My Mayor is not @Corey Booker (or Oh, My Aching Back)

Corey Booker is the Mayor of Newark New Jersey.

There are two reasons this guy is even on my radar.

1) I like the show Brick City on the Sundance channel. It's an excellent documentary series about how the people of Newark New Jersey are turning their city around and becoming a better place for everyone. It's gritty, honest,candid and engrossing.

and

2) Corey Booker is on Twitter, where he communicates with his constituents about problems they face with both in their personal lives and with the city.

My mayor, R.T. Rybak is also on Twitter and I follow him because I live here.

Yesterday, I saw that he had tweeted the following:



I didn't think that much of it at the time because we were still receiving a 13" gift of snow from Mother Nature.

I had spent a good part of the day shoveling and last night I was out until almost midnight helping shovel out a neighbor who unlike me, likes to do it all near the end of the storm instead of periodically throughout the day.

Both our properties are on either side of the beginning of the alley. While we were shoveling last night, we were talking about having to do some of it again in the morning after the plows came through.

When I got up this morning and looked out the window, I saw that the plows had come thru alright:



Daggnabbit I groaned.(Okay, I didn't use that particular word) and knew that I had a heck of a lot of work to do.

I thought of Mayor Rybak's tweet about Corey Booker and sent Mayor Rybak the following tweet before heading out to shovel all that the plows had left behind (BTW, I'm going to reveal my Twitter name here, so feel free to follow me, but if you don't like what I Tweet, unfollow me. Don't try to engage me in Twitter word wars, I'm not interested. I've learned that lesson. Discussion, yes, word wars no.)

Anyways, I sent the following Tweet to the Mayor:



and headed out to clear the snow that the plow had deposited from the street into the plowed alley.

When I came back in, I found that Mayor Rybak had actually responded:



Okay big points for responding but seriously, I thought the Mayor must have someone he hired to plow himself out and maybe my picture wasn't making my question clear to him so I tweeted him again after spending 5 flipping hours clearing the alley:



and here are his next two posts which I have no idea whether or not they were addressed to me:



I didn't bother to respond.

If he ever decides to address my concern with anything other than platitudes or facts that are interesting but not what I was asking, I'll let you know.

But until then, I stand by the title of this post.

My Mayor is not Corey Booker.

Sigh.

Rest in Peace

Anticipating the loss of a very good friend...

This is my cat.

Speckles.

My neighbor had brought a skinny cat home that he had rescued from a building he was rehabbing and after a few meals, that cat started getting really fat. Oops. She was really pregnant.

Speckles was the runt of the litter and I adored her from the moment she was born.

She is now 17 years old.

She's a sweet, shy little creature, whose idea of having company is anyone who comes into my home via the radio or the television.

The closest she likes to get to the outside world is sniffing the dog when the dog comes back from wherever we take her.

By the various looks on her face, I have both amused and bored her as we've lived together through the Clinton, Bush and the first couple of the Obama years, since I'm a politics junkie and have never been completely happy with any of these administrations.

She has sat on my thigh, softly purring, during the typing of almost every word on this blog.

She is the only living thing in this house who has seen the space between the main floor and the basement when as a kitten she got tangled in a paper bag and in an effort to escape ran up a ladder and into small hole in the ceiling that had been put there in my uneducated attempt at trying to keep some pipes from freezing.

She loves watching snow fall, making winter all the more bearable for me!

She for 17 years been the one who runs to greet me when I get home, often before the dog who is much more devoted to my husband.

We've both been lucky in our mutual admiration society.

I like to read, she likes to sit on books.

I like to do crossword puzzles, she likes to push my pen.

I like to cook, she like to taste test and pick up spills.

I get cold feet, she likes to pretend to be a foot warmer.

The list could go on and on.

This past weekend Speckles stopped eating much of anything and her weight is dropping rapidly.

Today the vet came over and saw her and the prognosis isn't good. At all.

She is dying.

It could be days, a week, it could be a month, but it's coming.

As soon as I see she is uncomfortable in her quality of life, and I have to make the decision all pet owner's dread, I will. In the meantime, most everything else is going to take a back seat. I will spend most every moment thanking her for all the love, goodness and joy that she has graced my life with. And, she finally gets to have some Fancy Feast cat food after all these years of IAMS, even if she only wants to eat 1/2 teaspoon at a time. It makes her purr and right now that makes us both happy.

I love her and I will miss her.

Separated at Birth??

I'm just sayin'

They Don't Write Letters Like This Anymore

March 5

Hotel Caravelle
Saigon

Dearest Ann,

While Ron writes a story, I'll get off a short note. We're on the sixth floor of the Caravelle overlooking part of downtown Saigon and directly overlooking the National Assembly. (which has a patch in its roof from a rocket hit last spring). Despite the news of last week, Saigon seems more secure than I had believed possible. The war seems both near and far. U.N. troops and police are at most intersections, many of which have sandbagged posts. At night, there is a constant overhead rumble of artillery fire. From the roof of the hotel on Monday night at midnight we watched a helicopter gunship send a stream of tracer bullets into the terrain 5 or 10 mines away, and last night we could see artillery shells exploding on the horizon. The sky is lit with flares over suspected VC positions and helicopters are constantly circling at night.

But life goes on here in the city in an unwarlike way. The streets are jammed with shoppers--many of them well dressed-- and the stores are well stocked with merchandise--TV sets, imported clothing from France and Italy etc. The streets are jammed with cars and motorbikes all day-- but after midnight are empty because of a curfew. The daytime noise level from the traffic is horrendous.

The city is quite a lovely place- wide traditional streets and handsome French buildings. We've been eating lunches and dinners at a pleasant little French restaurant up the street--and eating breakfast in a lovely garden courtyard of a hotel across the street from the Caravelle.

A senior military adviser from the province around Saigon drove us out to a hamlet last night on the edge of the city. Members of the popular self defense forces were standing guard on every corner. Most of them were young- 16 or 17-- and armed with carbines (something new since TET, when VC overran the hamlet). Then we drove out to a strategic bridge over the Saigon River where some VC activity was suspected. Another key bridge closer to Saigon had been mortared the night before. I was impressed with the caliber of the UN troops we met- there were 35 on duty, on the approaches, on the bridge, under the bridge and on the shores.One of them dropped an explosive charge into the river for us. They are dropped periodically to discourage the VC swimmers from approaching the bridge. The blast rattled the bridge.

The road to the bridge was lighted- as were most of the homes along the way and I felt about as safe as driving through East Middlebury.

There have been no rockets here since I arrived, though there were some on Monday morning-- one of which hit a hospital a couple of blocks from here. We drove over to another part of town Monday where one had hit a crowded working class neighborhood -- and killed several people.

Today, there was a Buddhist funeral procession past our hotel with seven caskets. But it wasn't much of a demonstration if that's what it was. The boy scouts on Monday were cleaning up the ruins of the blast site while the neighbors just stood around. I took this to be an indication of the nature of Vietnamese society.

More when I get home.

Love to all,

Leonard

When the cold winds blow it's time for soup...

When tonight's wind chill drops to -25 below, I'll be cuddling up to a thick bowl of split pea and ham soup.

This thick, delicious, very filling soup not only will make your kitchen smell irrestistable, it is so easy that it practically makes itself!

1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 large onion
2 cloves garlic- minced
2 carrots- diced
2 stalks of celery
1 large potato diced
1 lb. ham diced
8 c chicken stock
1 lb. bag dried split peas
1 bay leaf
pepper

Rinse peas.

While they drain, heat oil in large dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.

Add onion and cook until just tender.

Stir in garlic and ham and cook for 2 minutes.

Add chicken stock, peas and bay leaf.

Pepper to taste. (I don't add salt because the ham has more than enough in it)

Cook over low-medium heat for 1 1/2 hours stirring occasionally.

Add the carrots, celery and potato and cook for 45 min more until the veggies are tender.

Remove (and compost) the bay leaf , ladle up and be happy!!

The Learning Channel

Here's a copy of the letter I sent to TLC a few minutes ago.

After many years of enjoying many shows on TLC and a general live and let live attitude about programming that doesn't interest me, yesterday's events in Arizona have driven me to ask that you cancel Sarah Palin's show.

Her (and others) endless violence filled rhetoric and mis-stating of facts, while not solely responsible, has most certainly contributed to a national climate that culminated in the shooting of the congresswoman and killing of many innocent people yesterday.

TLC used to stand for The Learning Channel, (maybe it still does even if people don't refer to it that way much anymore) and it seems to me that this is the perfect opportunity for you to live up to that name and put human decency before profit.

It's probably too late for tonight's episode but until Sarah Palin's show is cancelled, I will not be watching any shows on TLC or any of your affiliated networks, including Animal Planet, any Discovery Channel, The Military Channel and all the rest.

I will block all these channels so no one else in my household can watch them either and I will tell everyone I know exactly what I've done and why and ask them to join me.

Thank you for your consideration.

Now I know that this is only my opinion but if you would like to make your voice heard please feel free to by going to TLC's customer relations at:

http://corporate.discovery.com/contact/viewer-relations/

Thank you.

Why I love my neighborhood

We had a huge snowstorm here this past weekend. It was so bad that even the plows couldn't and (as of this writing) still can't get through to clear the roads and alleys.

On my block, our alley luckily exits onto a snow emergency route that has no parking allowed, ever, so that street was on of the few that actually got plowed.

Early Sunday morning, the Metrodome roof caved in from the weight of the snow.

Since the game was cancelled and nobody could drive anywhere, most people on my block were out clearing snow from their sidewalks. One of my neighbors, decided he use his snow blower to clear a path down the alley for walking. I had talked to him when I was out clearing my driveway. When I was done, I went inside to warm up.

I glanced out the window and saw that his effort snowballed (sorry I couldn't resist) and all the menfolk (I hate to be gender specific but it was true) were now clearing the alley! A couple of snow blowers and a bunch of shovels now replaced the Vikings game!

Speaking as one of the oldest people on the block, I'd like to say a public thank you!

These guys are angels and I am blessed to live on their block!!

Before:

After:

2010 The Year of the Boycott

I didn't mean for 2010 to be the year of the boycott, I really didn't.

I started out with an intent to try and spend my money locally by purchasing my fresh meat and vegetables from the Minneapolis Farmers Market and wherever else I shopped, doing my best to buy American made products whenever possible.

Also on my loose list of criteria was shopping at places that were good to their employees. I decided that unless I wanted to check the employment practices of every business I frequent, this would have to be reflected to my perception by the actions of the employees while I was in their place of employment. I don't know about you, but I can usually tell when an employee is not invested in their workplace beyond collecting a paycheck. We've all been somewhere where we've been made to feel like we, the customer are interrupting something (usually totally unrelated to the job at hand). But I digress....

In the spring I started visiting the Minneapolis Farmers Market. I have to say that all the fruits and vegetables I got there be it something I had eaten before or some weird looking thing that I had to ask what it was and how to prepare it were delicious! Don't even get me started on the fresh meat,eggs and cheese. Until I actually started doing the majority of my shopping from the following farmer/vendors:

http://www.bluegentianfarm.com/index.html

http://www.localfoods.umn.edu/bar5poultry

and so many others, I labored under the delusion that eating this way was more expensive. I was wrong. But again, I've digressed....

To keep myself on track, maybe I just need to list the places I began boycotting in 2010.

In April, I decided that Arizona was not a place that I would be visiting anytime soon because of the new immigration laws they had implemented. I understood the reasoning behind it but for the life of me, I could not justify spending any money in a state that was going to punish an entire group of people for the actions of a few, especially when the implementation of the law was based on the color of a person's skin. Not to mention the part played by immigration in Arizona.

In May, I began boycotting BP, not unexpected if you've read any of my previous posts about the oil spill in the gulf.

In June, I added Rainbow Foods to my boycotting efforts because they decided to keep their Fuel Perks affiliation with BP.

In June, I also decided to boycott Whole Foods because of an op-ed piece that the CEO wrote for the Wall Street Journal. I didn't expect to remain true to this boycott very long, but that op-ed piece made me want to learn more about the company and with a little further research, it became apparent to me that I wouldn't be going back anytime soon.

(If you are curious, this site has a nice round-up of some things I found quite troubling about Whole Foods: http://michaelbluejay.com/misc/wholefoods.html )

In July after seeing that Target and Best Buy decided to take advantage of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision and make some serious corporate campaign contributions, I added them to my boycott list. For the record, I would have done this with no regard to what party they chose to give to (in this case it was the Republicans). If I want to contribute to a campaign, I will. I don't think corporations who accept money from everyone, have any business giving to one political ideology or another unless they are guaranteed that the contribution reflects all their customers and employees. But that's just my opinion.

In September, 3M decided to jump into the political fray with a $100,000 donation so I rounded up every 3M product I had. I couldn't bring myself to toss it out so I donated it to a women's shelter and added 3M to my list. I think this will be my first holiday season without Scotch Tape. So far so good.

A week ago, I actually had a passing thought that I hadn't been pissed off enough to swear never to shop somewhere specific or not buy something for a while. I allowed myself the luxury of thinking that maybe things had calmed down. But no-such luck.

I saw an interview with the CEO of Heinz who said that Heinz will not be hiring Americans because of the ‘uncertainty’ produced by the ‘inability’ of the U.S government to resolve tax rate issues. In the same interview, he stated that Heinz will be opening plants and hiring workers in China and other countries.

I am now boycotting all Heinz products forever.

On December 3rd, President Obama announced the U.S-Korea Trade Agreement. Uh-oh...If that wasn't bad enough to my NAFTA hating soul, it had the full support of Thomas Donohue the U.S. Chamber of Commerce... and much to the relief of the Heinz CEO it also has the full support of Sen. John Kerry.

Good luck America.

My Response to Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington went on CNN yesterday and compared the media coverage of the Reverend Terry Jones and his planned burning of the Quran to the "balloon boy" incident earlier this year.

"It's a little bit like watching events unfold in an alternate universe that has nothing to do with what is really happening in this country, with the plight of the jobless, the people losing their homes," she said, comparing the situation to "balloon boy" Falcon Heene."

You can see the video here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-quran-burning-coverage-balloon-boy_b_711413.html

Unlike a lot of the commenter's over there at the Huffington Post who agree with her position on this, I'd like to take issue with it.

The Reverend Terry Jones wanting to burn the Quran is nothing like the balloon boy story and here's why.

When I first heard about the "Balloon Boy" it was while reading the Huffington Post. I believe it was at the top of your web page Arianna. I quickly ditched the computer and turned on the television where I sat glued to my seat, flipping between the news channels to watch the coverage.

I remember while watching, that it was ironically enough, Shepard Smith on FOX (FOX!!!) who raised the possibility that there was no child in that soaring contraption and he speculated that maybe the kid released the tethers that were keeping that thing tied to the earth and the kid was now hiding as kids have been known to do when they know they are going to be in big trouble.

As the story played out, Mr Smith came pretty close to the truth (it was the parents who it turned out that had played us all not Falcon Heene).

I choose to believe that we were all relieved that Falcon was not on board when that thing came crashing back to earth. but the story changed in record time. It became more of a story about the victimization of the media and how the media had been duped.

That would include you Arianna. A young child, as you proved with your comment on CNN became a grudge for you to hold. Well okay, maybe not a grudge but perhaps a standard that you now measure other stories against in an effort not to get sucked into over the top reporting of something that has no basis in reality.

I get that. I really do. As a news and politics junkie, I actually appreciate it. A loud mouth like myself has learned over time a little self filtering can be a good thing.

The balloon boys story came about because his eccentric father wanted a reality show (not unexpected given that your own Huffington Post and other media outlets have redefined success by giving so many narcissistic people who are willing to be famous anything and will do whatever it takes for themselves to remain that way).

Reverend Terry Jones is a completely different kettle of fish that should get media coverage. When you say his story has, "nothing to do with what is really happening in this country, with the plight of the jobless, the people losing their homes", I say baloney.

It has everything to do with it.

People are not getting jobs and losing their homes and all the other ills of our society is because the hatred in this country is rampant. The battle has become more important than whatever the goal was.

The haves hate the have not's. Politics, while always rough and tumble has become a blood sport turning neighbor against neighbor as the right hates the left. The employed hate the unemployed. Everybody it seems, hates the government and Wall Street overlooking that in our society both a necessary. I could go on and on but you get the idea.

The Reverend Terry Jones want to burn the Quaran for God's sake. The holiest of text to millions of people. Disgusting.

Reverend Jones stands for nothing more than pure hatred and he needs to have the media glare on him, exposing him as the skittering cockroach he is as he changes directions in an effort to avoid the light. Will he or won't he seems to be the question today.

More importantly, for our standing in the world, the media's light needs to be shone on all of us who don't agree with him. That he does not represent America.

That's the story that needs to be told over and over again if for no other reason than positive reinforcement for the masses.

But that probably wouldn't pay the bills would it Arianna?