Built to Last

 'til time itself falls tumbling from the wall
Built to last 'til sunshine fails and darkness moves on all
Built to last while years roll past like cloudscapes in the sky
Show me something built to last or something built to try (Hunter-Garcia)

In one of his final interviews, Bob Weir was asked what his hopes were for the music of the Grateful Dead after his inevitable passing.......to paraphrase, Bob hoped that the Music would live on for 300+ years.....he felt that was a magical number that would attest to the impact the band had on the planet.

Today we celebrate what would have been Jerry's 84 birthday, and on August 9th we acknowledge his passing in 1995......those 8 magical days are now referred to as the DAYS BETWEEN.......and across the nation local pubs and music venues will be booking anyone and anything that can play a decent cover of the Grateful Dead during this stretch......Movie Theatres will air Movies of GD concerts....art exhibits spring to life at this time, social media is flooded with tributes and remembrances.......i honestly do not think "anyone" could have envisioned this type of phenomenon.

A great many people were saddened, crushed or even devastated when Jerry passed..... those of us that followed the band across the plains were particularly hurt by the sudden subtraction of the Leader of this wild circus.....I knew in 1995 that I would take the Music to my grave.....even if i had to sit on my back porch and play it for myself until the day i died.

Well not only did the surviving members "survive" , they somehow rode the high winds and flourished.....a satellite radio station was launched to play Grateful Dead Music 24/7 and it remains one of Sirius XM's most popular stations.....John Mayer joined Bob, Billy and Mickey and helped to steer the music in new and different directions....in doing so he opened the door to millions of young fans that probably thought the Grateful Dead were extinct......fans that certainly would never have gotten on the bus without Mayers introduction.

Today the music is everywhere.....it circles the globe.....on Fox Sports commercial breaks, in supermarkets, TV sitcoms, Movies....you name it....the GD Brand extended to men's fashion, multiple companies selling GD themed merch at record numbers......the net is wide and casts forever......kids and grandkids of original travelers not only give it a listen....they carry the torch.

Today we are in year 61 of Bobs 300 year vision.....and with Bands like Dark Star Orchestra criss- crossing the nation and selling out larger venues filled with teenagers, toddlers and of course octogenarians .......well i think the next 60 years are pretty safe.

Happy Birthday Jerry....i doubt that you and Hunter could ever have dreamed this one afternoon long ago.

All the stars are gone but one
Morning breaks, here comes the sun
Cross the sky now sinking fast
Show me something built to last

Dylan Review

 as promised, albeit a tad late.

Vodka is a strong beast that in oppressive heat offers temporary relief........that being said.....Mr Dylan performed in a white afghan hoodie that made me wonder if he was:

A) A space Alien

B) A hologram or artificial intelligence

C) a figment of the Vodkas imagination

D) all of the above

The venue was amazing, right on the Cape Fear river, with the sun settling and setting on a brutally hot july night......the VIP tix to the rooftop Bar were a blessing and a curse......ice cold 24 ounce cans of Vodka/Lemonade in a gigantic tin Cup filled with life saving ice .......and very, very short.....too short....lines...........and i being an entrepreneur , would get back on the line with half a drink remaining...time and time again i reached the head waitress and had to/ was forced to/ down my current beverage before ordering a refill......

The Music ? .......Yes, yes of course there was music.

2+3=Lemonade 

You've been in the pipeline

 Filling in time

Provided with toys and scouting for boys
You brought a guitar to punish your ma

And you didn't like school
And you know you're nobody's fool
So welcome to the machine (Pink Floyd)

so while America is obsessing about a group of mentally ill perverted men,  attempting to invade little girls locker rooms.....the Red menace in China is preparing for the War of the Worlds.

I'm not taking the trannies side.....just hoping we can do both......because xixi ping pong is busy subsidizing , small, cheap electric vehicles that they plan to flood the world with......especially the United States.

These trojan horses appear to be a wonderful gift to the planet from the creators of the most recent pandemic......who wouldn't want a cheap economy vehicle that doesn't run on gasoline ? 

Of course when dealing with China we should know......nothing ever is as it appears.

These autonomous vehicles come equipped with 12 high tech cameras.....for navigation of course......but if a scientist in our Nuclear program or a Spacex Executive, Admiral, General , Astronaut or anyone that has access to highly restricted areas in our country happens to buy one of these cheap cars......well.....china sits back with a bag of popcorn and watches a guided tour of our most highly confidential areas....creating maps, diagrams, etc .......but also learning the habits of the car owners.......ie, has dinner every Tuesday at Bubbas Burger Emporium....then visits his mistress on Scandal Lane.......BINGO.....we now have a compromised Scientist working for Bejing.........but wait, don't order yet, there's more.

there is a main control switch that exists in ?    CHina..........so whenever they decide the time is right, these vehicles become weapons......they can start the vehicle, lock out the owner and drive them to wherever they wish to do harm or create chaos....crashing into bridges, tunnels, nuclear facilities, airport runways or football stadiums.........this is in addittion to the humanoid robots they are building....one super cargo ship carrying 50,000 robots could take over the port of Los Angeles in half an hour without spilling a drop of chinese blood.

We have to understand the Fauci was NOT a lone wolf.......he is one of many traitorous scumbags that would and did gladly sell the country down the road for a few minutes of fames and a bag of cash, we have to come to grips that the enemy is within the gates of the city........our elected officials are the problem.........to their credit, they openly admit to their intentions.....but still there are  so many in this country are suffering from TDS that refuse to see in front of their own faces, OR they deep down wish for the destruction of this country.

In any event....Sen Moreno from Ohio is pushing back with a bill that prohibits vehicle technology, software and data systems from China and a few other bad actors;  from being imported into the US.........maybe put in a call to your Rep and see where they stand on this bill.....it is being co-sponsored by the Demonrat from Michigan (Slotkin) , so it has a fighting chance..........I'll call Lindsay's little sister and try to walk her through the whole thing.....God Help us all.....the republicans are no better.....if the Dems pushed someones little sister into a vacated seat, I would have exploded on them..........but that is the state of politics......allign yourself with the candidate that sucks the least.

2+3=BEEER        as our friend Mike Hoff pointed out on Facebook......

And you didn't like school
And you know you're nobody's fool
So welcome to the machine

Welcome my son
Welcome to the machine
What did you dream?
It's alright we told you what to dream

and if you hear vague traces

 of skippin’ reels of rhyme

To your tambourine in time, it’s just a ragged clown behind
I wouldn’t pay it any mind
It’s just a shadow you’re seein’ that he’s chasing  (Dylan)

well ive been chasing that shadow for a long time.......too many shows to count them all , but some stick out like a sore Thom Thumb .

First show was in the summer of 1981 at the brand new Brendan Byrne Arena, and i must say Dylan was fantastic......coherent, clear and a fantastic set list.....

My Favorite show was at the Felt Forum with a few all stars that were taken from us too soon......Van Morrison opened up and he great.....we went into the Play by Play club at the break to watch the St Francis vs LIU Conf Title game.....sadly St Franks lost, but Dylan did not dissapoint....he was on fire....

I remember on Fathers Day 1995 at Giants Stadium.....Bob opened for the Dead.......i remember we were on the floor and i snuck down the aisle to get as close to the stage as possible.......as Bob was playing Tamborine Man......i felt this might be the last time that i ever would see him.

Sadly, it was Jerry who would die a few weeks later.....and the last song i ever saw him do was the encore "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

I remember Dylan at the Blue Claws stadium back to back years.....once in a torrential downpour......and as he played Like a Rolling Stone i just knew this was going to be the last song i ever saw him play live.

and in 2019 we left early from a show at the Beacon that was an exercise in futility.....band was extremely loud......lyrics were unintelligible, and as i walked along Broadway heading back to the subway, i swore i would never go back....

Tonight i go back......one last time.....this time along the Cape Fear River in Wilmington....I am sure this will be "My" last Dylan show..... i'll be back tomorrow of Friday with a full review.

2+3= BEEER

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow

Welcome to your life

 There's no turning back

even while we sleep

we will find you ( Tears for Fears)

Well he did it again....and this time i fell for it.......Last week POTUS held a prime time address to the Nation.....his topic was election Fraud......ABC, NBC, CNN refused to cover it.....and CBS joined late and left early.....all the usual talking heads "took" the bait and denounced the President for rehashing settled science.....nothing new here they screamed.....no evidence to support his claims they insisted.....Trump and his baseless claims....repeat after me..."There is NO Evidence to support election fraud"

I too was a bit dismayed by the speech......i too begged the Donn to just move on already......i wanted him to calmly explain why both parties needed the Save America act....to....well.....save America.......without honest, fair, fast and reliable counting of Votes cast by American Citizens AND ONLY American citizens; the experiment of Democracy would eventually die on the vine.....i didn't feel he conveyed that and i felt whomever needed to hear this message was probably turned away by his insistent complaining about the 2020 election........i did not or could not see what was coming next....but obviously he did.

Local and National media and all the Demonrats on X , tripped over themselves to get the best sound byte denouncing Trump and his speech......there was no mention of Barry Hussein and his 2018 Speech prior to the mid terms on Election Integrity, the restoration of political sanity, fair and free elections, and of course preventing foreign interference......he insinuated that REPUBLICANS were NOT doing enough to stop Russia, Russia, Russia from manipulating our sacred process........this despite the fact that we " Now Know" that he knew Russian interference was a Hoax 2 years prior......but still ran with the hot rumors, and fanned the flames of division.

Yesterday the top Rat in the State of New Jersey was held over the barrel for ALL the world to see.....she tried to portray herself as an honorable , non partisan trailblazer for truth, justice and the American way........she alerted us to an unfortunate computer glitch in the NJ DMV........a glitch that somehow registered over 6,000 illegal immigrants as registered voters........then Mikie the Math Cheat assured us that it appears only 400 illegals actually voted.......she insisted the Glitch happened under Buck Tooth Murphy and she being to queen of transparency ; had to tell the world.........

I'll save the bouquet of roses and standing ovation for Mikkie until we see

A) The 400 that voted:  identified, arrested and deported.

B) The Company behind the software charged, sued and an admission from them that This was a Glitch and that they were solely responsible.

C) A list of the 6,000 that were registered to vote even though they said NO.....and a list of all the other illegals who said YES ( when asked if they were entitled to Vote)

D) A complete independent audit of the Voter Rolls for the State of NJ

the Demons are allergic to the truth.....they breathe denial.........they are cut from the Clinton cloth ......so for a sitting Gov in a dark blue state like NJ to come clean with an admission of this magnitude....well it makes you wonder HOW BIG the glitch really is..........for mikie mouse to jump in front of the story and then insist she will lead a special investigation speaks volumes........can you imagine how many dead people are still on the voter rolls and voting.....how many illegals over the past 10-15-20 years if they are admitting to +6K ?   and do you think this is a unique new jersey issue ?  can you imagine what is going on is NY, CT, Mass or dare i say California ? ( Where boxes and boxes of votes were just found in the mayoral primary to keep Spencer Pratt on the outside looking in ?)

Maybe now some of the independents and moderates will understand why a "Drivers License" alone is not sufficient to vote .......Sanctuary Cities and States and giving away licenses like they are candy.

So if and when the Save America act passes......and some people will probably lose their ability to Vote (until they can prove they are a citizen) we will hear and see the usual characters on FB and other mindless social media tools, crying about voter suppression......Jim Crow 2.0.....blah blah blah.....but it was the demonrat agenda that allowed in 20 million illegals and then registered them to vote that lead to this.

actions beget reactions..........side note ICE..........2 stories with the same common denominator .

in Maine...A Columbian national with authorization to work in the US, ignored officers orders and tried to flee in his vehicle (with his 3 year old daughter in the car) and was subsequently shot and killed.

Why would he do that ?   maybe because the MSM and the Democratic party have been telling him for 2 years that ICE agents are worse than the Gestapo and that innocent citizens are disappearing off the streets.

In NYC a 43 year old Army Vet attacked a Federal ICE facility with gasoline and fireworks and although he didn't get killed, he will probably spend what's left of his life behind bars.

Why would he do that ?  maybe because the MSM and Democratic party have brainwashed him into believing that ICE and the Trump administration are existential threats to Democracy and it was HIS duty to stop them.

actions beget actions......the inevitable roll of the domino.

2+3= BEEER

All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

well I never been to England

 

But I kind of like The Beatles
So I headed for Las Vegas
Only made it out to Needles (Elvis is King)

Today as we prepare for the 2nd big semifinal game between England and Argentina, i can't help but reflect back to the Hand of God goal is June of 1986. I was stationed on Diego Garcia , part of the British Indian Ocean territories and we were invited guests that night into the " BRIT " club........that was the best beach bar on the Island and was exclusive for the British Marines.....US servicemen were only permitted as invited guests.....since I was one of the dozen Postal Clerks on the Island and we ran the mail for everyone....we were always invited to the best places.........I was with my Buddy Dave that day and he didn't really follow soccer.....I told him I was of course rooting for Argentina....but only on the inside.........I remember the anger of the Brits when my favorite player at the time, Diego Maradonna scored a questionable goal in Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.(years later he admitted it was a hand goal, and if there was video replay it would have been disallowed).........a few minutes later he took the ball from near midfield and he dribbled through the entire English team and scored again........greatest individual effort i have ever seen to this day.....Argentina went on to win the World Cup and the Limey bastards are in a 60 year drought.....if they didn't burn the bar to the ground that day....they never will.

Reminded me of gym class at Xaverian......we had a foreign exchange student from Spain named Paulo........MR. Sajecki loved Paulo.....and one day we played soccer on the fields on Shore Rd......Paulo was the only one who knew the rules.....we were hopeless.....he scored 2 or 3 goals like Maradonna, where he dribbled the ball through the entire other team....passing it to himself through our legs and making us like Silly.......Sajecki Loved it....He Roared with delight every time Paulo had the ball........until the last time Paulo had the ball........He was was approaching the net and he was bouncing the ball from knee to knee , and then head passing to himself and again passing the ball through people legs.....UNTIL.......Uncle Rico ( Steve Kane) ran up behind Paulo and pulled his shorts and underwear down to his ankles and the poor Spaniard went tumbling to the dirt.....much to the delight of everyone else on the pitch....we celebrated as if we had scored a goal........Sajecki went ballistic and almost swallowed the dam whistle , he was so angry that he cancelled the rest of gym class....which was fine by us.........i remember him apologizing and trying to console the red faced Paulo as they walked back to the big X........welcome to Brooklyn Paulo...

2+3=Modello

Well, I've never been to Spain
But I kind of like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it
Never going to lose it
I can't refuse it

i don't wanna shout

 But when we were talking, I saw you nodding out

London calling, see we ain't got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes ( The Clash)

I received a text at 5:30 this morning from one of those characters of the night from long ago and far away......thankfully i was wide awake in America already.....my Navy Buddy Louie sent me a link to a video of Culture Club doing a live version of London Calling while in concert in Las Vegas........Louie said this crazy bastard Boy George changed the lyrics from "Phoney Beatlemania" to "Joe Strummer has bitten the dust" .....no other context.....no greeting or Salutation .....no asking for feedback.....i suppose he just felt the need to send that to me as a courtesy FYI......here's the kicker......i listened not once.....not twice......but 3 times......and it sounded to me like Boy George remained true to lyrics and sang "Phoney Beatlemania"......... so that's what i said in my reply to Louie........he immediately responded..."yeah, you're right"............i get so many bizarre texts that this one won't even crack the top 100......but the really odd thing about this one , as opposed to 99% of my other acquaintances......is that Louie has been clean and sober since the late 80's.....can't chalk this one up to whiskey fatigue or wet brain........the world keeps spinning.

Speakin of which.....i had a frightening dream Thursday night.......i will leave out names.....but i was at a family bar b q at my Uncles house ( or at least the house he lived in when i was a kid) and all sorts of family and friends were there.......some folks chatted with me....but others remained silent......they just stared blankly at me.....then i overheard a conversation between 2 people (both died long ago) and i interjected with a solution.......they stopped talking , looked at each other and ignored me........it was then....while still in the dream that i realized that the people that were deceased where not speaking to me.........and that the people that are still alive in real life were talking.........i then looked around the yard and confirmed it......my deceased relatives were kind of floating bye or hovering in silence.....and my living relatives were standing by the coolers and talking sports..... ....except one Aunt who is still alive but was acting as though she were dead.........i woke up in a cold sweat and lay awake the rest of the night.....i almost expected to receive a text in the morning , stating that my Aunt had passed.........instead i received 10 or 15 texts from Admiral Jack Duffy sending clips from the TV show 1 Adam-12........and proclaiming his love for the actress Dana Hall.........is it any wonder that i'm borderline crazy.....being pursued by these Characters of the long Dark night......all seemingly desperate to tell me things....both real and imagined.

the Palmetto state is grieving the sudden passing of our long time Senator Lindsay Graham.........they are talking about Nikki Haley or Nancy Mase or Ralph Norman finishing out Lindays term.......some were even calling for Trey Gowdy......but i am hoping Gowdy stays on the sidelines.....i would like to see Clarence Thomas or Scalia step down before Trumps last year and i would like to see Gowdy get he nod for SCOTUS...

i am in the process of finalizing a Monmouth County raid this weekend.....a brief 48 hour visit to attend PG's BBQ.......and then hopefully continue the tradition of watching the World Cup Final with a Group of friends that Hate Soccer and insist of talking about ways to improve the Beautiful Game.......raising the cross bar and widening the posts are their 2 famous suggestions.....i am not a soccer aficionado , but i know enough to stay in the shallow end of the pool when it comes to criticizing  the worlds most popular sport.

i am hoping for Spain & Argentina........but i am afraid it will be France & England....

2+3=BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER !!

The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in
Engines stop running and the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
London is drowning-and I live by the river

Well, i was rollin down the road

  in some cold blue steel

I had a blues man on the back and a beautician at the wheel
We going downtown in the middle of the night
We laughing and I'm joking and we feeling alright

Oh, I'm bad, I'm nationwide
Yes I'm bad, I'm nationwide  (ZZ Top) 

I have a suggestion for America....A suggestion that could very well Save America...but it won't happen.....unfortunately i am wasting everyone's precious time.....chalk it up to a slow day in the news room......like one of those click bait stories or a meaningless survey of a miniscule % of the population....designed to create a stir.

I think if we stay on the 2 party system, we are doomed.....the divide is growing.....the rhetoric is getting hotter than an open flame....we are going too far down a path of destruction........every single issue that presents itself has to be A or B under the current status quo....and that's not healthy.

Let's use Graham Platner as the most recent example........the demonrat party and the people of Maine held it's nose, covered it's eyes and selected a suspected rapist, convicted womanizer and wanna be Nazi to be their nominee for Senate.......WHY ? because they Hate Trump......and thus they Hate Republicans.....even Susan Collins........the least Maga Candidate of all Republicans hopefuls.....BUT she is a Republican , and Republicans are Satan, and anyone is better than Satan......forgotten are all the occasions that Susan Collins voted against the Trump agenda or refused to back/support the President........her biggest crime was she voted to confirm Justice Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.......Kavanaugh was accused of trying to get to 2nd base with a fellow teenager at a party 50 years ago......the accuser was suspect, but hearings were held and both sides testified....and Collins voted her conscience.......but the demonrats can't move on from that.....so in order to punish Her, they will elect an Adult accused of Rape and Physical abuse by multiple women over the past 10 years........because when you vote party lines.....you throw out everything else and pull the lever for the corresponding color.

The Republicans are NO better for the most part......and they have the RINO disease......the politicians that hide under the party umbrella....pledge allegiance to the platform....and then vote and prove themselves to be anything but Conservative.  

I think now more than ever we need for the Dems to split into 2 parties........the Old Blue Dog/Union backing  Democrats.....and the woke/progressive/socialist communist wing of the party.

And the Republicans need to split into 2 parties as well......the True Conservative wing and the Moderate middle of the Road /reach across the aisle Romney Mccain wing.......I think too many common sense individuals and being pulled to the extremes of their respective parties.......and I am on the extreme side of my party....but i also know that what I want, may NOT always be best for the Country....as hard as that is too admit.

Lastly we DO need an Independent party to represent the people that owe no allegiance to any of the 4 platforms, but rather decide each issue as a stand alone problem......that make up their minds as they go, and are not married for eternity to a position or stance.

it's probably just a utopian pipe dream , but in a perfect world it would force the voting public to consider the issues and learn about the 5 different ideas for tackling said problems....and then ala carte picking the folks they think will represent them best at the Federal level......like i said.....it will never happen......but what was i supposed to BLOG about today ?   the fucking belgiminians kicking our ass again in soccer ?? no thanks.

2+3=BEEER

Easing down the highway in a new Cadillac
I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back
They sporting short dresses, wearing spike-heel shoes
They smoking Lucky Strikes and wearing nylons too

'Cause we bad, we're nationwide
Yeah, we bad, we're nationwide

 Rest in peace to Robert "Whitey" Cahill.....an original Ozark and a close friend from the glory days of OLA-Xaeverian- Bayridge-3rd ave days......i'm still processing this loss.......i have no real words at this time....just say a prayer for the White Owl if you can.....

Toss me a cigarette

I think there's one in my raincoat"
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field ( Paul Simon)

something about the above lyrics......it always struck  me as being so very American ( and not just because of the song title Dano).........looking for a cigarette that doesn't exist.......accepting the inevitable disappointment along the way of the great cross country journey.......the moon rising over the open fields screamed Kerouac to me.....the bus.....the agony and the ecstacy of those bus rides......with childlike enthusiasm the bus rolls over the plains.....so excited to get THERE.....that we fail appreciate the beautiful here and now that unfolds across this land......years later a rare hollywood classic "Almost Famous" captured it as well......as the drunk-hungover-road weary rock band and their groupies and crew converse another stretch of American farmland, they began to sing along with the radio to Elton Johns "Tiny Dancer".....(if you have never seen it, please do) there is a real comradery that is experienced amongst friends on that American Road...and when you mix in Rock n Roll, Country or Folk music you have the recipe for a perfect cocktail that everyone would love to sip or gulp and the local gin mill.

Jesus Freaks.....in the Streets    

handing tickets out for God

turning back, she just laughs

the Boulevard is not that bad

As we sit on the precipice of our 250th Birthday, it is impossible not to swell with pride, we are unapologetically the greatest Nation not just at this time.....but in the long tired history of the planet......we certainly are Gods Favorite acre......he blessed US with all his greatest gifts.....it's as if the rest of globe was a testing ground.....a place to make and learn from mistakes....and when the time was right, the best, brightest, bravest from the 4 corners came to this land to Thrive.....to Build it, Invent it, consume it and enjoy it......and pay no homage to the man made kings from the lands we all escaped from....we are grateful to our ancestors that made the bold move to this country, but once here they became Americans ( all 4 of my grandparents were born in Ireland, i owe each of them an unpayable debt for my existence here) I grew up with many friends from Italy and other Non English speaking European countries....and although some of their parents and Grandparents could not speak English, they insisted that the children Only speak English.....they desperately wanted to assimilate and become part of this American culture. So many first generation Americans took menial labor, some took multiple jobs, whatever jobs were available to provide for the family and provide an education to their children....they were willing to "tough it out", with the hopes that their next generation would move up the ladder a rung or two.......and it Worked.

Today we talk about our blessings and forget our troubles......as Dylan would say...."lets forget about today until tomorrow"

We truly have it all.....we most certainly are the Promised Land....multiple climates and rich bountiful soil that is ripe for planting.....we grow it all here, we feed ourselves........hell we are even oil abundant...who knew..........we have the greatest beaches on two beautiful coasts and some weird shit in Texas along the Gulf of America and stretching through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama......we have mountains and plenty of skiing.....we have rivers and lakes for drinking water and fishing, we even have scary deserts for the occasional acid trip...from the majestic Grand Canyon to the shinning cities on the Hill......the skyscrapers and lake houses.....we have invented all the sports that really matter ....and if we didn't invent it, we perfected it....like golf by adding lovely Cart Girls with Coolers of Boooze...and we are responsible for the greatest music to grace your ears. Our Military continues to save the planet every 20 years or so.....we have defeated the Greatest Tyrants and dictators that Satan could throw at us.....and we did it all with a smile and a pack of cigarettes tucked into out T shirts.....we are that melting....a cultural stew, with only the best ingredients from the rest of the world.....we are the Cats Meow....and Everybody Knows It.

I feel particularly Blessed to have been born when i was........10 years sooner or 10 years later would not have been as good for me......young enough to miss serving in Vietnam and old enough to retire from Wall Street before DEI and AI swallow us all.

Growing up in Brooklyn....specifically Bayridge.....i was blessed knowing the greatest group of characters......mostly older, but some younger....the generation or 2 that proceeded my group set the table, they laid the foundation for the Greatest Neighborhood environment.....I suspect or i hope that people from every town in America feel exactly the same way about their little acre.....but we know I am right about ours.

This weekend i will watch the ships sail into the Narrows on TV......under the most Magnificent Bridge i have ever laid eyes on....the VZ.....and i will watch Kyle Macy light fireworks over and around Lady Liberty and John Roeblings Masterpiece of a Brooklyn Bridge....and my heart will pound a little faster, and the hair on my neck will stand up....and i might shed a tear....but it will be a tear of Pride.........and i thank everyone who reads this , because you all have played a role.

God Bless America

Stay Safe

I'll never forget the first time i heard Lee Greenwoods anthem.....1985......I was staitoned on Diego Garcia.....and i spent at least 7 nights a week in the Base Club drinking with my shipmates....they played his song at Last Call every night......and Every Soul in that Joint Stood and sang....every single night......I hope they still do....it was a marvelous tradition....we tried to sing loud enough for the Ruskies in Moscow to hear us.......we were in their backyard with a fleet of B2 bombers.....amen

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

Almost Heaven

 West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze (J.Denver)

Whatever you think or feel about Soccer, you have to love the spirit of a team of men representing the USA in the World Cup. On home soil, in the summer of our 250th year.....this has a story book feel to it.

Last night the boys in Red, White and Blue survived the refs and Bosnia.........the zebras disallowed 2 of our goals for offsides , and i am in no position to argue about the validity of those calls ( most bizzare offsides rules in all of organized sprts) and we also had to play a man down for most of the 2nd half after a questionable Red Card was issued to one of our star players ( Balogun, for those of you keeping score at home) .....and unfortunately he will be suspended for the next game..........could you imagine Messier missing a playoff game because of a penalty he took in the prior game ? ....absurd sport.

If it's Tuesday weld, it must be Belgium...............or something like that.

Monday night we take on the belgiuminians .....and it feels like we just lost to them in the last world cup.......nope that was the Dutch in 2022.........mustve been 2018...........nope, we didn't qualify for that World Cup......... in yet another episode of where does the time go.....we lost to Belgium 12 years ago in the knockout stage of the 2014 WC........I do know that i was in the Dubliner on Stone Street for the game with my former Head Linesman and a crew.....not 100% sure who else was there.....feel free to add a comment below if you were there......2014 was a good World Cup....watched most of it in Texas-Arizona in Hoboken.....but we gathered on Stone St for the knockout stage.

anyway God Speed to the Lads.......

I.........I

I Believe...........I Believe

I Believe that we will win.........I Believe that we will win

stock market disclosure.....although i was touting a DJIA melt up with the conclusion of the war......and it still may happen.....but i am taking a cautious path......i moved an additional 20% out of equities and into Money Market yesterday.....i think the country is starting to suffer from Trump fatigue.....I still support him , but i am disappointed in POTUS and the Republican party.....they had 2 years to get the important stuff done and they failed miserably......i think we get slaughtered in November and then things will grind to a halt.....def no rate cuts this year....B of A still predicting 2 or 3 hikes instead.....i'll put a nice nest egg on the sides gaining 3.5-4% interest........i also still buy the series I bonds through Treasury direct.......i am waiting/expecting for that one event that sends the markets tumbling...hopefully nothing bad happens around this weekend....but hey, we are at War....and we know there are plenty of Loyal Iranians living on our shores....so stay safe.......at some point most likely i will put that 20% back in at a deep discount......just pray its not at anyone i know expense.

I can't be a hypocrite and complain about the Scotus decisions handed down , especially Comey-Barret......there is a difference between common sense logic and deciding Right from wrong, and interpreting the constitution ......SCOTUS job is NOT to write the laws....but rather to decide legality.

Birthright citizenship may very well destroy the Country.....but it is up to Congress to amend that ......and take it away.....the 14th amendment was put in place after the civil war to grant Citizenship to the children of freed slaves( the parents were not citizens) and that was the right thing to do at the time.......they did not envision global travel or our enemies trying to manipulate that.....but it is NOT the role of SCOTUS to make that decision......just as they must uphold the 2nd amendment and not except the argument that the framers could not envision automatic weapons......it is the role of Congress to write the laws.......but just as they slept for the past 50 years and did nothing about abortion, immigration or even gun control....they certainly will not get anything done on Voting or Birthright Citizenship.....but to get mad at Scotus would be the equivalent of blaming a meter maid for not catching the Son of Sam..............when we all know it was Charlie Higgins Sr that eventually caught the Son of Sam.........who knows, maybe he was hanging out in a shoe bar .

side note.....it is interesting to see the leftist democrats getting devoured by the further left socialist's and communists in their own party........seeing Jewish Congressmen Dan Golden being barred from a coffee shop in downtown Brooklyn because he supports Israel.....or the other fruitcake in California getting chased out of a park ....he supports lgbtq-lmnop ......he decriminalized the act of knowingly giving someone aids through sex.....he backs trannies in all sports.....but he is obviously a jew ....and so the Hammas wing of the demonrat party chased him away.......it would be hysterical if it wasn't so frightening.........Schumer and Jeffries say NOTHING.......but they wil probably expect us to stand up when the crowds come for THEM.....

anyhoo......i'll be back with a Patriotic ....AMERICA 250 message before the 4th.....stay safe, drink plenty of icey cold fluids.....and remember that  2+3=250

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

Then time will tell

 just who fell

And who’s been left behind
When you go your way and I go mine (Dylan)

ah yes, time will tell whether I or Chris Drury was right.......i am not a hockey scout but i know how to read a scouting report. It is clear to me by the transactions of the past 72 hours that Chris Drury is trying to keep his job in the short term......and may not have the long term health of the Blueshirts in mind.

I read the mock drafts and i was hoping one of the two Defensive studs would fall to number 5........imagine my shock when both Carson Carels and my choice Chase Reid ( a 6ft 3 American born stud who will a Norris someday)were both still on the board........now imagine my utter despair when Drury passed on both of them to take a Albert Smits from Latvia........the good news is he is a Defensemen and most scouts think he can step in a play next year......the bad news is he is NOT Chase Reid or Carson Carels.....he does not have the upside potential of the other 2.......i personally think Drury is trying to get back in the playoffs to keep the wolves at bay and buy himself some time.......i hope i am wrong.

The bean counters at the NHL network gave us a poor grade of C- ,  but at least they seemed to have a plan......their first 4 picks consisted of 3 defensemen and a Goalie.......they then went out a and traded for a much needed Goal scorer in Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas....... they gave up quite a haul, they are getting back a young 25 year old scorer (30 goals a year) with playoff experience and coming from a winning culture...18 points in 31 career playoff games.......and Free agency opens this week , so i will reserve judgement.....but they gave up two 1st rounders and a 3rd to Vegas.....so again it feels like Drury is mortgaging OUR future to benefit his present.....

my gut tells me that in 10 years we may look back on this draft and weep...........like watching Brett Howden tear up the Playoffs this year for the Golden Knights.......another guy Drury gave up on....oh well...time will tell.

side note....i think the USA mens team can advance to the elite 8.......if not further.....

side note....mandani got his rent freeze.......can't wait until January when the residents of rent controlled apartments are crying because they have no heat, nobody is shoveling the sidewalk and the elevator is broke......but hey, you get what you pay for...

The judge, he holds a grudge
He’s gonna call on you
But he’s badly built
And he walks on stilts
Watch out he don’t fall on you

every time i think about back home

 it's cool and breezy 

I wish that i could be there right now

just passin time ( N. Young)

well, unfortunately i will not be able to come home this weekend for the PC's Monmouth Park trip, and i will not be returning to beloved Brooklyn for the 250th Birthday of this great nation......all my grand , delusional plans about revisiting the Bicentennial were met with shrugs and yawns.....and so i have now set my sights on Blisstock.

I have been assured that Blisstock will happen on Saturday Sept 19th, and the following day is the annual Chris Hoban run at Xaverian High School......I am busy booking trains and hotels and i now expect t o be in Brooklyn the 17th through 20th........Thurs 9/17 is shaping up as a Bayridge day drinking day......Friday holds the possibility of Golf ....stay tuned

I saw a pathetic advert on Instagram from the 9/11 Museum....they are now selling engraved cobblestones for anywhere from $125 to $2,500 (depending on placement) so you can honor a loved one forever........not trying to be cynic....just envisioning NYC in another 20, 30, 50 years.....controlled and run by moslems.....holding picnics on the WTC plaza.......urinating into the fountains and mocking the dead cobblestone remembrances.........I purchased a brick at the entrance to MSG about 25 years ago.....it was to benefit their Garden of Children foundation and i paid homage to my favorite MSG moment.....MATTEAU MATTEAU.........my brick would be on the steps leading into the main entrance forever.........yeah, never forget too........it lasted 10 or 15 years until they redid the entrance and decided NOT to put the bricks back down.......oh well.....like PT Barnums says "there's a sucker born every minute"  

i remained thoroughly disappointed with POTUS.....it is clear to me that he is entering this 60 day rain delay with Iran to lower gas prices before the midterms.......he didn't drain the swamp, he's drowning in it..........well, as PT Barnum says......yeah, you know the thing.

wish me luck....this Saturday in Southport NC i will attempt a 5K........i have not run a race since the Spring Lake 5 over 2 years ago.........but i am in the gym 4 or 5 days a week and have been laboring on the treadmill, so  i know i will finish......just hope i don't finish last.

2+3= BEEER

Everybody seems to wonder
What it's like down here
I gotta get away
from this day-to-day
running around,
Everybody knows
this is nowhere.

Once i thought i saw you

 in a crowded hazy bar,

dancing on the light from star to star (N. Young)

we have been saying it for years, but here we go again.....Hockey is different.

The Carolina Hurricanes and coach Brin'Damor have been flirting with the cup and building to this moment for the last 8 years......many of times the press and most fans have said they will NOT win the Cup without a legit goalie.........Freddie Andersen just wasn't the Goalie to get it done...

This year again they entered the playoffs with Andersen between the pipes....and i said in private that they are good enough to get to the Conf Finals, and may the Cup Finals; but they won't win with Freddie in net.

This year through the first 3 rounds he was unbeatable.....came up huge in the clutch and help carry the team through the first 3 rounds with a 12-1 record........BUT......suddenly in the finals he was human....the Golden Knights put 5 on the board in the opener and seemed to have his number....in a wild period of game 3 they put 6 pucks in the net (2 were disallowed ) in the 2nd period and Freddie was lifted.

In stepped Brandon Bussi......a 26 year old journeymen minor leaguer with 0 post season career wins...a kid from Long Island that had bounced around the minors after college and was picked up off waivers back in October.........and he shut the Knights down in the 3rd period and first OT before giving up a fluke goal in double overtime........so he earned the right to start game 4 and was brilliant......same in game 5.....and last night earned the shutout in the Cup clinching game.

a strange turn of fortune for Andersen who was an incredible 13-2 before being yanked......but he didn't sulk, hang his head, bitch to the media or complain.....he was part of a team and so was Bussi.......like Taylor Hall he wanted to win a cup by any means, whatever role was asked.

Last Night after Winning on the strip....the Stanley Cup was handed to Captain Jordan Staal.....after skating around triumphantly with the Chalice raised high for all of Nevada to see, it was time for Staal to pass it off to a teamate........guess who ?      Yes, of course....Freddie Andersen.......and nobody was more pleased that Brandon Bussi ......yep....Hockey is different.

You are like a hurricane
There's calm in your eye
And I'm getting blown away
To somewhere safer where the feeling stays
I want to love you but I'm getting blown away

GoNYGoNYGoNYGOOOO

 

Congratulations to the Original Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam and to Knick fans everywhere....hard fought, well deserved title to a good group of guys that really earned and deserved this title.....Jalen Brunson stands in complete contrast to all the imposters of other NY teams that accept Millions of Dollars and shrink and implode in the spotlight....he scored 45 points (15 in the 4th quarter) of a championship closeout game.......that is a star worthy of his contract......