South Of Someplace: January 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

What Are You Wearing?

A female colleague asked me today what cologne I was wearing. I was confused, I don't wear cologne, aftershave, body spray, or any scented products. She must have smelled either my shampoo or my coffee breath. I'm not sure why anyone would comment on those. Does she want her man to smell like Starbucks? That's easy enough to arrange.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Panhandling Scams

I never give money to panhandlers. NEVER. Under no circumstances. Ever. Period.

The money is almost always used for some unhelpful purpose - drugs, booze, cigarettes. Or it goes to a gang, a gang that exploits homeless people or crippled people in order to make money. Is that what you want your money to support?

Giving food can be an option. I have seen beggars accept food graciously and eat it on the spot, but I've seen others throw the food away as soon as the giver turned their back. It's a judgment call, but at least they can't exchange the food for money.

I've had people claim to need a train or bus ticket - usually to some obscure destination that doesn't make sense from the station where they panhandle - but when I offer to buy the ticket for them, they refuse.

It's always a scam. Begging is always a scam. If the person needs food, there are places where they can get it for free. I've seen these scams too many times to be fooled, even by a woman with a sleeping baby In her arms, a baby that's probably been drugged or boozed up so it won't make a fuss.

Don't give your money to panhandlers. It doesn't help anyone. It really doesn't. Make a rule and stick to it. No matter how pathetic the beggar may seem, no matter how strongly they pull on your heart strings. The beggar is either an addict or they're collecting money for criminals. Or both. That's the sad truth behind panhandling, and you can't fix it with coins or dollars.

Prediction, Preparation, and the Margin of Error

Granted, the worst of the Nor'easter missed NYC. Every prediction contains a margin of error, and sometimes they're embarrassingly inaccurate. But predictions are still useful. It's better to take precautions in advance than to face a storm without adequate preparation. Sandy and Katrina are classic examples of what can happen when populated areas fail to prepare for the worst.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

How To Make The Best Of Winter Weather

If the winter chill bothers you, here's a helpful tip.

Next January, spend a few days in Canada. The rest of your winter will seem blissfully mild. You'll wonder why everyone else is complaining about the weather.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Netanyahu and Boehner

Dear Mr. Netanyahu, Perhaps you should work on your own country's foreign policy before criticizing the foreign policy of an ally who gives you US$3 billion per year without terms or conditions. Or if you really want to criticize our actions in a politicized and public way, maybe you should go all the way and stop taking our money.

It's Like The Future, Man!

If we had known in the past how we would live today, it would have seemed like the future. :-)

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Legal Ticket Scalping

When did ticket scalping become legal?

Why are people able to sell tickets on eBay, StubHub, or similar exchanges at more than face value - many times more in some cases? It's against the law to sell a ticket for any price in person at the venue, even at a discount. How is this possible?

When an event is announced, profiteers buy all of the available tickets and force attendees to pay way too much. This is a classic example of the"free market" failing to serve the common good.

If you want to see a game, a show, or a concert, you have to pay way more than the promoters intended. The athletes and performers don't get the extra money, the scalpers and their enablers do. In the past, these people were considered criminals. When did scalping become a legitimate business strategy?

Monday, January 19, 2015

Welcome Home

After a long day of driving, I decided to run out for a coffee and a couple of slices of pizza. I picked up the pizza and headed to the coffee shop hoping that my stop would be quick so the slices would stay warm.

The coffee shop wasn't busy. As I approached the door, a man walking from the other direction held it open for me and smiled. He must have noticed the pizza box.

As soon as I get inside, the guy rushes past me so he can order first. I think, "Okay, maybe he's in a hurry."

He places his order and they make it. He doesn't even look at his hot chocolate sitting on the counter; he just stands there texting.

They take my order and make my coffee. The guy is still texting. He wasn't in a hurry. He's just a dick.

Welcome home!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Top Five

My Top Five Favorite Rappers

1. Chuck D - Public Enemy was the most important rap act ever, IMHO.

2. Kendrick Lamar - An amazing talent. A superbly skilled and passionate performer.

3. Young MC - Because rap can be fun, and nobody did fun rap better.

4. MC Solaar - He's African. He raps in French. Rap as a global phenomenon. And he's awesome.

5. Grandmaster Flash - Because you never would have heard of any of these other folks if GMF hadn't done it first. And because "It's a jungle out there!"

Saturday, January 10, 2015

The Bon Voyage List

Consider a citizen of a Western country who, of their own accord, seeks out and participates in tactical military training sponsored by Islamist extremist groups. Given that these groups typically list the West among their sworn enemies (and likely targets), a person thusly trained should be considered an enemy of the West. They present a danger to the citizens of any free nation.

Why would any Western country, including their own, grant entry to a sworn enemy?

It's not enough to put these people on a "No Fly List". Airplanes aren't the only place where a violent extremist can do damage and take lives. A new strategy is required to minimize this growing threat.

Perhaps Western nations should institute and coordinate a "Bye Bye List." Or in honor of the French citizens who were killed this past week, a "Bon Voyage List." Don't let trained terror operatives enter your borders. Or if they have entered already, round them up and deport them.

If they think that the West is evil, why would they want to live here anyway? Give them what they really want. Send them to terrorism paradise. How about a one way ticket to Yemen or Somalia on a rusty boat with a contaminated water supply? I would chip in to pay for that.

Now, to be absolutely clear, I'm not advocating religious discrimination. The Islamist extremist problem has nothing to do with the billion peaceful Muslims who share our world. They are our neighbors and our colleagues and our friends. I know scores of Muslims personally, and I have done business with countless more. I trust each and every one of them with my life. They don't hate me because I'm a Christian; they respect me as a human being.

It's only the actively radicalized extremists who are causing the problems. Unfortunately, their numbers are growing, and they live in every Western country.

Some might argue that a deportation policy opens up a slippery slope where a government could designate a citizen as a persona non grata and deport them. Publish the wrong comments or contribute to the wrong political cause, and you lose your citizenship.

Abuse is always a concern. The United States has rules regarding enemy combatants, and the limits of those rules were stretched and exaggerated in the aftermath of 9/11. Still, the President at the time didn't use those rules to make his political enemies disappear.

Any law or policy can be abused, and yet we still find laws to be useful in the establishment and maintenance of a working society. With the right legal framework in place, abuse can be minimized.

So, to those living among us who seek to do us harm, enjoy your stay while it lasts. Because I hope to be saying "bon voyage" to the whole lot of you in a very short while.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Vive la France!

In 1789, two countries that were formerly controlled by monarchs, established representative republics based on inalienable rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression. Today, one of those countries was attacked by callous, murderous opponents of freedom and human rights. As a citizen of the other nation that has thrived in liberty since 1789, I stand with the citizens of France as they mourn their dead and come to grips with this reprehensible attack on civilization. Vive la France!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Steelers

Strange season for the Steelers. They started cold, caught fire midway through, won the division, and fell to a division rival who backed into the playoffs. Sometimes you just have to scratch your head and move on. Hopefully, the talented offense will carry over into next season.

South Of Someplace