Rant #3,794: Minding My P's and Q's

I simply cannot stand up for falling down.

I have a dark cloud over me no matter what I do.

The latest instance of this came yesterday afternoon, when I was doing my work.

I was typing, and then I noticed that a couple of the keyboard keys were simply not working:

"P"

")"

";"

And I think one or two others

I rebooted the computer, took the USB wire of the keyboard out of the USB plug in the back of the computer--

But alas, those keys are dead.

I do have another keyboard, but it is a generic one.

I can use it, but Apple iMac computer keyboards, at least in the 2010s or so, were kind of unique, because they came with USB ports on each side of the keyboard--

And I use the one on the left, where I use an extender, and I am able to plug in thumb drives and most importantly, my printer.

There are only so many ports at the back of the computer, so this feature gives me a lot of flexibility.

So, convinced that the keyboard was done for, I looked around for a replacement keyboard.

I called the Apple store, and they do not carry any wired keyboards anymore.

I went to Staples, and while they had wired keyboards, none came with the USB ports that I need.

So, I went on eBay, and lo and behold, I found a suitable replacement, so I ordered it--

The problem is, the unit might not be delivered for two weeks!

What am i going to do in the meantime?

I could hook up the spare keyboard, but that would mean I would have to disattach/reattach everything.

Do modern, non-wired Apple iMac keyboards have those two USB ports? I have no idea.

So, currently in panic mode, I decided to continue on with the old keyboard.

It adds another layer onto my work, because every "p" and the other symbols that don't work anymore have to be copied from other work I have done when the keyboard was fully operational.

This situation kind of makes it annoying; I can't even type my last name without copying over the "p."

What else can I do?

I will simply have to wait until the keyboard gets delivered, hopefully sooner than later.

I guess you can say that in the meantime, I will have to mind my "p's" and q's.

(Just so you know, i typed this Rant out on my phone, so no problems with the keyboard there.)

Rant #3,793: Only the Strong Survive

Another very busy week ahead of me.

My son has two evaluations to continue with, he has work, I have work--I have a meeting to attend on Thursday--my wife has work, and the Yankees go into the playoffs.

No doctors appointments, at least right now.

I almost can't catch my breath.

But things are looking up--

More about that later this week.

I managed to square away two hours on Sunday morning so I could watch the first episode of season 49 of "Survivor."

I must be a masochist or an addict, but I still watch the show, even though it has lost a lot of its spark from its heyday in the early 2000s.

Last season was actually the best season they had in many years, and while it is hard to tell if this season will continue the resurgence, I still tune in each week to find out what's happening.

It is pretty much the same old, same old with the show, a different cast, but basically the same show over and over and over and over again.

It continues to take place in Fiji, so as to maximize the ogling aspect of the show--both male and female--and Jeff Probst remains the exuberant host.

They have tried to make the challenges more interesting, made the ins and outs more interesting, expanded the show from an hour to 90 minutes, but the cast still runs the show.

Last season, the cast was among the most interesting they had in years, including an autistic woman who was one of the finalists.

Yes, there was the usual bunch of participants, but it just worked better last season than it had in years.

And the politics were downplayed, which made the show even better.

"Survivor" had been drowning in politics for several seasons, but while I am sure it did come up last season, the editing of the show didn't allow it to be shown very much.

And that is another thing--

"Survivor" remains the best edited and most beautifully shot shot show on television, through the good seasons and the bad ones.

I know there are people who participate in 'Survivor" pools, putting money on who they think will win, but I have never done this.

I just watch it for fun.

And in my mind, while it isn't what it used to be, "Survivor" remains one of television' all-tine-great successes, and there is still lots to like about it.

I know plenty of you have bailed out on the show over the years, but maybe, it might be time to revisit it.

"Outwit. Outplay. Outlast."

Sounds like how my own life has gone the past couple of years.

Rant #3,792: Only In America

Today, I have to cover a meeting for work, which kills my whole day right then and there.

With everything revolving around my son and his job(s) and everything else I have to do during the day, I feel like the vise is clamping down on me--

I just need some air, a little space to breathe.

First today, I have to go to the Social Security office with proof that my son's last day at his secondary job is next Thursday.

We have the proof that we need to ascertain that, so it should be just a matter of handing it in to them, and then they do what they have to do so my son can continue to get his disability payments into the foreseeable future.

It sounds like an easy thing to do, but in the bizarro world we live in, there is no such thing as easy.

More bizarro world stuff ...

Yesterday, my electric razor decided to take a hike after maybe three months of use, so I had to get another one.

I went into Target to get one, and I couldn't even find the section--it might have been moved--so I asked one of the few workers on the floor for help.

"It's all the way down there," she said, pointing me east in the store. "In the men's section."

I had just been there before asking her, so I went back to the same area, and found it to be positioned a bit more east than she had let on. 

I went to the section, and just about every razor was behind glass, which was certainly different than it was three months ago when I bought my now-dead razor.

There was an associate in the aisle unloading boxes, so I asked her if she could open the cabinet for me.

"I ... no ...," she said, obviously not speaking English (and explain to me why it took eight months for my son to find a job ... these stores will hire someone who does not speak a word of English, but they won't hire a special needs person).

"Can you get someone to open the cabinet," I asked her again (sorry, I did not have my Spanish dictionary handy to translate my inquiry into sonething she could understand).

She walked away, not saying anything to me in English or Spanish.

So there I was, right where I should be, but without any assistance.

I looked for someone else, but no one was on the floor.

About five minutes later, the associate came back and she had her phone out, said something in Spanish to someone who replied in Spanish, and then she said something to the effect that--

I could not understand a word that she said.

In the meantime, I found that there was a small button on the side of the cabinet for "HELP ," and I pushed it four or five times.

Whether it was that button pushing or the associate actually did something to help me is something I will never know, but within a few moments, another associate came over to me and asked me what I wanted.

I told her that I wanted to look at the razors.

She asked me what side of the cabinet I needed opened.

I told her that I didn't know, because all sorts of razors were behind both sides of the glass.

As we both crouched down as she opened one side of the cabinet and then the other to view the contents, her dreadlocks-real or extensions?--fell over me, and happily, after about a  minute or two, I found what I wanted.

I thanked her, and the other associate was still unpacking things in the aisle, and I thanked her, too--but in English, not thinking that she would not understand me.

So i then said, "Gracias"--

And got absolutely no response.

I paid for the razor and got the heck out of there.

Yes, this is the state of retail today.

My son has to struggle to find employment and they hire people who don't even speak English over him.

"Only In America ... ."

On to the Social Security office ...

Have a good weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday. 

Rant #3,791: Here, There and Everywhere

My son has decided to leave his one-day, four-hours-week position, and he will be giving his two weeks' notice later today.

He enjoys this job, but it is a dollars-and-cents move; by dropping this job, he will fall slightly below the salary threshold, and will be able to continue to get his monthly disability payment through Social Security Disability.

He has had this job for more than five years--interrupted by the pandemic, when he was put on furlough--and the job was a good one while it lasted.

But after the company cut his days and hours by 75 percent in January, we just knew he needed something else, and he kept this job while he looked for something better.

It took eight months, but he now has something better, but the amount of hours and pay, coupled with the lesser job, put him just over the threshold, so he had to make a decision, and my wife and I think he made the right one.

We need some type of written proof that his resignation has been tendered and okayed, and then we can go back to the Social Security office with proof of him leaving this job.

Then they can do the calculations, and Voila!, they will see he is making the right amount to continue getting his monthly payments.

Sounds easy, but you just know it won't be.

Stay tuned.

Otherwise, another thing I have to do today is to go to the skin doctor to get thslat lesion fully removed from my ear, before it becomes cancerous.

The doctor sprays this freeze fluid on it, and while it is slightly painful--especially if he has to dig what remains out of my ear--the procedure doesn't last too long, and it is certainly well worth it.

In between all of this, i have a work meeting later this morning that i have to attend, followed by another, separate meeting that I have to cover on Friday, which completely kills the day.

I just want to rest, and have a free day once in a while.

That goal isn't happening anytime soon, whether I am here, there, or everywhere.

More about that another time.

Rant #3,790: Laugh (?)

I went to the Social Security office yesterday, with all my paperwork I was asked to fill out regarding my son's work history.

And yes, the counselor there reiterated to me that my son might lose his financial benefits if he works too many hours, and gets paid too much, each month.

It is truly a mess, because the government wants you to work, but the more you work, the greater the chance that you will lose your financial benefits, even if you are disabled.

Let's see whst happens in the coming weeks.

And that isn't funny.

And then, in a segueway that is very thin, Jimmy Kimmel is back working, with his "indefinite" suspension being little more than a couple of shows.

I assume he has promised to be a "good boy" for now on, toning down his rhetoric against the president and all Republicans.

We will see how long all of this lasts, because his show is not going to be broadcast on many ABC-affiliate stations--Sinclair and Nexstar--and with his contract up by the end of the year, perhaps ABC is simply going to squeeze whatever else they can from him, and then not re-sign him.

Who knows, but he evidently demonstrated no remorse over his initial dimwitted response to the Kirk murder.

His show hasn't been funny in years, but let's be honest about it: comedy does not exist today, because the basic tenets of comedy--making fun of human foibles--is not allowed or permissable anymore.

People are too sensitive, have forgotten how to laugh at themselves, and what "comedy" there is is not funny, it is vicious, negative, and often, filthy.

Being able to say what you want in a society that believes in free speech does not mean you can say whatever you want without consequences, and say what you want about it, but Kimmel learned this first hand, even though what he got was pretty much a slap on the wrist for his completely ridiculous comments.

And that isn't funny.

Nor are all of thise countries who have now proclaimed that they support a Palestinian state.

What these countries simply don't understand is:

1) By showing such support, you are granting an acknowledged terrorist organization a feather in their cap, giving a thumb's up to their activities, in particular on October 7, 2023, when they raped, pillaged, and murdered 1,200 innocent people, both Israelis and non-Israelis.

2) The Palestinians have been offered their own state several times during at least the past 100 years, and they have rejected the offer each and every time--they do not want their own state, they want the entire land, including the land that Israel sits on.

So the countries, which are showing their own anti-Semitism with their twisted actions, somehow claim the two-state solution will also benefit Israel, but how can that be when you are granting kudos to terrorists for their sub-human actions against the Jewish state?

And to liken what the Palestinians are going through with what the Jews went through prior to 1948 is, well, at the very least, bewildering.

All of these things I have described in this Rant are not funny--

And it is difficult to put a smile on your face with the world seemingly off its axis, where right is wrong, and where subhuman actions are being rewarded.

Laugh ...

Not right now. 

Rant #3,789: Honesty

Later this week, one of those lesions I had taken off by the dermatologist was found to be pre-cancerous, so I have to go there for further treatment to make sure it never cones back.

It takes just a few minutes, but it is disconcerting.

I am prone to these things, so I have to watch out for them.

At least the lesions hadn't reached the cancer stage yet.

So yes, I consider myself to be pretty lucky.

But this coming weekend is going to be a pain in the neck.

Today, after I drop my son off at work, I have to go back to the Social Security office in the next chapter getting my son's work history right with that office.

As I told you several Rants ago, I reported my son's new job to the office, and this set off an endless abyss of problems--

Namely, that the office did not have his work history for a number of years, even though I reported the changes to them.

This information was not updated due to the pandemic, our family moving from Nassau to Suffolk counties, and complete and total ineptitude.

We received a long and involved letter in the mail yesterday due to this--

And this is extremely important to get straight, because as a disabled person, it greatly impacts my son's Social Security disability benefits.

Later in the week, I have to attend an online work meeting, and then on Friday, i have an actual meeting that I have to cover, which kills my day and keeps me chained to the computer for hours.

I have so many other things to do during the week that by the weekend, I will be pooped.

These are all things that are important and must be done, and to save time, I was forced to go to Staples last night--on the first night of Rosh Hashanah--to pick up some supplies I need for work.

The thing with Social Security is particularly annoying, because i have been honest about my son's work history to them, but now, even though i was diligent, the onus is on me to prove what I told them years ago.

If I kept my mouth shut, I believe there would never be a problem here, but sometimes, based on that office's stupidity, maybe you have to just let them find their own errors and not worry about it.

And you just know that if it happened to us, it has happened to millions of others--

And you wonder why Social Security is teetering.

Honesty ...

What a concept!

Rant #3,788: Happy Holiday

The Jewish New Year period begins later today, the holiest period on the Jewish calendar.

First, at sunset, we have Rosh Hashanah, and that is followed up by Yom Kippur, the holiest period on the Jewish calendar, which comes next week.

Wasn't it very nice that those countries gave a head's up just before the most holy and sacred period on the Jewish calendar to Israel and Jews around the world that it was recognizing a Palestinian state?

I mean, they could have done it right on Rosh Hashanah ... nice of them, wasn't it?

Anti-Semites, each and every one of them.

Let's educate these morons a little bit.

Here is an edited version of Rant #2,982, September 26, 2022.

"Happy Rosh Hashanah to those who celebrate this holiday.

It is the beginning of the Jewish New Year, and it time to atone for one’s sins during the previous year.

You hope that God treats you kindly, and that he turns over the page in the book devoted to you, and that you go on to live another year.

But the High Holy Days are just that, days, so we still have to get through the entire holiday, which culminates with the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.

That is the biggie, and one atones for his sins by fasting for an entire day, to demonstrate to God that you are worthy.

It is much tougher to get through these holidays if you attend services at your synagogue than it is to do it at home.

Synagogues are packed during the High Holy Days, with most people there only attending their local shul for services during this time of year.

I can tell you from past experience that the dovening during these holidays, and particular on Yom Kippur, is difficult while attending services, as the constant up and down of the service—when the Ark is opened, everyone stands, when it closes, everyone sits—makes it tough.

Those days are apparently over for me.

Since my son had his bar mitzvah 17 years ago, and we were not treated well by our fellow Jews when our synagogue merged with another temple, we have not joined a temple as a family, so we don’t go to services.

It does not mean that we renounced our religion—in fact, I feel that my faith is stronger than ever—but we do not attend services anymore.

We reflect on the holidays at home, and I continue to fast during Yom Kippur, at home.

Funny, being away from the synagogue all of these years has made my faith that much stronger, inwardly if not outwardly.

I am Jewish, my wife and son are, too, and we know who we are and what we are, with our without synagogue attendance being in the mix.

I have learned that you can make your own synagogue without actually being in one, and that is what I do during the High Holy Days.

Sure, some people will say it is a copout, but that is not the point; this is the way I have decided to handle my religious life, and it is my personal choice to do so.

It is better than being there while not being there, which happened when I was a kid, attending the services with my father and friends, and we spent more time outside the shul than inside of it as the services went on.

 Sure, I suffered with everyone else when I was inside the shul, but we used to spend so much time outside that it almost gave us a break to our suffering.

So I almost believe that we are on equal plain now with those days past.

And when I fast for Yom Kippur, I know why I am still doing it and will continue to do it for as long as my body will allow.

I do it for myself, for my family, and for God, and it will suffice—and yes, I do feel so much better after the fast is over, as if the time I have not eaten or had anything to drink has given me new energy to begin the new year on the right foot.

There are similarities between the Jewish New Year and the New Year we all celebrate on January 1.

Both are times for renewal, both are times to look back at the past year and try to do better during the dawning of the new year.

The similarities pretty much end at that, but the self reflection part of the two equations is really essential as we move into the respective New Years.

How can I be better this new year than I was last year?

That is a question for the ages no matter what New Year you are talking about, and it is up to the individual to come up with an answer to that weighty question.

Right now, I personally do not have an answer to that question, but none of us are perfect, and we can all improve our beings from one day to the next, from one week to the next, and from one year to the next.

Jews are contemplating this question right now, so maybe it gives us something of a leg’s up on the rest of the world.

So when you wish “Happy New Year” “L'Shana Tovah” to both your Jewish friends and your non-Jewish friends alike, it is really a direct greeting for your Jewish friends, but for your non-Jewish friends, it is really a head’s up on what they may be contemplating for the future, three months ahead of time.

Everyone have a good holiday!"

Right now, i will keep fasting, and i do it in memory of my parents, and my wife's parents too.

i do it for my son's grandparents, and yes, i also do it in memory of my own grandparents, but let's get through Rosh Hashanah first.

And let's remember Israel, and let's remember the hostages, and let's hope the new year will bring an end to the terrorists and this infernal war that they started.

That would make this new year an extra special one.

Rant #3,787: Talk Too Much

So Jimmy Kimmel's show has been forced to suspend production after the host made some erroneous statements about the Chsrlie Kirk murder on his weekly late night show.

Whst exactly did he say to receive such a weighty punishment?

He made some truly ill-advised comments about the incident, stating:

"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Now, while they were ill-advised--and pretty stupid and ignorant, if you want to know the truth, I don't know if his show should have been taken off the air for it.

We now know this imbecile who pulled the trigger had become politicized through the relationship he had with his partner, a trans person transitioning to be a woman. 

The suspect was on the opposite side of MAGA, becoming so enraged with current policies that it made him plan this attack, and with his grandfather's rifle.

Kimmel has become increasingly politically narcissistic--and increasingly unfunny--in recent times, and to use his TV pulpit to spread idiotic falsehoods ...

It's wrong, just plain wrong.

However, he should have been given the opportunity to right his wrong on his show ...

But reports are, he had no intention of doing this, no intention of owning up to his mistake, no matter how wrong he was.

In fact, Kimmel posted on social media the following:

"Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”

Perhaps if he would have said this on his show as opposed to what he did say, his show would have gone on.

But he didn't, so he showed absolutely no remorse, and that post certainly did not help his cause.

The Trump Administration has been at war with the network late night hosts for their very obvious one-sided treatment of him and his policies.

Where Johnny Carson would go after both sides of the polotical spectrum, sometimes in one breath, the latest crop of late night hosts feel it is their duty to trash the president and all Republicans, and do it in a way that is neither funny or constructive.

The powers that be are becoming increasingly nervous over this one-sided posture, and with revenues dwindling from these shows, these programs, and their hosts, appear to be on the endangered species list.

First it was Stephen Colbert on CBS, and Kimmel might just be following him out the door.

Personally, I thought Carson was the best of the late-night hosts, but he did his shtick in a different time and place.

I have not watched the Kimmel show since the days of "Uncle Vinny," his actual uncle who I actually worked with for two decades at my past job.

The show was funny then, but became increasingly full of itself as the years went on.

And when you live in a country which believes in free speech, that carries a tremendous weight, one which I do believe a lot of people don't really understand, in particular in this social media age we are in right now.

You have to be accountable for your actions, and that includes the words you say and the views you espouse.

If you say something hurtful, ridiculous or untrue, you really have to own up to it, and correct it.

But in today's world, even talking about the murder of a person can lead to a lot of idiotic and hateful rhetoric, and apologies are few and far between on social media--

And lately, in all media.

It is just plain wrong.

No one fears retribution anymore, and that is just so wrong--

Because it devalues what we as a society have to say, making even the most thoughtful responses into little more than electronic graffiti.

The First Amendment becomes stronger when it is used in the right way. Spreading erroneous information on a show watched by millions of people, and not having the guts to right that wrong, abuses the power of that amendment. 

Both Kimmel and the president are at fault here. I don't like the over reach that Trump is using, nor do I think Kimmel furthered free speech rights with the nonsense that he said. I think both need a course in civics to understand the gravity of their actions.

Have a great weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday.

Rant #3,786: Buried Alive

Yesterday, I had kind of a strange day.

I had little to do for work in the early part of the day, but in the afternoon--

Well, fuggedaboudit!

I was up to my ears in assignments, and they all took a bit of time to do.

I am still buried, so today is going to have to be another "Reading Thursday," as I present you another chapter of my novel.

Look, they pay me to write and edit, so I have to pay attention to the money--

So work comes first.

But first, Robert Redford, to me, was the last, great movie star. He had the talent, the chops and the look, and he became America's favorite movie star through the 1980s.

And he stopped when he wanted to, which is always the best way to retire.

And now, without further ado, here is Chapter 35 of my opus--

And I hope that Friday is a little less busy and I can get in another "real" Rant for you.

Let's hope!

35

Mrs. Panim and her son got to the door of Mr. Panim’s home, and Abraham Lincoln Panim saw the doorbell and pushed its button, which produced a loud ring.

There was an intercom on the door. After a few seconds, a voice came through the intercom.

“Who is there?” the voice said.

"It is Mrs. Panim and my son.”

“We were expecting you. OK, I am going to buzz you in.”

The buzz came, and Mrs. Panim turned the doorknob and the door opened. Both stepped into a small foyer, and they almost immediately saw a woman with her back turned. The woman was poring over some papers, and Abraham Lincoln Panim noted that she appeared to be an older woman, short in stature, with her hair tied up in a bun.

In an instant, the woman put down the papers and turned toward the mother and son.

“Hello, I am Nurse Stottlemeyer, and I have been taking care of Mr. Panim for a few years. He has been very, very sick.”

Mrs. Panim gulped, and Abraham Lincoln Panim looked at her and said in a whisper, “It’s Mrs. Stottle!”

“No, it can’t be,” his mother replied. “She died several years ago. She just looks like her. Her last name is different.”

“She said Stottlemeyer. Didn’t she tell you that she was ‘Miss Meyer’ before she got married?”

“Hrrumph!” said the nurse, trying to get the full attention of Mrs. Panim and her son. “Are you ready to see Mr. Panim now?”

The mother and son quieted down, both shaking their heads affirmatively.

“Mr. Panim has requested to see you each individually. He can only see you each for a few minutes. He simply does not have the strength for any time more. Mrs. Panim, would you like to go in first?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Panim said, still kind of staring at the nurse as she was led to a room by her. The nurse, who had something of a limp, opened the door and let her in to speak with her husband alone.

Abraham Lincoln Panim sat down on a couch in a corner of the foyer, nervously put his hand in his hair, pushing it up in place, and when the nurse came back into the room, he continued to stare at her.

“Can I help you with anything?” the nurse asked, aware that she was being stared at.

“No … no … you just look like someone that my mom and I used to know,” Abraham Lincoln Panim said, staring at the woman’s thick legs. “No, it can’t be.”

“What can’t be?” the nurse asked.

“Umm … nothing … umm … how do I look?

The nurse hesitated, then said, “You look like an average person your age,” as she went back looking at her papers.

“No, how do I really look?” Abraham Lincoln Panim asked again, a little more forceful this time.

The nurse looked up from her papers. “Look, you appear to be fine to me. You look good enough to see your father, if that is what you are asking me.”

Abraham Lincoln Panim, looking for a different answer than he was getting, sat back on the couch, and continued to play with his hair. He looked around the small room, which was pretty barely furnished, but across the room, he saw a plaque on the wall. It appeared to have some writing on it, and not being able to clearly see what the plaque said, he got up from his seat and walked over to wall where the plaque was.

The nurse looked up from her papers, saw that Abraham Lincoln Panim had become interested in the plaque, and said, “Yes, I put that up a year or so ago. It is something I believe in fully, and I hope that everyone believes in it, to tell you the truth.”

Abraham Lincoln Panim got to the plaque, and read its inscription to himself:

“Do unto others as you would have the do unto you … treat other people the way you would like to be treated yourself."

Rant #3,785: The Right Way

Yesterday, I went to the local Social Security office to alert them that my son had a new job, and this will likely impact his monthly Social Security Disability payments.

The new job has put him over the salary limit per month, so things might have to change.

The most onteresting thing is that Social Security was well behind on my son's work history, thinking he still worked at one job that he lost--a couple of years ago.

I know that I called in all of these changes to Social Security, but they had absolutely no listing of this job activity, for reasons that they didn't question me about.

1) Since a lot of this took place during the pandemic, a lot of it was not correctly recorded.

Back then, the Social Security offices were not open, and you had to do everything over the phone or online, and let's be honest about it, plenty of mistakes were made, and a lot of information was not saved.

2) We moved from Nassau County to Suffolk County during the past two years, and although I did contact the office about this move, I guess the information was not entered correctly or did not carry over from one county to another.

I was being honest about everything, but think about those who aren't so forthcoming about their work history ...

My son could have collected these cash benefits into perpetuity if I wasn't honest, and how many others are fraudulently collecting these benefits?

You wonder how many billions of dollars are being paid out to those who don't deserve them, costing taxpayers plenty!

And they talk about Social Security going under in 10 years, but if fraud like this was weeded out, it could probably go on without interruption for many decades.

I know President Trump vowed to clean up this negligence, but I haven't heard much about it since the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was somewhat downplayed when Elon Musk left or was pushed out.

But just think about how much money is being doled out to those who don't deserve it.

My son deserved every dollar he got from the government, but with his new job, the amount will certainly differ.

We did the honest thing, but quite frankly, not everyone is as honest as we are.

Any changes won't take place until his case is reviewed, so he will receive these payments until that happens.

How much he will be impacted by this is anyone's guess, but at least we did what was necessary, being above board about his work history.

It was simply the right thing to do.

Rant #3,784: Something's Burning

I had some very interesting discussions to open the week yesterday.

And they all had to do with the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

This guy is a card-carrying Socialist and anti-Semite, yet he is somehow way ahead in the polls with just a few weeks to go before Election Day.

There seems no way to stop him. Unless two of the other three candidates drop out--Independents Andrew Cuomo and lame duck Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa--this guy is going to become mayor of New York--the area with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel itself.

This makes absolutely no sense, especially where polls also suggest that he has an impressive number of--

Jewish supporters!

And now, he has one other prominent supporter.

Here is what I posted on Facebook about this utter mess.

"New York State Governor Kathy "The Yokel" Hochul is endorsing an avowed anti-Semite for mayor of New York City, the area with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. 

This should doom her when she runs for re-election, but it won't, because many Jews even endorse this scum. Demonstrates the bizarro world we live in today.

Registered Democrats--in particular, those who are Jewish-- who I am getting the feeling would probably vote for Hitler if he were on the party line, I have a question to ask you:

"Would you vote for this garbage for mayor, simply because he is on the Democratic ticket, and you always vote Democrat no matter who is running, or would you go outside the box, at least just this one time, to stop this anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish, anti-Israel ghoul from winning the vote?"

And yes, it is a mess.

Then, in another post, I put this up.

It relates to the difference between those who call themselves "liberals" and those who are leftists."

The thread I posted this on reminded me that there was a clear difference between the two, with true liberals being more open to listen to other opinions, but with leftists, it is basically their way or the highway.

And the poster was correct.

I have known quite a few real, honest-to-goodness liberals in my lifetime, and they listen to your viewpoint, even if they dont agree with you, and they relish a back and forth give and take as much as snyone does.

And they are certainly more rational than these leftists ...

Although they have their own deficiencies.

Anyway, here is what I had to say.

"True liberals would NEVER act like this, but it is up to them to refute the leftists ... which they have not done in any way, shape or form. That is on them."

And yes, I am going to stand with what I said.

I have told you many, many times here that I was removed from another Rochdale Village site because I had the audacity to post that "among the most virulent anti-Semites are the Jews themselves," as well as whst I posted here a few paragraphs back about some Jews voting for Hitler.

It is funny how "clairvoyant" and insightful I was just a few years back, because New York City is now in this situation.

If a Jew votes for Mamdani, I have to question their own self hate, and voting for him is the modern equivalent of Jews supporting the Nazis, so, unfortunately, I really have to question what is happening in the world we live in, and how this has come to be.

Funny, I now hear that Mayor Adams will drop out of the race by the end of the week, but Sliwa isn't going anywhere--nor should he--but then we have Cuomo, the carpetbagger who has absolutely no reason to be in this race to begin with.

Whatever the case, the situation in New York City is a mess, and whoever is in this race, they only have a short time to make up a lot of ground.

A real scourge has come to New York City, and are city voters smart enough to see this?

I just don't know.

Rant #3,783: Happy Together

It has been a tough couple of days in the rock and roll world, as two icons from the 1960s just passed away.

Mark Volman was the roly-poly lead member of The Turtles, and along with lead singer Howard Kaylan, the duo turned out one pop rock hit after the other in the mid-to-late 1960s, and you know just about all of them, I am certain:

"Happy Together"

"Elenore"

"She'd Rather Be With Me"

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Constantly mired in heated legalities with their record company, they later joined Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, but when they learned that contractually could not use their own names, they came up with "Flo and Eddie," and that is how they were billed for decades, as they did not own their names or the name "The Turtles," or really anything related to their hit-making band.

As Flo and Eddue, they provided background vocals on many tunes, including those from Bruce Springsteen and T. Rex, and they wrote for children's shows, including "Strawberry Shortcake."

After decades of litigation, they finally gained ownership of these Turtles entities, started the highly successful "Happy Together Tour," and entered into even more litigation about the use of their songs on the airwaves, which evidently was recently settled.

Volman also became a college music professor, and took some of his students on "Happy Together Tours" with him.

All of this from the most fun of all pop bands of their era, certainly one of the templates for "The Monkees" project, and that leads us to the passing of Bobby Hart.

One half of the performing/writing/producing duo Tommy Boyce abd Bobby Hart, the duo were already successful songwriters when they wre tabbed by Don Kirshner to pretty much create the sound of the TV rock band, The Monkees.

And they did this from the get-go with good-time tunes with hidden messages buried deep in the bubblegum, including "Last Train to Clarksville" and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone."

And as a recording duo, they had several charting singles, including "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight," and were all over TV, not only performing on several variety shows but acting and singing on "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Bewitched."

After pretty much birthing the music side of The Monkees project, Boyce and Hart moved onto other things, including writing hits for other artists, and penning the theme song for the eternal soap opera "Days of Our Lives."

The duo eventually performed with Monkees Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones, played Las Vegas, and parted ways, but Hart continued songwriting, and was nominated for an Academy Award for the tune "Over You" from the movie "Tender Mercies."

It is interesting how Volman and Hart's musical legacies were kind of intertwined, by circumstance.

The Turtles, along with Paul Revere and the Raiders--who recorded the first version of "Steppin' Stone"--the Lovin' Spoonful, Herman's Hermits and, of course, the Beatles--were certainly the templates that the creative team which created "The Monkees" used to pinpoint exactly what they wanted in this TV band, including their look and their sound, the latter of which was Boyce and Hart's job.

And the great thing about the Boyce and Hart and Turtles and Monkees music is that much of it seems so fresh today, about 60 years after the fact.

Volman and Hart will be missed, but their legacies are there for the listening.

Rant #3,782: The Skin I'm In

I celebrated my son's good fortune in obtaining a new job by--

Getting three leisons taken off my face by the dermatologist.

Actually, one was on my nose, one was on my right ear, and the other was on the left ear.

I have had pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions taken off of me before, and I hope that these weren't diseased.

But you never can be sure, so they had to be removed, and checked.

Some people are prone to these, and my side of the family has had these things pop up over the course of time.

You just have to pay attention to them, get them taken care of, and they are done and over with.

Sometimes they reappear, sometimes not.

When I sit in the car for an elongated period, I wear my Yankees hat to protect my scalp.

That 50-year-old cap does a real good job at blocking the sun's rays from my head.

I was never a sun demon to begin with, but some people just get these things, and the only thing you can do about it is to go to the skin doctor and get them removed.

So yes, i went to my lousy high school reunion with these things on me, but I looked at it this way:

When you are a teen, you get pimples.

When you are older, you get skin lesions.

So, no, it didn't bother me at all at the reunion.

Few remembered me, I didn't remember too many people, so it was a real wash.

In fact, I was supposed to get these things removed a week earlier, but my doctor canceled.

So, I feel it was God's will that I attended the reunion with these things.

I just hope that it is also God's will.to make them non-cancerous.

We shall see what happens.

Have a great weekend, and i will speak to you again on Monday--

With an unblemished record, I hope.

(And shame on those who, on the 24th anniversary of 9/11, kept up their political diatribes without pausing, at least for a day.

I received some of these messages on Facebook, and they completely repulsed me, as they would anybody on such a solemn day --I don't care what side of the aisle you are on.

Enough! That is not what 9/11 is all about.)

Rant #3,781: What's Goin' On

As we look back at 9/11, we have another horrific incident to discuss.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, who visits college campuses speaking to members of the college community about his MAGA views, was fatally shot while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University.

Police had a suspect in custody, supposedly an elderly man, and not a student. He has since been released. 

Later yesterday evening, police said they had "a person of interest" in custody.

Whoever it was made the shooting from a site 200 yards away.

Kirk was supposedly hit hard in his neck or upper chest, and he was rushed to the hospital.

The campus was immediately closed, and classes were canceled. The campus and surrounding area was put on lockdown yesterday afternoon.

The availability of guns is a story we have spoken about many times here, and I am not going to repeat that again.

What I am going to talk about is the angry mood in this country that would enable someone to justify shooting a gun off at someone, perhaps for their differing political views.

Kirk is not a politician; he is an influencer, and he draws large crowds on college campuses when he speaks.

He has a sharp tongue, a ready wit, and he is cool, calm and collected even when he and his views are attacked.

I guess in this sick world, he was an open target. He is not a politician, just someone who publicly speaks his mind ... to about 100 million people online.

I have seen some of his videos of his appearances on college campuses, and I have to say, he has a really quick answer to everything, and it is clear that his views make him a hero to some, and a pariah to others.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle have come out in support of Kirk--who was narried and had two young kids--and are deeply disturbed at this act of political violence.

I hate to be so matter of fact about this, but politicians do get shot, but Kirk is not one.

So in this sick environment we live in, somebody who has gained whatever fame and notoriety he has from the Internet is as open to such violence as a president of our country is.

We, as a society, are so angry about so many things that rather than simply speaking our mind on the topics that we are angry about, we take out guns and shoot people based on their views.

Sickness, total sickness.

This incident was recorded on cell phone cameras, and there were as many people at the rally who were fans of Kirk as there were people who hated him.

Lots of people regularly sign petitions to keep him and his views off college campuses.

Thst is one of the proper ways to handle this. One has every right to disagree with people.

However, one has no right to shoot those who they disagree with.

Have we, as a society, lost our collective minds when we happen to disagree with other human beings?

This is not the first, and certainly won't be the last, such incident, and it reflects on our society and where we are in 2025.

And where we are is ...

Sick, sick, sick.

Rant #3,780: Gone, Movin' On

Here is the surprise that I briefly mentioned at the end of last week ...

Ready--

Set--

Go--

My son finally found a new job!

Yes, he found a job, and like I have been saying for months, he found it pretty much on his own, without the help of all of the organizations, groups and agencies that were supposed to help him, but never did.

He is now employed by a major upscale grocery chain, and he has been on the job for just a few days now after going through orientation and days of waiting.

I went to my high school reunion only finding out a few days earlier that he had secured this job, but since that was the only reason I attended, it didn't hurt to pass around his resume and see if anyone could help.

These are tough times for everyone, but even tougher for special needs people, and it isn't the type of job that is important; it is that he is now employed, active, and doing something that he likes.

His monthly Social Security disability payments will be halted because he will be making too much money per month to retain them, and in the coming days, I will have to report his new job and wages to the local Social Security office.

I called them on Monday, and the person I spoke to told me all about what I had to do.

She, herself was disabled. She told me that she had cerebral palsy, and while her speech was a bit ragged, I understood her message loud and clear.

"Yes, he will lose his money each month, but the best thing is that he is working ... that is the most important thing," she said to me.

"It is better than sitting at home and doing nothing. He might be disabled, but he can work and earn a salary. That is better than getting money from the government."

And she is so right about this.

There is nothing better than having a job and earning your keep.

That woman knew through her own personal experience, and let me tell you, I know this from my own personal experience, too.

So the eight-month nightmare we, as a family, have gone through is over and done with.

Hopefully, my son will never have to go through this ever again.

His new employment removes a large burden off of our shoulders, and my wife and I hope that he now has a position he can build upon, now and in the future.

And yes, he is keeping, at least for now, his other job, his four-hours-a-week position, one that he also enjoys, but one where he was not treated very well.

We have told him that if it all becomes too much, he can leave that job at any time.

Just let us know, and it is done and over with.

Kudos to my son for sticking this out.

Finally, we can move on to other things.

And for those who pledged to help him, but dragged their feet, double-talked him, told him he couldn't do something due to his "limitations" or did nothing--

Shame on you. Shame on all of you.

Rant #3,779: I'm Sorry

I was kicked off the Facebook site that revolved around the Massapequa High School 50th anniversary reunion that was held Saturday night ...

Or perhaps the site was taken down.

I have no idea ... all that I know is that I cannot get onto it as I have in the past.

Yes, I pressed matters perhaps too much with them, but the link right here to my blog that I posted on the site yesterday morning evidently really, really riled them, because I told it like it is and was, from my perspective, perhaps a bit too much for their liking.

I praised the organizers for their hard work in getting a reunion together--been there, done that--but I guess they had had enough of me for the other things that I said, and canned me.

I also praised those who pushed me at the reunion to speak to people, and I also thanked those who listened to me.

But I also came down a little hard on those who ignored me or sassed me like they did all those years ago. I guess the administrators didn't like that, nor my coming down on one unnamed person, in particular, who did not attend the reunion because ... he is no longer with us.

That is OK ... it demonstrates that many of my fellow grads' true colors hadn't changed in 50 years. I did reach my objective, which was to hand out my son's resume and speak about his job plight to as many people as possible there, going outside the box a little bit.

I had more views of this blog than I had had in a while, so I guess lots of people saw the entry who usually don't visit this site.

If nothing else, yesterday's post gives a different perspective to high school reunions. And yes, i am truly astonished at the many names I did not know who attended the reunion. I have a great memory, but I have learned that your brain protects you and blots out things like this. Again, I thank those who did remember me, who did listen to what I had to say, who did put a smile on my face that night. But overall, let me tell you ... it was pure torture being there and going back 50 years. Many people told me not to go, but I had to go for my son. I had to go outside the box--for him, and for him only. Since this is a Rochdale Village site--even though i go off on many different topics here--I can rightfully and confidently state that the ONLY reunion that matters to me took place 11 years ago, when I was one of the planners for the Rochdale Village Reunion. Sure, there were many problems with that event--mainly behind the scenes--but overall it was a great success, and I will never forget it. This high school reunion ... a blip on my personal radar, nothing more, nothing less. The funny thing about all.of this is that if there would be a 50th anniversary reunion for Springfield Gardens High School--the high school i would have attended had we not moved to Long Island--i would have felt more comfortable, as I would have known many of the graduates--even though I never stepped foot in the school, which has since closed. The Massapequa High School reunion is over, it is out of my system, and I am moving on from it. My goals were met, and hopefully, something will come from it. If not, so be it. I tried.

Rant #3,778: Getting Together

I came, I saw, and I conquered ... I guess.

I went to my 50th high school.reunion on Saturday evening, and my goal--to speak to people about the job plight of my son, and to pass out his resume--was fully accomplished.

Most of the people I spoke to about this subject were at least accommodating and heard me out.

Others ...

Well, it was like talking to pieces of wood, and I was quickly dismissed.

My trepidations at attending this event were fully realized, as quite honestly, I could not remember just about everyone there.

Names meant absolutely nothing to me, and quite frankly, it was embarrassing.

We all wore name tags with our high school yearbook photos prominently displayed on these tags, but even with that benefit, I really could not connect the dots with anyone.

I would go up to people and ask them, "Do you remember me," and some did, many didn't, and I couldn't remember all but a scant few.

It is not early dementia nor the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.

I actually have a very good memory.

It is funny how the brain works.

I had such a terrible time during my four years of high school--i was newly moved right before high school, could never make any friends, my grades suffered greatly, and the only thing i wanted to do was go back "home" to my friends in Rochdale Village, Queens--that my mind has pretty much simply forgotten about everything having to do with high school during those years.

Many of the people who attended were not very nice to me 50 years ago, or even on Saturday night.

I had people at the table I sat at that did not speak to me at all, giving more credence to their knives and forks than they did to me.

People also spoke over me--one on the right side of me, the other on the left, with me the proverbial "monkey in the middle"--and yes, it was truly uncomfortable.

Once I moved onto college, and later, graduate school, I got back to where i was prior to my high school years.

My social skills kicked in, my grades returned to normal, and I pretty much put high school very quickly behind me.

But as for the reunion ...

At this event, there simply was absolutely no "connective tissue" with my fellow graduates there, nothing to collectively speak about, nothing that joined me at the hip with any of these people.

I did have one or two.people who pushed me to go up to people there, but honestly, it was all hollow.

I spoke to one fellow, in particulsr, who was nasty to me all those years ago, and he was equally as dismissive all these years later.

I even refused to be part of a group photo. I mean, I felt no connection to these people 50 years ago--

Why should I feel.any connection now?

There was one nice touch.

The organizers set up a section of those graduates who had left us.

it was in a table in the back of the room, with each one of these grads highlighted by their high school photo and a light for remembrance.

I went up and down the rows, and much like the living graduates, I didn't recognize any one of these people--

But then I saw one girl whose name I remembered.

She was in a couple of my classes and was always pleasant to me, nothing more, nothing less.

I then saw a name of a fellow who was just the opposite to me all those years ago.

He was nasty, condescending, a druggie who stole my brand new winter jacket right out of my locker way back when, and then the very next day, had the nerve tp proudly wear this jacket, parading wearing it in front of me to make sure I would see it.

The school would not do anything about it, so my mother had to go out and get me another jacket.

When I saw his name as one of those who had departed us, I instinctively shouted out, "GOOD!"

I quickly took it back, but taking it back or not, I meant what I originally said.

I attended because of my son, and once I had my meal and had dessert, i flitted out of there--with my commemorative coffee mug--without a trace.

I doubt anyone missed me.

I have to say the organizers worked hard to get this all together, and they get kudos from me for their efforts.

But honestly, I was a fish out of water at this event, felt very uncomfortable, and when I could, I left, driving home in the pouring rain.

I will bet that I was probably the first one to leave.

Having been one of the organizers of the Rochdale Reunion 11 years ago, I know what goes into such an event, and to me, that is the only reunion that is important to me, or will ever be important to me.

My high school reunion was simply a blip on my personal radar screen, something I felt I had to attend because of my son's predicament.

So in my own way, I successfully filled in all the boxes of my game plan on Saturday night--

But it brought me back to a time and a place that made me uncomfortable, and one that I hope to never go back to again.

Those horrid four years are nothing but a blur to me at this point in my life--

And I want to keep it that way.

Rant #3,777: The Time It Is Today

Well, once today is over, Saturday is the big day, as I venture off to my 50th high school reunion in the evening.

I am absolutely not looking forward to it.

As I described to you numerous times, I was the "new kid on the block" im high school, moving to Massapequa just prior to the beginning of high school from Queens.

I really never fit in from the get go, pretty much never did for those horrible four years, and having to go through it all again, even for just a few hours, is nothing to look forward to.

I looked down the list of the alumni who will attend--around 100 out of 500 actual 1975 graduates--and maybe one or two names sparked even the scantest of memories.

Otherwise, I didn't know these people 50 years ago, so why should I want to meet up with them now?

As you know, i am going to this thing not to meet up with people again, but to meet up with the RIGHT people--

For my son.

This fellow graduate of Massapequa High School.has had zero luck in finding a job, and I figure it is time to venture "outside the box" as he pursues his job search.

I willnl be bringing his resume to the event, and I figure that if I can meet up with just one or two people that might be able to help him, it will be time--and money--well spent.

If not, well, I can eat and run.

No one will miss me anyway.

Heck, it is worth a try.

By doing this, at least we can say we have done everything we could do in his job pursuit, less standing butt naked in the middle of the Long island  Expressway holding up a placard stating "Hire My Son."

It has been a very, very long eight months of this craziness, and if we have to do something crazy like this to secure him something, why not?

Maybe one of my few alumni who I didn't say a word to 50 years ago can say the right words to me this time.

Wish me luck.

Have a great weekend, and I will tell you how it went on Monday.

(And I will also have a little surprise for you --stay tuned!)

Rant #3776: Time

I have absolutely no time today.

I have to finish up my work today--including coverage of that infernal meeting--I have to drive my son to work and drive him back--yes, he still has that pne, four-hour workday--we both need to get haircuts, and I have my own work to do, too.

Sorry, today is going to be another "Reading Thursday," but I promise, I will make it up to you on Friday.

So without further ado, here is the next chapter of my novel, and I hope that you enjoy it.

36



Abraham Lincoln Panim read the plaque over and over to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. After a few minutes of doing this, he heard a door open, and saw his mother come out of the room.



The nurse went over to her, as Mrs. Panim looked clearly distressed, crying and shaking as the nurse led her to the couch to sit down.



“Can I get you something, m’am, maybe some water to calm you down?” said the nurse to Mrs. Panim.



“No, no,” Mrs. Panim said through tears. “I will be OK.”



“I pretty much expected your reaction. Mr. Panim is pretty sick, and he has been that way for awhile,” the nurse replied. “If you need anything, let me know.”



Abraham Lincoln Panim rushed over to his mother, but the nurse stood between him and his mother.



“It is your time to see your father. Are you ready to see him now?” the nurse asked.



“Yes, yes,” Abraham Lincoln Panim said, as he put his hands through his hair again.



“Do you have a mirror? I need to make sure—“



“This is not a beauty pageant,” the nurse replied. “Go in like you are.”



Abraham Lincoln Panim followed the nurse to the door, and as he did, he instinctively pushed up his scarf over his face, exactly as he had worn it when he had a rat face.



The nurse opened the door, and Abraham Lincoln Panim entered. He looked to the left, and his father was lying on what looked like a large hospital bed, with tubes and nozzles coming out of seemingly every part of his body.



With all the machinery covering his father, he could barely see his father’s face, and barely could see his eyes.



“Abraham Lincoln Panim, please come closer to me so I can see you,” his father said, and his son moved closer to him so he could see him better.



“How are you doing dad?” Abraham Lincoln Panim asked.



“I can barely hear you,” Mr. Panim said in a very breathy voice. “Why do you have that scarf over your face?”



“Well—“



“Please take it off. Your mother told me all about it, and I know all about what you look like now.”



“Abraham Lincoln Panim almost ripped the scarf off his face, and it dropped to floor, exposing his full face to his father to see.



“So dad, what do you think?”



“What do I think about what?”



“What do you think about how I look? Aren’t I—“



“That is not important now,” his father said, followed by numerous coughs. Abraham Lincoln Panim was ready to go out to get the nurse, but the coughing stopped.



“I’m doing as good as I possibly could be, with all of these things coming out of me,” his father said. “Now tell me about you.”



“Dad, you still haven’t told me how I look.”



“Well, I will answer that when you tell me how I look.”



His father then started coughing again.



When the coughing stopped, Abraham Lincoln Panim asked his father, “Why did you leave--”



“I was a coward,” his father said through more coughing. “I saw you as me, going through a good part of your life with a rat face. I remember what I went through … I just could not do it again.”



“So you just left us? I never knew you, but do you know what you did to mom?”



“Yes, I do. I really do. And I was sorry, I told her so today. You don’t know how many times I wanted to come back to the two of you, but I just couldn’t. I was scared, I was a coward. I thought that the money I sent each month made up for me not being there, but I was a fool. I missed out on so much.”



“And we missed out, especially mom. Do you know we used to walk in the park when I was a kid, and I always thought she was looking for you when we were there. You said in your letter to us that you often saw us from afar in the park. Why didn’t you ever come up to us, contact us … I mean, you were so close.”



“Yet so far,” his father said, followed by more coughs. “In my mind, I was thousands of miles away from you, even though there were times I was just a few feet from the two of you. I am just so sorry for what I have done to both of you.”



There was a pause in talking, and then Abraham Lincoln Panim said, “Now dad, what do you think about me … your are ‘impressed,’ aren’t you--?”



“Look, I know that you became a teacher. Mom says that you are a good teacher. That is really what I am concerned about. You became a—“



Before his father could finish his sentence, he began to cough uncontrollably, and the nurse came into the room, walking over to Abraham Lincoln Panim.



“I am sorry, but his health is very bad,” she said in a whisper. “I can only give you a few minutes with him. He is weak. I can’t give you any more. Please say your goodbyes and meet your mother in the foyer.”



Abraham Lincoln watched the nurse go back out the door, and when she left, he said to his father, “Dad, what did I become? Please let me know, what did I become?”



The nurse peaked her head through the door. “Young man, you have to leave now.”



“But dad did not finish what he was saying—what did I become dad, what did I become?”



The nurse came over to Abraham Lincoln Panm, put her hand firmly and forcefully on his shoulder, and tried to lead him out of the room. He resisted.



“I just want to know what my father said I had become. That is all I want to know.”



“Look, I am sorry, you must leave now,” the nurse said. Mrs. Panim, much more composed than before, came into the room, and she had to lead her son out.



As they left the room and the nurse closed the door, Mr. Panim, still thinking his son was in the room, said in almost a whisper,



“A success.”



Mr. Panim coughed some more, and then closed his eyes.



Abraham Lincoln Panim and his mother never heard what Mr. Panim said, as the door had closed behind them when he answered his son’s question.



“What was I, what was I?” Abraham Lincoln Panim continued to scream out as his mother put her hand on his shoulder.



“Keep that thought. Maybe the next time we visit, your father will answer you,” she said to her son.



The nurse turned to them as she showed them out the door.



“If there is a next time,” she said, as Mrs. Panim and Abraham Lincoln Panim walked out the door and walked home.



They didn’t say a word between them.

Rant #3,775: "Julia"

I remember that way back when, almost 60 years ago, there was a supposedly groundbreaking TV show that you just had to watch, in particular if you lived in a community like I did.

The show was "Julia," and it starred Diahann Carroll as a nurse in a dental office raising her son as a single parent, as she was a Vietnam War widow.

The sitcom ran from 1968 to 1971, was pretty much a light comedy, and otherwise, it was really nothing with nothing.

But in 1968, it was revolutionary 

Carroll played perhaps the first regular black character in a sitcom who was a bit more than just a stereotypical part of the cast.

She was the show's star, worked in a position other than a maid, and she spoke her mind on numerous issues germain to the time period.

Nearly 60 years later, you cannot imagine how groundbreaking this show really was.

Of course, Carroll was beautiful and talented, but it went way beyond that.

She was shown as a regular person trying to make ends meet, like all of us do.

She lived in an integrated apartment complex. Her son's best friend was white, and most importantly, Julia was on the same plane and level as everyone else, and equal to everyone else.

I lived in Rochdale Village in South Jamaica, Queens, back then, an integrated development where, at least for a couple of years, we lived as the real-life neighborhood representation of the world "Julia" portrayed.

I just remember that it seemed everyone in the 20-building development--my family too--watched the show when it premiered on NBC, and the next day, everyone was talking about it, like we all talked the day after The Beatles were on "The Ed Sullivan Show" for the first time, just a few years earlier.

Everyone could relate to the Julia character, no matter what color, what background or what ethnicity you were.

And Carroll, just a few years before she became even more of a household name as Dominique Deveraux in "Dynasty," was terrific in the title role, although after two seasons, she wanted more.

Evidently, Carroll tired of playing such a "goody goody," and in the final season, the show had her leading protests and rabble rousing a bit more--which turned off both white and black viewers, leading to its cancellation.

Why do I bring this all up?

Yesterday, I did my work and had a few moments to riffle through my records to look for one to digitize 

For whatever reason, I went through the "Cs" of my 45 RPM singles collection, and what record hit my eye?

A single from kid actor Mark Copage.

He played Julia's son Corey in the series, and his best friend, you might remember, was Michael J. Waggedorn, the neighbor's kid.

Of course, Carroll had a long and successful musical career, but Copage had this 45, although I do believe he is on a couple of other recordings made perhaps just prior to or just after the "Julia" years.

"Will It Be Me" was the "A" side, a sugary pop confection that bore absolutely no resemblance to what Michael Jackson was putting out in 1971.

The "B" side, "Who Can I Turn To (For Questions and Answers)," is more of the same, and the single tanked as "Julia" was itself fading from view.

Copage went on to an off and on career as a director and actor, and at 63 years of age, he is still active.

But that single ...

As you can see above, he was a cute kid, but music--or at least vocally--was not his forte.

Funny, I bet you hadn't heard the name "Marc Copage" for decades before I brought it up here ...

But needless to say, he once was one of the stars of one of the most important sitcoms of its generation, becoming the first black kid star on TV.

Interesting that that baby face was looking right at me, isn't it?

He won't help me today, as i have another infernal meeting to cover, so my day is shot ...

But at least I have that Marc Copage record in my collection to listen to when I get a chance.

https://youtu.be/KG5cQUXqoY0?si=srSg4z5d3Xiqs-TE

Rant #3,774: Sledgehammer

Labor Day wasn't too laborious for myself or my family.

We pretty much didn't do much of anything yesterday.

I did have a little bit of work to do, but other than that, I guess I can say the highlight of the day was actually doing nothing.

But one actual highlight was watching, witj my son, the WWE's wrestling show, Monday Night Raw, in the afternoon, on Netflix.

So, instead of it being on at 8 p.m. as it normally is, the more than two-amd-a-half hour show was on at 2 p.m. EST, because the show took place in Paris, France, so there is a five-hour difference in time between here and there.

The WWE has been in Europe the last several days, and they had a pay-per-view event there on Sunday, which was again broadcast during our afternoon.

The WWE has become a true worldwide phenomenon, and its future pay-per-views will be on ESPN.

And then you have two other major wrestling organizations, AEW and TNA, with their own broadcast schedules 

It really is a whirlwind, and I leave it up to my son to keep track of all of this for me.

In a funny way, watching wrestling on TV is very relaxing for me, allowing me to wind down whether it is in the evening or during the day.

It almost made me forget that yesterday was the fifth anniversary of my actual forced retirement, a day that will forever live in my personal infamy.

It also is helping me to forget that September 5 is the second anniversary of my mother's passing, and on September 7 is the fifth anniversary of my father's passing.

And the Jewish High Holy Days are also coming up in a matter of days, too.

So say what you want about pro wrestling, but for me, it acts as a calming influence, taking me away from the almost seemingly constant tumult that has defined my supposed retirement.

I "get" pro wrestling, have since I first watched it with my friend, Howie, on UHF TV back in 1965 or so--on the Spanish channels and with more snow on the screen than falls at the North Pole--and it hasn't changed much over the years--

It is just on a bigger stage now, but the "1-2-3" still means the same thing, whether you are talking about 1965 or 2025.