Money

Money changes everything........it’s all in the past now cause money changes everything.
Altria stock , MO .....if you have any cash on the sidelines this is a great buy and HOLD.......stock is trading at $45 .....the dividend yield is now over 7%......they are merging with Phillip Morris again....combined they own a big stake in juul....they invested in a Canadian pot farm and they are about to introduce the next big thing IQOS....once America fully legalizes pot they will convert half of North Carolina into a Cannabis Farm.....this stock will hit 75-100 in by 2025.....alas I have been wrong before

waive the white flag

the New York city school system has officially surrendered....with the elimination of entrance exams to the best high schools they are once again punishing success....no more merit based admissions......this simpleton racist Carranzo doesn't understand or seem to care that the gifted students who work hard and take their education seriously are the reason the Delta Program and specialty high schools succeed.....its not a magic building or classroom......if you drop basic knuckleheads into these programs they will not become a genius overnight...but that's what they want to do......which of course will effectively bring everyone down to the shit level instead of raising a few kids up to the next level.....affirmative action for 50 years hasn't worked......billions of dollars hasn't worked......we can't raise stymie to a level of success, so what do we do ? ?  let's bring the white and Asian kids down to the thug level...…..great job deblasio.

Disgraciado

i circled today’s game on the calendar the day the schedule was released....Yankees vs Dodgers 4:00 start in the brilliant Los Angeles sun at historic Dodger Stadium.....so many memories, so much history......I honestly was looking forward to reliving the 77,78,81 World Series........imagine my disgust and dismay to tune in and see both team wearing clown suits......you ruined it MLB....the only good thing is since the uniforms are black on black and white on white....we don’t have to because we can’t...read the ridiculous nicknames on their backs.

“In the morning, when we rise

 that’s the time, that’s the time, ......that’s the time, that’s the time...I love the best “ ( D.Leitch)

So I found myself on the treadmill at 4:40 this morning with the TV on mute waiting for Curtis Sliwa and listening to my iPod shuffle my 10,000 song catalogue....and Colors by Donavan Leitch came on.....it’s really hard to look at the world with anything but Rose tinted glasses when Donavan is singing......he was one of my brother Jays favorite musicians and he turned me onto Donavan through osmosis when I was 3 or 4.....I clearly remember Sunshine Superman, Jennifer Juniper and of course Atlantis emanating from his room at the front of the house on 76th street, the tar beach rooftop when he couldn’t get to Riis Park or the back deck.......don’t think for a minute that music doesn’t play a significant role in the formation of the brain, personality and most importantly the soul......I am exactly who I am because of the music I listened to when it mattered the most...... and I owe my poetic and sympathetic traits to the likes of Donavan Leitch.....and today as oft times before; I find myself in a great mood after listening to that soft spoken Scotsman.......would be great if thy New Sweater Nite Ramblers could cover some Donavan for SN22......”ah but I might as well try to catch the wind “

Well the sound keeps rollin

And the band plays on , somebody’s favorite tune....
And the roughs in your ears obliterates your fears,
And you can’t get off too soon ( Kaukonen)

It seems the upside down insanity train that is the world today just keeps rolling..... The NYPD Police  Commissioner has fired a policeman for doing his job......the 500 pound slob that died that day refused to be arrested by 2 auxiliary cops and two uniformed officers...he put his own life in jeapordy by refusing an order to put his hands behind his back.....and then a black female Sargent ordered plainclothes officer Daniel Panteleo to “ take him down “ ....and officer Pantaleo followed an order and took the slob to the ground and handcuffed him.....the other 4 cops then and only then; jumped in and helped subdue the handcuffed individual.....the female Sargent stayed out of video range and will probably avoid scrutiny or prosecution....Pantaleo should sue the city....but the biggest price we all will pay is having an indifferent police force....and can you blame them ? I don’t....the police are being reduced to a diversified group of report takers....no longer fighting/preventing crime and the blood of all future victims of violent crime is on the hands of Deblasio...Commisioner O’Niel.....and Police Chief Monahan.......

As a follow up to my mainstream media and the fake recession post...... the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose from 18,500 on Election Day 2016 to the 26,000 mark last month......(that’s 7,500 points for you Bishop Ford Graduates ) .....and how many times in the last 3 years did you hear any of the MSM networks tie that news to President Trumps financial policies? ? Yep, me neither......but last week they all gleefully learnt a new phrase.....the inverted yield.....sure fire proof that a recession is coming....and every one that read a TelePrompTer followed that up by speculating that THIS was the result of the tariffs........funny if it wasn’t so sad.

A fairness shoutout to WCBS channel 2 news.....they have a new commercial that is the playing of the National Anthem......with incredible views of New York City, the American Flag and the heartland..... I watched it twice and the cynic in me could not find ANYTHING to complain about.....why they even showed the military, great job CBS...... I was honestly choked up watching.

Hang in there friends, perhaps there’s still a twinkle of light to be found.

“You got to overlook the madness cause the spirit is blind...and you’re feet don’t seem to know what to do “

And it appears to be a long

It appears to be a long time,
Yes, a long, long, long time before the dawn (D.Crosby)

They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn and I believe that is true, but what keeps me up at night is the fear that we’re a long way off.....which means the near future will get increasingly darker.....I’ve been talking a lot lately about the incivility between the left and the right and the reaching of a point of no return ...during the horrible 8 years that Barry Hussein was in charge I never let my disdain for him override my love of country ....sadly the same cannot be said for those suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome......yesterday I watched as members of the Main Stream Media couldn’t contain their glee and verbally tripped over themselves as they reported that the Dow Jones was down 800 points......”could this be the start of a recession “ they asked....”is it Trumps fault because of tariffs “ ....is this the beginning of the end of his Presidency? ....it would have been comical if it weren’t so serious.....these self loathsome cretons hate our President so much that they are rooting for economic failure In hopes of winning an election..........I personally agree with the tariffs and the hard line we are taking with China....this may be our only chance to slow their regime.....I don’t want a deal with China because I don’t think we can ever trust them or expect future administrations to enforce the deal .......SO......I think 5 more years of tariffs and extreme economic pressure will force companies that currently do business in China to look elsewhere...which in turn will weaken their economy further and ultimately stagnate their desire to rule the world....I think the American consumer has to make a concerted effort to buy American made products and absolutely boycott anything and everything made in China........I think and hope that President Trump understands that China is a significant threat and we are not ready to fight them on the battlefield....we have to fight them economically.......I do wish the President would stop criticizing the Federal Reserve and I hope that the Fed does not cave in and lower rates.....as for America down the road? ..........President Lincoln forewarned “A House divided against itself cannot stand”...............and David Crosby followed that up by  foretelling  . “It's been a long time comin'

It's goin' to be a long time gone”

Apologies for the doom and gloom, but it’s getting harder and harder to find the lighter side of this life.

Sweet home

Chicago.......34 years ago this weekend I roamed the steers of Chicago in my dress white uniform straight outta boot camp..... today I have returned to cheer on streaking Mets verse the White Sox....so much has changed in 34 years....I am feeling old and a little sad...autumn has come early, but at least we got to see it...

The Dope from Park Slope

That would be Warren Kaiser Wilhelm Or bill Deblasio as he calls himself......well he chimes in about two disgusting videos going viral that show the street savages of nyc attacking the uniformed police officers with water and throwing buckets at their heads....our esteemed mayor said only one video was confrontational....the second video in Brownsville showed an animal walk up behind a cop on the street and dump a bucket of water over his head....the pathetic cop skulked away, he should have turned and discharged his weapon into the motherfuckers skull....but my question is....if you, me or Pudneil dumped a bucket of water on the mayors head at a press conference would he consider that confrontational ? ? Would we be arrested ?

The sweet pretty things are in bed now, of course
The city fathers, they're trying to endorse
The reincarnation of Paul Revere's horse
But the town has no need to be nervous ( Dylan-tombstone blues)

Let’s talk about the future

now we’ve put the past away “ ( e.costello)
Less than two weeks ago I took to the pulpit to warn that the second civil war was at hand.... and frankly the history books might declare yesterday as the next Fort Sumpter.....the divide widens...it’s beyond repairing....as temps climb higher and higher this weekend the pot will continue to simmer and boil......as the dems and republicans battled over a resolution condemning the President as a racist,our cities and infrastructure continue to crumble....our mass transit is a national disgrace and nobody in Washington cares......people have lost a sense of civility towards each other.....tempers are flaring along with temperatures...I have an incredible sense that something big is coming....perhaps a riot or mass murder, time will tell.......on this Apollo anniversary I will leave you with a quote from the great prophet Robert Zimmerman “ well man has invented his doom, first step was touching the moon”

Give me Liberty ....or Give me Death

When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed
Say something once, why say it again?  ( David Byrne)

I only wish I could follow that mantra; alas, I cannot...….I feel like a broken record sometimes,,,but i have to shine a light on the hypocrisy of this world...…….the t-ball generation that hates competition, refuses to keep score, lets give everyone a prize because we don't want anyone to loose ( failure), respect everyone etc etc.....not only doesn't have a problem with the womens soccer teams' childish , disrespectful behavior ...BUT...they idolize and worship it.....they want their daughters to strive to be just like Alex Morgan.....the same Morgan who counted her goals on her fingers when she scored 5 times against a hapless Thailand team...the last goal making the score 13-0 during injury time...class...….the same Morgan who scored the go ahead goal against England in a hard fought semi-final and then went into a classless, rehearsed routine where she sipped an imaginary cup of tea ( fuck you England)...and Rapinoe, the nasty pink haired miscreant that said before the tournament began that when they won the world cup that she wasn't going to the Fuckin White House......she refuses to sing the Anthem, in fact she kneeled during the anthem as a professional last year in solidarity while kolin kapernick………….and kapernick ?  when did the Betsy Ross Flag become a symbol for the good Ol Slavery Days...…..in case you missed it....the corporate shitheads at Nike introduced a new line of sneakers with the Betsy Ross Flag embossed on the heal....then abruptly pulled the sneakers because Mr Kapernick said it was an offensive reminder of Slavery Days …..interesting that the Flag was proudly displayed on the Stage at the inauguration of none other than Barry Obama...…..interesting that Betsy Ross was a widowed female business owner in the 1700's Philadelphia...…...if anyone on the right ever said a disparaging word about Betsy Ross they would be Labeled a Sexist example of Male Toxicity ………..I am a conspiracy guy....I believe Nike acted too quickly....I believe this whole thing was planned to create a controversy that they could be at the Center of......it's obvious that Nike has lost the patronage  my Generation and Most conservatives......sales are drying up and schools are not renewing sneaker and uniform contracts in the south after they hired Kapernick and named him the centerpiece of their ad campaign last year......they need to stay relevant to the left, and minorities and the gangs that murder each other for their product...….ironic that a Billion Dollar company and a Wall Street traded stock would be the darling of Antifa and occupy Wall Street.....give Nike credit....they know who butters their bread and they will pander to them forever....interesting the Bernie Sanders supporters who demand $15 an hour wages don't seem to be bothered by Nike paying .35 cents a day to kids in Indonesia to stitch together $200.00 sneakers..I have heard Bernie bitch and Moan and Walmart , a US company that employs more Americans than probably any other.…but never  a peep about Nike moving jobs overseas and tearting their employees like SLAVES....and how about the border ? back in February when President Trump declared a National emergency at the border....Pelosi, Schumer and all were quoted as saying it was a "manufactured crisis"...…...120 days later it's a concentration camp ( AOC) and migrants are forced to drink out of toilets ( a lie,,,and another AOC quote)…...and yet still....when a bill was introduced to provide financial relief needed to improve conditions at the border , AOC voted against it...…. ..

I was going to save this post until the 5th...….i'm tired , and I wish to just enjoy my Freedom and raise a glass to the Patriots that created this Greatest of Nations.....but sadly this Independence Day I felt an obligation to once again point out the hypocrisy that is destroying America...….I no longer believe we will ever be the United States again....I do believe the 2nd Civil war has begun in the hearts and minds.....the violent clashes on the battlefields are not far off.....I hope i'm wrong, and I hope I don't live to see it.....but I fear it's coming

sycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, far better
Run, run, run, run, run, run away
Oh-ho-ho
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa, fa,…

“When storm clouds gather round you

Andd heavy rains descend
Just remember that death is not the end
And there’s no one there to comfort you
With a helpin’ hand to lend
Just remember that death is not the end
Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end “ (Dylan)

Heartfelt condolences to the extended Nolan family on the passing of Maureen....it’s hard not to question Gods plan when someone so young, the mother of a child that needs her more than most; is taken.......but believing is what we do......if it weren’t so hard then everyone would do it......grief and anger are normal and healthy reactions, just don’t loose faith that somewhere down the path this will all make sense.

“Oh, the tree of life is growing
Where the spirit never dies
And the bright light of salvation shines
In dark and empty skies”

If you ever feel sorrow for the deeds you might’ve done

“With no hope for tomorrow in the setting of the sun
And the ocean is howling for the things that might have been” ( P.Rowan)

Well maybe not that dramatic but yesterday was a day of regret for me, maybe it was the anniversary of the start of my Navy career and too much reflecting and dwelling on mistakes I have made since , but I was down in the dumps and questioning myself as to why I bother....why should I care when it seems know one else does .....and then in the evening mail I received a card, I will keep the details private for now but it was a note of Thanks, a note of encouragement and a generous offer with regards to Sweater Nite 22.....it was a reminder that some people do care and someone in particular cared a great deal about Sweater Nite .....it lifted me up that’s for sure and I will keep that card on my nite stand to remind on the days where my efforts seem futile, that they are not....and I just have to keep plugging away....as we fly through our 50’s it seems harder than ever to get together for a few beers like we used to....take every opportunity, enjoy them all because tomorrow is already in the rear view, we can’t get that one back to do over....not sure if the senders of the card read the blog, but I will be reaching out to them directly to let them know how much I needed that.............” that last good morning sunshine will be the brightest you’ve ever seen “

Going where the water

tastes like wine...........
Monday morning June 10th  “1985”......34 years ago right about now..... I made the longest trek of my life from 554 76 th street to MEPS ( military entrance processing station) on 86th and 7th.....the four years that ensued were life changing and insane....thanks to Steve Mac, Donnie Hoff and Johnny “who shot jr” Rhine for ensuring I didn’t get lost along the walk.

What is a Man , Deep down inside ?

What a Raging Beast with nothing to hide ( Lesh/Monk)

what can be said about this day that has not been said before....on this somber 75th anniversary of the greatest battle the world has ever seen....certainly the most significant...….in short....after 2,000 plus years on the planet....this was probably Mans Finest Moment...……..Men giving their young lives so that evil could be stopped and others could be free...….in a fractured , broken, modern world of petty wars and insignificant outrage, June 6th 1944 can not spoken about enough....lets find a few minutes to raise a glass and say a prayer of THANKS for ALL the men of the World that played a role that day....

The longest day nears

as we approach the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion, I thought I would share some quotes attributed to General George S. Patton.
Better to fight for something than live For nothing.........
“The test of success is not what you do when you are on top. Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.”...........”No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair......and my personal favorite....”

A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite time in the future.”

now everythings a little upside down

as a matter of fact the wheels have stopped...…..so the great state of Alabama has decided to ignore , disregard and bypass the Law of the Land......they are so certain that they are on the right side of history that they have decided to restrict abortions, punish doctors that perform abortions and no longer accept the supreme courts decision on Roe V Wade......and the left is loosing their collective minds......this is kind of like NYC, San Francisco and other liberal outposts declaring themselves "Sanctuary" Cities.....they refuse to accept the Federal Governments authority on Immigration issues....they refuse to cooperate with ICE and other law enforcement agencies with regard to "illegal Aliens"....they are so certain that they are on the right side of history when it comes to Juan and Pedro......I wonder if they see highlights of hypocrisy when they gaze into the mirror ?

From the sublime

To the ridiculous, as Thomas Paine pointed out  there’s not much difference....comes news from the wonderful world of college education...entrance exams will now include bonus points....not for getting questions right, but for the amount of adversity you faced growing up.....you heard that right....the schools will develop a criteria and then award points for kids who lived in high crime neighborhoods, had divorced parents, lived in city housing etc etc.......so in other words they are discriminating against kids that had a decent upbringing......once again America is punishing success and rewarding failure.....so the parent that works 2 or 3 jobs to raise their family in a good environment, who puts their own happiness aside to send their kids to the finest schools is being punished and the The slobs that leave their spouses and neglect their kids are reaping rewards in reduced tuition and favorable acceptance into schools.....America is upside down....the madness has to cease.

Oh the benches were stained

with tears and perspiration.....
The birdies were flying from tree to tree, 
There was little to say, there was no conversation
As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degree....
Yeah well it’s about that time, but sooo very much as changed since Robert Zimmerman graduates from Hibbing High School in Minnesota......today I read a snippet about a high school ( forgive me but I don’t recall where) that is doing away with the class valedictorian....they feel it creates unhealthy competition and stress......let that sink in..... the same school administrators across the country that have bullied a generation of kids into taking on mountains of debt to go to college because they would be useless without a college degree are now discouraging those kids from embracing their education and challenging themselves to be the best.........my friends, there is no such thing as unhealthy competition....it is in fact the only way to better yourself at whatever task is at hand.....the t-ball generation is afraid to strike out, afraid to loose, terrified of failure.....but instead of using those fears as motivation...they simply change the rules....every one gets to bat, keep swinging until you hit the ball and don’t allow anyone to keep score.....(Patrick Garry was a man ahead of his time, he always kept score at his daughters tball games and he made sure she knew if her team won or lost) .....sadly we are turning into a nation of frightened little girls.... requiring/demanding safe spaces....afraid of debate or differing opinions, unable or unwilling to accept unfavorable results ( elections, entrance exams etc etc) we are the calf that is being fattened for slaughter and our days are numbered....our enemies see it and are bidding their time......we will self implode or be extinguished in the next 50 years if we do not come to our senses.......I just hope their is beeeeer, dogs, music and women in the afterlife.....or wherever the fuck I end up. ( if you are reading this blog in the 22nd century, I hope I was wrong.... and I hope the Rangers are in the Stanley Cup Finals)...........sing it Bobby

I put down my robe, picked up my diploma
Took hold of my sweetheart and away we did drive
Straight for the hills, the black hills of Dakota
Sure was glad to get out of there alive
And the locusts sang, well, it give me a chill
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
And the locusts sang with a high whinin' trill
Yeah, the locusts sang and they was singing for me
Singing for me, well, singing for me

Derby Rant 2019

To Drink or Not too Drink, that is the true War of Will , and i'm talking real drinking, like a Long Range Toddy or a shot of Vekoma , not a Plus Que Parfait or some other silly Spinoff, By my Standards if you want to be a Game Winner you got start drinking at sunrise and continue throughout the day....if you have to run an errand on the Bodexpress you better grab a Roadster, if you want to  Win Win Win, just ignore the Tax and buy a bottle of Haikal and get busy...in no time you'll be dancing like a Master Fencer , telling humorous tales and displaying  your Cutting Humor and dazzling the felines like a regular Gray Magician...just always follow your own Code of Honor and if you have to leave your Country House always bring a Tacitus Flask of fine spirits, as Improbable as all this seems , it may just provide Maximum Security.

and that Boys and Girls is how I see the Derby Playing out...…..Maximun Security uptop…...exatca with Improbable......and a 4 horse Triple / Superfects with Tacitus and Country house (  if its wet, forget Country House and include one of the big faves Roadter or Game Winner in exotics)...alas I have been wrong before., but not today.

Omaha Beach

very disappointing to learn that Omaha Beach has scratched. As much as I love Mike Smith I was not going to put the favorite on top of my exotics..... I was hoping he would draw a lot of money his way and increase the payout for the winner ( I will reveal my pick on Saturday as improbable as that may seem.).........final thoughts on the Dan Jam , who knows what evil lurks, where  envy stirs bad intent, what darkness looms in the souls of the disenfranchised. when lifelong friends turn cold in the blink of an eye, one can only wonder why. To those who could not offer a hearty hello, your motives are exposed.