New York, New York

Yesterday, my friend and I had occasion to go to pick up a third friend from the hospital after a stay of several weeks and finally bring him home. He is well on the way to a good recovery.

What makes this so important to me to write about is that I will be staying with him for a bit until he is no longer reliant on others for his care. But, what is great is that he lives in the heart of the world's capital city, the city that never sleeps, or dozes for that matter. And the view from his apartment is absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

We came back in a town car, a luxury that few, including us, could afford. But it was terrific to be "home again." Years ago, I worked as a branch manager of a bank about five blocks away from here, and enjoyed working in such an eclectic neighborhood.

From where he is, you can see the vestiges of Lincoln Center, the Empire State Building, the CNN Center, Central Park and so much more. I loved working in this area because there was so much to see and do. And the restaurants? I mean, what kind of mood are you looking for? It's all here!

City nights and city lights? This is the place to see it. I mean, nothing is so beautiful in any city as the skyscrapers and the street lights glistening off the water which surrounds the entire island of Manhattan. To see it pictures or on TV is one thing, but to see it in person is a little heartstopping.

This morning, I took a walk to get a few things, milk, sugar and bagels. Remember, this is New York City and the next best place you can get a good bagel is in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. So, short of getting on a plane, the corner bagelry and deli will just have to do.

So, for the time being, I will be able to relive some of the greatest memories from the 70s and 80s, and make new ones to add to the vault. For now, I can be "king of the hill, top of the heap", because these "little town blues are melting away" and "I'm gonna make a brand new start of it in old New York".

So, I will take a bite out of the Big Apple and enjoy the "beautiful noise" that is only New York. 

Boston Strong

Boston Strong. We heard a lot of that cheer, that rallying cry, ever since Patriots' Day in 2013, lo those six months ago. But not again much, though some, until last night. The tragedy which was the Boston Marathon Terrorist Attack (it was a terrorist attack, folks), happened moments after the annual game at Fenway and just as the Marathon itself was coming to an end. Forevermore, these three events will be inexorably linked.

On October 20, I wrote a commentary called Worst to First, which reviewed the Boston Red Sox' magical season to go from being the worst team in the AL East to winning the pennant in just one season. I felt it was necessary to give praise to this honored and storied franchise, at that point, in the event that they were brought down by another great franchise, the St Louis Cardinals. Boy, was I wrong to do that!

In any event, the Bosox prevailed in the height of adversity, because who would have "thunk it", that they could win three World Series in the space of 10 seasons? Certainly not this Mets fan, that's for sure. I mean, Mets fans live in the shadows of the vaulted Yankee Stadium, where we are forced to be reminded by Yankee fans who is the best. Well, the Red Sox have now answered that, haven't they.

During the season, the team's management took pride in paying tribute to the survivors of the bombings, by treating them to games, throwing out ceremonial first pitches, and so many other wonderful statements about Boston Strong. The players, as well, gave tribute and seemed to play inspired baseball, not only for themselves but also for the entire city, the surrounding environs, and for the citizenry at large.

The players, led by David Ortiz, affectionately known as Big Papi, proved to be up for the challenge to bring some happiness to the city, with all the sadness which had occurred days into the season. Papi challenged his teammates and they did not disappoint. Even when after three games into the Series, down 2-1 with two more to play in St Louis, he took his mates into the dugout before game 4 and obviously said some things which got the players recharged to take the next three games and win it all.

He proved he was deserved to be the MVP of the Series, as he led by example on the field, going 11 for 16 and a .720 on base percentage. But he also was the MVP of the city, as well, as he devoted time away from the field to inspire the residents and the injured to come back from this tragedy. He showed what it is to be a Great American, even though he wasn't born here. He became a citizen in 2008, and as with anyone who chooses to become a citizen, generally is a better example of what that means than one who was blessed by birth.

So, congratulations to the Red Sox, its fans and the residents of Boston. You have proven the words of Kris Kristofferson to ring true in your great city today, that you "don't let the bastards get you down."

Instead, today we are all "Boston Strong."

A Boxer Rebellion?

In Tuesday's USA Today pm edition:

"WASHINGTON — In the wake of the latest confrontation that pushed the nation to the brink of financial default, lawmakers are posing a management question: Can we continue to trust Congress with raising the nation's debt ceiling?

Sen. Barbara Boxer is among a growing group of lawmakers and outside budget experts that say no. "Paying your bills shouldn't be tied to anything else," Boxer said Tuesday.

The United States is the only country in the world that requires a separate vote to raise the debt ceiling to borrow money to pay for spending it has already approved. Denmark has a somewhat similar process, but it is not similarly political.

The California Democrat is advocating legislation to rework the budget process to give the president more authority to raise the debt limit, making it harder for Congress to threaten default. The bill would require veto-proof margins in both chambers to block a president from raising the nation's borrowing limit."

In actuality, at least in theory, this isn't a bad idea. But understand, as with anything in politics, what appears to look good on the surface may not work in real time. Because each person will spin the law or the issue to fit his or her agenda. 

Ms Boxer is correct to want to try something that has worked pretty well in the past. The problem is that the Republicans, Senator McConnell in particular, will probably find fault with this idea even though it was enacted in 2011 at his behest as part of the "Grand Bargain" which wasn't really grand at all. And it was Senator McConnell's idea.

Essentially, this really is the problem with the two parties today. Each party's leaders keep looking for the edge to make the other look foolish, yet, in the end both are no better than the other. That's the shame of today's politicians, not respecting each other's positions.

So now the Republicans want to distance themselves from their own positions. That just shows they are not interested to make things right with with their opposition and for the country. That's too bad. They will have proven they are as leaderless as those they criticize. 

As a registered Republican and as an American, I congratulate Senator Boxer for recognizing that the Democrat party doesn't have all the answers, and is willing to take the lead on a Republican idea and make it her own. All for the benefit of our country.

What other politician is willing to do the same? Senator McConnell, are you paying attention? America hopes you are, for our sake. Otherwise, you will have proven that you are nothing but a lot of hot air, just like your counterpart, Senator Reid. 

Thank you, Senator Boxer. On this issue at least, you have proven that you are a great American. 

Weather and the Government

Today is October 29. For those of you  who don't live in the Northeast, or especially on Long Island, this date has no real significance as it relates to recent meteorological events. Well, it does, but only as news stories and not as first-hand experience.

On this date in 2011, eastern Long Island was hit with a snowstorm which dumped seven inches before it was done early the next morning. In my lifetime, I can assure you that this was the earliest snowfall I remember. Thinking this was the the beginning of the worst winter ever, we had only five more inches the rest of the way. The winter of '95-96 still holds the record, at least on Long Island.

In 2012, Superstorm Hurricane Sandy roared up the east coast and during the evening, put a hurt on the New York City metro area from the Jersey Shore, New York City proper and Long Island, the likes of which were shown in 2009 and 2010 on "Megadisasters". No one ever believed it could happen, but it did. Life imitated Art with this storm. Sometimes, the perfect scenario actually happens to create the Perfect Storm, much like the events of 1992 in New England, which was the subject of the George Clooney movie of the same name.

So, a year has passed and where are we? Well, essentially, the government has now pretty much walked away from the people, even though President Obama promised the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut that he would cut through the government red tape and have FEMA rush assistance to those devastated by the storm. That pretty much fell apart after November 15, didn't it?

Fortunately, we don't have to rely on the government, which seems to break its promises more often than not, with no recourse available to those affected by those broken promises. However, Americans are resilient and can work through the toughest challenges presented to them. And some who are in a better position than others have taken the initiative to use their own resources to help those in need.

One such entity includes the producers and hosts of the PBS series, "This Old House". Keep in mind that this show is produced by donations raised through pledge drives, contributions and other non-commercial methods. It does not rely on advertising revenue, as does regular television and cable programming.

I have provided a link for your review of one such endeavor. There are others.

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61641-this-old-house-jersey-shore-premieres-superstorm-sandy-anniversary

Sadly, there are many of our friends, neighbors, relatives and others who are preparing to endure another cold winter in their not-yet-repaired homes because their neighborhoods have not yet had the infrastructure repaired, as promised. And this is now a year later. What's going on here? And what have the representatives and senators from the affected states done? Anything, to exacerbate this outright tragedy?

Instead, they are more concerned with issues not even related to their districts and states. And the President? Well, he is too busy trying to save his own legacy, rather than to try and push the government, which he runs, to promote the general welfare for the people in the Northeast and the I-95 corridor.

Thankfully, today will be a normal autumn day in the Northeast, with a beautiful sky and chilly temps. But for so many of our fellow citizens, this is only a reprieve to what they will face, in some cases, in less than two weeks.

And that is the disgrace our government has allowed to happen, all because of broken promises. That is the real Megadisaster.

Anybody, Nobody, Somebody

From Sunday's New York Post

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Obamacare’s Web site, already a tangled mess, might need to be rebuilt from scratch to protect against cyber-thieves because he fears it’s not a safe place right now for health-care consumers to deposit their personal information.

“ I know that they’ve called in another private entity to try to help with the security of it. The problem is, they may have to redesign the entire system,” Rep. Mike Rogers said on Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” political talk show. “The way the system is designed, it is not secure.”

All those who are surprised, please raise your hands. No? Nobody? Anybody? Somebody?

It's amazing that 20-20 hindsight is so clear when you look at "woulda" and "shoulda". Like "if the Republicans allowed the government to function as it should, would the Democrats have taken the brunt of the public's wrath because the Obamacare website wasn't working" and "should have the Republicans not tried to defund Obamacare, would it have collapsed from its own inefficiencies"? I wonder.

So, how many hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on this debacle, between the cost of an inefficient and unworkable  computer program which, according to the people who worked for the company which designed this piece of junk, cannot provide a confirmation of the data entered by the subscriber, which as any person knows, is key to making certain fraud was not committed, and also the advertising which, since 2010 when this nightmare was pushed through the Congress with not one Republican vote, has continuously told us that the greatest thing since sliced bread was on the horizon, to help us all prevent the fraud and identity threat which for those who have "registered" with no confirmation provided, are probably going to be victims of the fraud prevention and identity theft which will occur. Or, was that BILLIONS?

And now, it might all have to be scrapped, because it would cost more to fix it than to restart and rebuild it from scratch. Wait, isn't that the government's way, to waste even more money than it has? Anybody? Somebody? Nobody?

And what about the "champions" of this nightmare, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, who spoke of the "benefits" to all of us, without having read it before passing it, with all the smoke and mirrors built in to deceive us, or the Magician-In-Chief, for whom this garbage is his namesake, because this trash is his "signature" accomplishment? The first two are silent and the third wants to talk about, of all things, immigration reform, another issue with a whole host of beautiful deceptions to connive and deceive the American sheeple.

And, finally, who will be held accountable for the ultimate failure to have this all working properly in, oh, I don't know, July maybe, so that it could have, or should have, been tested with "live" people before it was rolled out on its due date? Umm, again, probably Nobody. That guy, Nobody, is a real screw-up, isn't he? I hope Somebody gets fired, because if Nobody does get fired, Anybody will have gotten away with it. Again.

And, that, my friends is how accountability after an investigation  to get to the "bottom of it" happens in Washington these days. A lot of bluster when a problem surfaces, followed by a period of inaction, resulting in Nobody getting fired and Somebody getting promoted.

Does Anybody have a question? How DARE you!

A Weekend in New England and Elsewhere

On the lighter side today, I want to write about a beautiful weekend. It was a crisp, typical autumn weekend here in the northeast, a wonderful October sky, blue, deep blue, with the wind blowing breezily, carrying leaves in its path and perfect for pumpkin picking, leaf peeping, cider drinking and football watching.

For some, people would go out east here on Long Island, where the farms were selling the earth's bounty, and buy the apples, pumpkins, fresh and roasted corn, taking it all back to enjoy the fall in its Long Island glory. Others would go to the northern tiers of New England and upstate New York, taking in the beauty of autumn, as the deciduous trees, for the most part, were reaching peak, with deep reds, bright oranges and colorful yellows mixed in so beautifully with the evergreen conifers, which will look beautiful in December and January with icicles and snow weighing them down a bit.

And what about those romantics who went to the Hamptons, Cape Cod, Mystic or the Jersey Shore, to enjoy the chill blowing off the water during the day, and having that special, warm, candlelight dinner that night, with a nice merlot or cab to go with the meat dish or the Pinot Grigio with the seafood plate, they ordered? Younger couples may have gone to propose a marriage, while older folks could have gone to rekindle theirs.

And of course, there was the traffic. Plenty of it. Because God and Nature doesn't put any if this in the middle of downtown or midtown to make it all convenient. But we really don't care about the traffic, do we? We know it will be there on the way to our destinations and on the way back. But if we really love the person we are with, does the traffic matter to us? I don't think it does, because we are talking to our loved one about the weekend plan going and the fun we had doing what we planned coming back. So we don't even realize there is traffic. I mean, really! Do we?

So, I hope you all had a weekend to remember, to look back on as the snow flies this winter, with a warm and fuzzy feeling in your heart, and a smile on your face from the memory you created this past Saturday or Sunday, or both days. It was a weekend to cherish.

Just so you know, I know I will.

Christmastime Is Here!

Friends, I don't want to spring it on you but today is October 25, which means you have only two months until Christmas Day. And if you think about it, it's less because Christmas and Thanksgiving stores will be closed. Wait, this just in... Most retailers will be opening on Thanksgiving night at 8 pm to get a head start on "Black Friday" mania.

And to my Jewish friends? Well, this year, Thanksgiving is a dual holiday. That's right! Before halftime of the second football game, you will be lighting the Menorah and spinning dradles, and handing out the first night's Chanukah gelt. So you have only about 32 days to shop and be ready to please friends and loved ones.

By the way, here is a "Frank's Fun Fact" for you. The Jewish calendar is getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1,000 years (not bad for a many centuries old calendar!) This means that while presently Chanukah can be as early as 11/28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Chanukah can be is 11/29. The last time Chanukah falls on 11/28 is 2146 (which happens to be a Monday).  Therefore, 2013 is the only time Chanukah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving.

Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now. So, Chanukah will again fall on Thursday, 11/28...in the year 79,811. Just so you know.

When I turned on the TV, I checked the channels QVC and HSN. Guess what? It's Christmas Day on both channels, with trees, lights, wreaths, candles, etc, both to decorate the set and for sale at ridiculously low prices. In fairness, I will tell you, I have bought Christmas decorations from both channels over the years and the product quality is excellent.

And be assured that both channels will be in overdrive through November and December to make certain the warehouse is emptied of all the novelty, one-time only, and holiday ideas and decorations. After all, preparations for holiday stuff for next Christmas will begin, probably on December 26. Anything left over will be sold during "Christmas In July" promotions as clearance items.

I was talking to a friend of mine recently about how much Christmas has been commercialized. She related to me that when she was a child, her grandmother thought how commercialized Christmas had become back in the 60s and 70s. Imagine if Grandma saw how much worse it has become.

Folks, remember that Christmas, Chanukah and Thanksgiving are not only holidays for gift-giving, but also for reflection of the events of our lives for the current year. We spend more time with our families and friends during this time more than any other, sitting down with them over special holiday feasts. But as with anything involving food, the food is the excuse to be together, not the reason.

So, as the train moves faster to our special days, try to keep pace with the engine which drives us to the holiday season. Have a good next couple of months preparing for the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" because "Surviving Christmas" is really the goal. Then, we will all be able to have a great "Christmas Vacation", knowing really "It's a Wonderful Life!

Merry Halloween!

My Name Is Dick _______

In today's Washington Examiner:

"Top House Republican leaders -- backed by the White House -- are refuting a claim by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., that a high-level GOP lawmaker told President Obama in a recent private meeting, "I cannot even stand to look at you."

The incident, according to a message Durbin posted on his Facebook page, took place during closed-door negotiations at the White House during the 16-day government shutdown.

White House spokesman Jay Carney disputed Durbin's claim Wednesday, citing information provided by "a participant in the meeting",

"It did not happen," Carney said."

Why does Senator Durbin think he can make an untrue statement and have the audacity to stand by his statement, when even the spokesman for the intended "defamee" denied that the incident took place? I am sure Jay Carney would not have denied the incident if it actually happened. 

This gives one pause to question other alleged inflammatory statements made by the the Senator in the past. By his intransigence in his position here, it could lead one to believe that he is lying about other issues for which a senior person did not deny. But apparently, Mr Carney had to deny the statement because too many others were in the room who denied the statement was made, and his credibility would have tanked had he supported the Senator, or worse, said nothing at all.

And as for Senator Durbin? Well, he has taken the position to stand by his statement, which seems to be a bit audacious since in his heart, he has to know that he lied and got caught. You would think he would be ashamed to have put himself in this embarrassing position.

But, he has no one to blame but himself, and unfortunately, he has put his comment and his confirmation out there in cyberspace via Facebook, which now even if he wanted to delete and deny the lie he made, he knows he can't. Hence, his stonewalling.

Senator, perhaps, even as the admission by you that you lied so blatantly would be humiliating to your pride and ego, wouldn't that be better than to be thought forever as someone whose words could never again be trusted? As one who holds the high office of Senator, being considered to be untrustworthy going forward from this place brings disgrace upon you and the formerly respected office you hold. 

Then you would be considered no better than a certain President who resigned because he thought the lie to live with was better than the deed which caused it. 

Children's Hospital at Dartmouth

Those of you who follow me know that I am a recent cancer victim, but now a survivor, who will from time to time try to educate all of us of the effects of this curse on mankind. But when I do, it is to make you aware that sometimes, while it is tragic that it will hit an older adult like me, it is devastating when it diagnosed in someone under 18, before they even had a chance to make his or her mark in this world.

I had two friends, Jerry Bonastelli and Jimmy Walkewicz, who died within a year of each other, Jerry in 1963 of brain cancer and Jimmy in 1964 of leukemia. It was especially devastating to me because in each case, I was one of the two altar boys called upon to serve their requiems. 

Understand that in the early 60s, there was virtually no technology or even knowledge how to diagnose, treat and prevent recurrence of cancer, generally, or deal with this at all, at the pediatric level.

Today, of course, cancer can be diagnosed much earlier as we have so many means of awareness and prevention available, as well as, treatment, which did not exist even twenty years ago. And of course, our doctors and nurses are so much more aware to spot the earliest possible signs before it becomes a raging fire inside our bodies.

This morning, I woke up to the repeat of The Five, a FoxNews roundtable discussion show of the day's news. At the end of the show, each panelist is to discuss "One More Thing" which generally a lighter side issue in 30 seconds or less. Eric Bolling chose to discuss a video put out by the nurses at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CH@D), set to the music of Katy Perry's "Roar".

I have provided the link to the video which has been made to do fund-raising for the kids at that hospital.

http://youtu.be/lnG3MKos87A

Any questions?

The Leopard and his Prey

From today's New York Times:

"A senior White House official who was helping negotiate nuclear issues with Iran has been fired after being unmasked as the acidic voice behind a Twitter account known for its insults of public figures at the White House and on Capitol Hill, a government official said on Tuesday. 

Jofi Joseph was director of nuclear non-proliferation on the White House National Security Council staff, but for more than two years sent hundreds of anonymous and abrasive tweets using the handle @NatSecWonk. 

He was fired last week after he was caught, the official said."

Mr Joseph deserves to be fired for the abuse of his responsibilities as a senior player in the President's National Security team, since he had privy to sensitive information, which he could have easily released under this false identity. This is as bad as someone  creating a separate email account to avoid scrutiny by those who are responsible for system operations (SYSOP).

Those of you who have followed and read my commentaries know that I am certainly not a fan generally of President  Obama. But, as President, he, as well as any other person who had held or will hold the office, is entitled to discuss his ideas regarding any issue with his advisors without fear of having those discussions leaked via email, Twitter,  Facebook or any other social network or  other medium. It is the President who, under our Constitution, is responsible to advise the Congress and the people of policies which may be forthcoming and not some subordinate. 

For those who will take the position that Mr Joseph's right to freedom of speech may have been violated, the Constitution does not protect those who falsely shout "Fire!" in a crowded movie theatre without consequence. Essentially, this is what Mr Joseph did by criticizing his superiors and the President in his role. He should have resigned had he disagreed with the President's policies and wanted to criticize him, as I do. 

And to hide behind a false identification so he would not be discovered, well to me, that is the coward's way of conduct. He should be ashamed of himself, which I am sure, he won't be. This man, though, will be sought out by many groups for his contacts and celebrity, which is really the current agenda of today's media.

My advice to those who think this is a great thing to do, remember that the leopard doesn't change his spots. He can't be trusted to do right by you if he didn't do right by the President. 

Can he? 

Glitch-Gate

Tech-savvy. That's how the Obama campaign was described in 2008 by the mainstream media because everyone, including the candidate, was walking around and corresponding with Blackberry phones and other smart phones. In addition, every media outlet thought it was "miraculous" that the Internet could be used for fundraising, as if it had never been done before.

Then, as Obama the candidate became Obama the president, all the media was enthralled that suddenly there was an "Office of the President-Elect" created to release press advisories, to hold personal appearances and press conferences, and generally interfere with the goings-on of the constitutionally still in place Bush Administration. Which all seemed acceptable and permissible to the media, because there isn't such an office discussed anywhere in the Constitution.

But, I digress.

This "tech-savvy" administration has had, really since January 20, 2009, plenty of time to develop, beta-test and iron out the wrinkles of the most advanced government program ever implemented. Five days, apparently, before the system went "live" the President, our Campaigner-in-Chief, was out on the hustings telling people to get ready to enroll in his signature masterpiece of legislation, that the government was ready, and that our panacea was finally going to be fulfilled.

Oops! Someone forgot to tell the President that the computer program didn't work. And that's not all. His mouthpiece, Jay Carney, has tried to weave and deflect away from the problems of the computer sign-on issues and blame, of all things possible, you guessed it, the Republicans and FoxNews for reporting the negatives and not any of the positives (?) of this program.

And the President? He is out there comparing the "glitches" in the system to those Microsoft or Apple experience after a release of a new product or an upgrade of an existing one. Ummm... Not the same, friends. Any "glitch" the tech giants may experience with a release isn't preventing the user from using the product as intended. The fixes, which come within 72 hours after the initial rollout, generally enhance the product to work better, not to get it to just work.

As one who was responsible for my bank's data processing division, I can tell you that I made certain to beat the bejeezus out of an upgrade in our "test bank" well before its due date. On May 15, 1999, we were Y2K compliant in our "test bank", well before we were statutorily required to be by the FDIC, which was June 30. In addition, if any enhancement was required to be "patched in", we went back and beat up the system again.

So, my questions are these: Who was responsible for this task in the development and testing of the Obamacare software? Anybody? No? Did this "tech-savvy" administration forget to assign someone to that part of the Obamacare computer program release task force? I guess so, because it's the fault of the user for not knowing how to work it. Right?

Finally, perhaps it is time to admit failure and ask the American people for a do-over. It would be the right thing to do since most "tech-savvy" organizations would do the same. Or is he too proud to say, "I was wrong, it doesn't work at all"?

I wonder...

HIPAA and the AHMC

In today's Sacramento Bee:

"A Southern California hospital chain is urging patients to check their credit reports after thieves stole two laptop computers containing Social Security numbers and other information on more than 700,000 patients.

The laptops contained names, insurance and Medicare ID numbers and other information on patients of six AHMC hospitals in Alhambra, Anaheim, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South El Monte and Whittier."

So, I have the following questions which need to be answered: Why was this data stored on the laptop, rather than, on a mainframe? Was the information copied to an Excel or other spreadsheet program from the mainframe, and if so, by whom? And, who was responsible for the security of the laptops and the data stored on them?

One of the many responsibilities I had while in banking was that of Security Officer. This meant I was responsible for personal security of our employees, the physical security of our locations, the financial security of our assets and the data security of our customers. If any of these security issues were violated, no matter how insignificant, I was required to explain how the breach could have occurred and what processes would be put in place to prevent, or at least reduce, the possibility of its recurrence.

So, what will the AHMC do to answer for and resolve this terrible breach of security and both personal privacy and HIPPA violations for its patients? Certainly, at a minimum, it should absorb the cost of any financial loss incurred, since patients may suffer theft of bank accounts, credit cards or other monetary loss. In addition, assistance to help them advise the credit reporting agencies that their identification was stolen and attempts of credit fraud may have occurred should be mandated.

And, by the way, why did it take since October 12, when the theft occurred, to advise the affected individuals of this possibly terrible negative impact of their lives? Was there a coverup involved? After all, much damage can be done in one day, let alone ten days, to 729,000 innocent people.

What other form of restitution will be offered? After all, these patients' lives are in a state of upheaval and it may take months, if not years, to put everything back into some semblance  of order. And who, finally, will be held accountable? Or will it all be swept under the proverbial rug?

These are questions the California Attorney General should be demanding answers to, and short of any reasonable and logical response,  should prosecute the senior people at AHMC for their lack of control and precautions to protect unwitting innocents from the lackadaisical, and quite frankly, illegal actions on the part of AHMC.

The sooner the AG gets this going, the faster these issues can be put to rest, and the faster the job of fixing the people's lives can be resolved. Let's get on it.

Bankers Roulette

In Monday's New York Post:

"While JPMorgan Chase is still putting the finishing touches on a record $13 billion settlement over sales of soured mortgage securities, Jamie Dimon is already looking forward to putting the bank’s legal woes behind it.
“We are going to resolve every matter as best as we can, and then we’re going to move on and serve our clients,” Dimon told CNBC outside JPMorgan’s corporate offices at 270 Park Ave. in Midtown
.
“I am so damn proud of this company,” he added. “That’s what I think about when I wake up every day.”

Dimon was spotted on his way to work Monday morning after reaching a tentative deal with the Justice Department, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the New York attorney general, among others, over the sale of mortgage-backed securities."

Why? Why is Chase and soon, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, being forced to pay hefty fines to the federal government for activities done by the banks each of them acquired at the behest of the Fed, the FDIC and the Department of the Treasury, in order to avoid a greater calamity than what actually happened? After all, had these banks refused to do what they did, the Treasury and FDIC would have been forced to take Bear Sterns and WAMU (Chase), Countrywide (BofA) and Wachovia (WF) into receivership and pay out billions of dollars to insured depositors, and bankrupt the insurance fund in the process.

Then, where would we be?

Think about this also. The Fed, the Treasury and the FDIC, with the consent of the Congress, forced the top banks in the country to take TARP funds, when clearly it was unnecessary to do so. Chase, Citi, BofA, Goldman, Wells, State Street and others took the prescribed amounts the Treasury required, under the terms the Treasury dictated, and within less than six months' time, most of the banks paid the full amount signed for, with interest.

If you recall, the Treasury was anxious  during that critical week in September, 2008 because Lehman Bros was forced to declare bankruptcy as no entity wanted to assume the toxic assets on Lehman's books, no matter what arrangement could be made. In addition, insurance giant AIG was taken by the Treasury since most of the mortgage-backed securities on its books were also toxic. And finally, Fannie and Freddie were also under Federal protection since, while they were technically private companies, they were government sponsored entities (GSEs), which meant the government was involved in the operation of the companies.  So, to have the other failing banks actually close, would have been an unmitigated disaster.

Ultimately, while the acquiring banks also had issues with their mortgage programs, what they acquired was so much worse. And they did it anyway, because Treasury had no other recourse, but to assist in the acquisitions by hook and crook. And now the federal government is taking its five pounds of flesh.

So what is the lesson here?

To this retired banker, the next time the banks get into trouble (as history shows, it will happen again), the acquiring bank needs to get a letter of relief or other document to protect itself from the wrath of the government at some future date. Otherwise, the acquiring bank will be well within its rights to tell the FDIC, etc, to take a hike. The FDIC will then be in the precarious position to either allow the acquirer to protect itself or watch the failing bank collapse and pay the depositors out.

Remember, the government is working from the premise that the seven largest banks are "too big to fail". And these  seven banks hold almost 70% of the total banking balances in the United States. If any one of them failed now, there would  be no more American economy because the faith and credit of the United States would be gone.

And the next day, Mandarin would be the official language of this county.

The Right of Marriage

New Jersey has become the 14th state to legalize gay marriage, as of 12:01AM Monday October 21. This means 28% of all the states have now legalized gay marriage in the United States.

This was not easy in New Jersey. The road to this point has been rocky and bumpy all along the way. Legal suits to delay implementation were dismissed on Thursday by the State Supreme Court, paving the way for ceremonies to be presided over by mayors of Lambertville, Jersey City, Trenton, Asbury Park, Newark and other cities in the state. But in the end, the rights enjoyed by the rest of us are now enjoyed by all of us.

You know what? Congratulations, it's about time.

I am not gay, but as far as I am concerned, the importance of this issue stands around 892 in the 500 most pressing issues facing America today. I have fought for the civil rights of African-Americans, Hispanics, women, gays and lesbians generally, and other protected groups. My stance on this issue, therefore, is consistent with my positions I have taken in the past.

On March 27, 2013, I wrote a commentary called, "Civil Unions, Marriage, Matrimony" where I outlined my beliefs on this issue. Since then, I have written other commentaries, most recently this month, on October 2, titled "The Pain of Discrimination." In it, I review a situation where a photographer refused to take pictures of a lesbian couple during their wedding, and presented my opinion.

In addition, in June, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the states need to address this issue and resolve it essentially post-haste. Ultimately, this issue is a distraction brought forth by a vocal minority, who wish to force their sense of morality on the majority. Folks, understand that American people have become enlightened and understand that the violation of one person or group's civil rights is a violation of everyone's civil rights.

I received a response to one of my commentaries recently that same-sex marriage is a sin in my religion, and that by condoning it I was committing  a sin. To that, I have a very simple answer: I am an American first and a Catholic second, since my birth certificate came before my baptismal certificate. My primary religion, therefore, is to follow the Constitution of the United States. If I didn't, THAT would be the greater sin.

And for that, I cannot abide.

An Ugly Finish

It was an exciting game, for both Jet and Patriot fans. It was a game which no one wanted to win, but no one wanted to lose either. It was filled with great plays by both teams, and bonehead plays, too. As I said to a Patriot fan friend of mine in the opening minutes of the game, it was going to be a game of "last man standing". And it actually was.

At the end of regulation, the score was tied, and overtime would take place where anything could happen, great play or fluke, to determine the final outcome. And it did.

But this commentary isn't about the game, because it is, after all, only a game. The outcome doesn't affect world peace, breakthroughs in technology, or scientific achievement. It doesn't fix the economy, save the whales, or find the cure for cancer. It doesn't solve climate change, or prejudice, or anything else which could benefit the lot of mankind.

No, this commentary is about the stupidity of what happened on one of the ramps exiting MetLife Stadium after the game. When viewing the security recording, you can't hear what might have been said, since the audio is covered by background noise. Apparently, words may have been exchanged between the male Jet fan and the female Patriot fan. Suddenly, after some pushing and shoving, the man swings at the woman, punches her with a closed fist into her head and knocks her back, stunning her. Fortunately, the man was restrained by other fans and the woman was caught before she fell to the concrete floor, preventing further damage.

I have provided the link for your review and reference:

http://ussignal.blogspot.in/2013/10/new-york-jets-fan-punches-woman-in-face.html?m=1

As a Jet and football fan, I can say this is no way to behave before, during or after any game, win or lose. The problem, most likely, was caused by alcohol, which the team has no control over how much beer or booze is consumed before the game by tailgaters, and yet, will sell as much beer as possible during the game until the beginning of the fourth quarter. Yeah, the team needs to sell the beer in order to increase revenues but at what ultimate cost to the team's reputation.

There are laws on the books concerning public drinking and public intoxication, yet sports arenas are exempted. Why? Because tax dollars are so important that society finds it necessary to bend the rules? Eventually, public intoxication causes the government more time and money than just about any other societal violation. So is selling beer really worth the expense? Not to this fan.

Perhaps, finally, the Jets, Mets, Patriots, Red Sox and all the other sports teams will find other ways to raise revenue than contributing to drunken behavior by its fans. And by the way, who would be responsible for a drunken fan if he got into his car and killed someone? If this had happened at a bar, or a private home, it would have been the bartender or homeowner's fault.

So, the lesson here is clear. It is time to reverse the practice of serving beer at sporting events. It is not necessary. Believe me, I have no problem sitting in my or my friends' living rooms and have three or four beers, or anything else I may wish to imbibe.

But for us to continue to condone alcohol consumption at the game, and then to appear shocked and dismayed that this behavior could happen, is not naïveté on our part; it's downright hubris.

Worst to First (Sunday Surprise)

It was magical. Imagine having what certainly was the worst record in the AL East, if not all of baseball, and now embarking on an appearance on this coming Wednesday in the 2013 World Series. Not only magical, but actually, a miracle.

As a baseball fan, you have to appreciate how difficult it is for any team as bad as the Red Sox were last year just to have a winning record the following year. The fact that they won the Division was unexpected. Then, to win the ALDS was extraordinary. And now this? WOW!!

Keep in mind, the Bosox play in what is, year over year, the toughest division in baseball. Why? Well, for starters, their nemesis is the hated New York Yankees, a rivalry that goes back over 100 years. They have been the poor cousin to the Bronx Bombers since 1918, but lately, they have been in and won two World Series since 2004. And they are on the verge of doing it again. And remember, they had to pass the Orioles and the Blue Jays, two teams that have been flying high over the last few years.

John Farrell, the 46th manager in the Sox' storied history, was hired last October, shortly after the 45th manager, the (despised) Bobby Valentine was fired. He, in turn, lasted only one year, following the contentious firing of Terry Francona at the end if the 2011 season. Farrell was hired away from their division rival Blue Jays, which required that the Sox give up a key player as compensation, which is a customary practice in baseball.

Farrell had been with the Red Sox from 2006 to 2010 as their pitching coach, and had the respect of pitchers and regular players alike. Despite the turmoil of the 2012 season, the players welcomed the change in direction afforded by Farrell's return. And not coincidentally, so did the fans.

The players, led by Big Papi David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz and newcomer, Shane Victorino, welcomed the return of Farrell by posting the best record in the American League and tied their World Series opponent, the St Louis Cardinals, with the best record in baseball. In addition, unlike the hated Yankees, who require the players to be clean-shaven as a mark of discipline, the most disciplined team in baseball this year were the "duck hunting" bearded Sox.

So, congratulations to the Boston Red Sox and their fans on a great season, and a miraculous win in the ALCS to win the pennant. No matter what happens against the Cardinals, you have proven your mettle to go from worst to first.

And make the fans ask "Bobby Who?"

Ahh, October!

Today on Long Island, it is 55 degrees, sunny, blue skies and breezy. Yes, friends, fall is here. We have been teased since Labor Day with temps in the high 60s to low 80s, as summer made its exit longer than it should have. But, the weather has finally caught up with the calendar.

So, this is the third weekend of October and something special will be happening on Sunday: the Jets will be playing the Patriots. And rivalries will abound.

But, before we get ready for trash talking, Jet Fans, remember who is in first and who is two games back. Even with a win, all the Jets can hope for is a split for the season and still be one game out of first.

Just remember what happened last weekend. The 0-5 Steelers came into our yard and mopped up the field with us. Yes, I know, Rothlisberger is not the guy he was 10 years ago, but all he had to be was "good enough". And he was.

And don't forget what happened in Foxboro last week, either. The Jets' nemesis, the honorable Tom Brady, showed why he is still the premier QB  in the AFC. With 1:13 to go and deep in his zone, he marched his guys down the field, knowing a field goal would not get it done. So with 5 seconds left, plenty of time for him, he connected for a touchdown to snatch yet another victory from the jaws of defeat.

As for the green towels the Jets will be handing out? Don't be so quick to start waving them in the air, as if by doing so, the engines will be spinning. Soon enough, they could easily be used as crying towels to dry away the tears from yet another loss to the best team, year over year, in the entire AFC since the era of Belichik began.

Speaking of coaches, perhaps our team's blowhard should keep his trap shut, because all that comes out of it is a bunch of hot air. Five seasons ago, this was a great thing that the coach could rally his soldiers to play beyond expectation, and even four seasons ago, it seemed good enough. But since the AFC championship game where Sanchez forgot there was still 20 minutes to play, it's been nothing but hot, smelly, yes, even rancid air spewing out of him.

I was chatting with a Twitter follower from Boston who is concerned the Patriots may not be up to speed because of injuries to the first team players. As a football fan, I understand the concern of many Patriots fans who feel their team may have a tough time this weekend. But, as the expression goes, "any given Sunday" it's anybody's game.

So no trash talk from this Jets fan, win or lose. If we win, take it with grace and respect for the other guys. If we lose, well, was it really unexpected? After all, they have Brady and we have, who again?

And if nothing else, enjoy this beautiful fall weekend. It just might be the bright spot of our week.

As The World Turns

If the government were a business, right now, the officers (the Congress) and the CEO (the President) would be in deep doo-doo with the stockholders (us). I mean, after all, if they didn't do their jobs, as they didn't, no way would they continue to be paid.

And all the minions who work for these guys (or actually didn't) wouldn't be secure in their positions, either.

But, this is not private business. No, this is the government at "not work". It is shameful that this is permitted to go on without consequence.

And, now that the dust has cleared, how is it going? Well, the workers who were furloughed are back from their unscheduled paid vacation. That's nice. And the scandals, well, they are wilting on the stem with no redress from any congressional committee. Excellent!

Yes, folks, it's the way the government world turns. It's like a real life soap opera. And guess what? Right after the New Year, we get to do it again. Something to look forward to.

So get ready, it will be here before we know it. And that, my friends, is why these fools decided to take the government jobs they have.

Because otherwise they would be pounding the pavement like so many of us are doing since they can't do their jobs.

Why, Mr Redford?

Once again, a Hollywood icon has decided to play the part of political pundit. Robert Redford, the man who ran for the Senate in The Candidate, has weighed in on the present budget and debt ceiling agreement by stating that the Republican position is motivated by, get this, "racism". Why, Mr Redford?

Why is it that it was ok for Hollywood to consider George W Bush, a man who holds a Masters in Business Administration and a graduate of Yale, a dunce, and yet think that the alleged Constitutional lawyer presently holding the office is a genius, when all he seems to do is violate the Constitution? Why Mr Redford?

Why is it ok for you to engage in name-calling, when it suits your agenda, but if a conservative or a Republican does the same, he is an insensitive jerk? Why, Mr Redford?

Why are people, who have honest and real differences of opinion, and who don't belong to your party, get lumped in with the likes of real bigots, who happened to be members of your party, like Gore ,Sr, Kefauver, Maddox, Wallace, Stennis, Ervin, Long, Smathers, Eastland or Fullbright, just to name a few? Why, Mr Redford?

And, finally, why is it that you never hear from the likes of James Woods, LL Cool J, Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Tim Allen, Don King, Karl Malone, FiftyCent or the Rock to agree with your absolutely biased opinion? Why is that, Mr Redford?

Perhaps, Mr Redford, that while you are entitled to your opinion, and these colleagues of yours are entitled to theirs, they understand that sometimes one can make a greater impression by leading by example, than opening your mouth and showing how really stupid you really are. Once you say it, in this great technological society, no matter how hard you try, you can't take it back. There is no chance for a retake.

So, maybe the next time you and your liberal compatriots have a penchant to say something stupid, and actually mean-spirited, take a clue from Laura Ingraham and Shut Up and Sing. You will be better off.

Protect Your Future

We have to find the "silver" lining on the resulting vote late Wednesday on the Congress. This is a "gold"en opportunity to take your 401k, IRA and other retirement investments to "platinum" levels.

Yes, that's right, friends. Precious metals are the items in which to invest your future. As a retired banker who managed the bank's retirement programs, I can tell you that if you relying on your bank's retirement products to grow or even tread water, you are sadly mistaken. This may have been true even 10 or 15 years ago, but not anymore.

The bank pays maybe 3% at best on your investment, and some charge an annual fee as the trustee/custodian of the plan. Some charge a percentage, generally 1-1.5%, and others charge a flat fee, up to $50. No matter the amount or how it's calculated, it is a large chunk of your money for very little return on investment (ROI).

Precious metals, on the other hand have a great potential for a greater ROI, although the risk could be greater. But keep in mind, while there is no federal insurance to protect the investment, if you bought gold in 1975 at $35 an ounce, today that gold would be $1,283 for that investment. Not a bad ROI.

Why am I sharing this with you? Well, the Congress and the President have agreed to devalue your money again with this latest debacle of an "agreement" to kick the proverbial can down the road a bit. This will push the debt to well over $17 TRILLION.

And that's not all. The new Fed Chairperson-designate, Janet Yellen, is expected to continue the Fed policy of quantitative easing, which is the printing of money, making the dollar worth less than it is now. That is a problem, because eventually, hyper-inflation will be lurking on the horizon.

So, buy gold and silver. It is your hedge against the looming disaster that is our economy. And remember this. The FDIC insures your retirement plans up to $250,000. If we see a repeat of the banking crisis of 2008, your plan may be worthless if your bank fails along with others, and the government is unable to protect your plan. Then, you can take your plan and make wallpaper out of it.

If you can hold it in your hand, it has real intrinsic value, unlike your plan statement.