AliveAndKickN

Tigers, Rhinos, Gorillas, Elephants, Bears, oh My!

Caught the last few minutes of Gorillas in the Mist last night, after the Olympics, where once again, the announcers were disapointed in one thing or another.  Everyone's a critic.  Like I've said previously, if you as a talking head, weren't a player, you've got no right to critique others.  Anyway, Gorillas in the Mist was about Dian Fossey who gave her life to try to save Gorillas in Africa from poachers.  All they wanted was the gorilla hands.  Serioursly?  Killing tigers for bones and skins.  Killing rhinos and elephants for the horns and tusks.  Maybe someone can start a rumor about the sexual power of squirrel tail.  We have plenty of them to kill.     

The Japanese have indicated that they will reject the UN ban on fishing for Bluefin Tuna, regardless of the studies showing that they are an endagered species.  In New Jersey, we're doing a black bear hunt to cull the amount.  After all, they're infringing on our territory.  I've supported the Humane Society, so I'm against cruelty to any animal.  But once again, I ask the question about double standards.  Why is it ok to kill off the predators just for doing what they are supposed to do?  Yet, kitty and puppy mills are ok, adding more pets into the system?  We can't use horses that are past their prime for meat in the US. 

On Bill Maher's season debut this week on HBO, they discussed the catastrophe in Haiti.  As much as we should be proud of the outreach and the money raised to try to rebuild Haiti, he brought up the situation in the Congo.  Several hundred thousand died, and millions were displaced in Haiti.  In the Congo, millions were killed and tens of millions were displaced, and thousands still die every day.  Too far away to make a difference?  Or is it because it's man-made, not nature?     

Putting Sports in Perspective

The Bergen Record interviewed me the other day.  Apparently, I'm different in that not only do I coach, but I'm also on the Council, etc.  So youth sports aren't my entire life.  I gave them my perspective on youth sports, professional trainers, and some of the unwarranted pressure people put on their kids.  Do I think professional training is a bad thing?  No, having someone there regularly who knows what they're doing is a good thing.  Too many parents don't know how to teach youth sports, and/or they can't be there due to business responsibilities.  However, I think one-on-one pitching coaching for a 6-year old is exorbitant.  I tell my parents that the odds are against their child becoming a professional athlete.  However, if they truly do feel that their child has the potential, I'm not the coach for them.  I was asked what's changed since my playing days.  I think the availability of pro trainers as a business is different.  The pressure put on kids by parents is the same.  The reporter was surprised by the lack of animosity from the different sports in town.  Apparently in her town, animosity among individual sports and parents gets to the Council level on a regular basis. I was candid with the atmosphere in my house growing up.  My father always blamed the coach, the referee or a combination thereof for everything.  It got to a point where I wouldn't let him come to games.   

As I watch the Olympics, I once again can't help but feel disappointed in the perspective.  To be top-10 in the world at anything, and then to lose by milliseconds is somehow disappointing.  Regardless of the fact that many of these sports are bizarre in nature, how do you do that to teenagers? 

We'll see if the article is published and how it turns out.   

Happy Valentine's Day

Being the hopeless romantic, I was trying to find the perfect gift for my special someone.  Being a fan of the environment, I didn't think cards were the right gift, especially since I could never match my wife's talent.  And jewelry, I can't compete with what she already has, so why bother.  Then I found it - The Star Registry!!  I heard the commercial on the radio or TV, and thought it was the must-have.  Seriously - $150 to name a star!  I realize it comes with a document to frame, but who really buys this crap?  I'll make one up with the laptop and since we don't have a telescope, I don't think anyone will know the difference.  Then we'll celebrate by eating the sheet cake from the Volunteer Center fundraiser the night before. I think the money saved by not naming a star could be well spent elsewhere.

But the Trains Ran on Time

Yesterday, we had the "blizzard of the century," or at least of the month.  Got about 12-18 inches of snow in a 24-hour period, which even by Canadian standards, is pretty significant.  And even though DPW is not my portfolio, I got the earful from the people on the roads that didn't get plowed until about 20 hours into the storm.  It was like Sadie the wonder-beagle.  She's all sweet and cuddly, but put a can of tuna fish in front of her, and something just snaps.  Anyway, I guess I'm only as good as the DPW's plowing prowess.  No one seemed to believe me that every time an emergency takes place, the trucks get pulled into action.  Make sure the street is plowed, the driveway is plowed to an emergency vehicle can get close, and then make sure a pathway is plowed for stretchers. 

Anyway, I'm proud of the job the DPW guys did.  Around 8:00, they took their first break since 5:00AM, so I brought them dinner.  My stuff was significantly more appealing than what was leftover from the convenience store's morning creation, especially the coffee. 

I thought of a new word - snohawk.  It's the snow left on the top of a car after cleaning off the sides only. 

An Example of What Can Go Wrong with Democracy

Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama has kept the Obama Administration from about 70 appointees taking over administration positions.  Apparently, the 5-year old is unhappy with not getting his state's pork done in a timely manner, or at all.  No big deal.  It's just the country being held hostage.  So far, the Obama administration is the first in 30 years not to do recess appointees, essentially circumventing the process in the Senate.  It's still early in his administration.  I guess we'll see who flinches first. 

Part of the Process

For the political geek in me, this week was actually pretty cool.  At my Zoning Board meeting, I witnessed debate in action.  One member of the community wanted to turn his upper level commercialy zoned building into residential rental.  Realistically, it wouldn't have affected the town that much, and having an affordable rental downtown would have been good for the community.  However, in order to qualify for a variance, a hardship needed to be evidenced.  The Board debated it, and they voted.  The ordinance required 5 yes votes.  Only 7 of the 8 voting members were there, and the vote was 4 yes to 3 no.  If the other member was there, the variance could have passed.  Interesting.  Both sides were right, but in the end, just showing up may have made the difference.

At the Council meeting, we went through the various beginning of the month stuff.  Newest member has some great ideas, and the conversation is very thorough, yet cordial.  Checking into the cost of more eco-friendly road paving.  It's gotta be done anyway, so why not do it right?  We're paying for run-off, so the less that hits the sewer system, the better.