Like death and taxes a LIPA increase is just one of those inevitable annoyances we have to live with. Or is it?
LIPA chief Kevin Law claims that more money is needed to cover future operating expenses even though fuel prices have recently plummeted. Expecting increased demand for energy LIPA contracted for more power generation than they will now need and they are stuck with the bill. Mr. Law sees a 4.8% increase as the only way to go. He is not looking hard enough!
Businesses everywhere are blaming and using higher costs and lower revenues as reasons to trim their staff (believe me, I know.) Many are laying off loyal workers in an effort to keep more money in their own pockets but some human and humane CEOs are looking first to cut costs and upper management compensation in an effort to hold onto their people.
I believe LIPA should look to their own top executives and the salaries they are receiving for such stupid management and inept planning. Reduce their compensation first, bring in an independant observor or accountant to cut other unnecessary costs, and reach out to other communites to sell off your so-called future excess energy. Perhaps an executive should be laid off and in the spirit of "The Buck Stops Here" possibly Mr. Law himself.
As a utility LIPA has been grossly mismanaged since the days of robust Mr. Kessel but this needs to change and change soon. If not then taxes and LIPA will surely be the death of LI.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Giant Stupidity
The football Giants have been winning regularly and doing so without 2 of the 3 marquee players from that winning drive in Super Bowl XLII.
David Tyree, who arguably made the greatest catch in Super Bowl history is out for the year due to a lack of luck. He sustained an unfortunate injury that impeded his play.
Plaxico Burress, who caught the winning touchdown pass in the Super Bowl is also out for the year (and beyond?) due to a lack of brains. He sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound from his own illegal and concealed weapon while out clubbing one night.
Thankfully Eli Manning is still playing with the same boyish grin and on-field intensity that has marked his recent success.
There are reports that one or more other Giant players were present at the trigger pulling party and if so they may also face charges. Hopefully they will be found to be innocent bystanders and the team will only lose the soon to be former wide receiver.
It never ceases to amaze me how so many professional athletes crash and burn. Many of them have nothing if not for sports and yet given the obscene and as far as I am concerned undeserved sums of money they get they reach for the self destruct button.
Most of us would almost kill to have their money if not talent to play a game and get paid to do so. But too many of them just don't understand that with the fame and fortune comes the responsibility to walk the line and follow the rules.
In New York we know of the sad tales of Darryl and Dwight but if you wish to add all the 'roid users to your list of idiots you would need a longer blog.
I naively hope that this will be the last time the headlines have to report a stupid act by an athlete.
So the Giants only have one out of those three players left from their championship game. In baseball one out of three is not bad but...
Nevertheless I miss Tyree and the chance to hear the fans cheer him once more for that catch. I will also miss Plaxico, at least the on-field version we knew. Perhaps he can open up a canine obedience school with Michael Vick. As for Eli I really think another ring would balance out his hand beautifully.
David Tyree, who arguably made the greatest catch in Super Bowl history is out for the year due to a lack of luck. He sustained an unfortunate injury that impeded his play.
Plaxico Burress, who caught the winning touchdown pass in the Super Bowl is also out for the year (and beyond?) due to a lack of brains. He sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound from his own illegal and concealed weapon while out clubbing one night.
Thankfully Eli Manning is still playing with the same boyish grin and on-field intensity that has marked his recent success.
There are reports that one or more other Giant players were present at the trigger pulling party and if so they may also face charges. Hopefully they will be found to be innocent bystanders and the team will only lose the soon to be former wide receiver.
It never ceases to amaze me how so many professional athletes crash and burn. Many of them have nothing if not for sports and yet given the obscene and as far as I am concerned undeserved sums of money they get they reach for the self destruct button.
Most of us would almost kill to have their money if not talent to play a game and get paid to do so. But too many of them just don't understand that with the fame and fortune comes the responsibility to walk the line and follow the rules.
In New York we know of the sad tales of Darryl and Dwight but if you wish to add all the 'roid users to your list of idiots you would need a longer blog.
I naively hope that this will be the last time the headlines have to report a stupid act by an athlete.
So the Giants only have one out of those three players left from their championship game. In baseball one out of three is not bad but...
Nevertheless I miss Tyree and the chance to hear the fans cheer him once more for that catch. I will also miss Plaxico, at least the on-field version we knew. Perhaps he can open up a canine obedience school with Michael Vick. As for Eli I really think another ring would balance out his hand beautifully.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Cost Cutting Measures for Terrorists
According to the news reports today our government has deciphered on-line chatter and determined that Al Qaeida may be planning a terrorist act on the Long Island Rail Road.
Do they not read the papers? I would say the LIRR personnel are doing a pretty bang up job (sorry about that) themselves without any outside help.
Times are tough for everyone these days. Al and his Qaeida friends should just sit back in their caves and enjoy the chaos without the expense.
(After writing this I learned of the latest cowardly attack by the lower than scum of the Earth so-called terrorists. India was attacked and any human being is upset by that. Obviously the attackers are jealous of and do not like any civilized beings. I trust I did not offend anyone with my flip remarks about the LIRR but if so it was unintentional.)
Do they not read the papers? I would say the LIRR personnel are doing a pretty bang up job (sorry about that) themselves without any outside help.
Times are tough for everyone these days. Al and his Qaeida friends should just sit back in their caves and enjoy the chaos without the expense.
(After writing this I learned of the latest cowardly attack by the lower than scum of the Earth so-called terrorists. India was attacked and any human being is upset by that. Obviously the attackers are jealous of and do not like any civilized beings. I trust I did not offend anyone with my flip remarks about the LIRR but if so it was unintentional.)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Counting the Days
He's done his best to wreck our economy
And taken retirement completely out of me
His buddies are given green lights and free passes
To drill where they like and to damn all the masses
The endangered species list continues to grow
Conservationists cry foul but have no place to go
The stock markets drop when he mumbles his speeches
He stutters and stammers and basically screeches
How many have died or are living in Hell
With no valuable research on embryonic stem cell
Katrina, Al Qaeida, and WMD
No executive handle on these things had he
This meek-minded moron was Commander-In-Chief?
Charlie Brown said it best with a hearty, "Good Grief!"
But lo he'll be gone not a moment too soon
Then maybe the world will come out of its swoon
So many Americans are now out of work
At a barbecue what would they say to this jerk?
"One last statement to you Mr. W Bush
Before you leave office please kiss my big tush!"
And taken retirement completely out of me
His buddies are given green lights and free passes
To drill where they like and to damn all the masses
The endangered species list continues to grow
Conservationists cry foul but have no place to go
The stock markets drop when he mumbles his speeches
He stutters and stammers and basically screeches
How many have died or are living in Hell
With no valuable research on embryonic stem cell
Katrina, Al Qaeida, and WMD
No executive handle on these things had he
This meek-minded moron was Commander-In-Chief?
Charlie Brown said it best with a hearty, "Good Grief!"
But lo he'll be gone not a moment too soon
Then maybe the world will come out of its swoon
So many Americans are now out of work
At a barbecue what would they say to this jerk?
"One last statement to you Mr. W Bush
Before you leave office please kiss my big tush!"
Blue vs. Green?
As of this moment there is a possibility that the two downstate New York area football teams could meet in the Super Bowl. Buffalo is actually the only New York team but they have a slim chance of reaching this year's Super party. Now many things could happen to change an all NY final but both teams are on a roll so as a New Yorker I like the idea. What I don't like is the need for a label.
These days when you pick up the sports section you see someone spouting the phrase Subway Series. This obviously stems from Baseball games played between the New York Mets from Queens and that other team that plays in the Bronx.
But for the record the moniker should not be used for any meeting between the two football franchises for many simple reasons. First and foremost is the fact that even though they both have New York in their names and on their uniforms and on their helmets and on those invoices for vastly over-proced tickets and unfair PSLs NEITHER TEAM PLAYS IN NEW YORK. Their home field is, currently Giant's Stadium in beautiful downtown East Rutherford, New Jersey. Did this piece of information escape the brains of the sports writers?
But if you wish to ignore that blatant error how about the fact that there is no subway in New Jersey and even if there were one the TWO TEAMS PLAY IN THE STADIUM.
Sorry, I don't mean to yell but really!
The last problem with calling a meeting in Super Bowl XLIII between the Giants and the Jets a Subway Series is that the game is to be played in Tampa! Does Tampa have a subway? I think not.
Of course the two teams will have to get there somehow and since they will both be starting from the Meadowlands how about giving it the nickname, "The Turnpike to I-95 Series?"
Don't like that?
Well then since so many New Yorkers seem to spend their last days in the Sunshine State how about "The New York Retirement Preview Bowl?" Too long? Well we all like acronyms so just call it the NYRP Bowl.
I think I have the best idea. Let's wait to see who gets inand then call it, are you ready for this SUPER BOWL XLIII. Radical! And may the best team in the AFC play the Giants.
These days when you pick up the sports section you see someone spouting the phrase Subway Series. This obviously stems from Baseball games played between the New York Mets from Queens and that other team that plays in the Bronx.
But for the record the moniker should not be used for any meeting between the two football franchises for many simple reasons. First and foremost is the fact that even though they both have New York in their names and on their uniforms and on their helmets and on those invoices for vastly over-proced tickets and unfair PSLs NEITHER TEAM PLAYS IN NEW YORK. Their home field is, currently Giant's Stadium in beautiful downtown East Rutherford, New Jersey. Did this piece of information escape the brains of the sports writers?
But if you wish to ignore that blatant error how about the fact that there is no subway in New Jersey and even if there were one the TWO TEAMS PLAY IN THE STADIUM.
Sorry, I don't mean to yell but really!
The last problem with calling a meeting in Super Bowl XLIII between the Giants and the Jets a Subway Series is that the game is to be played in Tampa! Does Tampa have a subway? I think not.
Of course the two teams will have to get there somehow and since they will both be starting from the Meadowlands how about giving it the nickname, "The Turnpike to I-95 Series?"
Don't like that?
Well then since so many New Yorkers seem to spend their last days in the Sunshine State how about "The New York Retirement Preview Bowl?" Too long? Well we all like acronyms so just call it the NYRP Bowl.
I think I have the best idea. Let's wait to see who gets inand then call it, are you ready for this SUPER BOWL XLIII. Radical! And may the best team in the AFC play the Giants.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Bail Out Detroit?
There is a push to bail out yet another failing bunch of SOBs using tax-payer money. After seeing the banks get help Detroit's Big Three (make that sort of big 2½) is saying "Me too." But I say not so fast.
Let's see how the last bail out worked.
We gave money to the banks who had gone into ridiculously risky mortgages given without income or background checks to people who had a hard time buying bread. Then when the mortgages went into default and they couldn't collect they were stumped as to why. So they stopped loaning money altogether. Their errors were hard to hide and pretty soon they showed terrible losses. Then one by one all of the once great financial giants toppled and took our economy and retirement funds with them. Most of the hard working tax paying Americans are now hurting tremendously. Many of them have lost their jobs and many more are about to.
The financial brain trust asked Congress for help and they got billions to the industry to jump start the economy. All the banks had to do was start loaning money again and the economy would not stagnate. The problem was that Congress fell into the trap of answering the proverbial e-mail from Nicaragua. they sent our money out without any stipulations attached.
The banks could not believe their good fortune, literally. Here was money they could use to hide their debt and make the books look good again, almost. And with the money they had left they were able to buy up weaker institutions making it even harder for normal people to get loans in the future.
Two officers (sic) come to mind. The first is for Congress and the second for Detroit.
First Sting who I would like to paraphrase here:
Every move you make - Every breath you take - Every dollar of ours you spend - Every rule you bend - You'll be screwing us.
But since the latest farce is about to take place by helping the auto industry I believe the real policeman I would like to have is Robo Cop.
The incredible, unprecedented, unregulated greed that signaled the end of our current banking industry is well documented and it is not necessary to repeat it here. But I wish to caution against moving forward on the highway of help for Detroit without a GPS (Governmental Planning System.) Of course there is no such thing and the last two words could never fit with the first one but...
So now let's review the auto industry.
Back in the 70's we had a small gas shortage. The disgusting smelly rag-heads of OPEC decided to see if they could screw the world and turned off the pipelines. This caused long lines at any open gas station. I witnessed a scam when a man wearing an apron sold tickets to all the cars on a gas line for $5 each. The tickets were to be handed to the gas attendant to save time at the pump. He left with over $100. I'll bet today he is either a bank CEO or working in congress.
So how did the Big Three react to the gas shortage?
Did they promote fuel efficient cars?
Did they start working on better and safer vehicles?
Did they even notice the pain at the pump?
The best answer comes from the now defunct American Motors Corp. (AMC) Their stable of vehicle was the Nash, the Hudson, the Ramble, and the Gremlin. The last one looked like a half a car and had the best gas mileage of probably any car in the country.
So AMC went out and made more of them and promoted them and advertised them, right?
Wrong!
AMC ignored the car and instead went whole hog for their other product , the gas guzzling Jeep. And AMC was bought at a next to nothing price back in 1987 by Chrysler.
Since that time Detroit forgot about things. Actually they didn't gforget since they never really understood what happened.
But Japan sure did.
The Toyota Prius is the best selling hybrid in America and has been on the road for 8 years. General Motors is touting their "Volt" to be ready ina few years, assuming GM is still around. Eight years ago I had an electric car but we all know how hard Detroit, Exxon, and the Saudis fought against those vehicles.
So Japan and other foreign companies got it right and Detroit could not. So why reward them? The currently structured auto industry that teams the grubby, greedy, grabby hands of both the CEOS of Detroit and the auto-worker's union in a waltz of immense ineptitude is seeking a bailout. Okay let me be careful and clear about my opinion and answer with a well thought out, OVER MY DEAD BODY!
If we just hand more money to morons such as these then we are the true idiots. Lets instead help the auto workers by getting them jobs with the new Big Three, uh Four. Let proven winners take over our auto making for a while. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia and the like should be allowed to move in and take over with the restriction that they build their factories and therefore their cars here in America. They must hire the skilled American workers first and continue to make vehicles as safe and efficient as they have been doing for oh so long.
As for the big wigs of the big 2½ Congress should not only not give them a handout but rather ask them for some of their bonuses and parahutes back to be used by hard working Americans as, you know, gas money.
Let's see how the last bail out worked.
We gave money to the banks who had gone into ridiculously risky mortgages given without income or background checks to people who had a hard time buying bread. Then when the mortgages went into default and they couldn't collect they were stumped as to why. So they stopped loaning money altogether. Their errors were hard to hide and pretty soon they showed terrible losses. Then one by one all of the once great financial giants toppled and took our economy and retirement funds with them. Most of the hard working tax paying Americans are now hurting tremendously. Many of them have lost their jobs and many more are about to.
The financial brain trust asked Congress for help and they got billions to the industry to jump start the economy. All the banks had to do was start loaning money again and the economy would not stagnate. The problem was that Congress fell into the trap of answering the proverbial e-mail from Nicaragua. they sent our money out without any stipulations attached.
The banks could not believe their good fortune, literally. Here was money they could use to hide their debt and make the books look good again, almost. And with the money they had left they were able to buy up weaker institutions making it even harder for normal people to get loans in the future.
Two officers (sic) come to mind. The first is for Congress and the second for Detroit.
First Sting who I would like to paraphrase here:
Every move you make - Every breath you take - Every dollar of ours you spend - Every rule you bend - You'll be screwing us.
But since the latest farce is about to take place by helping the auto industry I believe the real policeman I would like to have is Robo Cop.
The incredible, unprecedented, unregulated greed that signaled the end of our current banking industry is well documented and it is not necessary to repeat it here. But I wish to caution against moving forward on the highway of help for Detroit without a GPS (Governmental Planning System.) Of course there is no such thing and the last two words could never fit with the first one but...
So now let's review the auto industry.
Back in the 70's we had a small gas shortage. The disgusting smelly rag-heads of OPEC decided to see if they could screw the world and turned off the pipelines. This caused long lines at any open gas station. I witnessed a scam when a man wearing an apron sold tickets to all the cars on a gas line for $5 each. The tickets were to be handed to the gas attendant to save time at the pump. He left with over $100. I'll bet today he is either a bank CEO or working in congress.
So how did the Big Three react to the gas shortage?
Did they promote fuel efficient cars?
Did they start working on better and safer vehicles?
Did they even notice the pain at the pump?
The best answer comes from the now defunct American Motors Corp. (AMC) Their stable of vehicle was the Nash, the Hudson, the Ramble, and the Gremlin. The last one looked like a half a car and had the best gas mileage of probably any car in the country.
So AMC went out and made more of them and promoted them and advertised them, right?
Wrong!
AMC ignored the car and instead went whole hog for their other product , the gas guzzling Jeep. And AMC was bought at a next to nothing price back in 1987 by Chrysler.
Since that time Detroit forgot about things. Actually they didn't gforget since they never really understood what happened.
But Japan sure did.
The Toyota Prius is the best selling hybrid in America and has been on the road for 8 years. General Motors is touting their "Volt" to be ready ina few years, assuming GM is still around. Eight years ago I had an electric car but we all know how hard Detroit, Exxon, and the Saudis fought against those vehicles.
So Japan and other foreign companies got it right and Detroit could not. So why reward them? The currently structured auto industry that teams the grubby, greedy, grabby hands of both the CEOS of Detroit and the auto-worker's union in a waltz of immense ineptitude is seeking a bailout. Okay let me be careful and clear about my opinion and answer with a well thought out, OVER MY DEAD BODY!
If we just hand more money to morons such as these then we are the true idiots. Lets instead help the auto workers by getting them jobs with the new Big Three, uh Four. Let proven winners take over our auto making for a while. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia and the like should be allowed to move in and take over with the restriction that they build their factories and therefore their cars here in America. They must hire the skilled American workers first and continue to make vehicles as safe and efficient as they have been doing for oh so long.
As for the big wigs of the big 2½ Congress should not only not give them a handout but rather ask them for some of their bonuses and parahutes back to be used by hard working Americans as, you know, gas money.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
A POEm for 2008
Subtitle The Raving - (Thanks Dan)
With apologies to Edgar Allan -
Once upon a nation dreary
Whilst I sat laid-off and weary
Watching shrinking funds and leery
That my retirement's nevermore
Workless days are slowly mounting
My family is upon me counting
To pay the bills that are surmounting
All our savings as ne'er before
Winter looms as the year now gets old
Expect a snowy one I've been told
All those co-pay bills for one cold?
I need a job to pay healthcare for
Pounding pavement on weak ankles
All the 'No thanks' Boy they rankle
And to get my nerves back tranquill
I have another drink and more
Many calls I made to old friends
Many smiles and sighs and dead ends
Can't we just reverse the sad trends?
And return our haven as before?
I've one question and it's haunting
Is this problem just too daunting
Help from the wealthy, their money flaunting?
Quote stock markets, Nevermore?
Cost of living ever rising
Those at fault not apologizing
Banks are hoarding, not surprising
We can't take it anymore!
Please fix things and set the world free
Then from this nightmare come and wake me
Cure this ailing economy
Say yes we can - Not nevermore
With apologies to Edgar Allan -
Once upon a nation dreary
Whilst I sat laid-off and weary
Watching shrinking funds and leery
That my retirement's nevermore
Workless days are slowly mounting
My family is upon me counting
To pay the bills that are surmounting
All our savings as ne'er before
Winter looms as the year now gets old
Expect a snowy one I've been told
All those co-pay bills for one cold?
I need a job to pay healthcare for
Pounding pavement on weak ankles
All the 'No thanks' Boy they rankle
And to get my nerves back tranquill
I have another drink and more
Many calls I made to old friends
Many smiles and sighs and dead ends
Can't we just reverse the sad trends?
And return our haven as before?
I've one question and it's haunting
Is this problem just too daunting
Help from the wealthy, their money flaunting?
Quote stock markets, Nevermore?
Cost of living ever rising
Those at fault not apologizing
Banks are hoarding, not surprising
We can't take it anymore!
Please fix things and set the world free
Then from this nightmare come and wake me
Cure this ailing economy
Say yes we can - Not nevermore
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
"Our Long National Nightmare is Over."
On August 9, 1975 Gerald Ford assumed the Presidency of the United States when Richard M. Nixon resigned the office. Mr. Ford spoke those memorable words after reciting the oath of office a mere half hour after the resignation.
The Nixon Presidency was an interesting one but I will not recount the failures or successes here. You may easily find all you need to know on line or in libraries, with the possible exception of the Nixon Presidential library.
While Bush 43 did not resign the office (would that he had) he nevertheless quit being our President years ago. At least in the true definition of the word and as far as the United States is concerned. It is no solace that he will go down in history as the worst President we ever had and that is not in doubt. What is in doubt is how long it will take for America to recover and return to greatness in the eyes of the world.
Whether or not you like the results of the 2008 election we have duly and legally elected a new President for the first time since 1996. The king is dead, long live the king.
President Obama has a tremendous task ahead of him. He must guide the nation out of the credit crisis; the worrisome unwarranted war; our economic inefficiencies and inequities; and overcome our OPEC oil dependency just to name a few of the many items on his agenda.
He ascended to the national stage with unbelievably beautiful and inspiring rhetoric and captured the imagination of the majority of the electorate. He garnered more campaign donations by using modern technology and a remarkable talent for management that we can only hope will take him through his first term and beyond.
But can his administration hold our admiration once the chips are down? He answers, "Yes we can." Can they turn the rhetoric into action? Again his answer is, "Yes we can." Time will tell but we owe it to him and ourselves to allow him the chance to try.
After our country was attacked by the scum of the Earth (Terrorist is too good a label for them) on September 11, 2001 the nation rallied around "W" in a totally bi-partisan fashion that swelled his approval rating to historic proportions. He had the political and emotional capital to do great things but chose instead to secure money and power for his inner circle of friends and sick brain-dead morons who hung around his office seeking favors. History will also show what a "heck of a job" that group did.
As we all know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Unfortunately the nation is sick and we have infected the world, not with the deadly 'e-bola' but with the new deadlier 'w-bush' virus. The pound of cure now needed is going to cost some long and hard commitments on our part. The road ahead is a long one but at least we are headed in the right direction.
The 8 year long National disaster and nightmare that was the Bush administration is almost over and for that we must all be grateful.
The Nixon Presidency was an interesting one but I will not recount the failures or successes here. You may easily find all you need to know on line or in libraries, with the possible exception of the Nixon Presidential library.
While Bush 43 did not resign the office (would that he had) he nevertheless quit being our President years ago. At least in the true definition of the word and as far as the United States is concerned. It is no solace that he will go down in history as the worst President we ever had and that is not in doubt. What is in doubt is how long it will take for America to recover and return to greatness in the eyes of the world.
Whether or not you like the results of the 2008 election we have duly and legally elected a new President for the first time since 1996. The king is dead, long live the king.
President Obama has a tremendous task ahead of him. He must guide the nation out of the credit crisis; the worrisome unwarranted war; our economic inefficiencies and inequities; and overcome our OPEC oil dependency just to name a few of the many items on his agenda.
He ascended to the national stage with unbelievably beautiful and inspiring rhetoric and captured the imagination of the majority of the electorate. He garnered more campaign donations by using modern technology and a remarkable talent for management that we can only hope will take him through his first term and beyond.
But can his administration hold our admiration once the chips are down? He answers, "Yes we can." Can they turn the rhetoric into action? Again his answer is, "Yes we can." Time will tell but we owe it to him and ourselves to allow him the chance to try.
After our country was attacked by the scum of the Earth (Terrorist is too good a label for them) on September 11, 2001 the nation rallied around "W" in a totally bi-partisan fashion that swelled his approval rating to historic proportions. He had the political and emotional capital to do great things but chose instead to secure money and power for his inner circle of friends and sick brain-dead morons who hung around his office seeking favors. History will also show what a "heck of a job" that group did.
As we all know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Unfortunately the nation is sick and we have infected the world, not with the deadly 'e-bola' but with the new deadlier 'w-bush' virus. The pound of cure now needed is going to cost some long and hard commitments on our part. The road ahead is a long one but at least we are headed in the right direction.
The 8 year long National disaster and nightmare that was the Bush administration is almost over and for that we must all be grateful.
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