My Dumb Observations

As developments emerge from the tragic Martin/Zimmerman shooting incident in Florida, tensions continue to mount. The story has morphed beyond a byline story into a headline event, creating waves of aftershocks as more and more elements are pieced together. Because of the rapid nature of media reporting, many circumstances relating to the Travyon Martin incident have been misreported. Still, the controversy grows out of control. Much like the circumstances fueling the Arab Spring rebellions of 2011, public protests continue, encouraged through the efforts of social media.   What started as a fatal confrontation on a rainy night in Florida has swelled into a heated discourse on race relations in America. As the story develops a political component predicated on personal bias or conjecture, many others have been caught in the fray. But who is really to blame? Ultimately, every opinion on this incident MUST be based on some form of speculation. After all, we will never be ...

Turkey day, a  grand American holiday in need of a makeover. More respected than any civic holiday, more meaningful than most religious holidays, and more connected to the spirit of charity and kindness to make any American proud! So why has Thanksgiving become the red-headed step child of American holidays? I don't know, but it pisses me off.   Powered by corporate greed, Thanksgiving has been nearly bitch-slapped off the calendar. Walk into any retailer and you will notice the seasonal aisle  goes from Halloween to Christmas. And lately, I get nauseous hearing the first Xmas song played weeks before Turkey Day. This year it took only ONE day after Halloween before I saw the first television commercial for Xmas bargains. As annoyed as I was, I wonder how irritating the commercials must be to non-Christians. Thank you Wal Mart.   Come to think of it, there are many reasons our great holiday has fallen out of favor. I don't think any are convincing, but as a whole, t...

Ahhh Halloween. The bestest of holidays. Celebrating Halloween adds to the richness of our great land. While the Pagan ritual has evolved over the centuries, our perfected observance is vibrant. No longer a spiritual endeavor, Halloween has grown to embrace both young and old without theological trappings, or the stodgy notion of gathering with odd family members. A uniquely American holiday; how much fun would Halloween be in most of the world without American creativity? In fact, the gratitude of strangers is what makes Halloween so rewarding. We dress up in costumes for the amusement of others, and trick-or-treating without community input would just be another dumb variation of the Easter egg hunt. (What does a chocolate bunny or colored eggs have to do with Christ’s resurrection anyway?) Interaction with strangers is the hallmark of our great American holiday, and what better way to celebrate then to embrace our ‘inalienable’ rights and push the boundaries of free speech and expr...

Anyone who has visited Las Vegas in modern times should be very aware of the town’s illicit temptations. Lured by free alcohol, cheap eats, and many options for the budget traveler, just a little cash can provide easy opportunities for the uninhibited. Heck, even the airport has slot machines. Excel is everywhere, and it is the town’s main attraction. Small wonder I try to make a pilgrimage annually. With great nightlife, ever-changing entertainment, and dopey drunk tourists purging money at the poker tables, Las Vegas is an easy sell. Yet, make no mistake, the town couldn’t hold a candle to New York. Even with sprinkles of advantage, overall, Las Vegas can never compete. Unless, of course, you’re the kind of hoople easily deluded by those who think diminishing tax incentives, or climate, or the increasing Mormon population is the impetus for relocating. No matter how they spin it, Vegas Is a soul-less podunk desert town populated by lesser evolved people from elsewhere. Focusing on t...

As a matter of principle, I believe a person should be permitted to be as reckless as one wishes with his personal protection. After all, whose life is it anyway? I not only believe, but ardently support one’s right to be personally injurious. It builds character. I’m no fan of all sorts of things that would benefit me greatly. While I recognize the utility of such, I do not endorse seatbelts, sunscreen, vitamins, motorcycle helmets, condoms, faith healing, or, hard to believe, bulletproof vests- and probably scores of other items I haven’t thunked about either. ‘My body, my choice,’ as the saying goes. I am guilty of relying on protection on many occasions. I am also not happy with burning urination either, so a balance may be in order… BUT IT IS STILL MY CHOICE! My employer thinks differently. Supervisors go through great lengths to inspect our front line defenders to ensure we are properly uniformed. A noble undertaking I must declare, but how responsive is the job at supporting thi...

Never Forget. Ten years later and I’m swirling with mixed emotions. To many, the phrase has become a cliché; a weary disclaimer that we all support because it’s polite. Kind of like sending that “Happy Holiday” mass- text and feeling satisfied because it’s the “thought that counts.” I guess the gesture is nice, but there’s a resounding sense of detachment to it all. Looking around and reflecting on my last ten years I’m even more emotional. I started September 11 th 2001 unlike most in that I was watching the towers before sunrise. An amazing beacon across the harbor, I recall staring at Lady Liberty and the nearby Twins. It was about 4 am and I was headed home from Red Hook, Brooklyn after enjoying a Monday night out. Working for the NYPD, that Monday and Tuesday was my “weekend” – they were part of my squad 1 rotating days off. Glancing passively at the skyline, I enjoyed feeling as one with my great hometown. It chills me to think today how that clouded thought was my firs...

So I'm investigating a suspicious briefcase left on a subway station platform. What makes it suspicious? I have no idea, except someone forgot it while commuting; but as long as you "See something, say something" I guess the world's a better place... Anyway, while two uniformed officers search up and down the outdoor platform  for said suspicious package, I notice an overly nosy mother/daughter team following our every move. The daughter is also wearing a cut off NYPD t shirt. So I squeeze between them, with my back to mom... "Excuse me," I say, "Did you happen to notice a tall Russian woman wearing a black blazer, black pants, and abnormally large sunglasses? She's also carrying a subway sandwich bag with a poorly made sandwich in it?" Holding back laughter while perfectly describing the mother standing only inches behind me, the daughter replies,  "No, But I will definitely keep a look out for it." "Thank you very much, an...