saving his immortal soul even though Bill Maher doesn't believe in all that "stuff".  Secondly I am sure "righteous anger" was approved even by Jesus who violently threw the money changers out of the temple even though they had every right and even need to be their. But they were insulting in their manner and demeanor so he threw them out violently, yep that's right The Prince of Peace showed righteous anger while loving the very people he was angered at, and by the way he never hurt them.  Of course we all deplore this jihadist  violence but be cognizant of the fact that when dealing with crazy people expect crazy and violent things to happen and try to thwart them.

You are a funny man Bill, and a very deep thinker but you are not always right even if that is what the guys who hang around you say you are. As far as the awards for movies go let's hope the show doesn't drag on for what seems an eternity and prove to be entertaining.

    

When Love Cools

In the beginning they were able to speak forever. Together or through the mail or whatever tools were available for communication. There was nothing they couldn't explore, dig deep into, it was all pretty exciting.
Their conversations were full of wonder as they explored ideas, shared past experiences, spoke of future hopes. Each time they explored the world of idea, concepts, life lived and hoped to live.

The last few months there seemed to be something going on. He couldn't exactly put his finger on it but it was becoming clearer to him as their relationship developed that she was losing the excitement that was there before. Everything they did seemed to be slotted into some time frame that was easy for her. She felt the need to spend more time with friends and even if she didn't the need was there explicitly or implicitly. Certain subjects just weren't interesting to her. She either rejected them outright or became distracted as they talked.

At one time she had expressed the thought that he was the most interesting person she knew. Now it felt that almost any subject he brought up bored her. He was sure he went from the most interesting to the most boring fellow she could be wasting her time with. the old song, "This Is The Beginning of The End" wouldn't leave his mind. It wasn't all true but in his mind was an omen of things to come.

This is the beginning of the end, I can see it in your eyes, in everything you do, And you’re afraid to tell me that we’re through But I can tell by looking at you. This is the beginning of the end,  You  just give yourself away with everything you say, And though you never told me we must part, Still I can read the writing in your heart. Why is it now when I hold your hand There is some little something that I miss, What has become of the warmth in your smile, And where is that little mischief in your goodnight kiss? This is the beginning of the end, I can see the thrill is gone, why let it linger on, Why lie to me and say it isn’t so For when I hold you in my arms I know That this, this is the beginning of the end.

He knew that the words and full meaning of the song didn't apply to their relationship yet he knew that whatever they had before was fading into oblivion. One time just being together brought happiness and that didn't happen anymore. He knew in any relationship there are three sides to every problem, her side, his side and the truth. But sometimes the truth is staring all right in the face and no one wants to recognize it which could be for a myriad of reasons all of which seem easier to accept rather that the truth, so one lives in denial.

 

He wasn't quite sure how he was going to proceed but he knew he had to do something and do it soon.
Maybe he thought the truth of the matter was he had just overstayed his welcome.