Anker Management

Used to be when I'd travel by plane, I'd bring a book, a stack of magazines, a large bottle of water and of course, I was able to wear shoes with laces. Obviously, there's a new world order and traveling means I have to stay in touch with everyone at all times! Besides hauling my Mac Book, I now bring my iPhone, iPad, slide on shoes and because of TSA restrictions, no water bottle.

I'm not phased by dehydration. Like most travelers, my fear of all fears, is that my electronics will lose their power, while in midair! I get the shakes at being left with no phone to tell my family, friends and colleagues that I'm waiting on a line or bored. I also shudder at having no books, magazines or emails from work to read. After all, without any power, I am a broken man - dehydrated, staring at my slip ons.

I'd heard that external batteries were an option but thought they were expensive, bulky and not dependable. After hearing my son Alex rave about his battery pack, I decided to read some independent reviews and take a cyber stroll to Amazon. Review after review highlighted Anker's superb quality, reliability and features. However, my foremost reason for going with Anker was their excellent  customer service. I noticed that if in fact there was a negative review, Anker remedied each and every malady. As a result of my research, I decided to order the Anker, 2nd Gen Astro, 6000mAh Portable Charger (2A Output) for $29.99, at Amazon.

Looks: In about two days, I received the Anker, 2nd Gen Astro and the biggest surprise was how small the battery was. While I knew this model was portable, I had no idea it would be smaller and  lighter than my iPhone 5. Another feature was the black matte rubber finish which is both good looking and felt solid in my hand. The Anker also came with a handsome padded, nylon-stretchy pouch. The Anker fits nicely in either my briefcase or jacket pocket.

Performance: The Anker comes with a micro USB cable and can be charged, via your computer or with a number of plugs that accommodate a USB cord.  The only exception was my iPhone charger. For some odd reason, when I used my iPhone charger, the Anker's light would flash wildly and not take a charge. However, when I used my other electric charger (Non-Apple), the Anker charged beautifully. Out of the box,  the Anker came charged and filled up in about twenty minutes. When completely empty, the Anker charged in about three hours, even though the instructions stated six hours. An LED circle light alerts you to the existing power levels and turns off, when charging is complete. Once charged, the Anker goes into sleep mode and can be turned on with a slight shake. With the Anker fully charged, I went on a tear, charging almost anything in sight! I charged my iPhone 5 (With 9% power remaining), Garmin 410 Forerunner GPS Watch (30% power remaining), iPod Nano (Empty), iPod Shuffle (Couldn't determine the remaining power) and iPad Mini with Retina Display (8% power remaining). The Anker charged up the iPhone, iPod Namo and Garmin 410 without a hitch and each, in about an hour and a half. The only problem was with the iPod Shuffle.  For some odd reason, I seem to believe there are some cable compatibility issues with the shuffle. As for my iPad Mini, the Anker finally ran out of juice.  I would like to add that the charging times are approximations and were not scientifically timed. In my opinion, the charging times were impressive.

Regrets: I have to admit, I wholeheartedly recommend  the Anker, 2nd Gen Astro, 6000mAh Portable Charger (2A Output). The charger is inexpensive, good looking, portable, easy to use and will charge your phone, as well as most portable electronics. My only regret is that I didn't purchase the more powerful Anker 2nd Gen Astro2 9000mAh Portable Power Bank Backup External Battery Charger Rapid-Recharge (3A Output) Dual-Port. This bad boy can charge any two electronic devices and only costs $36.99!

 

A Warm and Fuzzy Mitt

From the start, I could never understand why Mormons were anything to be afraid of. Sure, people fear what they don't understand.  However when you grow up in New York City, there are a barrage of things you should be afraid of and thankfully, seeing a Mormon on the street isn't one of them.

My past dealings with Mormons wasn't very different from most New Yorkers. I would see them riding on mountain bikes in depressed neighborhoods, spreading their gospel.  Nothing about them appeared frightening. How could they be? They were always clean cut, blond and donned in neatly pressed white shirts and black pants. They never bothered anyone or swiped your iPhone. The few Mormons I met later in life, led me to believe they were model citizens. Therefore, why was it such a big deal that a Mormon might become the next president of the United States?


Besides being too rich and too Northern, being Mormon was the other reason why voters and the Republicans never connected with Mitt Romney. The newly released Netflix documentary, Mitt, appears to be an attempt to convince us that there is another side to Mitt and just maybe, we should have voted for him.

Mitt begins with the painful realization that he lost the election to President Obama. While Mrs. Mitt and the five-sons-Mitt, do their awkward best to comfort him during this loss, Mr. Romney nonchalantly responds by asking if anyone has the President's telephone number, so that he can concede.


The film then takes us back in time, before his run for the Republican nomination. Mr. Romney, with legal pad in hand, directs his family members to articulate the pros and cons of running for president. Right from the start, his wife interjects that she doesn't want him to run.  His family then all chime in affirming that they're not too crazy about the idea either. After all, being the leader of the free world comes with incredible amounts of pressure and an annoying loss of privacy.  Regardless of their reasons, they all surrender to their sense of duty and decide America would be a better place with Mitt the Man, in the White House. As we all know,  John McCain wins the Republican nomination and chooses Sarah Pailin as his running mate. The result of this misstep results in hilarity, a second career for Tina Fey and of course, the first African American President.

The next scene opens with his 2008 acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. After this scene, there are a slew of "behind the scenes" meetings with family members. Eventually, we get to see how Mr. Romney responds to his victories, (His first debate against the President.) as well as his defeats and frustrations. (The second debate.)

I must admit Mitt succeeds at demonstrating how decent, caring, loving and bland Mr. Romney and his family are. Regardless, my problem with Mr. Romney has everything to do with the fact that I couldn't connect with him. After all, he, nor his family and friends look anything like my family and friends. We don't drive the same car, share the same values about work or money. (I'm not opposed to having his money.) Again, I came away feeling like he was a nice guy but not someone I could have a beer with. (Mr. Romney doesn't drink, either.)  This disconnect is reinforced by the fact that there are very few people in the film who are hispanic or brown. Case in point: I don't feel any better watching Mr. Romney's son giving a speech, in broken Spanish, to a small group of latinos in Florida. His other  brief interaction with minorities is with a group of African Americans at a fast food restaurant. Yes, Mr. Romney and the Republican Party have a lot to improve upon, in the matter of minority placement.

By the end of this documentary, I am left wondering why this film is being released now. Of course, the obvious reason is that Greg Whitely, the film's director and producer wants to see his multi-year film project come to fruition. Yet, could this film also be a way to measure how the public feels about Mr. Romney? This film, along with his recent "Slow jamming the news" appearance on The Jimmy Fallon Show, seem to hint that we may be seeing more of "The Mitt-ster"  in the near future.

Even Super Heroes Grow Old

My son Alex can best be described as a card. I say this because I can never quite get a fix on what he's thinking.

Regardless of my inability to guess what's on his mind, he often says and does things that make me wonder whether there's a message or purpose behind his actions or just a need to throw a head fake; just to see if I'll wince or move in the direction he wants me to. Case in point, he recently emailed me, The Life and Times of an Aging Superhero Captured in Oil Paintings by Andreas Englund.  

My first impression of the generic, aging hero depicted in the series of oil paintings was that it was comical, realistic and extremely attractive. Naturally, I also felt that sending me these paintings was his "modus operandi" which is also part of his "charm". As he often does, he chides me and calls me old and reminds me that I'm set in my ways. To a large extent, I agree with the notion that I am less young and less likely to embrace all things unfamiliar to me. I also concur that like most people, I proceed through life with a degree of caution that is in line with the degree of successes and failures that I have faced in my life.

My response to Alex about these paintings was a hearty laugh and I expressed that I absolutely loved them.  Oddly enough, my feelings about these portraits did not diminish. As with most things sent to me via the internet,  I would look at them once or twice and then forget they exist. In contrast, I saved this link and found myself looking at them, once or twice a week. I would examine the face of the aging hero and I soon discovered a certain dignity and serenity, as well as a sense of pride in his face. Despite these evident qualities, there was no arguing that the world around him remained a tough one.  The facts remained that he was a getting older. I also couldn't help wondering if there were any regrets in his choice  of wanting to make the world safer from the perils of evil. To complicate matters further, evil always seemed to be getting younger and in many ways, never going away.

Looking at these scenes, as much as I did, I couldn't help relating to them in a personal way.  After all, how many times have I felt myself fighting the endless fight? There's also the constant reminder that the world is changing around me and new perils are lurking somewhere in a dark corner, ready to engage me in battle. However, pretty much like the generic hero, I acknowledge finding a certain dignity, serenity and pride every time I look into the mirror. Yes, there are a few more lines on my face than I remember and it's taking me a while longer for my body to recover but forge ahead I must. After all, this is the life I've chosen.

After this long self examination, I am left wondering if this is the message Alex was trying to convey to me.

President Christie, We Hardly Knew Ye....

I'm pretty sure that outside of New York and our immediate metropolitan area (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut), most people have little idea the George Washington Bridge exists.

Many of those familiar with this crossing know it as the bane of their daily existence. To others, it is the ultimate obstacle in either their escape to, or from New York. These heartfelt emotions have everything to do with the fact that this New York / New Jersey gateway is almost always snarled with congestion, lane troubles and never ending construction. Most savvy New Yorkers know better and are no where near the streets of the city, leading to this bridge on any given Friday afternoon or holiday. Our view of this bridge is best captured by our favorite New Jersey hero, Bruce, "The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive."   

Well, it seems as if Governor Christie will now share the common man's view of this bridge as both, "a death trap and a suicide rap" and most of us are left wondering if he'll be one of those Republican tramps who will be, "Born to Run," for president in 2016. 

My own feelings about Governor Christie are at best, ambivalent. I know my view of Christie is at odds with most people who see him as one of the most polarizing figures in today's political landscape. In short, people either love or hate the guy. However, my admiration for him grew because I cannot remember the last time I saw a politician actually do something positive, in the interest of those who needed help. In short, he ignored the partisan politics and welcomed President Obama, during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Needless to say, he also has a reputation for chastising just about anyone who disagrees with him. However, I've always felt that New Jersey is a tough place to govern and as a result, New Jersey needs a tough governor. 

Regardless of your political views or feelings about Christie, I've included both of these New York Times articles because they seem to mirror my own ambivilance about Christie. The first one, "Christie's Apology, Done His Way" clearly illustrates how Christie does everything - BIG. Despite the bigness of his emotions, during his BIG, two hour press conference, you can't help but feel that he was a BIG victim of circumstance.  Whereas, the next article, "Stories Add Up as Bully Image Trails Christie," falls in line with those who feel Christie is a bully and of course, is a small and petty man.

Enjoy and be good!

The Apple iPad Mini with Retina Display of My Eye

New York City appears to be out of sync for me this morning. There's an unusual hush on the streets, as a result of the fresh snow. The few cars or trucks that pass are muted, as if driving on foam.

The schools are shut down, the temperature outside is at 20 degrees, the airports are closed and I'm nursing myself back to health, after a lousy holiday chest cold. Even though I did feel miserable for a few days, I do feel lucky because this episode wasn't complicated by the usual sinus infection. Although I haven't confirmed my cold recovery routines with the experts, what seems to work for me is staying away from the bike or trainer, staying on the couch for hours reading or eyes glazed over watching TV, keeping a window open while sleeping and taking in large quantities of food and liquids.

This time around, being locked up in the apartment got me thinking about 2013. I have to say the year had been an incredibly good one for customer service related stories.  The one that stands out is the extremely positive outcome I had with The Apple Store.

Throughout the years, I've owned a Mac desktop, MacBook, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, Apple TV, Apple AirPort Extreme, Apple iPhone 5 and most recently, I received the gift of an iPad Mini with retina display.  My wife owns an iPad with Retina Display and our three adult children own a MacBook, MacBook Pros, AirPort Extreme and iPhones 4S, 5 and 5S. My first Mac was a Mac LC and I truly loved the simplicity and inherent intuitiveness of the operating system and programs. This Mac was also a favorite of the kids, when they were growing up. Back then, however, the early days of owning a Mac was pretty much a leap of faith. Things often did go wrong and you didn't have the benefit of taking the machine to an Apple store. You were often left taking your albatross to an authorized retailer. If you were lucky, you and the kids were left without a computer for only weeks.

Fast forward to the future and along with Starbucks, the first sign that you live in a civilized society is that there's an Apple Store near you. These stores define what I can only describe as the ideal retail community experience. First, they are beautiful to look at, they are filled with staff who are knowledgeable, well trained and customer focussed. Besides offering their entire Apple line-up, they also feature a wide variety of  accessories, software and peripherals.

My most recent excellent adventure with the Apple Store began late November, when I decided to order my iPad Mini with retina display.  I had been holding out to replace my Kindle for about a year, sustaining myself on the hope and rumors that Apple was in fact introducing a mini with a high definition display. All of the Mac websites were predicting a release date, some time after Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, Apple quietly announced and made them available for on-line order and pick-up on November 12. Upon hearing the news, I immediately placed the order on-line and elected to pick up the mini at my local Apple Store at Ridge Hill. After receiving my confirmation, my wife and I headed to the store and in about half an hour, I was the very first person walking out with the latest iPad Mini. Of course, missing were the lines of staff and strangers applauding my great retail triumph but I was flying high, nonetheless.

For approximately two weeks, I played with my new toy and quickly became accustomed to the engineered beauty of the device and the seamless operating system. The new device, along with my iPhone 5, became my "go to" devices. I use my mini for: iMessaging, as a TV remote control, paying bills, surfing the web, banking, viewing photos, making purchases, retrieving email, reading the New York Times and reading books. I haven't opened any of the iWorks programs and I still use my MacBook for work and complex activities. My plans are to take a course or two at the Apple Store and possibly use it at work but for the moment, I'm in no rush. A few folks at the store pointed out that I would notice the crispness of the screen, when playing games. As is my custom,  I could only respond that I don't play games and as usual, I drew quizzical stares.

Within this time, my wife had forwarded an email to me from the Apple Store indicating they were crediting us $412.00, because we did not pick up the reserved iPad Mini. They further added that if we wanted to purchase the device, all we had to do was make another reservation and pick it up at the store, if they were in stock. My wife and I gave each other a few looks and I explained that perhaps, we had been mistakenly debited twice and they were crediting us for the error. Regardless, I advised she contact her credit card company, just to make sure. She did manage to call the credit card company and they confirmed that her card had been correctly debited once and then, Apple had credited her card for the same amount. She explained to them what had happened and they responded that at this point, we did not have to do anything. After hashing out the situation, neither of us felt comfortable not paying for the item. For better or for worse, we both felt a personal kinship with Apple and felt cozy within the warmth of our Apple environment. After all, we had been given years of pleasure and it just felt wrong; like stealing a wad of cash from your mother's purse. I also wanted to add AppleCare to my mini and I was wincing at the idea of getting arrested at the door because the item may have been reported stolen. Finally, we felt the pressures of an Apple Karma of sorts. In short, I imagined all of our wonderful products exploding simultaneously!

Armed with my iPad Mini, printed emails and receipts in hand, we dashed off to the Apple Store. Once there, we were greeted by several of the staff and led to the back of the store to meet with the manager. We then explained the entire situation to her and showed her the iPad, emails and the receipts. With eyes widened, her first response was that something like this had never happened before and additionally added that nobody had ever come into Apple claiming they had not been charged for an item. We assured her that neither of us felt comfortable knowing we were getting pleasure from something we had not paid for. She then directed us to a corner of the store and asked us to wait for a few minutes, while she research the situation. We noticed a flurry of activity, as a result of this errant iPad. Throughout the waiting process, a slew of employees stopped by to speak with us and ask questions. A number of them shook our hands or patted me on the back. Approximately, fifteen minutes later, the manager came over to say the store had made an error and we did NOT have to pay for the iPad. With both of our mouths open in awe, she explained that there had been a glitch in the system and as a result of the error, the iPad had been written off as missing.  As a result of the device being written off, our credit card could not be charged again. She then thanked us and shook both of our hands. We were both numb and finally, assured her that we would continue to spread the gospel, according to Apple!

In the midst of the confusion, I suddenly remembered I had wanted to purchase the AppleCare and as soon as I did, we left the store. Suddenly, my Apple iPad Mini, with retina display felt as new as when I had just pulled it out of the box, even though it had been in my hand all along. Man, did we feel good!    

Climbing the Walls Beats Out Super Pac!

If you're anything like me, I'm a bit fatigued by the daily jabs, gaffes and sometimes sheer lunacy of the Republican Primaries. However,  like a nasty car wreck on the highway, you can't help but look over to see what's going on.

President of the Moon too?

Within the last week alone, I've seen Mitt serenading a crowd of seniors in Florida with, "America the Beautiful." Not to be outdone, Newt has promised that his goal will be to make the moon our 51st state during his second term! Of course, a barrage of questions ran through my mind and the top three were: 1) What legal/illegal narcotic is he addicted to? 2) Is it actually legal to claim an orbital sphere as a state? 3) And finally, how did the moon jump ahead of Puerto Rico on the statehood line?

A terrific head of hair!

Another fascinating aspect of these primaries have been the millions of dollars the Super Pacs have been raising for their candidates. In short, Super Pacs are groups created by individuals or companies, in support of a candidate and they can raise limitless amounts of funds. However, one caveat is that it is illegal for the candidate to supervise or coordinate any of these group's  activities. As you might imagine, these groups are able to use their funds to pay for a vast array of campaign related expenses, as well as bombarding radio and television airwaves with ads, either lambasting or supporting a candidate. If you've been keeping up with the results of the primaries so far, the amounts of money have made an impact on the outcomes. Even though I was totally aware of the large sums of money, I had no idea about the actual dollar amounts until this morning. Therefore, I've attached a link to a neat little graphic featured in this morning's  New York Times called, "Who's Financing the 'Super Pacs.'" Besides specifying the amounts of money each group has raised for their respective candidate, you'll also discover the group (s) and individuals supporting all of the Super Pacs.

Super Pac Man!

If you're a Colbert Report fan, you'll want to pay particular attention to the monies his Super Pac group has raised! The fact that he's created his own Super Pac and has been focussing his comedy routines on the bizarre and obscure rules surrounding Super Pacs have shed a light on the obvious need for reform!

Finally, Trampoline's New Frontier is a beautiful and amazing feature on making trampoline wall climbing an olympic sport. After seeing this video, I truly agreed with the notion that these individuals are incredible and disciplined athletes.

Enjoy and be good!

The Bark Side

I hate sounding like a cynic but sometimes I just can't help myself.

The crux of my cynicism is centered on the fact that the extremely private George Lucas, has been featured just about everywhere you go. Could it be that all of the Lucas revelations, coverage and Star Wars teasers are related to the release of his upcoming movie, Red Tails?

The first hint I knew something was up was a while back during the year, when the folks at Volkswagen came out with the wonderful commercial, featuring a young Darth Vader trying to conjure up the powers of the force. In the end, his father gives him a little help. Since then, an extremely in-depth analysis was written in The New York Times Magazine.  This past Friday, he was interviewed by Charlie Rose on CBS This Morning. He will also share his home and thoughts with Oprah on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Again, what tickles me is how much we get to find out about someone who is notoriously private as Lucas. We learn how much he thinks Hollywood sucks, how tough a time he had financing his new movie about the Tuskegee Airmen, how much he wants to make "artsy" movies, his emergence as a behind the scenes political powerhouse and we even get to learn about his new girlfriend!

Regardless of how the publicity apparatus rolls, George Lucas seems like a good guy, just the same. I also hope that a movie like Red Tails does well and I do plan on seeing it some time in the near future.

Finally, one of the added benefits we get from the Lucas / Star Wars wave of publicity is another great Super Bowl commercial teaser from Volkswagen called the Bark Side! I'll enjoy the commercial even more if the Giants have a rematch with the Patriots....and with the same outcome!

Enjoy and be good!

The Umbrella Man

I can hardly believe it's been close to three months, since my last blog.

I want to be completely honest and say that I am not apologizing for not writing. One reason for not wanting to is I don't want to associate any sense of guilt with not blogging. After all, the agreement I made with myself back in August was that I was doing this blog thing just for me. In short, if I don't feel like blogging for three months, then so be it. And should my two loyal followers have any problem with my decision, they have every right to call me at home and / or leave cold, icy messages on my voice mail (Although, I'm a bit crushed they haven't).

Another reason for dropping the writing has been that I've been teaching,  as well as searching for "greener pastures." Finally, I was also caught up in the preparations for Thanksgiving and of course, Christmas and New Years. I've also been 'subbing" for absent teachers at the Welcome Center, and squeezing in as much cycling as I could, during this unusually warm winter. I also have to add that for some odd reason, I've been watching a whole lot more football (Let's go Giants?). I've also been reading books at a an unusually intense pace! Since November, I've been catching up with my reading and hopefully, I'll give my reactions or reviews about these books a bit later (The Life of Pi, Lance and Steve Jobs).

In the meantime, I wanted to comment about something I had read about in the New York Times a few months ago and I was again reminded about him, while driving earlier this morning - The Umbrella Man.

For those of us who were around or who have read about the JFK assassination, there was a time when people didn't walk around with video cameras in their cell phones (Cell phones/smart phones hadn't even been invented, actually!) and the only visual testimony we had of what happened on this earth shattering day in history was the Zapruder film.

Well as we all know, the theories behind the assassination are endless and everyone has their own idea about whether there was a conspiracy involved in the death of JFK or if Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. The pure irony of this event is that the most powerful man on the earth is murdered and close to fifty years later, there isn't a definitive answer about what really happened!  Furthermore, the more time we take to examine these events, the less we know about what actually happened.

Case in point, the Umbrella Man! For many of those who have examined the film, as the President's motorcade is approaching, there is the strange and eery appearance of a man walking with a black umbrella on that fateful but beautiful day in Dallas. Conspiracy theorists have conjectured that this man was part of the plot and perhaps was there to signal the shooter (s) or perhaps he was a shooter himself.

In this particular video, Josiah "Tink" Thompson offers an explanation and further understanding of the mysterious Umbrella Man. While his reasoning is not as juicy or provocative as what the Conspiracy Theorists might want to hear, what  he has to say seems to explain a lot about those random occurrences in our lives that often defy explanation.

Enjoy and be good!

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

As much as I wish I could, I can't seem to find the time to troll Youtube for  those videos that have gone viral. Essentially, the select videos I do get to see are sent to me by friends who seem to have more time to watch videos or from traditional and often dated sources like the Times. Yes, I admit to being behind the curve, when it comes to the new hot videos that everyone else is up on. However, thanks to the internet, I eventually get to see a few.

Warning: Quitting smoking
now greatly reduces
serious risks to your health.

One of the more recent videos to catch my attention was the one put out by the folks helping to elect Republican candidate Herman Cain. Upon viewing this Cain ad, two things came to mind: 1) The people running the campaign are asleep at the wheel or, 2) His people are absolute geniuses because they are well aware of the subtle notion that any attention, whether it's positive or negative, is good attention and naturally, everybody is talking about this ad.

I never listen to that guy!

The next video features these two engaging blabbering twin baby boys who are engaged in a five minute conversation. Most of the language they seem to use is based on a sophisticated series of "da-da-das". Early childhood language experts and those of you who have not seen this video will be delighted with what these two youngsters have to say. If you're like me,  you probably can't imagine or remember the last time you were so engaged in a conversation with anyone, no less one of your siblings!

Could this be the next big toilet idea?

Maybe it's a guy thing but nothing fascinates us more than electronics and toilets! Well, the fellas at the Times are brilliant and have done their best to combine these two manly passions! Yes, this is one expensive toilet, but if you're like me, you'll want to save up your pennies. A truly inspiring potty!

Still looks great!

Finally, I did manage to spend an entire two minutes on Youtube and came across this terrific new Beyoncé video. Besides the sociological and anthropological values that this video has, it also features cars, beautiful people and of course, dancing in the streets. I've come to the conclusion that this video represents a safe alternative, thus allowing us to escape our mundane lives....at least for two and a half minutes.

Enjoy and be good!

 

The Earth is Off Its Axis

It Don't Mean a Thing,
If You Ain't Got that Ring!

As I've mentioned in the past, when you're a Yankee fan, the expectation is not to get eliminated in the first round of the American League Championship Series. That's right, Yankee fans want nothing less than that championship ring!


Needless to say, I am disappointed but even Yankee fans have to move on. One of the few things that have taken my mind off the loss has been the meltdown in Boston. Like the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox are a terrific organization and if you're a true Yankee fan, you love seeing these two teams at their best and just going at each other, full swing. As a matter of fact, Yankee fans almost always expect to meet the Red Sox some time during the post season and there was no way any of us could have anticipated a Red Sox meltdown, at the end of the season. We do expect the Yanks to beat them down on the field but not a complete implosive meltdown! Well, for the past few weeks, Yankee fans have been scratching their heads in disbelief with what's going on in Red Sox nation. 

Pappi Yankee?
It Gets Even Crazier!

First, we learn that one of the best managers in baseball and the only man with enough "street cred" to bring Boston two championships in recent history is essentially being held accountable for the season flameout and is leaving. Soon after, we learn that Theo Epstein the wonder boy - G.M. also instrumental in assembling a viable Bosox teams worthy of bringing a nod of respect from Yankee fans, is leaving to become the Chicago Cubs G.M.! We then learn Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey were drinking beer, eating fried chicken and playing video games in the clubhouse during games at the stadium. As soon as I climbed back on my chair, I then discovered that Mr. Red Sox himself, David Ortiz does not want to be with the Red Sox next year, then adds he would even consider playing for the Yankees! Wait, wait, it gets even crazier!  Bosox owner, John Henry does't like what he hears about the team's treatment of Terry Francona (The now former Red Sox manager) on a radio talk show and decides to pop in, just to clear the air. While he does deny being instrumental in a smear campaign involving Francona, he does acknowledge having been against the deal to sign outfielder, Carl Crawford. At this point, I have no idea who would want to manage the Red Sox next year but my understanding is that Moammar Gadhafi might be the man for the job! I also suggest they all take a time out, break bread and let the light shine on them at Mama Sushi! 

The Next Red Sox
Nation Manager?

My daughter Candice, is vehemently opposed to what I'm about to say but even though the Yankees are not in the playoffs, every single game has been exciting to watch.  This time around, I'm been cheering for the team with the lowest payroll to win!


Another item that has kept my mind off the Yankee loss has been what's going on at Zucotti Park. Essentially, the prevailing sentiment of these protests are that the common man is really pissed off at Wall Street execs. Naturally, these feelings of discontent have to do with the downward spiral of the economy, the rise of unemployment, top CEOs getting richer, inept CEOs getting richer and finally, the middle class coming face to face with the "new normal" The New York Times also puts a face on two opposing members of this battle, in The Soft Drink Summit.  Photo Booth Slide Show Portraits, from the New Yorker also provides us with a look at who the protesters are. Many people I speak to are unable to see what the expected outcomes are for the protesters, while the rest of us acknowledge that this form of action is absolutely necessary and vital. When we view events like these, we need to remember that no one major event in history can be attributed to a singular action. For example, the collapse of the Berlin wall did not occur because people on both sides of the wall decided one day to start knocking it down. No, that event was a culmination and series of situations that took years to develop itself into a movement and ultimately, led to the demise of the wall. With regards to the protesters, I believe this too is just a small part in the machine that will bring about larger change.  


Finally, we bid farewell to one of the most influential people of our time, Steve Jobs. As someone who has owned and raised his children on macs, ipods and itunes (They've also raised me!), all of us have been deeply affected by his loss and the impact he has made on our lives.

On Location, The Yanks Versus the Tigers - Game 1

El Cid drops the guitar & picks up his Mac!

I've had my hands into a whole lot of things lately. As busy as I think I am, my son Cid Alex seems to be even busier. At the age of 24, he already has three years of college under his belt, plays for two bands, plays in a number of softball leagues, plays ultimate frisbee and still manages to have some semblance of a social life. I recently discovered he was going to the ALDS game 1, between the Yanks and the Tigers. My jealousy turned to pride when he agreed to be, "The Man On Location." Here's what he has to say about the game: 

For different people, October can mean many different things. To some, October signifies the coming of Fall. Leaves begin turning, the temperature drops, apple picking becomes a weekend activity. Others start getting ready for Halloween. All those nifty Halloween costumes begin hatching in early October. For me and the other loyal fan-base of eight successful Major League Baseball franchises, it only means one thing: Postseason Baseball. 

Now for the past two years, I have attended my first and second playoff games at the New Yankee Stadium, and I can assure you; there is nothing else like it. The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement. Every cheer and jeer is amplified at least twenty times louder than a regular season game. The fans understand this playoff tradition as well as the players. 

This is my third playoff game in 3 years. I bought tickets ($65) for Game 1, which was supposed to be played Friday night. You hear the commotion, as soon as you get off the subway. My buddy Pooch and I could both hear the buzzing coming from inside of the stadium. We’re like moths heading towards the light. “Let’s Go Yankees!”

Once inside the stadium, Pooch  and I go straight to the standing room only section, behind home plate. This is our tradition. Unfortunately for us, after 1½ innings, the game is tied at 1-1, and a heavy downpour delays the game. We are now like wet moths, huddled on top of a burned out light, trying to stay warm and dry by consuming more $12 beer. 

After another hour and a half, the game is called and rescheduled for the next day. Pooch and I head home, all tied up and buzz-killed. 

Game 1, Take 2

With a new guest (Pooch is on a plane and on his way to Greece), I head to the stadium. Now, the game begins where it left off, with Jorge Posada leading off in the bottom of the 2nd inning. 

With the game underway, I could bore you with the play by play but baseball is about what goes on between pitches. So here are some of my observations during the ALDS, Game 1. 

You count 'em!

1. One of my favorite games to play at the New Yankee Stadium is counting the advertisements. I give up every time. 
2. Jeter is a fantastic player. He made a spectacular relay throw, putting Detroit catcher Alex Avila out at the plate. I’m pretty sure nobody saw it coming except El Capitan himself. 
3. Whenever the stadium cameras browse the stadium, there are a few standard reactions. Either:

1. the fan starts cheering (“I’m on the big screen!”).
2. Or, the person has no idea and continues to do something utterly embarrassing (pick their nose, make a face, scarf down some sort of ballpark food, etc.). 
3. Or, the person has no idea and the person sitting nearby tells them they're on the big screen (they usually wave or look away scared).
4. I personally would do the "Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone" scream, until they cut to somebody else.

The Entrance Music

Home teams get to decide what music comes on when they step up to the plate; these are at most 30-second clips. Some players have one song the entire season. Mark Texiera has had “I Wanna Rock “ played his entire career as a Yankee. Jeter usually plays whatever the hottest hip/hop song is at the moment. Brett Gardner seems to get pumped up to country music (I’m not sure who it is he listens to, but maybe it explains the .260 batting average). Some players like to change it up, each at bat; so they give a mix-tape to somebody and tell them when to play what song. 

I know you’re wondering, so here’s my entrance music playlist for my 5 times at bat. Of course, I would be the leadoff hitter for the New York Yankees.

1^st At Bat - Where Ya Going – Gomez – The first 20 seconds of this song pumps me up every time. 

2^nd At Bat - Axilla Part 2 – Phish - One of Phish’s heavier songs, one of my favorites. 

3^rd At Bat - Thunderstruck – AC/DC – Nothing gets a crowd going like AC/DC.

4^th At Bat - When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin - The intro would sound amazing on the Yankee Stadium sound system. Every time I hear this song, I want to turn up the Volume to 11, no matter how loud it already is! 

5^th At Bat - Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta - Geto Boys-  This song is the perfect song to play at the end of a long hard fought game. It's super mellow, and would keep me calm under the most high-pressure circumstances. 

In my mind, I just went 5 for 5 with a walk off home run! Go me!

Back to the Game

The "Ruthian" Cano at the plate

1. Robinson Cano hit a grand slam in the 6^th inning. He’s a beast! Check out this Ruthian picture I took, literally 30 seconds before the blast!
2. The YMCA Song - With Detroit trailing 8-1 going into the 7^th, I realize how utterly annoying it must be (for the losing team) to watch the entire stadium, and the grounds crew jamming out to the YMCA song. I, however, am amused. 



The "Cheese" Brothers

3. Finally, the "Say Cheese Brothers…." These two SOB’s were in front of us and decided that anytime something important in the game happened, they would stand up and take a picture, while it was happening. Now, all their friends and family would know, they weren’t watching the game in their $175 playoff game seats, featuring a cast of at least 10 future Hall of Famers. 

The Sandman puts them to bed!

So the Yankees pulled off a 9-3 victory, despite having to bring in Mariano to clean up Luis Ayala’s mess and get the final out. I had a great time buzzing, cheering, jeering, and standing for the whole game. I  didn’t even once throw my beer at the "Say Cheese Brothers." Believe me, it was tempting. 

 ~ CR

Thhhheee Yannnkeeeees win!

Legends Are Born In October

As someone who is new to blogging, I have to admit, there are times when I get stuck on what to write about. While most people have trouble because they can't come up with anything to write about, I usually have too many things to write about. Between what I have to do for work and during my leisure time, I  just don't have enough time to write about everything I really want to.

For example, a list of items I've wanted to write about include:

1. A review of two new cycling bib shorts I recently purchased 
2. How to read and get the most from the blog you're reading
3. A video on Mariano Rivera's pitches
4. Some of the sites I see during my bike rides 
5. My first group ride (About 3 years ago)
6. An article or two from The New Yorker

Needless to say, if I read  a good article or visit a place worth mentioning,  I usually write about it. Though, more often than not, many of the things I decide to write about are unplanned.

Case in point is a terrific New York Time's article about none other than the voice of the Yankees, John Sterling. If you're a Yankee fan or for that matter, a New Yorker, you already know that John Sterling has been a fixture for years on Yankee radio. Quite a few of you might disagree with me but one of my favorite ways of enjoying a game is by listening on the radio. One of the reasons baseball on the radio is so great to listen to are the announcers. They have the ability to create a  beautiful mental picture of what's happening in the game. Don't get me wrong, I still do enjoy watching the game on my bright HD television at home; however, these talented announcers are great at creating the fantastic HD picture in my mind.

Besides reading The Voice of Baseball Draws High Ratings and Several Critics, I've also included the John Sterling Soundboard which features a small sampling of his calls. By the way, the soundboard is free and all you have to do is click the sound you want to hear. Of course, if you want to download any of the phrases for your mobile phone, all you have to do is pay extra (Please, don't misconstrue the inclusion of this site as an endorsement).

Someone I do highly endorse and I will certainly miss when he leaves the game is Mariano Rivera.  My daughter Candice and I were watching the Yankee - Tigers ALDS game together last night (We were texting Alex who was at the stadium. Paulette was doing what she does at BU. Candice was also texting her good friend and loyal reader, SoFia about the game). At one point,  the Tigers were making a nuisance of themselves because they suddenly decided not to go down for the last out. Yankees manager Joe Girardi walked out to the mound, almost annoyed and called in, The Sandman! Well, Mariano came in and tossed strike one, strike two and then strike three! Yep, the Yankees won and we never get tired of seeing or hearing that phrase.

Anyway, Candice was still glowing over Mariano's amazing game 1 performance this morning. Therefore, I decided to attach a video from the Times that pretty much pinpoints why he is arguably the most effective reliever in history. I hope you enjoy How Mariano Rivera Dominates Hitters, whether or not you're a Yankee fan.

Take care and be good! Oh, enjoy the post season too!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Being a proud and lifelong Bronx resident, how could I not be a huge Yankees fan? Of course, there are the record number of championships but you have to admit, it's also about the rich Yankee history, the extensive Yankee tradition and of course, the new beautiful ball park.

Certainly, the haters insist the Yankees buy themselves a great team every year.  My response to this argument is, if in fact this were true, then why haven't we won a championship every single year? After all, the Yankees have historically had one of the highest payrolls in baseball but the fact remains,  they haven't won every year. As most Yankee fans will readily admit, having a huge payroll doesn't necessarily guarantee a pennant but it certainly does better the odds. To be quite  honest with you, I see nothing wrong with spending huge sums of money on a winning team! My rationale is there isn't a single major league team in America that isn't charging a fortune for tickets or forcing their fans to sneak food into the park because they can"t afford to pay $8.00 for a hot dog! There is a pleasure in knowing that at the home of the Yankees, fans will pay $12.00 for bleacher seats and $8.50 for a hot dog but at least, there is a sense of serenity in knowing that our hard earned money could positively affect the outcome of another championship!

Thankfully, I didn't have to pay for our fantastic seats along the first base line. My good fortune was attributed to the fact that my son Alex had wanted to take me out to the stadium for my birthday. He knew that as much as I loved the Yankees, I still hadn't been out to the new place. Along with Alex,  his long time friend Laura came with us. At one point, they were each busy sipping away at their warm $10.00 beers and I was chugging on my water filled plastic bottle and noshing on the Nutella sandwiches I brought in from home. Every so often, I looked over and wondered how they could afford their lifestyles! I suppose in their own special way, they were helping out Alex Rodriguez. They're such good kids!  My son also knew how apprehensive I had been about this new stadium. After all, tearing down the old stadium was the equivalent of demolishing a cathedral. I have to say, they did a fantastic job with the new place and it definitely is a suitable home for the Yankees. Alex and I were already talking about taking a tour of the stadium, some time during the close of the season and making the pilgrimage out to Cooperstown.

Being at the stadium is a different experience than watching the game at home. The most obvious differences are I don't have to stand on a long line to go to the bathroom and I can't fall asleep on the couch. However, I've also noticed that when I'm home, I seem to be more in tune with the game. Whereas, there are a thousand distractions at the stadium and in many ways, they aren't necessarily bad. Of course, you're checking out the boards, the people walking by, the fans yelling and the routine movements of being at the stadium. Despite the busy stadium environment, there is also a pace to the game that seemingly contradicts the hustle and bustle. I'm talking about the time between at bats or pitches.  This lull allows you to turn over and talk about what's going on in and outside of the game. Of course, there aren't any time restraints in baseball and the game will end when the innings are over. In the back of my mind, there is a pleasure in knowing this is essentially the same game I went to with my dad and there's a good chance the game will be the same for my grandchildren.


Despite the threat of rain and being down to the Tampa Bay Rays 2 - 0, the Yankees managed to come from behind and won, 4 - 2. Best of all, we were able to see Mariano Rivera (a.k.a.: The Sandman!) pitch his 163rd save of his career! Even though all Yankee wins are special, this game was significant because the win gave them the chance to clinch a playoff berth (As if we had any doubt!). What baseball fan could ask for more?

Catching Up With An Old Friend, The New Yorker

Before going to bed, I usually watch the monologue on The Late Show With David Letterman. The monologue isn't always funny but I'm always entertained by Letterman's  quirkiness and sharp wit. Besides the obvious entertainment value, I learn a great deal about the news from the monologue.

For example, Letterman mentioned an extremely well written article from the NewYorker called, Getting Bin Laden. Essentially, the article details the true life moments of the SEAL team that assassinated Osama Bin Laden. Even though the article is eighteen pages long, the story reads well and is informative, as well as engaging. At one point, I felt as if I was in the helicopter, ready to climb down the speed rope and take out Bin Laden!

If you're anything like me, you'll want to read through the short stories and of course, the award winning cartoons. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by a video on an amazing art project! This particular Dutch artist creates something that is beautiful, inspired and almost spooky. Let me know what you think of Beach Creatures.

Enjoy and be good.

The Kids Are Alright

After a month or so of starting this blog, the idea that I can actually create a blog is beginning to set in with my children, family and friends. Don't get me wrong, not all of them are regular readers but they all have been eager about giving me suggestions.  While I admit to being somewhat sensitive to change, many of their ideas have been constructive and I've tried my best to implement as many changes as possible. I also have to acknowledge my everlasting affection for Candice's good friend Sofia because she has enjoyed, laughed and loved every single one of my blogs. 

Well, now that there is acceptance, it appears they want me to do tricks. The trick this time, as suggested by my lovely daughter Candice, was for me to be a music/video critic. So, along with her own pick, she encouraged Alex, Paulette, Gabriela, Chris and Sofia to pick out songs and artists for me to review.

Deep down inside, I know Candice gave me this assignment with the intent of making me insane. After all, there wasn't one title or artist that I did not have a problem with. I either thought she was giving me more than the number of allowed songs or I thought the artist was the song and visa versa. However, after two days of back and forth, I was able to determine who sang what and most importantly, I didn't renege on our deal. 

The criteria I use to review these songs is not at all scientific and is subject to my biases and opinions but I'm sure that's what everybody wants anyway. 

Candice's Pick (a.k.a. Funchi): Check It Out by Nicki Minaj and Will.i.am - I absolutely enjoyed this video! There, I said it! Overall, the video was slick and well produced  and I found myself tapping the beat. Mind you, I have minimal recollection of what was actually said and the well-heeled Nicki Minaj does spew a few obscenities but I've heard saltier language from the Bleecher Creatures at Yankee Stadium. For better or worse, cursing seems to be the gateway to communicating and expression these days. What I did find more troubling was a few of Will.i.am's not so subtle and robotic machinations. The essential message I took away from the song was the walls that had to be built, in an effort to deal with people who are resentful and jealous of her. These same feelings seem to hold true for Will.i.am. As clear cut as this message seemed to be, the verbal message seems to be at odds with what is going on in the video. The clip is centered on the performers dancing and singing in front of an all female Japanese audience (The entire audience is dressed in black and are wearing sun glasses!).

In the words of Nicki, it's, "Da done done!"

Alex' Pick (a.k.a. Yippy): All I Need by Jay Z - The minute I heard the ominous thumping, the fifty something year old Riverdale resident in me ran for cover behind the sofa and every so often, peeked over at the gangsta' sitting and grinning in his place. I couldn't help but crank up the volume and hope I was disturbing my wife and neighbors. Cuz, I guess I got my swagger back! 

I've always been of the mind that Jay Z has an uncanny ability to plug into every male's inner gansta. His rhythms are hard and primal,  and his words scream alpha male! Yes, I envision myself driving a blacked out Chrysler 300M, "Like we underground kings, ridin' dirty!" Overall, this particular Jay Z ditty is long, and packed with nuance, as well as complexity.

After viewing Nicki's video, my only disappointment was there wasn't one featuring this Jay Z's song. Just imagine the visuals to the words, "I blow smoke in your face, burn rubber off the rim tires." Yeah, yeah, yeah... 

Gabriela's Pick (a.k.a. Bleee): Cheers (I'll Drink to That) by Rihanna Featuring Avril Lavigne - Much like Nicki's, the video to this song was well produced and reminded me of a perfume commercial. And similar to the Nicki Minaj song, her voice was mostly synthesized. However, the results gave this song a surreal and ghostly effect (Despite the fact the song was about partying and drinking). 

The first dreamlike segment features Rihanna inside of what appears to be a giant pink flower. The flower eventually pollinates and Rihanna, elegantly dressed in pink, walks along a maze of bushes or the "good" road. She then proceeds to enter the "bad" road maze of bushes by walking through a sheet of glass. Of course, this passage from good to bad is followed by a change in outfit - from pink to black. Once she transitions into the dark side of the garden maze, three sets of well manicured male hands cover her eyes and the focus proceeds downward to her hand where she is holding a black tinted bottle of perfume. From this point on, the video follows her taking the same steps, only backwards. The video ends where she began - inside of the flower. The beat and rhythm of the song are pleasant and catchy but I did have to strain to understand what was being said. Again, the title and verses of the song had little if anything to do with the video and appeared to be more of a vehicle for a new fragrance. 

Chris' Pick (a.k.a. Bubba): Taboo by Don Omar - All I could do was scratch my head when I viewed and listened to Chris' choice of video and song. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the video and song. After all, it was well edited,  action oriented and the pace was fast and furious. The vocals were again, synthesized  but pleasant and rhythmic. What I couldn't understand was why Chris chose this song. After all, I've never heard Chris speak a work of Spanish or Portuguese. I kept asking myself, "Really?"

The video opens above the head of the concrete Christ, standing over what I believe to be San Paulo, Brazil. The camera then shifts to the well dressed Don Omar, singing in Portuguese and eventually, Spanish. At some points of the song, the vocals are so heavily synthesized that the two languages are almost meshed together as one. Our focus is then drawn to a beautiful blond woman at a party who seems to have had a romantic past with Don Omar, who had just arrived to serve her and her male companion drinks. What ensues is a mix of the Fast and the Furious 5 (Fast Five) , carnival, the streets of San Paulo, discos and Capoeira. One thing I've leaned about Chris over the years is he's a wild man and this video and song seem to confirm that notion!

Sofia's Pick (a.k.a. soFia): Bottoms Up by Trey Songz - Of all the songs given to me to review, this is the only song that is closely linked in meaning to the video. Nope, there isn't much room for argument here; the song is about partying, drinking and of course, bottoms up - both literally and figuratively! Both the song and video are fun, catchy and easy to listen to. Nicki Manaj is also featured and adds to the quick pace of the video.   

Paulette's Pick (a.k.a. La Grilla): Mirror by Lil Wayne, featuring Bruno Mars - With the exception of the Jay Z song, Mirror is the only song with true to life vocals. In short, no voices are synthesized or overly produced and as a result,  the emotions are truly heartfelt and lasting. In a nutshell, he sings about what he sees in the mirror. We eventually learn that he doesn't seem to be too happy about about what he sees.

Overall, the experience of reviewing these songs has been both enlightening and interesting. Throughout the process, I did my best to maintain an open mind and I tried not to think about the music/videos as either their type of music or mine. After all, I understand these are different times and everybody in the video is young enough to be a son or daughter of mine but regardless, many of the themes, concerns and emotions are essentially the same. The most positive aspect about the current music/videos provided to me was how articulate the artists were about the burdens of fame.  

Hope you've enjoyed the blog and be good.