The Trumpster

OK - this week I have been inundated with questions about what I think of Donald Trump.  I actually try not to think of him at all and work aggressively at thinking about serious matters.

But, when all is said and done, I think three things when I am pressed to consider him:

I think that he is not a Billionaire - I've worked for wealthy families most of my life and I can tell you people who are running empires don't have time to sit around and send mean tweets to their enemies. They don't have time to run around and glad hand people, because their main concern is keeping their business going and that takes up most of their time and their consideration.  You think Warren Buffet has time to send out Facebook posts and Tweets? Not even - and he might send out a few messages, but those are sent by assistants, and it doesn't monopolize their days, cause ain't nobody got time for that!

I think that he is full of bombast - talking tough will truly only take you so far when you are standing on a podium in front of a vast crowd of people that you know nothing about.  Do you recall that day it looked like someone was going to storm the stage at his rally?  His eyes were as wide as saucers and he gripped that podium with as much fear as you will ever see in a man who is not on a battlefield. You see he didn't try and unleash his act in Chicago, because Chicagoans were ready to take it there.  He tried to blame his timid departure on the Chicago Police, but they made it clear that they didn't stop the rally - they told him it was up to him - and as we all know - he folded like a house of cards

I think that he creates a persona that he will have a very hard time getting away from and it has placed him in a precarious position - he has been acting like an arch villain in Gotham City - he has no place to go but back into the funny papers.  How can he ever be taken seriously?  Telling people to shut up, asking Russia to hack into a private system server, calling women ugly.. I remember another New Yorker who spent the majority of his career trying to be a bully, his name was John McEnroe.  He was an incredible tennis player, but he had a reputation for being over the top and intimidating.  But the problem with having that reputation is at some point, you will be called on it. McEnroe was in the middle of a match and at one point, he challenged a line judge - and instead of cowering, the line judge let him know in a not so subtle way that he wasn't the one.  The man might have been having a bad day - but he checked John McEnroe and it made headlines. Trump can't afford that fate, so when I do think of him, I am usually thinking " I certainly hope I'm around when he has his come uppance."

The Announcement from Magic Johnson November 7, 1991

http://youtu.be/VbdOQUARrEU

Everyone who was alive at that time recalls where they were when Magic Johnson made the momentous announcement that he was HIV positve and woud immediately retire from basketball.

Ervin "Magic" Johnson was one of the bggest stars in basketball at the time.  The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the best teams in the NBA, and were always contenders for the NBA crown.

This year had been different. This had been Chicago's year - the Chicago Bulls had just won their first championship against the Lakers and we were still celebrating - we know how to celebrate in Chicago and there was a lot to overcome to be the best. There were nay sayers all around who wondered how we had beat the Lakers because they had such an incredible track record.  

The day that Magic announced his press conference, there was speulation all around that Magic was going to retire, and that Michael Jordan had pushed Magic out of the game.  Retiring didn't seem implausible.  Magic had finally married his long time and long suffering girfriend, Cookie.  He had dated her forever, and she had faithfully endured broken engagments, called off weddings, cheating, scandals, baby mammas - now he was getting his act together and he had settled down. It seemed sure that he would retire.  There was also the rumour that he had AIDS.

As Magic approached the podium, it was clear that this was a solemn ocassion.  He wasnt wearing his trademark flashy grin, and he was surrounded by very serious looking men.  Magic stepped up to the poium and got right to it - "Because of the HIV virus that I have attained, I wlll have to retire from the Lakers today".

We were watching on a large screen TV that was used for screening shows - everybody took a collective breath - you could hear everyone in the room exhale.  The owner of the company was so distraught that he went home for the day.  It was pretty overwhelming news for many people. Many older people had not been personally touched by HIV and AIDS.  That wasn't the case with me.

I am only a few years younger than Magc, so the disease wasn't that foreign to us.  I knew people who had died from AIDS, a member of my family whom I loved and still miss had died.  Several friends, co-workers, at that point in time that diagnosis was a death sentence.  Medical advances were not in place yet that would save his life.  

While most players were enightened, some refused to play with Magic, some were concerned about the physical contact, some with the rumours about his lifestyle. Magic tried to return, but it didn't go well and his doctor felt that he was not helping himself maintain his health, so his brief comeback was short-lived. Its a testament to Magic's access to excellent heathcare and undeniable diligence that he is still with us and fighting the good fight.

In my experience people were not that interersted in being careful - they lived like they woud live forever when there was plenty olf evidence to the contrary...

People are still getting caught up today and even though there have been miraculous advances, people are still dying of AIDS, and catching HIV. You have to be diligent, because in this day and age, love can be deadly...

Left In Katrina's Wake

Many years ago I worked for a contact lens manufacturer, and we had a factory in Puerto Rico.  The first week I worked there, there was a hurricane that destroyed the roof of the factory and threatened our company's existence.  It was clear that in the global economy I'd better learn more about the things I didn't know that could have an impact on my life.  I had just gotten that job and my company could not re-open production on its most popular product - colored contact lenses - for three months - it almost put our lights out.  Ultimately it lead to our company being bought by Bain - and that became a nightmare in itself, but that's another post.

I learned how deadly a hurricane can be, when hurricane season was, and that its's best to clear out and plan on returning when its all over - no use trying to be a hero in a hurricane - it's bigger than you are, and its the deadly aftermath that winds up killing everyone or ruining one's health.

Years later Hurricane Marilyn was headed to St. Croix, where a friend of the family was living and I advised that he come home.  He could find a place to hide out in Chicago, but he decided to stay down there.  After spending two days in his bathtub, he emerged to a new world and no fresh drinking water - like I said, it's the aftermath that can kill. It took years for the island to bounce back, and some things were never the same.

A few years after that we went to visit this friend in St. Croix, and as luck would have it, a hurricane was hot on our heels back to the States.  I was tracking the storm like Al Roker, I was so worred that we wouldnt get out of there in time.  When we arrived at the half way point in Miami, the airline had the nerve to ask if we would give up our tickets for flights the next day and stay in Miami for free to endure the coming hurricane.  People were running around that airport like chickens with their heads cut off and frantically trying to get on the first thing smoking to get out of the way of the hurricane.  I couldn't wait to get out of there, they had a better shot at asking me to join the Klan!

So when Katrina was on its way to New Orleans, and I was working for a company that had many ties to the Crescent City in the form of its hard working employees, I spent many sleepless hours making  suggestions to them about how to get out, where to go so they could safely wait out the storm.  Many downplayed the danger, but I had seen this movie too many times to take it lightly.  

Ironically, I had planned a trip to New Orleans a few weeks after the storm was expected to hit.  I was anticipating eating a great dinner at Commander's Palace, drinking a genuine hurricane, and getting back to a chicken and waffle restaurant that had the best drumsticks I had ever eaten in my life.

In the wake of this terrible crisis it was clear that my return to New Orleans would be postponed.  After watching hours of TV news that depicted hundreds and hundreds of tragic stories of loss, and the death of over 1,800 people - Katrina seemed like Mother Nature's version of a beat down!

The vast majority of the city was underwater. The levees broke and water flooded the urban area.  People tried to find refuge in the Super Dome, a place I had visited when I went to see the Super Bowl in 2002.  All of those people trying to be rescued, stretching the city's strained resources to the breaking point - it was another indictment of the Presidency of someone who didn't take things seriously.  Better planning would have saved those hundreds of lives. 

We must never forget the lessons of Katrina.  Life is too precious to take for granted, and tomorrow is not guaranteed.  If you have warning of a disaster coming, prepare for the worst, even as you pray for the best.  It's better to live in temporary exile than to be wiped out altogether.

The Cali Rap Game - Part One

How to make sure your child develops a healthy appreciation of history - ask them to tell you the background of their favorite singing group - then stand back and find out what a scholar they are on the subject, right Eryn and Ryann???  I found out the name of every single person Taylor Swift had even THOUGHT about dating - keep that tradition going, girls!

The story of N.W.A. (Niggas With Attitude..) told in the new film, "Straight Outta Compton", gives you a good starting point. I used to read all of the articles back in the day, so I do remember most of it.  

Ice Cube was a street smart poet from a stable family, Dr. Dre was a brother much like the brothers I grew up with who helped put House Music on the map.  He was getting as much DJ work as he could and dreaming of a life on the next level.  Easy E was a brother who made his money the hard way - he was the dopeman. But once he put his organizational and management skills to better use, he made it possible for he and his friends to put out a product that was legal but habit forming - a take down rap that resonated with the whole country.  

You may not be into rap, and even I didn't buy rap that denigrated women or the police, but I loved a good rap song, especially since the background music was usually a hit record that sold millions.  

If you want to learn about the roots of rap from Cali - start here!

This story is one that everyone should see - it's like "A Star is Born" for rap music - everybody was waiting on a break - then they go to the top, some keep soaring in different trajectories, and some just fall back to earth with a thud - but they do rise again.

You'll love the songs, the action, and the maturation of a great group of guys. Like other stars, they got hooked up with someone who didn't know what he was doing, took advantage of them, and wound up leaving them in debt. Talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire, they escaped that situation and some got involved with the infamous Suge Knight.  They don't pull any punches in telling that story, either - whew!!!!

What's missing is the story of the East Coast West Coast rivalry - that's another movie, so save me an aisle seat. Go get all your money and check out a true summer gem - the music and memories are well worth it.

Who's Using Who?

Sometimes I can't hold my tongue! I don't like to see one of my friends get played...

I'm at the Pride Parade, which is frequented by plenty of straight people - but this is a special year with the recent Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage so we're all over the place this year.

So one of the people at my table is a guy I worked with for many years at a hotel.  We've known each other for over 20 years.  During that time this guy has dated a lot of women - never got married. We'll call him Ed.  Ed has been working in hotels since back in the day and he has a very stable position, hospitality has always been his thing.

So, another friend sits down and asks him about his old girlfriend - they just broke up right after Easter.  We'll call her Donna.  He had a nice girl that he was dating, named Monica, but he let that go.  Everything else since then has been a disaster, in my mind - but it's not up to me, so I don't go into that again.

So, anyway - Ed proceeds to announce that Donna is getting married - to some other guy. So, before I can stop myself, or think to have this conversation later - I say "She's getting married too??" Ed stops me and says " Don't say it!" So I shut up and finish drinking my margarita - for a while.

Here's my issue - I find it odd that a few months after Ed drops a girlfriend, or she dumps him - whatever - she winds up engaged.  How does that KEEP happening?  Who gets engaged a few months after breaking up with someone you dated for a year or more?  That may happen once or twice, but that many times - no, that's not a coincidence.  

Either women are seeking you out to make some other man jealous, which is very risky, and childish.  Or, your dating her has raised her profile to the point where men are standing around waiting to catch her on the rebound. They know you won't commit.  Either way - something is rotten in Denmark.

I borught this to his attention many years ago and he dismissed it - but we were kids back then and I thought that it was strange, but it hadn't happened enough for me to quote chapter and verse, so I had to drop it.  

But,  here is my final word - sometimes you think of yourself as the player, but you're really getting played!  

It Should Be Much Worse, Tom Brady

You're getting over like a fat rat in a cheese factory!

Not only does your Patriot's team get caught cheating twice - once taping opposing teams to learn  their signals, but now you're tagged for deflating footballs below league standards to give yourself an advantage when tossing the ball.

It would have been bad enough that the Colts caught you red handed, but you had to compound the whole tragedy by getting snarky with the press when you should have been humble, and when the league investigated the issue, you decided not to cooperate. Tom was given a four game suspension and he's whining like the air was taken out of his fat head!

If I were running the league, Tom Brady and his coach would both be tossed out of the league forever - they don't believe fat meat is greasy, and their antics have reduced the credibility of the most popular sport in the US to that of Rollerderby and the WWF.  How can you possibly take football seriously if the players are allowed to do what they want with abandon?  Every team in the AFC should boycott the Patriots. Just because Brady is a superstar doesn't mean that he is above reproach - this is America, we can find a replacement who will value what he has...

In a few years, Chicago will celebrate, or be obliged to relive, the Black Sox Scandal of 1919 when eight players on my beloved Chicago White Sox were kicked out of baseball as unceremoniously as a pair of rusted cleats.  The Black Sox were accused of fixing the 1919 World Series by cooperating to lose.  They were motivated by greed, and a desire to embarrass their boss, the famous tight wad, Charlie Comiskey.  The first Commissioner of Baseball, Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis brooked no nonsense and he banished some of the best players in baseball, including "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, to a lifetime of farm teams and hitting with their non-dominate arm to make sure they weren't discovered trying to play.  How would Tom feel if he could never play football again - not in Canada - NOWHERE!!

Tom Brady should be grateful that this tiny slap on the wrist will end yet another year overshadowed with his team's inability to win fair and square.  I guess if you work for Bill Belichick, if you aren't cheatng, you're not trying to win.  Its the wrong message for American younsters and I hope that parents are teaching their children tonight that Tom Brady is a liar and a cheat, and he can't even own up to it!  

Take several seats, Tom - your whining will garner no sympathy here...

Fast Food Free For All

The other day I saw a video on YOUTUBE that I couldn't believe, maybe you saw it also - a patron at McDonald's climbing over the counter to punch one of the Crewmembers out, reportedly because he was told that the restaurant ran out of fries!

Now, I love McDonald's fries as much as the next person, but this video disturbed me greatly.  First of all, the restaurant was filled with young people. The man climbs over the counter and runs straight to his adversary and they lock up right away.  There are several crewmembers at the restaurant at the time.  They didn't run - they were successful in subduing this guy. There was a manager taking stock of what happened. There was a young lady taking the video, admonishing the manager in duty, and laughing hysterically at the same time - it was very hard to follow the smartphone video,but  the videographer was so busy telling people what their role was and cracking, you can understand her distraction.

A few things, however, were clear:

The Crewmembers didn't seem very alarmed that a man was standing in the counter and pushing the register out of his way, does this happen often at fast food restaurants?

The man got across the counter in time to be photographed, long before someone called the local police, security, or even the owner.  I think that if I were the owner, I'd like to know that my business was being attacked.

The manager seemed to be in no rush to rectify the situation, and the guy spent several minutes behind the counter - the video I saw ended before he left on his own or was taken out in handcuffs.

The Crewmembers beat the man handily, but he looked a little out of it. I guess you have to be if you want to climb over the McDonald's counter.

Here are my brief words of wisdom, as a former fast food worker at one of busiest intersections in the Midwest - 79th and Stony Island, back in the day:

You're not there to fight- call security or a manager who has some sense

If someone tries to cross the counter, you need to leave the facility - lock your drawer if you can, but break camp - that person is crazy and you need to be safe - if you're cooking, turn off the stove and depart using the closest exit

CALL THE POLICE, even if it's from your house after you get home !

No amount of money or product is worth your life - don't engage the person, just go

Don't work at a place that doesn't have security - in this day and age, that's a must. It might limit your choices, but it will lengthen your life.

This man didn't have a weapon, but be warned - carrying a concealed weapon is allowed everywhere now, and the next one won't come unprepared 

Several years ago, an entire crew was killed at the Brown's Chicken in Palatine, Illinois - learn from their mistakes, or you may wind up frozen in a meat locker at a $8 an hour job!