Firsts</h1> <article> <h1>Firsts</h1> <p>traveler — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:57:00 GMT</p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Arial;">Firsts... My first blog.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Arial;">When we first decided to start<strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"> daworst</span></strong> it was a light concept for people to just complain and exclaim about anything and everything. Initially we were full of hope and that the site would be a useful tool for exchange. However, the things we don't consider prove to provide the greatest degree of difficulty. How do we communicate to get the word out so people can discuss the issues they are dealing with and use this site as a platform for their issues, angst, and energy? Could be who needs another site...well let’s see.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Arial;">Last spring we went to India and I was going to write about the things that stirred me. After the terrorist attacks I just felt uncomfortable discussing the trip. Unfortunately, we had set backs this winter so no travel.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Arial;">A company failure, a lack of jobs and stimulus for the connected paid for by the unconnected is the theme for 2009. Just feeling too tired and too sick of the promise of the future being sold out.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></p> <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>The Only Moral Abortion is My Abortion</h1> <p>jmz — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:58:00 GMT</p> While there is hypocracy in all areas of politics from the far left to the far right, I find the right-to-life hypocracy among the worst as it affects our freedoms. I was surfing the web and discovered this article by Joyce Arthur which provides examples of the personal hypocracy that exists for some in the anti-choice movement. Joyce has given me permission to post the article in full. Thanks Joyce. (To see the article in context, follow the link http://mypage.direct.ca/w/writer/anti-tales.html...(<a href="http://daworst.com/cs/blogs/jzmusings/archive/2008/09/22/the-only-moral-abortion-is-my-abortion.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Country First?</h1> <p>jmz — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:30:00 GMT</p> Yesterday evening, I was “Stumbling” through web pages when I came across Andrew Sullivan’ s The Daily Dish in TheAtlantic.com. I have seen Andrew on The Colbert Show a number of times and have not always agreed with him on the issues. He is a self-described libertarian conservative who is a pioneer blogger being one of the first of the high-profile political journalists to start a personal blog In the September 10 posting of The Daily Dish which he titles “ McCain’s...(<a href="http://daworst.com/cs/blogs/jzmusings/archive/2008/09/11/country-first.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Fibromyalgia</h1> <p>krazitoo — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:28:00 GMT</p> The other day I saw an advertisement on early morning TV for Dr. Frank’s Joint & Muscle Pain Relief spray and the similar Dr. Frank’s Joint Pain Relief for Dogs and Cats. This resonated a bit with me since I have been having joint and general pains that I have been attributing to the march of time. When I went to the website to investigate the formula (which I found lacking in proper form for the chemical components and imprecise in the concentrations), I saw a link to “fibromyalgia”...(<a href="http://daworst.com/cs/blogs/jzmusings/archive/2008/08/13/fibromyalgia.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Traffic entitlements</h1> <p>biker — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:01:00 GMT</p> <p>More feelings of roadway entitlements:</p> <p>Is your time more valuable than my time? I ask because it never fails that when you have a highway with 4 lanes (think Brooklyn Queens Expressway - heading north (east if you ask them)) and the right two lanes go on as the BQE and the left two take you to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, people think nothing of driving along the right lane of the tunnel set and at the last moment jamming their way into the left lane of the BQE set. What happens then? We all get to slow down while the interloper cuts in front of us all. Now, it's not like just one idiot/high-and-mighty driver does it, no, a large contingent of we're-more-important-than-you folks does it. </p> <p>So, knock it off will you? Just get in line like the rest of us did and we'll get along much better (and traffic will move much better if you and your ilk don't cut in front of us).</p> <p>Other locations this happens: on the Grand Central at the exit for the BQE Southbound. Single exit lane, but cabs / limos, etc all drive up to the hash marks and cut in front of us. At Exit 7 off the Major Deagan, where the left lane is for the GWB and the right lane is for New England, invariably with the delays on the GWB, people zip up to the hash marks from the right lane and then cut into left lane.</p> <p>The same problem exists at approaches to the toll plazas with EZ-Pass only lanes. The approach to the GWB from Rt 4 has the center lane as EZPass only. Last night (7/20/08) as I was in the lane, the car in front of me kept slowing down and staying far back from the car in front of him. Sure enough, as we got closer to the actual plaza, he cuts out of the lane and into the left lane. I am sure the people he cut off weren't too thrilled with him.</p> <p>It would be great to see these people getting tickets, but depending on where incidents occur, it's difficult for the police to see them. In the meantime, to all the good drivers who follow the rules, just keep your car up close to the one in front and maybe to the left or to the right so that you can keep the baddies from cutting in. Do want you can to keep them from getting in.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Waterfalls</h1> <p>biker — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:53:00 GMT</p> <p>So how many of you have made a special trip to see the 'waterfalls'? Yeah, I know, they're not really waterfalls (see Niagara for a real one), but you know what they really are? Yep, traffic-delay-inducing items. Twice I'm driving north on the BQE (or as the BQE folks like to say, East) and both times we get to slow way down as we approach Brooklyn Heights and the NY skyline. Why? Because they stuck a waterfall on the pier nearby and everyone seems to think, "oh,I'll just slow down for a second or two and take a gander at it - what will it hurt?" Well, it hurts me! I hate traffic delays as much as most people (except for those who haven't seen a waterfall) and it would be really nice if people would just remember the saying "just keep moving on - nothing to see" when they get there. We'd all get home much faster and then you can go online to see the things if you really want to.</p> <p>Just don't slow down. OK? Thanks. Oh, one more thing: Whose bright idea was it to have fireworks in the general vicinity of the BQE and Brooklyn Heights this past Thursday evening around 930 or so? So, combined with the water and the fireworks, we really got to slow down. Thanks for nothing!</p> <p>Aug 29, 2008: According to their website, it's not tax payer money. Donations are what funded it. I just guess there wasn't one big donation otherwise it might have been known as "Poland Springs Waterfalls" - of course, since PS is owned by Nestle, it might have been Nestle instead. </p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Essential Life Lesson #1: Over is Right, Under is Wrong</h1> <p>jmz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:16:00 GMT</p> This was taken from a posting at Current Configuration but expresses my thoughts better than I could... Put simply, there is a right way to hang the toilet paper, and a wrong way. Read on to determine the status of your own roll. Toilet paper has a natural curve, a way of being that lends itself to certain orientations on the toilet paper spool.* If handled with skill and knowledge, it can provide an abundance of both sanitation and comfort, quilted together in each square of pillowy ply. If handled...(<a href="http://daworst.com/cs/blogs/jzmusings/archive/2008/07/18/essential-life-lesson-1-over-is-right-under-is-wrong.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Drove me crazy</h1> <p>biker — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:36:00 GMT</p> <p>Ok, so it's not such an original title, but it drives (sorry, couldn't resist) home the point I am about write about.</p> <p>So, last night I went to JFK to pick up a friend of mine. Everything went perfect (like, no traffic on the Van Wyck, plenty of space at the Cell Phone waiting lot, her flight touched down ontime, and she got to baggage claim fairly quickly and even got her suitcase without a hitch). I met her at the passenger pickup area and away we went. This is where the proverbial wheels come off the car. So, from Terminal 8's pick up area, I follow the signs for the airport exit and head in the direction of the Van Wyck, bypassing the JFK Expressway exit route as that puts you onto the Belt Parkway and it's out of my way. All of a sudden there is no more exiting to the VW. Road work or whatever, but now I have to circle the airport to get out. It seems someone went home and forgot to block off all the exit routes to the VW. Now, on paper this is no big deal (and if was no big deal, I wouldn't be ranting about it now), but in reality it is a VERY big deal. Traffic lights, traffic (it's around 11pm, FWIW). Inch by inch we all crawl (except for the unmarked police car with the lights and siren which were flashing and wailing, as he must've been in a hurry to get home too) around the roadways. It took about 30 minutes or so to finally get out and this time by exiting near Terminals 1/2/3 we were all forced to go via the JFK Expressway to the Belt and then back West to the VW.</p> <p>At least when I drop her off and it's time for me to exit the airport, I will know not to follow the VW exit signs and will follow the JFk Expressway signs.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Things I Strongly Dislike</h1> <p>biker — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:05:00 GMT</p> <p> Some of us like lists and some of us don't. Granted, I make them; but I don't always complete the tasks. And then there are just lists of things (not action items). Here's my list of things I strongly dislike (in the vein of this blog, "hate" would apply to naming rights). Also, this list is only listed as I write them, not the order in which they engender my dislike.</p> <ul> <li>Bus and subway passengers who feel that they have to squeeze into the final seat and jam their elbows into my ribs. Hey, we're all getting bigger, so just because there's a 'cutout' of seat there, doesn't mean you should try and fit into the space. Think about your fellow passengers' comfort.</li> <li>TV shows that don't start or end on the hour or half-hour. I don't want to have to worry about starting at 9:59 or ending at 10:01.</li> <li>Grocery Shrink Ray. (see The Consumerist website (<a href="http://consumerist.com/">http://consumerist.com/</a>) for stories about that).</li> <li>Websites that aren't designed to work with the Opera browser. Even Opera's setting that reads "Identify as IE" doesn't always work. So, how about branching out and designing sites for the other browsers out there.</li> <li>Websites that force you to create an account just to post a comment to a news story (this site is different - it's not USA Today) and then their account creation function isn't working. So much for high availability, eh?</li> <li>4-way stop signs at regular intersections. All of a sudden you come across a 4-way stop where yesterday there was just the ss on the side street. Now, you (on the 'main' street) have to stop. But what about when you and a vehicle on the side street arrive at the intersection at the same time? We all know the rule to determine who goes first: the car to your right. Ok, that's fine in theory, but what if I think I got there first but the other guy thinks he got there first? Well, it seems we both might go at the same time and if one of us doesn't stop quickly, well, crash time. See, now what did the additional stop signs do? Yep, created an opportunity for car crashes, when you would think they would reduce 'em. Now, maybe in some places people won't be so concerned about getting that quick start, but I am sure that 4-ways do nothing to cut down on crashes. Maybe they slow down the speeders (yeah, they might treat them as a yield sign so they slow down), but for the rest of us, it just introduces another chance to crash our cars.</li> <li>Junk mail in plastic bags thrown on my lawn/walkway. I have to throw the paper in the recycling bin for paper and the bag in the trash.</li> <li>Junk mail in the regular mail. Some people have suggested taking the business reply envelope and filling it with other paper (nothing with your name on it though) and sending it back to them. That way they have to pay the USPS for the stuff. Maybe if we all do this they'll stop wasting our time with it. In the meantime, we can support the USPS by doing so. Here's a site that has more suggestions for it: <a href="http://officeofstrategicinfluence.com/bulkmailer/">http://officeofstrategicinfluence.com/bulkmailer/</a></li> <li>People who insist on cranking up the volume on their ear-bud 'headphones' to the point that I can't hear the subway and bus brakes squeal. Of course, it means I get to hear whatever they're listening to but it doesn't come out as music (and for now I will use that term as it is truly defined) but rather as noise, not white noise, but plain old noise. It's a toss-up between that noise and fingernails on a blackboard as to which is more annoying (probably the noise as it continues, whereas the fingernails will usually stop quickly enough because even the perpetrator probably doesn't want to hear it). At least I have the common decency to use headphones that cover the ear.</li> <li>Rubber-Neckers. No explanation needed.</li> <li>Aug 5,2008: Online contest entry forms that aren't served by a secure https server.</li> <li>March 13, 2009: Reality tv shows. <ul> <li>Medical bills that are impossible to decipher. And why don't doctors tell us how much something is going to cost before doing all the work? Maybe I'll take my chances and postpone the work.</li> <li>Affinity credit cards - I just got an offer from Bank of America for a credit card tied to my alma mater. Alumnus or not, the terms for the card stink. 4% for a balance transfer fee! No thanks. I'll just make a donation to the school.</li> </ul> </li> <li>July 6, 2009: <ul> <li>With regards to the non-standard show times: More and more channels are doing it. Even History channel is doing it this season with Ice Road Truckers. The premiere of an episode gets 62 minutes (really just 2 more minutes of ads), but when they repeat it later on, it's back to 60 minutes. Either you are getting 2 more minutes of show in the premiere and losing them in the repeat or you're getting the extra ads and not getting the extra ads in the repeat. An exercise for the reader, as I stopped watching this season after the 2nd or 3rd show. It's really a trucking show on a real road, not an ice road. Granted that road is in Alaska, but they've already had a special on the Haul Road.</li> <li>More and more channels are putting on-screen text next to the vanity logos (like they're there for any other reason but for the owners' huge egos). They get in the way of the show content, so I ignore anything that is shown on a channel that does it. I used to like watching TVLAND, but no more. Of course, TNT, TBS, FX, BBCA, they have been doing this for a long time now, so I don't care what they put on, I will not watch any of their series, no matter how good the critics like 'em. And that means no DVD streaming on netflix either. You treat me bad once, I remember it.</li> <li>The amount of commercial time in Discovery Channel, History Channel, and National Geographic Channel tv shows. And the tv indudstry wonders why we skip past the commercials. Give me 10 minutes of ads / promos in an hour (and no crawls or pop-ups) and I'll watch your show 'live.' Granted, I may have to record things due to scheduling, but I'll watch "24" at 9 if you give me enough to make it worth my time. Otherwise, it's the vcr and FF button.</li> </ul> </li> <li>September 9, 2009 <ul> <li>I noticed the other day that one of my three cable channels (DSC, History, NatGeo) started putting up pop-ups for ads. Not for their shows, but for cars or some other crap. Of course, you can't FF past it, as the show is actually being shown. Of course, it won't be long before they all do it. You know, idiot see, idiot do (I do not want to insult monkeys).</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>That's it for now. I'll add to the list over time. In the interim, please let me know what you strongly dislike.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Driving Me Crazy</h1> <p>jmz — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:35:00 GMT</p> The other day, before July fourth, I was driving around the eastern NY Metro area (New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Connecticut) and started to take conscious notice of how diving characteristics of the different areas varied. Now this is not going to be a rant about how poorly NYC drivers drive. In reality, most of those diving in the city seemed to be more aware of others and while interested in getting ahead of the next guy also knew when that was not possible or was too risky. This...(<a href="http://daworst.com/cs/blogs/jzmusings/archive/2008/07/08/driving-me-crazy.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Naming Rights - Why they aren't any good</h1> <p>biker — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:17:00 GMT</p> <p>To me, naming rights are a waste. Why? Do I buy products / services of a company that decides it wants spend x amount money per year for 20 years? No, if I buy something, it's usually because I feel the product / service is useful to me, not because I saw their name on a stadium.</p> <p>I started noticing all the naming rights for stadiums and college bowl games about 10 years or so ago. I don't know which one I saw first, but my first reaction was "Well, I am not going to buy that product." Of course, it is tough sometimes to not use a product of some of those sponsors (think delivery company for one). As a bicycle tourist, I wasn't happy when the Postal Service was sponsoring a racing team. They don't anymore (at least not that I've noticed).</p> <p>To me, the owners and corporations who actively go after a chance to name something are in the same classification as the world's oldest profession (and I'm not talking about a bakery).</p> <p>Every time I see a corporate-named event / place, I think, ok, they want me to open an account at their bank (see the sponsor of the new york city marathon). But because they bought the naming rights to the race, it makes it a good thing for me to do? Their name doesn't tell me anything about their services. It only serves to annoy (at the least) me. As I said, I cut off my nose to spite my face, so that means, no, I'm not gonna do it; wouldn't be prudent. Do they think I am a lemming and will blindly follow them to their company? I am not that easily swayed.</p> <p>Here in New York City, we have a couple of baseball teams. Maybe you've heard of them? The Yankees and the Mets. The Yankees have "Yankeee Stadium." The Mets have "Shea Stadium." Now, they are both building new stadiums (I will ignore for now the public money that's already been given to them and save that for a different rant). What's the name for the new Yankee Stadium? Well, it seems there are some names that can't be bought. So, they are keeping the name. Good thing, as I am sure that the uproar (to put it mildly) if they did sell out would have been quite loud. Cross town in Queens, the price for the naming rights for the new mets stadium is $400 million over 20 years (my math skills tell me that equals $20 million per year). So, Mr. Shea's name could be bought so now we have a bank's name on the new 'field'. It's a good thing for me that I already bank with them, otherwise I'd be running out of banks to patronize. Yeah, while I won't buy a naming rights product, I am not going to switch just because they spent the money for name. But, if other things come up, I'd add the naming rights as another item to the list to see if it's worth it to switch.</p> <p>Has anyone seen a study that proves naming rights are a good deal? I would like to know. Or is it just the ego of the execs who want to see their company's name (and of course sometimes it's their own name) up on a stadium or event?</p> <p>Do you buy a car because a certain golf player shills for them or because the car manufacturer bought the naming rights to the event? In either case, I hope the car was a good deal for you. Me, I ignore the car and manufacturer at the get-go just because of the tie-ins. Granted, the car I lease does have an golf event in its name, but until I searched, I didn't even know about it (so much for the advertising for it), whereas the player / company ads I have seen in non-golf magazines, so for me that meant no visit to its showrooms.</p> <p>Of course, marketing folks probably think that a corporate name on a stadium just keeps the company's name in the public eye. Yeah, see how well that turned out for the folks at Enron and their stadium. What about PSInet? That didn't go so well either. Let's face it, there are enough other places to advertise to keep your name out there that we should be able to name stadiums after people or places. If you want your company name on it, then pay for the entire stadium with your company's money (which would probably have to be approved by a board or some other group of people). </p> <p>Donating money to a school shouldn't get you your name on a library either. Donate if you'd like, but you're supposed to donate for the good feelings, not because you're getting something in return.</p> <p>If a company wants to donate to research fine, but don't name a 'race' after your company. All that does is make it seem like you're out for good will. If I want to donate to a cause, I do it by making a direct donation, not to a company that decides to set up a race and website with their own name on it (I am talking to you Avon or is it Revlon, I can't recall - maybe it's both of them?).</p> <p>An update: Today (March 13, 2009) it was announced that the Sears Tower in Chicago (like I had to tell you where it is) has been renamed to Willis Tower (well, actually the name change will take place later on this year). Read the story and comments on The Consumerist: <a href="http://consumerist.com/5169208/sears-tower-now-called-willis-tower">http://consumerist.com/5169208/sears-tower-now-called-willis-tower</a> Mind you, Sears hasn't been in the tower since 1992, but the name has stayed. Well, not now. Another one bites the dust. All because somebody rents a bunch of space in the building.</p> <p>I saw an ad yesterday on tv (after I already threw out the flyer on my home's front door) for papa johns pizza. As you know, they recently started sponsoring a ncaa bowl game. But guess what, they are the official pizza for march madness (more money for the ncaa). Gee, who knew march madness needed an offical pizza? And they shill coke on their website because coke is an official ncaa corporate champion. WTF is a corporate champion and why should I care? All this makes me glad I buy my pizza from a local store and my soda choice is not coke.</p> <p>And also today (March 13, 2009) it was announced that the subway stop for the Mets new ballpark will not be named after the bank that paid for the naming rights of the stadium as the owners aren't spending any of the money on the name change for the station. Yippee! You can read about it at Gothamist: <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/03/12/mta_the_first_to_officially_not_rec.php">http://gothamist.com/2009/03/12/mta_the_first_to_officially_not_rec.php</a> Personally, I think they should have paid the renovation costs to begin with. If they wanted their name on the station, then they should pay more. As it is the wonderfully efficient MTA is spending $40,000,000 to renovate the station. I sure hope there will be gold-plated handrails and crystal chandeliers for that kind of money. BTW, the name of the train stop is now just "Mets-Willets Point". (6/28/09). I thought I'd add it here.</p> <p>6/28/09: It was recently announced that the "good" folks at barclays will be paying naming rights for a brooklyn train stop. Well, actually, they will get to add their name to the stop, not completely rename it. I guess it'll be like the revolving door at the jones beach theater where it seems there's another corporate john's name attached to it.</p> <p>07/06/2009: It is the "Atlantic Avenue - Pacific Street - 4th Avenue" station. $200,000 for 20 years. I am not sure if it's $200,000 per year or if it's $10,000 per year. The news report on CNN wasn't very clear. Either way, it's disgusting. Our bus and subway service still sucks.</p> <p>09/08/2009 - I saw recently that the same "good" folks at Barclays are the john for some golf event in New Jersey. Oh, gee, the goodwill that generates.</p> <p>01/29/2010 - I just read that the stadium in Florida that is hosting the hamburger bowl game this weekend (I refuse to call it what the nfl calls it since it has a 'presenting' corporate john) has just joined the ranks of corporate john stadiums itself. Although I think that 2 of the previous names (the names had the word 'pro' in it and I think it was clothing maker's name - I am not sure as I write this) may have been corporate john names. But if not, this new one definetely is and it's a canadian name at that. They don't have a big US presence and they are hoping this will help. That's just the problem. Slapping your name on a stadium doesn't make you a good financial company. Only if you can prove to have do things right in the world of insurance or finance can we then think of buying your services. Oh, but now we'll see your name and think gee, I need some insurance right now, why don't I check out the great company that paid $25,000,000 (over 5 years) to the miami stadium folks and see what wonderful services I can get from them. They have to be good, because the football team thought well enough of them to let them pay for the naming rights. Wonderful logic.</p> <p>Again, naming rights are evil.</p> <p>01/31/2010 - I read earlier today that the company that bought Keyspan (a provider of power in NYC & Long Island) is dropping the Keyspan name from the ballpark in Brooklyn (the one that the Brooklyn Cyclones play in). It's not because they are against the idea of being a corporate john, it's just that the situation isn't right for them at this time. Regardless, now the team has to find another sucker to pay them the hundreds of thousands of dollars they are demanding for a new naming rights deal. Good luck. Even the new stadium for the alleged ny jets & giants hasn't gotten a john's name yet.</p> <p>I guess their colleagues in Staten Island are getting a good deal on the stadium next to the ferry, as their name is still there.</p> <p>Remember, naming rights are evil.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>FISA or CYA</h1> <p>jmz — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:51:00 GMT</p> The other day the about half the Democrats in the US House rolled over and gave President Bush nearly everything he wanted in a FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act). The word foreign in the bill should be removed since it is misleading and inaccurate. This bill removes many of the unreasonable search and seizure aspects of the fourth amendment of the US Constitution. Former Nixon White House Counsel John Dean (never one of my favorite people) appeared on MSNBC's Keith Olbermann show....(<a href="http://daworst.com/cs/blogs/jzmusings/archive/2008/06/23/fisa-or-cya.aspx">read more</a>) </article> <article> <h1>Welcome</h1> <p>jmz — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:19:00 GMT</p> Welcome to my musings. In this blog I will focus on my likes and dislikes and their interplay with my interests. I have a wide range of interests ranging from computers (no surprise there), family and home activities to the environment, oceanography, politics and sailing with all sorts of things in the middle. The posts on this blog will range from original content to excerpts of news stories, images and other blogs. A little about me. I am well past the age of consent and even well past the age...(<a href="http://daworst.com/cs/blogs/jzmusings/archive/2008/06/20/welcome.aspx">read more</a>) </article> </main></body></html>