There is a lot of anger going on in the world. All of us get angry at one time or another. The question arises as to how do we deal with our anger. Do we keep it inside until it physically kills or disables us? Do we explode and attack everything and everyone within reach harming all about us? Do we logically approach the issue of anger and determine what causes the anger and how we deal with it in a positive, constructive and controlled manner?
Anger management is one solution but that only works in a somewhat controlled environment. When people get together to express their anger, it no longer is a case of dealing with anger in a constructive manner. It then becomes mob violence and must be treated as such. When people no longer observe the law, respect the law and believe that the grand jury or jury system is unfair and flawed, because the results are not what they wanted, regardless of the care and concern of the juries involved, then anarchy must prevail.
The parties involved in controlling this scenario, leaders both social and political, must take a no nonsense stance. This involves political leaders, social leaders, police and unfortunately all to often the military to take a firm hand using both force and a calming and rational rhetoric. This rhetoric should contain not only that what they (rioters) are doing is illegal but dangerous to themselves and to others as well. It should be pointed out to them that redress must come from within the law and the the results may may not be in accord with their beliefs and feelings.
If people feel that the system is wrong they can try to change it by lawful means. Know that any change must come from within each individual and group to determine what they want and their perceived notions of how they were wronged. An open mind is difficult to obtain but a closed mind is impossible to deal with.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Moodus, Connecticut
My family used to go and spend the summers in Moodus, Connecticut in the late 1940's and possibly the early 1950's if my memory serves me right. It was green and low key, just right for a city boy who loved to wander over the fields. Stone walls surrounded most of the fields as there was no place to put the stone that were strewn over the meadow except by piling them about the fields.
We spent the summer in an old beat up white house/ mansion with a large porch and wooden pillars (southern style) where we and our family rented out rooms and used a communal kitchen. I remember an old toaster that made the best toast imaginable. One had to open up the toaster and turn the slices of bread to be toasted. Mmmmm!
Milk was delivered in glass bottles, not homogenized and I think unpasteurized. The cream separated to the top leaving a thinnish and slightly blueish tinged liquid.
This particular vacation/farm was owned by Herman and Freida Frankel. I am not to sure of the last name or the correct spelling of Freida. Herman showed me how to milk a cow. Yes, milk does come from a cow and Herman milked all the cows by hand (6 or 7 cows) twice a day. He also raised chickens but he turned the chicken house into a clubhouse for the kids. It still stunk.
We also had an outhouse a short distance from the house which was quite quaint. It also stunk.
I was so enamored with that outhouse, that I used to collect postcards of different outhouses in the area.
Adjacent to the house was an arbor covered by Concord grape vines which were quite tasty by the end of the summer.
My Aunt Mimi Cohen ran a small bungalow colony next door to the Frankels called Willow Manor. Who actually owned it is left to conjecture. It wound up in the hands of an Aunt Gussie and Dave Schiffman by certain nefarious deeds or misdeeds as the case might be. In any case we spent a great deal of time there. Willow Manor had a small man made lake, one rowboat and a great many bullfrogs. I loved rowing about the lake and searching out a little cove that was there. In the middle of the lake was a wooden raft which we often swam to and relaxed on or about for hours on end.
Of course, what is a Bungalow Colony without a party house. It was a large one room affair where the ladies played canasta, mahjong and bingo. It was our clubhouse on rainy days. We played ping pong. There was also a shuffleboard court in front of the party house where we played many hours.
The men stayed in the city to work and visited on weekends. I believe that Buddy Cohen, Mimi's spouse drove them up each weekend. Buddy and Mimi had two children: Lee and Linda. Mimi was my Father's half sister, same father different mothers.
Every Friday night we would go to Willow Manor for dinner, first class. My Aunt Gussie and Aunt Mimi were first class cooks. I always looked forward to that meal. I might add that my Aunt Mimi was also the social director and bookkeeper as well.
There was an old movie theater in the town of Moodus housed in a big old white wooden building. I remember viewing Annie Get Your Gun and The Wizard of Oz on different occasions. Walking home at night was almost as much fun as the movie itself as the heavens were so full of stars I thought they would burst.
We, the kids used to play at night with our flashlights and make believe that they were ray guns. We went through batteries. The neon sign in front of Willow Manor would attract thousands of flying bugs every night which was a sight to behold.
One peculiar item that I found interesting was all the buildings in Moodus were white wood siding, which includes homes, recreational facilities, resorts and businesses. They were all very quaint.
I used to play with a town kid (Nicky) who lived next door but I didn't like going to his house because his big old gander always chased me.
To be continued.
We spent the summer in an old beat up white house/ mansion with a large porch and wooden pillars (southern style) where we and our family rented out rooms and used a communal kitchen. I remember an old toaster that made the best toast imaginable. One had to open up the toaster and turn the slices of bread to be toasted. Mmmmm!
Milk was delivered in glass bottles, not homogenized and I think unpasteurized. The cream separated to the top leaving a thinnish and slightly blueish tinged liquid.
This particular vacation/farm was owned by Herman and Freida Frankel. I am not to sure of the last name or the correct spelling of Freida. Herman showed me how to milk a cow. Yes, milk does come from a cow and Herman milked all the cows by hand (6 or 7 cows) twice a day. He also raised chickens but he turned the chicken house into a clubhouse for the kids. It still stunk.
We also had an outhouse a short distance from the house which was quite quaint. It also stunk.
I was so enamored with that outhouse, that I used to collect postcards of different outhouses in the area.
Adjacent to the house was an arbor covered by Concord grape vines which were quite tasty by the end of the summer.
My Aunt Mimi Cohen ran a small bungalow colony next door to the Frankels called Willow Manor. Who actually owned it is left to conjecture. It wound up in the hands of an Aunt Gussie and Dave Schiffman by certain nefarious deeds or misdeeds as the case might be. In any case we spent a great deal of time there. Willow Manor had a small man made lake, one rowboat and a great many bullfrogs. I loved rowing about the lake and searching out a little cove that was there. In the middle of the lake was a wooden raft which we often swam to and relaxed on or about for hours on end.
Of course, what is a Bungalow Colony without a party house. It was a large one room affair where the ladies played canasta, mahjong and bingo. It was our clubhouse on rainy days. We played ping pong. There was also a shuffleboard court in front of the party house where we played many hours.
The men stayed in the city to work and visited on weekends. I believe that Buddy Cohen, Mimi's spouse drove them up each weekend. Buddy and Mimi had two children: Lee and Linda. Mimi was my Father's half sister, same father different mothers.
Every Friday night we would go to Willow Manor for dinner, first class. My Aunt Gussie and Aunt Mimi were first class cooks. I always looked forward to that meal. I might add that my Aunt Mimi was also the social director and bookkeeper as well.
There was an old movie theater in the town of Moodus housed in a big old white wooden building. I remember viewing Annie Get Your Gun and The Wizard of Oz on different occasions. Walking home at night was almost as much fun as the movie itself as the heavens were so full of stars I thought they would burst.
We, the kids used to play at night with our flashlights and make believe that they were ray guns. We went through batteries. The neon sign in front of Willow Manor would attract thousands of flying bugs every night which was a sight to behold.
One peculiar item that I found interesting was all the buildings in Moodus were white wood siding, which includes homes, recreational facilities, resorts and businesses. They were all very quaint.
I used to play with a town kid (Nicky) who lived next door but I didn't like going to his house because his big old gander always chased me.
To be continued.
Community
I see a problem in our nation/community, it is not just the African/American, nor the Hispanic Community, it is in every part and parcel of our nation. It is the failure to take responsibility for not only one's own actions but our peers as well. People do not take criticism lightly. Reminding someone that what they are doing is illegal, immoral, dangerous and sinful can lead to violent confrontation. This is best left to the police. Unfortunately, our police have become so demonized by the media and our nation's leaders, they are unable to properly do their jobs.
No community cannot be lead from without. It may however be guided from without To actually lead a specific community, individual membership of that community is necessary/required. Unfortunately, the true leadership which is needed, evoking tough love and compassion is lacking. Instead, the blame game is used to enhance one's leadership of the community. No community can flourish let alone survive without honest, practical, intelligent and G-d fearing leadership.
Every community is composed of individuals and the ultimate expression of each individual can be unleashed by its leaders for better or worse. Change, positive and creative, must come from within each individual, lead by honest, practical, intelligent and G-d fearing leadership and nurtured by a benevolent and thoughtful government.
No community cannot be lead from without. It may however be guided from without To actually lead a specific community, individual membership of that community is necessary/required. Unfortunately, the true leadership which is needed, evoking tough love and compassion is lacking. Instead, the blame game is used to enhance one's leadership of the community. No community can flourish let alone survive without honest, practical, intelligent and G-d fearing leadership.
Every community is composed of individuals and the ultimate expression of each individual can be unleashed by its leaders for better or worse. Change, positive and creative, must come from within each individual, lead by honest, practical, intelligent and G-d fearing leadership and nurtured by a benevolent and thoughtful government.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Employment/Reality Check
We all have such great dreams when we were young. I am going to be an engineer, a lawyer, a doctor a mechanic, a plumber, a truck driver etc the list goes on. I am going to marry/live with someone who is beautiful or handsome but reality soon checks in. Money, innate abilities, personal relationships, culture, religion, health, employment opportunities, advancing technology, age and so many more, play a part in our employment viability.
Age!! We grow older but how does it affect our job skills and employability? We all know the apparent attributes of being young: the feeling of immortality, adventure, confidence and the intelligence that comes with the latest in knowledge and technology.
As we grow older with more responsibilities: family, social, cultural, economic and job, we become more aware of our mortality, less confident, not as adventurous and lack the time and energy to keep up with the latest in knowledge and technology.
Employers also recognize this age factor. As a result as one gets older, employers are less like to spend money on retreading an old tire when a new tire is readily available at a fraction of the cost. It is a great deal easier in the internet/information to keep up to date than it was 40 years ago but it is still easier and financially better for the average employer to hire the young, healthy and flexible employee. If you have not made it by your mid 30's and established yourself professionally, most likely you won't do so in your chosen field.
It is time to branch out and reach out to other fields of endeavor that you may be interested in. It might require some retraining and education but do not be dissuaded by anyone. You and only you know what you can do, no matter the advice that you receive, it is ultimately up to you to make that decision. Take failure in stride, as a stepping stone to success and success as a reward for your hard work and faith.
Do it now!!
Age!! We grow older but how does it affect our job skills and employability? We all know the apparent attributes of being young: the feeling of immortality, adventure, confidence and the intelligence that comes with the latest in knowledge and technology.
As we grow older with more responsibilities: family, social, cultural, economic and job, we become more aware of our mortality, less confident, not as adventurous and lack the time and energy to keep up with the latest in knowledge and technology.
Employers also recognize this age factor. As a result as one gets older, employers are less like to spend money on retreading an old tire when a new tire is readily available at a fraction of the cost. It is a great deal easier in the internet/information to keep up to date than it was 40 years ago but it is still easier and financially better for the average employer to hire the young, healthy and flexible employee. If you have not made it by your mid 30's and established yourself professionally, most likely you won't do so in your chosen field.
It is time to branch out and reach out to other fields of endeavor that you may be interested in. It might require some retraining and education but do not be dissuaded by anyone. You and only you know what you can do, no matter the advice that you receive, it is ultimately up to you to make that decision. Take failure in stride, as a stepping stone to success and success as a reward for your hard work and faith.
Do it now!!
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