October 31, 2009

Today, it is 52 years ago that I arrived in this country.

Boy, it was a lifetime ago. So much happened in that time that I can not believe it. Both personally as well as politically and financially.

The trouble with living too long is that people disappear from around you, businesses close, and there are just too many changes.

In 1961 we purchase our first TV, and it was color. There was an episode in The Honeymooners show where Jackie Gleason bought his first TV and stayed up, or tried to, all night watching movies. Well we did the same thing. For days we went to work looking and feeling like zombies.

Now, 58 years later we bought our first HD television and we are just flabbergasted. Not really staying up all night but enjoying immensely the 40" screen.

In 1957, a month after arriving, I got a job through my uncle at some kind of a clothing company. Didn't speak a word of English except o.k. There was someone at the shop who was able to help and translate for me. Then, I think on the second week that I was there I was asked to stay and work late. At least I think that was what I was asked to do. I said o.k. and at five o'clock went home. At the end of that week I was let go. At least I think that's what happened!

Now, 52 years later I am unemployed again. In early 2007 I was asked by the company I worked for for 40 years to retire. At least I think that's what happened!

In the past 52 years I was a dishwasher, I sold vacuum cleaners, worked on constructions and eventually settled down with the same company for the remaining 40 years. I worked for that company for such a long time that it changed ownership five times. Working for a company for a long time eventually becomes a liability.

The first five, ten, fifteen years one feels safe. But after 20 years you are on thin ice. I consider myself lucky to be able to stick it out to 40 years.

Now, I am an unemployed retiree.

Next time I will write about the "joys" of retirement.

October 30, 2009

Nothing really interesting happened today. It was a quiet day. Actually it was so quiet even the Stock Market fell down. The Dow Jones fell today 250 points.

Pretty disgusting! Yesterday it goes up 200 points and the economy is looking rosy and everything is hunky-dory. Today, forget the whole thing! It fell 250 points, the economy is in shambles, consumer confidence evaporated.

It is amazing how things, comments and outlooks can change from day to day.

This Monday morning quarterbacking is taking enormous proportions. Economists are great explaining why happened whatever happened.

What about predicting CORRECTLY what's going to happen!

There is no difference between economists and TV weather forecasters. Neither have a clue about what's going on. And both are doing a fantastic job explaining what did happen.

From where I see things and that is the View From the Bottom things are not improving at all. Maybe the politicians see it differently because they deal only with statistics and, their only interest is self adulation. But, there are real people behind every statistic and nobody seem to care about us the real people.

I did say it was a slow day. Nothing really happened. I can't think of anything to write about.

Oh, I am considering changing the name of this blog to "If You Not the Lead Dog the View Never Changes".

October 29, 2009

Yesterday the Dow Jones Industrial Average went down about 139 points. Today it went up about 199 points.

What I can't understand is that Today and late Yesterday all the financial commentators were busy saying how bad the economy was. They were talking about the bad indicators that were creating Yesterday's drop.

After they were sure the market indicator was moving and staying up high they were saying how improved the economy was and how bright the future looked.

I have never saw an economy change so much in a matter of hours. I can understand the fluctuations of the market. It is powered by rumors, corporate announcements, mergers, buys and sells.

But don't assume every one is an idiot. Leave the economy out of it. Yesterday's bad economy will not change suddenly and become today's bright future.

It seems whenever somebody like Federal Reserve Chairman, Treasury Secretary or the President say something the market reacts. I wish they would keep their mouth shut.

Don't play with my life's investments.

October 28, 2009

Today is Yankees Day in New York. The New York Yankees are playing their first World Series game in their new stadium.

Actually, at the time I'm writing this they already played their game. And not very successfully. They lost to Philadelphia 5:0. That is a pretty poor result for a team that prides itself to be the best in the country.

Maybe the highest paid but not the best. At least not yet. I really don't care about baseball one way or another but being a New Yorker I do root for the New York team. I wouldn't spend a dime to go to the Stadium and watch them play and pay for overpriced refreshments and I really don't even watch them on TV.

I am not interested seeing oversized kids scratching their scrotum, chew gum or tobacco and spit always on camera. And for this they are getting paid millions of dollars. To me the game is too long and boring. A good baseball game could be played in two maximum three hours. But being controlled by Television advertisers they drag it out to impossible lengths.

When I came to this country and I was introduced to baseball I was told this was one of the most honest sport. Due to the fact that the pitcher of one team throws the ball to the player at bat who is from the opposing team cheating is almost impossible.

Well, that myth was shattered by the drug and hormone scandals of recent years. Most of the home run records were established by players of questionable talent without the reinforcement of drugs. This took such magnitude that congressional committee was investigating the situations.

Maybe Philadelphia won today because they have less playboys on their roster than the Yankees. Maybe they feel they have to prove themselves on the playing field and not off it on Page Six.

The Yankees' strength does not lie in the team but in Streinbrenner's fanatical collection of the supposedly best players in the world, even if for obscene amounts of money.

It is a joke to call this the World Series. It has nothing to do with the world. It has been proven over and over again that American baseball has no standing in the international sport scene. In the Olympic Games, in World Championships the Americans were beaten by small countries were they take the sport more seriously.

Maybe if the salaries of the players were cut in half it would act as a stimulus for better play. As it is now why should they bother. They would still get their 20-30 millions no matter how they play.

That's my View From the Bottom.

October 27, 2009

I want to write about something that may sound un-american but still it bugs me.

I arrived in this country over a half a century ago. I landed in New York from Europe after a flight that seemed it would never end. JFK International Airport didn't exist at that time, it was a lot smaller and it was called Idlewild Airport.

Anyway, we landed and after checking out we were transported by bus to Brooklyn to our temporary lodgings.

Coming from Eastern Europe we weren't very familiar with Americans and their customs. As the bus was rolling through the streets of Queens and Brooklyn we were plastered to the windows looking out and trying to spot ordinary people.

You can not imagine our amazement at seeing people on the streets with children who were dressed in all kinds of costumes: princesses, devils, warriors, space men etc. We looked at each other questioning: is this the way American kids dress?

We only found out later that it was Halloween and what really Halloween was.

After a half a century of living here I still can not get used to the extremes everybody and mainly the media go about Halloween.

It is nice and understandable for kids - small kids - to go out and Trick or Treat. But for adults to get involved is not right.

I live in a large apartment house. Years ago parents came around with their kids. They rang the doorbell and proudly looked on as we opened the door and admired the kids' costumes and gave them candy. The sad thing was that the same parents next day didn't even bother to say hello when we met.

Actually, kids were going around the neighborhood from door to door ringing bells. It didn't matter that we had no clue who they were and where they lived. They just came.

It is a children's holiday. They should enjoy it. Grown ups shouldn't get involved. I have no problem having little kids coming around but when teenagers bang on the doors I see red.

So, being very democratic about this we don't open the door for anyone.

Just like Christmas and Easter this is being commercialized and thus it looses its appeal and charm.

Last night we saw Castle on CBS Channel 2. This is a very entertaining show that we enjoy watching. Except last night it was an idiotic Halloween themed storyline. It showed exactly what's wrong with this holiday. Adults take over something that is none of their business. Why can they not leave it for the children to enjoy it?

Why adults need any excuse to party more and make complete fools of themselves?

October 26, 2009

I hear voices! Yes, I do hear voices.

Actually it is not voices that I hear but more like noises. But, I do hear them around the clock. I even hear them while I sleep. And, it is quite annoying. I shut my ears and I still hear them. Actually the noise comes from inside my head.

It is a constant 'shshshshshs' sound and at this time it is only in my left ear.

I have been hearing it for about a year now and it annoyed the heck out of me. Finally, I went to a well recommended ear specialist who checked me out from top to bottom, actually only from ear to ear. Gave me a hearing test which I passed with flying colors. Not very high flying but still flying!

He told me that I have Tinnitus which is caused by a degenerative cochlea.

"Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound."

What the hell is cochlea that is causing this?, I asked politely and scared. I never had anything that was degenerative so this was something new and scary to me.

It seems that the cochlea is the auditory portion of the inner ear, whatever that means. It is essential to the clear hearing.

According to the doctor it can degenerate due to age. I guess, I am at the age when my parts start to degenerate. I wonder which part of me will be next!

The doctor wasn't to disturbed about this which is understandable since he is not yet degenerating!

He suggested that I take a vitamin supplement that is specially prepared to cure Tinnitus. I took his advice and bought about four month's supply.

The bad news is that I took the entire regimen and so far no change. The noises are still there the Tinnitus Formula didn't do a damn thing except made the doctor and the Tinnitus Formula people richer.

I am totally disappointed in the ear department of the medical profession.

October 25, 2009

Today I want to say a few words about Grandparents.

I think Grandparents are the most wonderful things in the world. I was lucky enough to know and got very close to my Grandmother and Grandfather from my Mother's side. They were very lovely and loving people.

When I was very young I always had the impression that my Grandmother was old, real old. But she could cook. Man, she could cook. She used to come over to our house and was giving recipes to my Mother and they were great. I know my friends don't fall into the same age category. I don't know how their Grandchildren see them but to me they are all too young to be Grandparents.

Now, this was the European way and they were in the Old Country.

Here in the US the institution of Grandparents is a completely different thing.

I have several friends who are Grandparents (some of them are even Great Grandparents, God bless their young hearts).

I know most of these people for a lifetime. I was there when their children were born and "suffered" with them through the growing years. I know how the parents behaved throughout their children growing up and maturing.

That is why I am so surprised at their change of behaviour towards their Grandchildren. These people go ga-ga when anybody talk about the Grand kids. They drive impossible distances to be with them, they jump through hoops to entertain them, they get up early, they stay up late. They watch Walt Disney or anything similar mind stopping if the kids want them to. The way I see it they got soft behind the ear.

But this is very lovely.

Actually, I don't understand it but I am sure there is a logical explanation behind this syndrome.

I think what it is that now they only have to deal with the pleasant side of the child. When things get out of control the child gets to be handed back to the parent. Hey, mom and dad here is your kid, he is your problem now!

The Grandparents don't have to change the diaper, don't have to worry about bad marks in school, don't have to worry about the cost of education and in some cases don't have to raise bail money.

So, they only see the fun side of the Grandchild.

That's the way life should be!