GlobalFoundries wants more State Handouts

At a time when area NY schools are considering extensive layoffs combined w/ property tax increases to meet their dwindling budgets, like the following:

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_d477e7f8-0ac4-11df-944f-001cc4c002e0.html

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_a20f6482-258e-11df-8d30-001cc4c002e0.html

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_9f2c4f42-2a38-11df-a254-001cc4c002e0.html

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_acb32dc0-2d85-11df-bd6c-001cc4c03286.html

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_af3d8bb8-337e-11df-92e6-001cc4c03286.html

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_dd41d08c-36e4-11df-8e95-001cc4c002e0.html

GlobalFoundries's request asking NY lawmakers for more "incentives" to expand their business (on top of the already approved $1.2 billion in tax breaks & cash reimbursements) to be politically tone-deaf to the entire economic climate here in the state.

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_27420224-38f7-11df-9d3b-001cc4c03286.html

Closing schools, prisons, & hospitals is considered ok (y'know those industries that actually work towards the public good) but when private business that are specifically in the business of turning profit come asking the government (regardless of what level it is) "bribes", whoops, we mean "handouts", those governments are to willing to bend over backwards & comply. Once the bribe, sorry, we mean handouts, end, what's the incentive for them to stay?

There's something wrong w/ this picture, people.

***
In other news...
***

This is an oldie but goodie of my friend Gabrielle.

She's one of those insanely smart people who is quite oblivious to how pretty she actually is. Its like there are so many character-traits that get noticed about her, the physical appearance almost is like an after-thought. Course its not like she'd care what other people think about that anyways. She's a total Ravenclaw, through & through.

If I remember right, she's doing post-graduate work in Elementary Education somewhere out at Cortland.

Anyway, she makes me laugh & is remembered for the now-famous line said in jest, "Making goofy faces is my one true talent in life."



Feel free to opine if you so chose.

Rush Backtracks

I've got an update from last week's blog Rush as an Illegal Immigrant. Now that Health Care Reform actually passed a few days ago, Rush had to quickly "clarified" his vow:

http://www.rbr.com/radio/22636.html

When some interpreted that to mean he would move there permanently, he clarified that his trips there would only be temporary, when seeking medical attention.

I never expected him to keep his word in leaving the country but we had, oh, so high hopes! Oh well.

***
In other news...
***

This here is Devlin taken way back when. Life has gotten in the way & we've creatively parted ways since this shot was taken.



Feel free to opine if you so choose.

Rush Limbaugh as an Illegal Immigrant

On his radio program, Rush Limbaugh decries any sort of American Health Care package as being (cue the creepy Scooby Doo organ music) as "socialized medicine". This of course is an abomination. Strange how he was perfectly fine (cues creepy Scooby Doo organ music) getting socialized medicine when complained of chest pains during his Hawaiian in Dec 2009. Its also strange how Congress is looking at very same Hawaiian health care system as a model for nationwide implementation. Then again, Rush has never been a believer in consistency or cared much about hypocrisy.

So it should come as no surprise Mr Limbaugh has threatened to go to Costa Rica for all his medical treatment if Obama's Health Care package is passed.

Personally, I say good riddance but that's not why I'm writing.

Another pet issue Rush rails against are how "illegal immigrants leach our system from hard working, tax-paying citizens."

Soooooooooooo if Health Care passes Congress, Rush becomes an "illegal immigrant leaching money & services from (another country's) hard working, tax-paying citizens."

I doubt his listeners will ever be able appreciate the irony.

***
In other news...
***

This here is Sapphire, the third sister of the Connor family that's been in front of my camera (fourth if you count R's* test shots but she went on to make the silly claim she's "not pretty enough" which is complete BS). I've gotten A LOT of mileage from all of them & they from me. Working w/ certain people just "feels right," I've come to see them as extensions of my own family.

Anyway, the luck of the draw always seems to have my Connor Girl shoots in a basement type setting. Shiloh over the Crane, Sarah in one of the Earth Science Building up in Potsdam during the middle of the day, and Sapphire down here in Queensbury. Certainly makes for some interesting stuff.

Below is something Sapphire & I produced on a recent December day.



Feel free to opine if you so choose.

* denotes the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Those Damn Dirty Apes

Disclaimer: the following blog entry is meant to be light-hearted.

Things that bug me:

1. Seeing baseball players slide into first base drives me absolutely bonkers.

First base is the ONLY base you can safely overrun. Sliding slows down your body momentum. So this means when you sliding into first base you're actually HELPING the other team make their play.

Seriously, those unless that player is friggin' hurt whereby he FALLS sliding into first base, he's lucky I'm not his manager & would immediately bench his sorry ass just for being a complete dumbass. I truly pity the person that's sitting next to me when I see this happen.

2. Knowing those damn, dirty apes are gonna get their stinking smelly paws on us & use us as pets. They've already got the leashes & whips. They're just biding their time. They're biding their time I tell you.*

3. "I'm sorry, Dave, I cannot let you do that," the H.A.L. 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey

The smarter automobiles get, the stupider they become. Seriously, I turn on the ignition & less than 10 seconds later I'm getting the warning signal that my seat belt is not buckled. 10 seconds later, it beeps again. & another 10 seconds. & another 10 seconds. & media wonders why roadrage incidents are on the rise.

Nevermind the fact that it was winter & I was, I dunno, WARMING UP THE CAR!

Its only a matter of time before they start accelerating the vehicle, killing us when we them to. Oh wait a minute! Toyota's already trying to thin the herd. Nevermind.

4. Those damn, dirty apes are just biding their time to blow us all to hell.*

5. When people fail to return their free weights back to the appropriate place while in the gym. Sometimes in my testerone fueled workout, I want to put someone through a window because of it.

6. Knowing those damn, dirty apes will turn this paradise into a desert ages from now.*

7. When some Einstein who doesn't even use the gym, comes & says, "it stinks in here" & then proceeds to empty the entire air-freshener can & then leaves. Correct me if I'm wrong but, y'know, ITS A FRIGGIN' GYM NOT A FLOWERSHOP! Its supposed to stink when people are sweating up a storm.

Some idiots really need to have an anvil dropped on them.

8. Those damn, dirty apes are already turning this place into a madhouse. A madhouse I tell you!* (Just look at the NYS government.)

9. Remember that Winter Wonderland Contest I entered last month? I lost, big time. Not that I actually expected to win & its not like I actually am losing sleep over it. Its was just for fun, y'know?

Guess, what the winning image was? No really, guess? I got beat out, no, crushed by a picture of a shaggy mutt in snow storm. The runner-up were a couple of infants in their snowsuits. This just reinforces the notion that when the public has the opportunity to choose if you're up against critters or kids, you're screwed no matter how good your stuff is.

Go figure.

10. (Sorry, I ran out of "damn, dirty ape" references.)

11. When baseball managers have ALREADY GOTTEN TOSSED, why not make it worthwhile & just go ape-shit like legendary managers Earl Weaver or Lou Pinella?** At the very least, kick a whole lot of dirt on the officials shoes so he has to brush them off. Umpires if you're going to bounce a manager, don't be a wimp & give everyone of those lame-ass blink & you miss it ejections. Seriously, we paid good money for quality entertainment. Is that to much to ask?

12. To political officials...when you're retiring or choosing not to run for reelection, don't bullshit us in saying you "want to spend more time w/ your family" because no one will believe it anyway. Just be honest w/ us. "I got busted cheating on my wife" or "I simply cannot win reelection" or "My mistress is carrying my love child" or "I screwed up & was trying to help out an old friend (who just happened to be a wife-abuser) avoid some hot water" or "I was just stressed out & really just wanted a relaxing blowjob" or "my new job pays 10x better than my current one w/ 50% less man-hours." Sure you'll still get some flak but its not like opinion polls matter in your new job anyway.

13. To the mascot formerly known as Hawkeye, A- you remind me of one of those washed up athletes who never moved on in life whose pinnacle was their high school years. B- Your team, the Adirondack Frostbite, folded in 2006. Cherish the memories. Enjoy the hockey that you currently have but move on! Stop signing your letters to the editor as "Hawkeye". Which brings me to, (point) C- stop writing to the local paper railing at how terrible the current coach is as well as trashing your mascot replacement for the horrible job the current team is doing. Maybe if the Adirondack Phantoms power plays weren't consistently zero-for-a-nightmare, they might be in a better position in the standings than they are. Course then again to score goals, players actually have to make shots ON goal. Novel concept, isn't it. D- What drugs are you friggin' smoking? Do you honestly believe Phantoms are going to win the Calder Cup? Or is one of those situations where we know that you know that we know you know we know that your full of bull****? They're third from the bottom of the AHL Eastern Conference cellar. They'd be lucky to actually make it INTO the playoff, let alone actually advance.

You deserve to be either hit in the head w/ a flying hockey puck or pass me whatever it is your smoking. I haven't been able to decide which yet.

* denotes a reference to the original Planet of the Apes w/ Charlton Heston (as opposed to the crappy one w/ Marky-Mark).

** denotes suggesting it if you've made it to the Major Leagues because if you're in the minors, the ensuing fine may actually bite your wallet

---
In other news...
---

Since there is a strong sports themed current, I'll leave you w/ a journalism sports picture (always tough to pull off).

This is a V Girls Lacrosse match Queensbury @ Glens Falls & taken in May 2008. I swear some of those girls ran like gazelles.



Feel free & comment if you so choose.

Olympic Hockey

"I don't see any smiles on the US (Mens Olympic) hockey team," said my mother. "I don't understand why they're not grateful in getting a silver. I constantly see the skiers who get the silver w/ smiles."

I KNOW she meant well but when I heard the above I winced & wanted to bang my head against the wall. LOL

How do you explain to a non-sports fan that in competitive team sports, coming in 2nd means losing? When it comes playoff or tournament time coming in 2nd is the difference between going home w/ a championship ring & spending the ENTIRE off-season thinking how close you came but came up oh-so-short?

I avoided this dilemma by completely dodging the question & changing the subject (not to mention, passing the buck to my father by having her ask him). :)


***
In other news...
***

I cannot remember if I've posted this shot before but below is Leeann, a sister of one of my dearest regulars Lauren. We almost didn't get this shot because Leeann was off to Softball practice. I worked w/ her earlier that day but not w/ this exquisite windowlight. I convinced Leeann to indulge me for some more shots & viola! The rest is history.

Since I've graduated I've learned to treat family members of the Farenell Girls not as any other customer (unless they're wanting wedding shots) because 90% of the time I'll creatively come out ahead. It was a lesson I learned that summer & have regretted (but have gotten over it since) w/ another of my treasured subjects. It was simply a situation where I was going as they were coming.

I know very well the Farenell Girl in question doesn't hold it against me but its one of those things that if I could turn back the clock & change things, I would. Oh well. Live & learn.



Feel free & opine if you so choose.

Catch 22 in Regards to Delusions

There's a passage in Joseph Heller's Catch-22 that perfectly explains the premise:

Yossarian looked at him soberly and tried another approach. "Is Orr crazy?"
"He sure is," Doc Daneeka said.
"Can you ground him?"
"I sure can but first he has to ask me to. That's part of the rule."
"Then why doesn't he ask you to?"
"Because he's crazy," Doc Daneeka said. "He has to be crazy to keep flying combat missions after all the close calls he's had. Sure I can ground Orr. But first he has to ask me to."
"That's all he has to do to be grounded?"
"That's all. Let him ask me."
"And then you can ground him?" Yossarian asked.
"No, then I can't ground him."
"You mean there's a catch?"
"Sure there is a catch," Doc Daneeka replied. "Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy."

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, that specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane, he had to fly them. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of the clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

That being said I wonder if the same application is applied to delusional people? If a person knows &/or admits that they are delusional, does that mean they are really delusional or are they as sane as the rest of us? Certainly makes me wonder sometimes.

& then I see people like Plushenko & think that he gives delusional people a bad name. :-)

***
In other news...
***

This here is another Jenny embracing her silliness.



Feel free to comment away if you so choose.