Comments on Aviator review
"Well good for you! (When I'm wrong, I mutter and scurry furtively out of sight!)" (X- A minister in South Carolina)
"I haven't seen 'Aviator' yet, but I def-will. Nancy has and enjoyed it immensely. Good to read of your contrition. [lol]" (Dave in New England)
"An honest man! How rare! Thank you. I enjoyed the film too. Everyone sez it's a shoo-in for Best Picture, but I'm thinking maybe Million Dollar Baby (which I haven't seen!)." (John in South Carolina.)
#251 (05-12)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Sunday, February 27
Aviator
Some weeks ago I expressed an adverse opinion about the film Aviator without having seen the film. I did not believe that Leonardo de Caprio could carry off the role of Howard Hughes because I consider him to be too young and baby-faced. Yesterday, we saw the film and it is obvious why I am not a Hollywood producer of epic films. My casting skills suck. de Caprio does a great job and he carries the film from beginning to end. Having grown up during the Hughes era, reading about him and seeing him in newsreels in my youth affords me a perspective to appreciate how accurate the film story line is with regard to Hughes and his accomplishments. It may not win the Oscar tonight, but it will be a worthy contender. Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Kathryn Hepburn is also right on target and she is a delight to watch
Five stars.
#250 (05-11)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Some weeks ago I expressed an adverse opinion about the film Aviator without having seen the film. I did not believe that Leonardo de Caprio could carry off the role of Howard Hughes because I consider him to be too young and baby-faced. Yesterday, we saw the film and it is obvious why I am not a Hollywood producer of epic films. My casting skills suck. de Caprio does a great job and he carries the film from beginning to end. Having grown up during the Hughes era, reading about him and seeing him in newsreels in my youth affords me a perspective to appreciate how accurate the film story line is with regard to Hughes and his accomplishments. It may not win the Oscar tonight, but it will be a worthy contender. Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Kathryn Hepburn is also right on target and she is a delight to watch
Five stars.
#250 (05-11)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Wednesday, February 16
Master Cheat
This third novel by Jack Miller features a lead character drawn from a composite of different cheaters operating in the glitz and greed of Las Vegas. The methods employed and the scams run by the cheaters are based on actual events. Their successes as well as the precautions taken by casinos to protect themselves are both complex and simple. Miller was a senior agent of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board for eleven years and writes from first-hand experience. His book may be obtained on-line through Mystic Publishers (www.mysticpublishers.com).
#249 (05-10)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
This third novel by Jack Miller features a lead character drawn from a composite of different cheaters operating in the glitz and greed of Las Vegas. The methods employed and the scams run by the cheaters are based on actual events. Their successes as well as the precautions taken by casinos to protect themselves are both complex and simple. Miller was a senior agent of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board for eleven years and writes from first-hand experience. His book may be obtained on-line through Mystic Publishers (www.mysticpublishers.com).
#249 (05-10)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Monday, February 14
Death of a good friend
Today I will be a pallbearer for my good friend Fred Matthews who died on Saturday after a brief illness. Fred was 83 years old and I knew him for 41 years. He could always be counted on to help anyone in our neighborhood with any project and he was a font of knowledge on many everyday things. I will miss my friend.
#248 (05-09)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Today I will be a pallbearer for my good friend Fred Matthews who died on Saturday after a brief illness. Fred was 83 years old and I knew him for 41 years. He could always be counted on to help anyone in our neighborhood with any project and he was a font of knowledge on many everyday things. I will miss my friend.
#248 (05-09)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Friday, February 11
Trip over -short circuited
Our trip to SE Asia was cut short after my wife took a cold and was unable to shake it. We felt it was better we journey home than traispe around SE Asia with one of the party - as they say - 'sick as a dog.'
#247 (05-08)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Our trip to SE Asia was cut short after my wife took a cold and was unable to shake it. We felt it was better we journey home than traispe around SE Asia with one of the party - as they say - 'sick as a dog.'
#247 (05-08)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Tuesday, January 18
On a trip to SE Asia
On January 20, I will leave on a trip to SE Asia with planned stops in Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Three Gorges in China, Bangkok, New Delhi and other points in the area. Two months have been allocated for this overseas adventure, my first since visiting South Africa from January to March 2003.
#246 (05-07)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
On January 20, I will leave on a trip to SE Asia with planned stops in Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Three Gorges in China, Bangkok, New Delhi and other points in the area. Two months have been allocated for this overseas adventure, my first since visiting South Africa from January to March 2003.
#246 (05-07)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Saturday, January 8
The Economist and Einstein
Dear James,
I cannot express adequately how glad I am that you turned me on to The Economist a couple of years ago. I often enjoy reading their diverse essays and commentaries and marvel at how much my mind has been expanded and knowledge increased. So it was especially so this week as I ploughed into the three page Science and Technology essay which celebrates the 100 years of Einstein and where the editors "attempt to elucidate" on Einstein's theories about (1) atoms, (2) relativity, and (3) quantum physics. Being, however, a social science major who matriculated in mid-life, I have no f****** idea what the hell they or Einstein are talking about. I thought I would share this with you. I did enjoy Lord Scarman's obituary, although the world is poorer for his passing.
Dad
#245 (05-06)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Dear James,
I cannot express adequately how glad I am that you turned me on to The Economist a couple of years ago. I often enjoy reading their diverse essays and commentaries and marvel at how much my mind has been expanded and knowledge increased. So it was especially so this week as I ploughed into the three page Science and Technology essay which celebrates the 100 years of Einstein and where the editors "attempt to elucidate" on Einstein's theories about (1) atoms, (2) relativity, and (3) quantum physics. Being, however, a social science major who matriculated in mid-life, I have no f****** idea what the hell they or Einstein are talking about. I thought I would share this with you. I did enjoy Lord Scarman's obituary, although the world is poorer for his passing.
Dad
#245 (05-06)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Friday, January 7
One vote against bathing
A long time good friend wrote: "Believe it or not, I knew a woman who died in a bathtub; her doctor husband electrocuted her by dropping a radio into the water and trying to make it look accidental. He was caught."
#244 (05-05)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
A long time good friend wrote: "Believe it or not, I knew a woman who died in a bathtub; her doctor husband electrocuted her by dropping a radio into the water and trying to make it look accidental. He was caught."
#244 (05-05)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Thursday, January 6
Reasons to stop bathing or gambling
Your lifetime odds of dying in a bathtub are 1 in 11,469; the odds of winning the Powerball lottery are 1 in 120, 526,770. (Source: David Wessel, The Wall Street Journal, Jan.6, 2005, pg 2.)
#243 (05-04)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Your lifetime odds of dying in a bathtub are 1 in 11,469; the odds of winning the Powerball lottery are 1 in 120, 526,770. (Source: David Wessel, The Wall Street Journal, Jan.6, 2005, pg 2.)
#243 (05-04)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Wednesday, January 5
Readers comments on automated phone systems
(1) The main utility in New York City, Con Edison, has a diabolical voice mail. If you hit "0”, a cheery voice says "thank you for calling Con Edison" and disconnects the line. The only way to get a real live person is to punch the code for reporting a gas emergency.
(2)My mother who had trouble with her eyes could not see well enough to press those numbers and had to take the phone from her ear to look at the numbers so she could press whatever button she needed. Sometimes it would disconnect her before she could push the right button. She would get so frustrated and call me to help. I think this is a sorry situation for all of us but especially for our elders who might have trouble hearing and seeing.
(3) I too have encountered some automated business call systems that made me want to drive right over and change my account or service to another company. However, I have encountered some that were both easy to use and led me to an answer quicker than an employee in a busy office could have helped me alone. The technical difference is simply in the programming. The human difference is, I suspect, in whether anybody high enough up in the company that they really ought to making decisions affecting their customers' satisfaction ever sat down and actually tried the new service experience before its installation.
(4) Oh, you cannot know the meaning of aggravation until you have tried to reach the good folks at AT&T. I asked the young lady in Bombay (and I'm not complaining that I was talking to someone in India) to please fwd my concern as high as she could that it was ironic to see this giant of American communications technology reduced to an impenetrable voice messaging system.
(5) Amen--and there are many more companies and businesses that provide the same "automated" service!
242 (05-03)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Credit Union Telephone Service
It is a new year and time to strike back at those systems and things that aggravate a man's soul. We were not put on this earth to be abused by businesses that won't put a human being on the phone when we call. I understand efficiency, but I also learned almost sixty years ago that the customer is number one - or ought to be. Herewith my opening salvo in this year's first crusade. If you have similar or dissimilar thoughts send them to me for posting on my blog.
January 5, 2005
Chairman, Supervisory Committee
SC Federal Credit Union
PO Box 190012
North Charleston 29419-9012
Dear Sir,
Again today, I had to call the Credit Union to tell them that we could not access our iTeller statements after receiving e-mail messages that the statements were available. The computer system was not responding for statements until after 12:30 in the day.
The main thrust of this letter is to express my aggravation at the automated telephone answering system in use by the Credit Union. This system may be the cat’s meow to some employee technical geek who thinks he or she has brought the Credit Union into the 21st century but from a user’s standpoint, it is a blood pressure raising aggravation designed to increase the frustration level. The voice recording the messages is an irritation and the number of buttons you have to press to get anything done is ridiculous.
I do not call the credit union much anymore because you cannot talk to an individual unless you wade through the automated system. It occurs to me that if the next time I have to call the system is not improved, then my family will be better served by moving our accounts elsewhere.
Cordially,
Francis X. Archibald
#241 (05-02)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
It is a new year and time to strike back at those systems and things that aggravate a man's soul. We were not put on this earth to be abused by businesses that won't put a human being on the phone when we call. I understand efficiency, but I also learned almost sixty years ago that the customer is number one - or ought to be. Herewith my opening salvo in this year's first crusade. If you have similar or dissimilar thoughts send them to me for posting on my blog.
January 5, 2005
Chairman, Supervisory Committee
SC Federal Credit Union
PO Box 190012
North Charleston 29419-9012
Dear Sir,
Again today, I had to call the Credit Union to tell them that we could not access our iTeller statements after receiving e-mail messages that the statements were available. The computer system was not responding for statements until after 12:30 in the day.
The main thrust of this letter is to express my aggravation at the automated telephone answering system in use by the Credit Union. This system may be the cat’s meow to some employee technical geek who thinks he or she has brought the Credit Union into the 21st century but from a user’s standpoint, it is a blood pressure raising aggravation designed to increase the frustration level. The voice recording the messages is an irritation and the number of buttons you have to press to get anything done is ridiculous.
I do not call the credit union much anymore because you cannot talk to an individual unless you wade through the automated system. It occurs to me that if the next time I have to call the system is not improved, then my family will be better served by moving our accounts elsewhere.
Cordially,
Francis X. Archibald
#241 (05-02)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Monday, January 3
Doctors Without Borders
DWB are rendering emergency aid throughout the stricken SE Asia area and elsewhere in Sudan, particularly the Darfur Region. If you can, make a contribution today at www.doctorswithoutborders.org . It will give you a good feeling throughout your body and soul.
#240 (05-01)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
DWB are rendering emergency aid throughout the stricken SE Asia area and elsewhere in Sudan, particularly the Darfur Region. If you can, make a contribution today at www.doctorswithoutborders.org . It will give you a good feeling throughout your body and soul.
#240 (05-01)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Thursday, December 23
Christmas Spirit
A new Christmas is upon us but somehow it seems like recent Christmas' past: a suicide bomber in Mosul blew up an Army mess tent and killed or injured almost 100; President Bush is going to renominate 20 judicial candidates who have not passed earlier muster - (Democrats say they approved 240 of the President's nominations and sacked only 10); the market is having a Christmas upswing, but the dollar has fallen against the Euro and a it takes almost two dollars to get a British pound. Happy New Year!
#239 (04-88)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
A new Christmas is upon us but somehow it seems like recent Christmas' past: a suicide bomber in Mosul blew up an Army mess tent and killed or injured almost 100; President Bush is going to renominate 20 judicial candidates who have not passed earlier muster - (Democrats say they approved 240 of the President's nominations and sacked only 10); the market is having a Christmas upswing, but the dollar has fallen against the Euro and a it takes almost two dollars to get a British pound. Happy New Year!
#239 (04-88)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Friday, November 19
And we thought Democrats could spend
Last night the Republican controlled Congress approved passage of the debt ceiling increase. The government's borrowing limit has climbed by $2.23 trillion since President Bush took office with Republicans in control of Congress: by $450 billion in 2002, by a record $984 billion in 2003 and by $800 billion this year. The increase in the debt ceiling alone over the past three years is nearly 2 1/2 times the entire federal debt accumulated between 1776 and 1980.
A recession, a sluggish economy and five tax cuts in four years -- coupled with spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and rising domestic spending -- have turned record surpluses that Bush inherited into a record deficit of $413 billion in the past fiscal year.
#238 (04-87)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Last night the Republican controlled Congress approved passage of the debt ceiling increase. The government's borrowing limit has climbed by $2.23 trillion since President Bush took office with Republicans in control of Congress: by $450 billion in 2002, by a record $984 billion in 2003 and by $800 billion this year. The increase in the debt ceiling alone over the past three years is nearly 2 1/2 times the entire federal debt accumulated between 1776 and 1980.
A recession, a sluggish economy and five tax cuts in four years -- coupled with spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and rising domestic spending -- have turned record surpluses that Bush inherited into a record deficit of $413 billion in the past fiscal year.
#238 (04-87)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Tuesday, November 16
Hazardous to your health
Deep frying a Thanksgiving turkey can be hazardous; last year 15 people burned their houses down and hundreds wound up in hospital emergency rooms. Time to buy that canned ham.
#237 (04-86)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Deep frying a Thanksgiving turkey can be hazardous; last year 15 people burned their houses down and hundreds wound up in hospital emergency rooms. Time to buy that canned ham.
#237 (04-86)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Bond. James Bond
Super-spy James Bond is born today in 1924. After a rebellious school career, the half-Swiss/half Scots Bond attends Cambridge University before joining the Royal Navy and latterly, the British Secret Service. Although now aged 80, the unstoppable Bond shows no sign of slowing down due to his ability to magically transfer himself into the bodies of various younger men such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan.
#236 (04-85)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Super-spy James Bond is born today in 1924. After a rebellious school career, the half-Swiss/half Scots Bond attends Cambridge University before joining the Royal Navy and latterly, the British Secret Service. Although now aged 80, the unstoppable Bond shows no sign of slowing down due to his ability to magically transfer himself into the bodies of various younger men such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan.
#236 (04-85)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Tuesday, November 9
Shooting in the night
The shooting on Election Eve into a front room window in my house was - I believe - a politically motivated hate crime. For details click on COLUMNS in the header.
#235 (04-84)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
The shooting on Election Eve into a front room window in my house was - I believe - a politically motivated hate crime. For details click on COLUMNS in the header.
#235 (04-84)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Friday, November 5
Comment on Ordained Ministers
From a lady in Goose Creek, SC: "I firmly agree. Also, do not think churches should have political meetings. The church is there for teachings of Christ - and nothing else. If they so choose, then they should be taxed as any other operating business with a political agenda”.
From an Ordained Minister in England: “From a British perspective ....... we would always say that no minister who took seriously the claims of the Kingdom of God would ever entertain being involved in party politics ...... ‘Social action against injustice’, Yes, but party politics...never. There is no such animal as an altruistic politician. Every Blessing”
From a man in Arlington, VA: “Well said. One of my neighbors worked on his staff at the Senate. He thinks Danforth is great. But what does he know. He voted ‘against’ Bush. I tend to agree with you.”
From an Ordained Minister in SC who added: “Me either” to this unsourced quote - “…the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government.”
From a lady in Hanahan, SC: “I agree,” (with your thoughts).
#234 (04-83)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
From a lady in Goose Creek, SC: "I firmly agree. Also, do not think churches should have political meetings. The church is there for teachings of Christ - and nothing else. If they so choose, then they should be taxed as any other operating business with a political agenda”.
From an Ordained Minister in England: “From a British perspective ....... we would always say that no minister who took seriously the claims of the Kingdom of God would ever entertain being involved in party politics ...... ‘Social action against injustice’, Yes, but party politics...never. There is no such animal as an altruistic politician. Every Blessing”
From a man in Arlington, VA: “Well said. One of my neighbors worked on his staff at the Senate. He thinks Danforth is great. But what does he know. He voted ‘against’ Bush. I tend to agree with you.”
From an Ordained Minister in SC who added: “Me either” to this unsourced quote - “…the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government.”
From a lady in Hanahan, SC: “I agree,” (with your thoughts).
#234 (04-83)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Ordained Ministers
There may be some others, but when I think of "ordained ministers in government, " Cardinal Richelieu (who raised taxes on those who could least afford it and antagonized just about everyone in France is his day)
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Cardinal-Richelieu comes to mind and the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government. All of this is fueled by speculation in the news today in Washington that John Danforth, a former Senator, currently US Ambassador to the United Nations and an ordained minister may be in line to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. Mr. Danforth may be a nice gentleman but President Bush ought to respect the historic line between National government and religion.
#233 (04-82)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
There may be some others, but when I think of "ordained ministers in government, " Cardinal Richelieu (who raised taxes on those who could least afford it and antagonized just about everyone in France is his day)
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Cardinal-Richelieu comes to mind and the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government. All of this is fueled by speculation in the news today in Washington that John Danforth, a former Senator, currently US Ambassador to the United Nations and an ordained minister may be in line to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. Mr. Danforth may be a nice gentleman but President Bush ought to respect the historic line between National government and religion.
#233 (04-82)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Wednesday, October 27
Red Sox Win...Red Sox Win
The Boston Red Sox are again World Champions, the win coming in St. Louis against the Cardinals, a great baseball team, 3-0, and comes after only 31,458 days since the last time.
#232 (04-81)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
The Boston Red Sox are again World Champions, the win coming in St. Louis against the Cardinals, a great baseball team, 3-0, and comes after only 31,458 days since the last time.
#232 (04-81)
E-mail your comments
Check archives on left for earlier postings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)