Jeff Herz - My view of the World

Remember the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

2009-11-11T09:19:00.003-05:00

I would like to take a few minutes today to stop our regular activities and think about all those who have offered to give their lives or willing to put their life on the line in order to protect our country and defend our freedoms. From the dough-boys in the trenches of WWI, to the Greatest Generation of WWII, to those that fought courageously and valiant efforts of Korea and Vietnam, to our current generation of soldiers that have been involved in the first Gulf War and are now stationed here or abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan

From The Nation:

On the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th month, the guns of World War I fell silent. And a war that should never have been fought – arguably by anyone, certainly by Americans – was done.

Americans who know their history celebrate Veterans Day not to honor war, but to recognize the soldiers who died and the soldiers who survived the wars of the past – and, hopefully, to ponder the futility of abandoning George Washington's advice to avoid the entangling alliances of distant continents and the mortal combats of the kings and conquerers who intrigues Americans rejected when the United States revolted against monarchy, colonialism and the madness of empire.

From Don Russel in the Stamford Advocate

"The eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month" -- that was the way Armistice Day was described to us in school and at home -- the time and the day the Germans surrendered to the Allies of World War I.

At 11 a.m. we knew the time by blasts from the factory whistle at Yale and Towne. One could hear the Yale and Towne whistle in every corner of Stamford. It was the community signal for snow days -- no school, and other emergencies. But on this day it was the signal that everything stopped. Drivers emerged from cars and stood at attention facing east for three minutes. A brief blast from the whistle signaled people that the Stamford community parade was starting its line of march from what is now Washington Boulevard to Atlantic Street, past Old Town Hall to St. John's Park for the annual ceremony of remembrance. I remember from my childhood some of the fiery speeches by leaders and veterans of what was called "The Great War," which indeed it was. Pictures of Doughboys (the common name for soldiers in muddy damp trenches waiting to "go over the top" into battle and for most, sure death) were on the front pages of most newspapers.

Remember the 5th of November

2009-11-05T06:55:00.000-05:00

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God's providence he was catch'd,
With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip Hoorah !
Hip hip Hoorah !

A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope,
A farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down,
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar,'
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head,
Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.

Attention Stamford Voters; Board of Education Endorsements

2009-11-01T22:25:00.001-05:00

Net/Net, this year's election is a bit of a farce, since the city charter says the majority party (democrats) can have no more than 6 of the 9 seats, so that guarantees that at least 2 of the republicans (Pia, Olson or Pierre-Louis) running will win, even if they receive the least amount of votes. I guess they could win all 3 seats, but I seriously doubt that, since enough democrats will come out to vote in the Mayor's race to ensure one Dem will finish in the top 3.

In my opinion, Jerry Pia is a given, since he has name recognition, has been on the BoE in the past and is currently on the Board of Representatives. He is very experienced in the inner workings of the city and and might be able to help navigate the budget process more effectively and will fight to protect the schools educational needs

That leaves the only Olsen and Pierre-Louis as the remaining Republicans candidates of choice. Fred Pierre-Louis is very knowledgeable of the process, as he is a teacher in Naugatuck. He seemed smart enough in the debate I was at to say when he did not have enough information to answer a question, rather than try to sugar coat, and I can respect that intellectually. He supports middle school reform as he "is a doctoral student at U of Hartford and his research focuses on mixed ability, or heterogeneous, classes. A pilot project, done as part of his research, found that 14 low-achieving students placed in college prep courses came to think of themselves as college prep students." - Stamford Advocate

I dont know much about Olson, other than she is running on the same ticket as Pia and she could not attend the forum I attended as she claims she is sick with H1N1. She has gotten into a bit of hot water recently with the Catholic schools, since she claimed to have gotten sick as a nurse there, and has said that students at her school have contracted H1N1, though the Principal has denied any students have tested positive. Certainly rips her credible to shreds in my mind. She is also a former school nurse and health instructor in Stamford Public Schools, though I dont think this is sufficient enough to garner my support. The fact that she was unable to attend the forum I attended, sends a signal to me that she is not dedicated or committed in spite of being sick. This may not be a fair assessment, but all is fair in love, war and politics.

That leaves 1 seat for the 2 remaining democrats running. Polly Rauh has the greatest name recognition and is probably the most qualified and right now, and (imho) we need experienced people on the Board of Education to muddle through the process. However, she is for school choice (basically breaking the city into 4 quadrants and assigning 4 schools to that area and saying you can go to any of those schools) and I am not sure how feasible or realistic that really is going to be implement here, since there are much more pressing issues in this city right now.

I liked Naomi Chapman-Taylor but it will take her months to get acclimated and become productive. She has not been to enough BoE meetings to really know or understand the issues. If she comes on a regular basis, she could wind up being a good candidate next year.

I am supporting Jerry Pia, Fred Pierre-Louis and Polly Rauh. Each comes with their own pluses and minuses, but I feel that they are best candidates for Stamford now. Pia and Rauh are both experienced with the Stamford political scene as they are currently on the Board of Reps. Pierre-Louis is a high school teacher and is on the ground in the classroom and can speak first hand to the needs of students. I think a combination of both education and political experience is the leadership qualities which we need now.
The Advocate ran a bit of a profile on the candidates, that is worth a read.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_13640383?source=rss

They also endorsed the same candidates that I am supporting.

2009-10-30T18:12:00.001-04:00

Blanton to start Game 4 for #Phillies, huge break for #Yankees as Lee starts Game 5, and can only relieve in Game 7 (if necessary)

Another reason to avoid divorce

2009-10-30T17:46:00.001-04:00

True story from Sweden some might enjoy.......

After 17 years of marriage, a man dumped his wife for a younger woman. The downtown luxury apartment was in his name and he wanted to remain there with his new love so he asked the wife to move out and then he would buy her another place. The wife agreed to this, but asked that she be given 3 days on her own there, to pack up her things.

While he was gone, the first day she lovingly put her personal belongings into boxes and crates and suitcases. On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things. On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their candlelit Dining table, soft music playing in the background, and feasted on a pound of shrimp and a bottle of chardonnay. When she had finished, she went into each room and deposited a few of the resulting shrimp shells into the hollow of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left.

The husband came back, with his new girl, and all was bliss for the first few days. Then it started; slowly but surely. Clueless, the man could not explain why the place smelled so bad. They tried everything; cleaned & mopped and aired the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents, carpets were steam cleaned, Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in, the carpets were replaced, and on it went.

Finally, they could take it no more and decided to move. The moving company arrived and did a very professional packing job, taking everything to their new home. Including the (curtain rods).

(Maurice, thanks for sending this along)

2009-10-28T17:14:00.001-04:00

Am now the Director, Interactive at #C2Creative

2009-10-27T20:14:00.001-04:00

Attention Stamford Voters and Parents: It is time for our voices to be heard, a unified parent community has to be heard in order to be effective: http://tinyurl.com/ylqxhmd

Attention Stamford Parents: Let your voice be heard in the upcoming Election

2009-10-27T20:07:00.002-04:00

Friends,

As we approach this upcoming election, other interest groups are out there rallying the troops. It is time we, as parents, begin to flex our political muscle.

In this year's BOF election, we have a slate of candidates on the Democratic ticket that is more pro-education than we have seen in a very long time. Tim Abbazia, and John Louizos have always been supporters of the education budget and they are now joined on the ticket with Dudley Williams, a former BOE member and, in his role as a GE employee, the coordinator of GEs highly substantial educational grant to our district. I am not saying this because I’m a democrat (which I am not) or because I am a friend of theirs (I do not know any of these gentlemen personally)—we really just need the best people for the job. It just happens to be the case that these three Democrats represent our best chance to get BOF support for a strong education budget in the coming years.

And, while party politics SHOULD NOT matter, If Joe Tarzia and Bob Kollenberg, who have been staunchly in opposition to increases in the school budget, get more support and have leverage over more fellow Republicans on the BOF, we will only see a continuation of their clear agenda in recent years to push for significant cuts in our school budgets.

We only have a few days before the election. If a parent-based grassroots effort is going to work, it needs to have everyone's help. If everyone on this list could start the communications chain and begin to mobilize their respective communities and reach out to friends in other communities to do the same, we could make a considerable impact on election day--- and make it clear to these candidates that they should be beholden to us once in office as the interest group that got them elected.

If we don’t not make some noise and gain some political capital now, when it is most important, we will have no one to blame but ourselves when, in the months to follow, we see the BOF making dramatic cuts to the school budgets once again. Let’s show Stamford that the parent community is a force to be reckoned with. Let’s make it clear to our politicians that they need to support our schools, and that not doing so can have political consequences.

I hope you will join with me to make our voices heard. Together, we can make a difference.

Feel free to cut and paste in order to forward onto your friends

Best Regards,

Jeff Herz

Should we take flu shots for H1N1

2009-10-08T11:00:00.002-04:00

Here is a comment I made to a friend wondering if she should get her kids the flu-shot:

Since my initial childhood shots, I have not been vaccinated for anything (except the occasional tetanus shot after a puncture wound) and I am still standing. I agree halfheartedly with others about the only reason we have vaccines is so that the pharmas can make more $$$, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

As Nancy will attest, I rarely take anti-biotics and when I do I almost never finish them. I believe that all this "medicine" is impacting and effecting our ability to naturally ward of natures attempt to kill us, which is why the bugs and viruses are getting more and more nasty as time goes on.

I also believe that we as a species have lived for thousands of years before modern science required us to take preventative medicine, and assuming we don't find some other way to kill ourselves prior, we will live for a few thousand more.

The current strain of H1N1, has been bad, been declared a pandemic, but has not been particularly deadly as of yet, so at the end of the day if it does not kill you, it only makes you stronger. So even though Nancy is looking to get the kids the flu shot, I would recommend against it, though coincidentally, Nancy never asked me or anyone else their thoughts on this subject.

BBQ Beer Can Chicken w/ Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Broccoli

2009-09-23T19:55:00.000-04:00

Start with one whole chicken (fryer or broiler).

Generously add chicken rub (mine is Kosher Salt, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, lemon pepper, and cumin)

Open Can of beer, drink (or pour off) 1/3 of the can. Pour some of the rub into the remaining beer. Place the chicken over the beer, so that as it evaporates it moistens and flavors the inside of the chicken. Place the chicken on a grill (or in the oven) and kick for 2-3 hours. The chicken will stand on its legs and the beer can.

Turn oven to 450. Cut tomatoes in half, drizzle in EVOO spread out over baking pan then sprinkle iwth balsamic vinegar, kosher salt and pepper.

Cut Broccoli into small bite size pieces and throw into a ziplock bag. Cut up 3 cloves of garlic and add to bag. Add EVOO to zip top baggie to coat broccoli and garlic with oil. Place on another baking sheet and add kosher salt and pepper.

Cook both trays for 20-25 minutes, then combine and serve.

http://bbq.about.com/od/chicken/ss/aa072807a.htm

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/george-duran/spice-rubbed-beer-can-chicken-recipe/index.html

2009-09-18T09:35:00.001-04:00

off to the darien farmers market, lunch, then pick up kids at school to head to Binghamton for the holiday with my parents.

2009-09-17T17:00:00.001-04:00

Who is better as an all around ball player and leader: Pete Rose or Derek Jeter?

2009-09-16T10:57:00.001-04:00

Just back from the dentist, who fixed a chipped tooth, what a relief

Something has gone seriously wrong here

2009-09-14T09:15:00.003-04:00

The Daily Dish - More Reason from the Right

Or: why I am not a tea-partier:

The kid holding it, according to the reader who took this picture, was maybe 16. Obama is a communist and a fascist and a traitor! Then this:

The above protestor is comparing an attempt to privately ensure millions of people currently uninsured is the equivalent of this:

Action T4 (German: Aktion T4) was a program, also called Euthanasia Program, in Nazi Germany spanning October 1939 until August 1941, during which physicians killed 70,273 people specified in Hitler's secret memo of September 1, 1939 as suffering patients "judged incurably sick, by critical medical examination", but described in a denunciation of the program by Cardinal Galen as long-term inmates of mental asylums "who may appear incurable".

This is as sick as those who called Bush a Nazi before the Iraq war. But unlike the Iraq war, the proposal for universal healthcare was a big issue in the last election, was widely debated, and the winners of that election are fulfilling a clear pledge. So what we have here is unhinged hysteria. I certainly think pent-up anger at Bush (which partisanship and religious devotion meant they could never vent) is a part of this; but the fact of a non-white, non-Southern effective president should not be discounted.

2009-09-11T12:34:00.001-04:00

Seeing the flags at half mast today seems more meaningful than any words or other images

Sad State of Network Television

2009-09-10T23:11:00.003-04:00

If you check out this list of when the Fall TV shows (new and old) are debuting, and I see only a handful of programs I am planning on watching. They are:

Glee
Heroes
The Office
Cougar Town
The Simpsons

Throw in Grey's Anatomy (Nancy's choice) and that is just a pathetic offering across the board.

Random Thoughts on the Healthcare debate

2009-09-05T09:23:00.004-04:00

In response to someone saying we should listen to the issues, debate, and enact or not enact some of the presidents ideas.

This issue with listening, debating, enacting or not is that it involves time and thought, not knee jerk reactions and being able to draw immediate infallible conclusions, leaving no position with a fraction of an inch of variation regardless of how the winds are blowing. The blowhards (that is the media, not the conservatives), dont want us to stop, listen, think, process, digest, absorb and then respond to our leaders actions. It is more memorable, photographic, with better imagery to attract the fleeting eye, when you light a fire of hate, intolerant ideologically and what not because that is what the masses want to see, that is how you make news and gain viewers and advertisers. We are now like the Romans, feeding the christians to the lions, since this is what the masses want. The inmates have escaped and are now running the asylum on both sides of the spectrum because they think extremism is what the people want, because the extremist are screaming the loudest and making the biggest impact.

The problem is the moderates are driving 10 year old hondas and subaru's, trying to make ends meet, trying to raise our children to be tolerant of all cultural, all religions, all ideologies, all belief's. There is no PAC or lobby group that is focused on the middle. People that dont want our government to grow, people that want health care reform in an intelligent capitalistic way, where government is not picking up the tab, where Doctors are compensated for treating the individual not for bilking the insurance companies because they are worried about being sued for malpractice if they dont run one test, where consumers have free choice to choose a health insurance plans that fits their individual needs, not the needs of their employer, where insurance companies are allowed to compete and make money by offering policies that people need and then incentivized to provide care to those that cannot afford insurance.

The bottom line is we, the people, are already paying for those that dont have insurance already one way or another. By creating tax breaks or other incentives for the insurance companies to cover everyone, essentially achieves the same goal without the govt footing the entire bill.

And for the record, I dont think a typical elementary school kid understands or cares about the presidents philosophy or ideology or agenda. They think it is cool to know who the president is and they feel honored if they get to hear him (or her) speak. In spite of my feelings for Bush 43, I never stopped Jacob (8) from listening to him or talking about him, since he was excited he knew who the president was and he was learning to respect the office, which is what we all should be doing. If we teach our children that we disrespecting our leader is appropriate than that is not acceptable and we are doomed like some many empires before.

Just like I was told in 2000, we lost, now get over it. The conservatives need to take their own medicine. You dont like the president, then work to find someone that is more electable in 2012.

2009-08-04T13:34:00.001-04:00

Looking for a fulltime mid level digital project manager to work in NYC Suburb, let me know if you or someone else is interested

2009-07-31T15:19:00.001-04:00

"These Iranians are wusses. Remember when Bush stole the election in 2000. Did we riot in the streets and complain. We did not!" "Hell, No. We said, 'Well, that's the way it goes," and went home and watched TV."

2009-07-30T09:19:00.001-04:00

Have you tried the new Sarah Palin cocktail. Russian vodka over ice with bitters and a garnish of sour grapes. Potentially powerful, but you want to quit half way through.

Baseball HOF thoughts

2009-07-27T21:06:00.003-04:00

Honestly, I don't think that Jim Rice belongs in the Hall of Fame. I believe the writers actually got it right for 14 years, by keeping him out. He had a 15 year career (1974-1989), where he hit .298/382/1451, and one MVP season in 1978.

He currently sits in 56th place in RBI's behind players of the same era such as Rusty Staub (53), Dave Parker (51), Jeff Kent (48), Andre Dawson (34), and Harold Baines (29) who has 1628 RBI's, and none of these players will (or should) never gain entry into Cooperstown. He is in 56th place on the career HR list, one ahead of Albert Belle, and behind Baines (54), Joe Carter (48), Andres Galarraga (45) and Andre Dawson (36) with 438. Jim Rice was a very good player in the pre-steroid era, however he was not one of the best ever.

So in other news, temporary commissioner for life, Bud Selig has said he is once again seriously considering reinstating the All-time hits leader Pete Rose after 20 years, in order to make him eligible for the Hall of Fame. Now, I have two thoughts on this issue:

If he is reinstated, he should not be allowed on the field as a manager or general manager.
Shoeless Joe Jackson (and the other banned Black Sox) should also be reinstated, since they have been out of the game for 89 years and deserve the opportunity to be reinstated before Charlie Hustle.

I think and hope in the end that Rose is not reinstated, even though be absolutely positively belongs in Cooperstown, since it will open an enormous can of worms about what he can do and won't he will not be able to within the game. Even if Selig allows him a limited return, allowing him entry to the hall and to the celebrations of the past players, Rose will continue to lobby and pressure Selig and his successors to give him either greater access to the game, which he simply does not deserve. He broke the one cardinal rule of the game, and has to learn to live with the consequences. He has said and done everything he can to get out of the baseball purgatory for the past 20 years, and if a lifetime ban means anything, then let it be a lifetime. Joe Jackson's lifetime ended in 1951 (31 years after he was banned) and he has not yet been reinstated.

Finally, the question around who from the steroid era deserves to be in the hall will still take a few more years to figure out. Once we have a slightly longer historical view on the subject, then we will have a more objective way to view this period. Quite simply, I believe the Hall of Fame should represent the best players of any given era. My standard is fairly simple, as you look back on any era, you need to ask yourself was player x one of the best of that period. If we assume that sufficient number of players were on juiced (both pitchers and hitters) over the past 20 years, then which of those players stand out as the best and most elite of that era?

The no brainers remain Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey*, Mark McGwire, Derek Jeter* Greg Maddux*, Pedro Martinez, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine, Manny Ramirez and Mike Piazza. The players who in my opinion are not HOF material are Rafael Palmeiro, Fred McGriff*, Jose Canseco, Mike Mussina*.

I don't know what to do with Sammy Sosa and Curt Schilling*, for very different reasons; Sosa because not only is he tainted, but also a cheater, and Schilling because he was largely a mediocre pitcher for much of his career.

* - Untainted to date by steroids

2009-07-24T09:59:00.001-04:00

About to talk CMS

Steroids, you think?

2009-07-20T14:29:00.000-04:00

Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz passed an eye exam so eyesight is not to blame for his season-long slump. Gosh, so what could make a player’s home run total plummet the exact same time Major League Baseball is cracking down on performance enhancing drugs? Shoot, I feel like I should know this one. Nope, I don’t get it.

2009-07-03T07:43:00.001-04:00

Very excited that Jacob woke me up, asking me to come watch a Yankee Classic with him. Not happy that it was 6 am.

2009-06-26T14:12:00.001-04:00

This is the first of many, but really made me chuckle (thanks Ida): Just got the inside word from St. Pete. Apparently when Farrah Faucet got to heaven, she was granted one wish. Farrah asked only for the children of the world to be safe. So God killed Michael Jackson.