Bowing To Right Wing Wackos

According to the Boston Herald, it looks like Dunkin' Donuts did just this when they "stopped running an online advertisement featuring Rachael Ray after complaints that a fringed black-and-white scarf that the celebrity chef wore in the ad offers symbolic support for Muslim extremism and terrorism". Cummon...Get a backbone will you!!! This is another reason why I call the extreme right wingers, wackos. I guess you can add paranoid and iddiots to that too!!

As for Dunkin' Donuts, I see why they now make small ball like donuts, otherwise known as Munchkins.

A Parade, Some Golf, A Movie and Fun at the Sagamore

This week has been pretty hectic. On Saturday 5/17, Charlotte and I got to ride a fire truck in the Niska-Day parade. The old fire truck that we rode on is owned by a fireman of the Grand Boulevard Fire Department in Niskayuna, NY where my father is a member. Mom, Laura, Erin, Michael & Kate also rode with us. Maeve and Chris watched the parade from Nott Street. Charlotte hung close to me during the whole ride, but she did seame to enjoy herself. I think this will become a tradition aand who knows, maybe Maeve and Chris will join us on the truck next year.

On Sunday, Dad, myself and a friend of ours played 18 holes at Mohawk River Country Club & Chateau in Rexford, NY. This round was special because it was the first time I played Sunday Golf with my Dad since his surgery.

On Monday, my buddy Chris invited me to see a free showing of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. As most people know, I love the Indian Jones series (although not as much as my buddy Chris), and going into this movie the only thing I was hoping for is the same Spielberg magic as the other three. Well all I can say is I got my wish. If you like the first three, you will like this one. It was great. To see a full review of the movie, go to Chris blog.

On Saturday (5/24), it was back to the links...this time I was invited to play one of the best courses in the area...The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, NY. It lived up to what everybody had told me about this place. Long course, plush rough and beautiful views of Lake George. I shot pretty well for not playing the course, although I should have broken 100 easily. I guess my mind was a little distracted by the $6.00 beers. But that is a story for another day.

Now, you might be saying...why was I up at the Sagamore mingling with the rich and famous. Well, that leads us to our Sunday activity. Chris and I were invited to a the wedding of my friend's daughter at the Sagamore. The wedding was beautiful, the party was rocking, the food was delicious and Tal & Erin looked great. And again, the Sagamore lived up to what everybody had told us about this place. It not to often we get to go out by ourselves now, let alone to a wedding, let alone at a 5 star hotel.

Today, it was day to relax. Chris, Charlotte, Maeve and I went to the Crossings of Colonie for a picnic, playtime and to watch the ducks.

That's all for now, check out more photos in our family album.

Manny Being Manny and The Yankee Freak House

Many people I know that are Yankee fans don’t particularly care about Manny Ramirez and some have used some words to describe him that I won’t repeat on this blog. I guess when I see video, like the two below, of Manny being Manny, I usually laugh…probably because he is one of the best hitters in the league so why mess with something that works. Although it may seam like he is not trying hard, I think he is. The stuff he does can’t all come naturally. Can you imagine what the guy who got tagged out must be feeling?

After the videos of Manny being Manny check out the story about Jason “Roid Man” Giambi. The guy wears a gold thong to try breaking out of hitting slumps. And it gets worse…”Several teammates acknowledged they've tried wearing it (Giambi’s Thong), too, including Yankees captain Derek Jeter and outfielder Johnny Damon”.

I don’t care what Manny has done, nothing can compare to this. One pair of underwear strung between 3 different pair of butt cheeks is just unbelievably freaky.

Now grab a bucket and lets all hurl together!!

Tolls, Stamps and a Big Piece of Pork

As most of you know, for the last 14 years I have been working for a New York State Authority that most people think shouldn't exist. When I first started blogging I swore to myself I would never write as to why I believe in this Authority and I plan on continuing that promise. I do need to point out, in the last 3 years we have had 2 toll increases, and lets just say...people around here are pissed. The press (both print and TV) have covered these increases extensively and I must say, they have asked hard questions.

But now I'm confused...On Monday a 1st class stamp increased a penny yet again and it was also announced that Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assemblyman Robert Reilly gave a combined total of $80,000 in tax payer dollars to one of the wealthiest suburbs so they can build a $120,000 "striking new 30-foot carillon and clock tower on Shen's sprawling main campus".

So tell me...Why is the press not consistent with these stories? I never heard the press ask the USPS why stamps go up every year. If I want to send a letter to Buffalo, the only way I can do it is either USPS or spend $10 via Fed-Ex or other parcel services. If I want to drive to Buffalo, I can pay a toll and drive a toll road or I can save my money and take Route 5. In other words, the USPS has more of a Monopoly on getting a letter to Buffalo then then the TWY has driving to buffalo. Yet the press fails to ask them the hard questions on the yearly increase. Why?

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As for the striking new 30-foot carillon and clock tower, the TU treated this as a feel good story and again didn't ask the hard questions. They actually had other articles in the same paper about pork spending and then they write this story without mentioning that it is funded by pork. My first question to Mr. Bruno and Mr. Reilly would be: There are schools in this state that don't have enough money for text books and computers, so why do you feel it's appropriate to give tax payers dollars to one of the wealthiest suburbs so they can build a useless clock tower? This tower will not improve education in Clifton Park. Why not give that money to districts who really need it, or maybe reduce the pork spending burden on the tax payer?

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I just don't get why the press asks the tough questions regarding toll increases but fail to ask tough questions about stamp increases or useless clock towers funded by state tax dollars.

A Beautiful Day for a Christening and to Celebrate Motherhood

I haven't really talked much about the family lately...probably because we have been busy playing. Yes, I have been adding pictures to our photo album, but I haven't really talked about what we have been up to. I'll try to change that.

This past Sunday the weather gods answered are prayers and gave us a beautiful day for Maeve's Christening and Mothers Day. It all started with Church and Maeve's Christening at Newtonville United Methodist Church, followed by brunch at our house and then fun and games. The day couldn't be anymore perfect. The ceremony was beautiful, the food was delicious and everybody had a great time. The kids even got a visit from the ice cream man...Charlotte's first of many!!

One more thing, I can't forget the Moms. To Chris, I've said this many times before: you are a wonderful, wonderful person and a great great Mom. Charlotte and Maeve will always have a special place in their hearts for you. The things you do for them, they will appreciate forever.

And to Mom...You are great and I can never thank you enough for all the things you have done for me, Chris, Charlotte and Maeve. Your strength you have shown especially over the last year is amazing.

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Here are some more pictures from our day. Up next, Charlotte and I get to ride in the Niska-Day parade on a fire truck.

164 Million Dollar Question

What would you do with 164 Million Dollars?

The Case of the Missing Scare Tactics

Remember this? I know, you may have to search way back into your memory...Try prior to the 2004 election. Yep, it was used by the Bushed Administration to scare the hell out of people into voting for Dubya in 2004. I remember telling a colleague back in the summer of 2004 that once Dubya gets elected, you will never see these tactics again. I also remember seeing warnings on overhead signs around D.C in 2004 reminding people to call a phone number if they see terrorist activities.

Well, I guess I was right. Remember all the talk of small pox and Anthrax scares? Yep, once Dubya won in 2004, we never heard about this stuff again.

But wait...The 2008 presidential election is in November. Shall we say the tactics will appear again in, say, September....hmmmm. Yeah, September, that's it.

By the way, notice I said Dubya was elected in 2004 and not re-elected. Remember, Dubya was appointed by the US Supreme Court in 2000, and elected for the first time in 2004. But in the eyes of Justice Scalia, I need to "Get over it. It's so old by now." OK Buddy, whatever!!