Executives from JPMorgan Chase Bank have admitted the bank has cheated thousands of American servicemen serving in Iraq and Afghanistan by overcharging them on mortgages in violation of the law. The executives also admitted to illegally foreclosing on servicemen's homes. The executives have offered the effected servicemen a settlement totalling $2 million.
I want to urge all veterans, active servicemen and veterans organizations to boycott JPMorgan Chase. Take your money away from these greedy bankers and invest it in a bank that supports our troops.
I also want to urge the Justice Dept. to take legal action against the executives responsible for swindling thousands of men and women serving in combat. While the second largest bank in America will undoubtedly employ an army of lawyers and lobbyists to avoid the punishment they so richly deserve, the working people of America can send them a message by takingtheir hard-earned dollars elsewhere.
Don't support a bank that steals from our troops. Boycott JPMorgan Chase!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
GOOGLE SUCKS GOOGLE IS EVIL GO BING!!!!!
The wise guys at Google have taken down the ads from this blog so this blog is going elsewhere. I learned of their decision last week but received only the vaguest of explanations as to why. Basically there answer was "Because we said so...."
I'm not going to put up with this sort of attitude and nether should use. Tell Google to shove it and use Bing instead. It's just as reliable. Maybe even more reliable. And unlike the goons at Google, Bing has no interest in taking over the world.
Google SUCKS!!!
I'm not going to put up with this sort of attitude and nether should use. Tell Google to shove it and use Bing instead. It's just as reliable. Maybe even more reliable. And unlike the goons at Google, Bing has no interest in taking over the world.
Google SUCKS!!!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
27 Months and Counting
I took a test online today proporting to predict how long I can expect to live. I answered a couple dozen questions about my habits, my health and my family history. When I finished it, I hit send and quickly learned that, according to the program's formula, I can expect to die of cancer in April, 2013. They even included a little cartoon character with a large bump on his forehead. The character looked nothing like me, he was nearly bald, but I do have a small lump of some sort in the exact same location on the right side of my forehead.
I don't normally take tests like this online. I don't put much stock in them. But reading that I have 27 months, more or less, left to live certainly got my attention. I suppose I should go consult with someone who attended medical school instead of wasting my time with online tests. If I had health insurance, I certainly would. If I could afford to pay a doctor out of pocket, I would. But right now, it's all I can do to keep the lights on and eat regularly. A doctor's visit is a luxury I can't afford these days and I know I'm not alone on that count.
The test didn't specify what sort of cancer I can expect to kill me. It didn't even mention the lump on the cartoon character's head. If it predicted lung cancer, I could understand. I did admit to smoking for the last 40 years. But that lump on the head seemed like a message too strange to ignore.
Sometime in the next few weeks, I will consult with a doctor. After all, if I am dying in 2013, there doesn't seem to be any reason to try to save what little money I do have. I realize that a lot of folks wouldn't want to know if they were dying, but I'm not one of those folks. I'd consider it a great gift to find out I was dying two years in advance. I just hope the test results aren't overly optimistic.
There was a time when I would have freaked out at the idea of dying in 2013, but that time has passed. If the computer is right, I'll make the best of whatever time I have left.
In December, 2005 my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. To mark the occasion, we took a trip to Hot Springs, Ark. It was a trip I had planned years before that was cancelled by the death of my first child in 1993.
On the ride over to Hot Springs, we talked about our years together. It hadn't always been easy. There were plenty of tough times, plenty of fights and foolish quarrels in 25 years, but things were good in the last days of 2005. We talked about the houses we'd lived in, the road that had taken us from Asheville to Hilton Head, back to Asheville and later, to the wilderness that was Madison County. We talked about all the twists and turns on the road that brought us to Memphis. And we had a good long laugh when we realized how little we had planned for any of the many changes we'd seen in 25 years.
At one point, I took her hand and told her that if it all ended tomorrow, I would be a happy man. I told her I'd had a full life, full of both joy and sadness. I told her that if it ended tomorrow, I would never feel I'd been cheated by life. And I thanked her for being a part of my life. She told me she felt the same way and patted my hand and smiled that smile that only I got to see.
We both knew we had reached a turning point in our lives, in our marriage. We knew that our firstborn would be getting married in 2006. We knew, too, that our baby girl would finish high school and start college in 2006. I was looking forward to an empty nest, probably much more than Cheryl was.
But we never quite made it. We were together when Amy graduated and somehow were made it through our older daughter's wedding. But within a few months of the wedding, we found out that Cheryl was dying from liver failure. There was hope for a transplant, a miracle, but the prognosis was not good. Sort of like the one I received from the computer today.
Cheryl was the strongest woman I have ever met. She fought the disease bravely and endured months of chemotherapy without complaint, without pain-killers of any kind. She wanted to live and never gave up the fight.
I'm not that strong. I won't tolerate much pain by sheer will power. And I won't fight. After seeing what she went through with chemo, I want no part of it. I won't suffer that kind of pain just to extend my life a few months, or even a few years.
Cheryl had a will to live that I just can't summon. That conversation we had on the way to Hot Springs has played over in my head many, many times in the last few years. My opinion has not changed in the least. If it all comes to an end in April, 2013, you'll hear no complaints from me. I've had a full life and certainly haven't been cheated.
In my nearly 59 years, I've seen as much of the world as anyone could ask for. I've lived in big cities, and small towns, in suburbs and way out in the country. I've lived in the north and the south and even in Germany. I've lived in the mountains and on the shore and it's all been a great adventure. I've been in love many times, always with great women. I married two of them and raised three children I'm very proud of. I've also buried my parents, my brother and my Cheryl.
If the computer is right, I'll go without complaint because it's my time.
I don't normally take tests like this online. I don't put much stock in them. But reading that I have 27 months, more or less, left to live certainly got my attention. I suppose I should go consult with someone who attended medical school instead of wasting my time with online tests. If I had health insurance, I certainly would. If I could afford to pay a doctor out of pocket, I would. But right now, it's all I can do to keep the lights on and eat regularly. A doctor's visit is a luxury I can't afford these days and I know I'm not alone on that count.
The test didn't specify what sort of cancer I can expect to kill me. It didn't even mention the lump on the cartoon character's head. If it predicted lung cancer, I could understand. I did admit to smoking for the last 40 years. But that lump on the head seemed like a message too strange to ignore.
Sometime in the next few weeks, I will consult with a doctor. After all, if I am dying in 2013, there doesn't seem to be any reason to try to save what little money I do have. I realize that a lot of folks wouldn't want to know if they were dying, but I'm not one of those folks. I'd consider it a great gift to find out I was dying two years in advance. I just hope the test results aren't overly optimistic.
There was a time when I would have freaked out at the idea of dying in 2013, but that time has passed. If the computer is right, I'll make the best of whatever time I have left.
In December, 2005 my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. To mark the occasion, we took a trip to Hot Springs, Ark. It was a trip I had planned years before that was cancelled by the death of my first child in 1993.
On the ride over to Hot Springs, we talked about our years together. It hadn't always been easy. There were plenty of tough times, plenty of fights and foolish quarrels in 25 years, but things were good in the last days of 2005. We talked about the houses we'd lived in, the road that had taken us from Asheville to Hilton Head, back to Asheville and later, to the wilderness that was Madison County. We talked about all the twists and turns on the road that brought us to Memphis. And we had a good long laugh when we realized how little we had planned for any of the many changes we'd seen in 25 years.
At one point, I took her hand and told her that if it all ended tomorrow, I would be a happy man. I told her I'd had a full life, full of both joy and sadness. I told her that if it ended tomorrow, I would never feel I'd been cheated by life. And I thanked her for being a part of my life. She told me she felt the same way and patted my hand and smiled that smile that only I got to see.
We both knew we had reached a turning point in our lives, in our marriage. We knew that our firstborn would be getting married in 2006. We knew, too, that our baby girl would finish high school and start college in 2006. I was looking forward to an empty nest, probably much more than Cheryl was.
But we never quite made it. We were together when Amy graduated and somehow were made it through our older daughter's wedding. But within a few months of the wedding, we found out that Cheryl was dying from liver failure. There was hope for a transplant, a miracle, but the prognosis was not good. Sort of like the one I received from the computer today.
Cheryl was the strongest woman I have ever met. She fought the disease bravely and endured months of chemotherapy without complaint, without pain-killers of any kind. She wanted to live and never gave up the fight.
I'm not that strong. I won't tolerate much pain by sheer will power. And I won't fight. After seeing what she went through with chemo, I want no part of it. I won't suffer that kind of pain just to extend my life a few months, or even a few years.
Cheryl had a will to live that I just can't summon. That conversation we had on the way to Hot Springs has played over in my head many, many times in the last few years. My opinion has not changed in the least. If it all comes to an end in April, 2013, you'll hear no complaints from me. I've had a full life and certainly haven't been cheated.
In my nearly 59 years, I've seen as much of the world as anyone could ask for. I've lived in big cities, and small towns, in suburbs and way out in the country. I've lived in the north and the south and even in Germany. I've lived in the mountains and on the shore and it's all been a great adventure. I've been in love many times, always with great women. I married two of them and raised three children I'm very proud of. I've also buried my parents, my brother and my Cheryl.
If the computer is right, I'll go without complaint because it's my time.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Memphis Surrenders
It appears likely that the voters of Memphis will have the opportunity to disband their failed school system. After weeks of legal wrangling and political posturing, it appears that the Shelby County Election Commission will set a date for a public referendum within the next 60 days. If approved by a majority of city voters, the Memphis City Schools system will cease to exist at some point in the near future.
Less than two months before the proposed referendum, the public hasn't heard answers to a number of key questions. I haven't seen the language on the referendum question yet, but it certainly won't spell out all the many details that will come with surrendering the city school charter.
We do know that if MCS is disbanded, the Shelby County Board of Education will assume the responsibility for educating Memphis children. We don't know when the MCS would cease to exist. I assume that they will continue to operate city schools through the end of the current school year, but I don't know that for a fact. Would the Shelby County Board of Education operate city schools starting in July, 2011 or at a later date? I don't know and neither do the people who will be asked to vote in less than two months.
If MCS is disbanded, the county school population will go from the current 45,000 students to about 150,000 overnight.
I assume that city-owned schools would be turned over to the Shelby County Board of Education, but I don't know that is a fact and neither do the people who will vote on the referendum. Would the city turn over all current MCS property to Shelby County? Would Memphis expect to be compensated for the city school properties? I don't know and neither do the voters.
How long would the currently elected Shelby County school board be in control of the former MCS? When would the county school board be expanded to include Memphis residents? I don't know and neither do the voters.
IF Memphis voters agree to surrender control of their schools and IF the current Shelby County school board remains in control, there is a wonderful opportunity to overhaul a decayed urban school system that has failed miserably.
IF the MCS no longer exists, it stands to reason that all MCS employees will be terminated. Current MCS employees have no standing in the county school system. They would have to re-apply for positions within the city through the county. This will allow county school leaders to remove much of the dead wood within the MCS system. While there are undoubtedly many good teachers in the current MCS, it is abundantly clear too that there are many teachers and administrators who are unfit to educate our children. If we are going to get serious about providing Memphis children with a quality education, these unqualified teachers and administrators have to go and be replaced by qualified educators.
We don't need teachers and principals from schools with dismal test scores, high dropout rates and soaring teen pregnancies. These people have already demonstrated beyond any doubt that they are not up to the monumental task of educating poor, inner city children and teenagers.
If Memphis voters are to gain anything from surrendering control of their schools, we will have to insist that MCS test scores and other measures of student achievement rise to meet Shelby County levels. The fear in the suburbs is that combing the two systems will result in lowering standards in Shelby County schools. If that fear is realized, there will be no winners in this battle.
If disbanding MCS is to be a success, Memphis voters have to understand that the current status quo is unacceptable. We must hire professional educators, not politicians with their eyes on higher office, to operate our schools.
If they disband the city school system only to elect the same failed leadership to an expanded county school board, we will have accomplished nothing.
Less than two months before the proposed referendum, the public hasn't heard answers to a number of key questions. I haven't seen the language on the referendum question yet, but it certainly won't spell out all the many details that will come with surrendering the city school charter.
We do know that if MCS is disbanded, the Shelby County Board of Education will assume the responsibility for educating Memphis children. We don't know when the MCS would cease to exist. I assume that they will continue to operate city schools through the end of the current school year, but I don't know that for a fact. Would the Shelby County Board of Education operate city schools starting in July, 2011 or at a later date? I don't know and neither do the people who will be asked to vote in less than two months.
If MCS is disbanded, the county school population will go from the current 45,000 students to about 150,000 overnight.
I assume that city-owned schools would be turned over to the Shelby County Board of Education, but I don't know that is a fact and neither do the people who will vote on the referendum. Would the city turn over all current MCS property to Shelby County? Would Memphis expect to be compensated for the city school properties? I don't know and neither do the voters.
How long would the currently elected Shelby County school board be in control of the former MCS? When would the county school board be expanded to include Memphis residents? I don't know and neither do the voters.
IF Memphis voters agree to surrender control of their schools and IF the current Shelby County school board remains in control, there is a wonderful opportunity to overhaul a decayed urban school system that has failed miserably.
IF the MCS no longer exists, it stands to reason that all MCS employees will be terminated. Current MCS employees have no standing in the county school system. They would have to re-apply for positions within the city through the county. This will allow county school leaders to remove much of the dead wood within the MCS system. While there are undoubtedly many good teachers in the current MCS, it is abundantly clear too that there are many teachers and administrators who are unfit to educate our children. If we are going to get serious about providing Memphis children with a quality education, these unqualified teachers and administrators have to go and be replaced by qualified educators.
We don't need teachers and principals from schools with dismal test scores, high dropout rates and soaring teen pregnancies. These people have already demonstrated beyond any doubt that they are not up to the monumental task of educating poor, inner city children and teenagers.
If Memphis voters are to gain anything from surrendering control of their schools, we will have to insist that MCS test scores and other measures of student achievement rise to meet Shelby County levels. The fear in the suburbs is that combing the two systems will result in lowering standards in Shelby County schools. If that fear is realized, there will be no winners in this battle.
If disbanding MCS is to be a success, Memphis voters have to understand that the current status quo is unacceptable. We must hire professional educators, not politicians with their eyes on higher office, to operate our schools.
If they disband the city school system only to elect the same failed leadership to an expanded county school board, we will have accomplished nothing.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Memphis School Questions Far From Answered
A small army of elected officials, lawyers and others have all addressed the questions surrounding the proposed surrender of the Memphis schools charter, but after weeks of public pronouncements on what the proposal would or would not do, John Q. Public is still in the dark.
That is not to suggest that John Q. hasn't already made up his mind. Just that John and other voters still don't have the information needed to make an informed choice.
Part of the blame for this confusion can be placed at the feet of the school officials who started it in the first place. City school officials accuse county school officials of trying to lock out city school students. County officials warn of massive layoffs and school closures should the referendum proceed. State election officials say the City Council must approve the referendum. City Councilmen say they don't have to do any such thing. Others jump in with a petition and lawsuit seeking the referendum. While all this is going on, city and county school officials try to hammer out an agreement to postpone the referendum.
And still, despite television and newspaper reports on the ongoing drama, no one seems to know the answers to some important questions. We still don't know if the referendum will be held in February or early March, or sometime in 2012. We still don't know if and when a new countywide school board would be created, elected and seated. We don't know if Memphis officials would have to continue to provide financial suppport to county-operated schools. We don't know who would head the greatly expanded county school district. We don't know if city teachers would be employed by the new county school district or whether the new system would adopt the old Memphis curriculum or the one used by the old county school district.
No one seems to have the answers to questions like these. Perhaps, in part, because the news media in Memphis have decided where they stand and don't want to confuse the issue with inconvenient facts.
At a time when the course of public education is to be decided, TV news breathlessly informs viewers that 20% of the Frayer HS female population is either pregnant or recently had a baby. With a straight face, a reporter looks into the camera and asks what has caused this problem. What has been a Memphis problem will become a countywide problem in a few short months if the city school system is disbanded.
I've already written that consolidating the city and county schools will be difficult and expensive. There will be no cost savings from consolidation. Instead, there will inevitably be more administrators and fewer schools. More costs and less tax revenue. In the long run, it is probably a good move for both the city and county. But in the short term, there will be confusion, political power struggles, waste, fraud and inefficiency. The students caught in the middle of this storm will be impacted throughout their lives. But eventually, consolidating the school systems will reinforce the idea that Memphis and Shelby County are one community - a large inner city and small suburban towns together in one county.
I just hope that all the important questions are answered before John Q. goes to the polls. Just so he'll know exactly what he's voting for when asked to determine the fate of Memphis city schools.
That is not to suggest that John Q. hasn't already made up his mind. Just that John and other voters still don't have the information needed to make an informed choice.
Part of the blame for this confusion can be placed at the feet of the school officials who started it in the first place. City school officials accuse county school officials of trying to lock out city school students. County officials warn of massive layoffs and school closures should the referendum proceed. State election officials say the City Council must approve the referendum. City Councilmen say they don't have to do any such thing. Others jump in with a petition and lawsuit seeking the referendum. While all this is going on, city and county school officials try to hammer out an agreement to postpone the referendum.
And still, despite television and newspaper reports on the ongoing drama, no one seems to know the answers to some important questions. We still don't know if the referendum will be held in February or early March, or sometime in 2012. We still don't know if and when a new countywide school board would be created, elected and seated. We don't know if Memphis officials would have to continue to provide financial suppport to county-operated schools. We don't know who would head the greatly expanded county school district. We don't know if city teachers would be employed by the new county school district or whether the new system would adopt the old Memphis curriculum or the one used by the old county school district.
No one seems to have the answers to questions like these. Perhaps, in part, because the news media in Memphis have decided where they stand and don't want to confuse the issue with inconvenient facts.
At a time when the course of public education is to be decided, TV news breathlessly informs viewers that 20% of the Frayer HS female population is either pregnant or recently had a baby. With a straight face, a reporter looks into the camera and asks what has caused this problem. What has been a Memphis problem will become a countywide problem in a few short months if the city school system is disbanded.
I've already written that consolidating the city and county schools will be difficult and expensive. There will be no cost savings from consolidation. Instead, there will inevitably be more administrators and fewer schools. More costs and less tax revenue. In the long run, it is probably a good move for both the city and county. But in the short term, there will be confusion, political power struggles, waste, fraud and inefficiency. The students caught in the middle of this storm will be impacted throughout their lives. But eventually, consolidating the school systems will reinforce the idea that Memphis and Shelby County are one community - a large inner city and small suburban towns together in one county.
I just hope that all the important questions are answered before John Q. goes to the polls. Just so he'll know exactly what he's voting for when asked to determine the fate of Memphis city schools.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Down but not quite out
A friend suggested I attend a support group for the unemployed, so I figured what the hell. It's not like I had a lot to do Friday afternoon at 1:30. Not like I had a job to go to. Why not? Maybe I'll learn about something. Maybe someone knows about where they're hiring. Maybe they'll have sandwiches and coffee.
My biggest reservation is the location - Bellevue Baptist, the biggest church west of St. Peter's. Are we gonna pray for jobs? I've tried it many Sundays without results. What the hell? It's a better excuse to get out than going to the grocery store. A five-minute drive. Hang a left just past the crucifxes and park.
I arrived just in time to find one of the last empty seats. I shared a table with three men and three women. All of us were in some stage of middle age, somewhere between 48 and 64. Too young to retire and too old to be useful in today's job market. My table in the back was all white, but the room was surprisingly diverse given the location. There were two black women, two Mexican women and an Indian man in the group of about 24.
The moderator was a nice man. He opened with a brief devitional and quickly got down to business. On each table, there was a handout. 20 pages of e-mail and sugestions for job seekers.
The moderator handed out a list of some 120 interview questions and we wet over possible responses, good and bad. Just like I used to do with the kids at Remington. I've taught this class. I know the answers. I only want to answer one question - does anyone know about a job?
The group was called something like "Career Transitions" but most of the folks were still hoping to do something like what they've done their whole adult life. I've already set my sights far lower. I suspect that most of these folks haven't been unemployed long.
I sat next to one guy who was obviously going through the anger stages of unemployment. He complained about the questions interviewers pose, over and over. He resented having to audition for a position he felt his background made him deserving. He probably had to interview with youngsters who could see his contempt.
While I understand his frustrations, I'm long past that stage. After years of being the boss, I welcome the opportunity to take orders from someone else.
There was some discussion about dressing up one's resume and profile. The moderator advised against being dishonest, as well he should. A battered victim of the job market advised putting a positive spin of things and reminded us that an interview is a sales call. You only get the job if the interviewer buys what you're selling.
My biggest reservation is the location - Bellevue Baptist, the biggest church west of St. Peter's. Are we gonna pray for jobs? I've tried it many Sundays without results. What the hell? It's a better excuse to get out than going to the grocery store. A five-minute drive. Hang a left just past the crucifxes and park.
I arrived just in time to find one of the last empty seats. I shared a table with three men and three women. All of us were in some stage of middle age, somewhere between 48 and 64. Too young to retire and too old to be useful in today's job market. My table in the back was all white, but the room was surprisingly diverse given the location. There were two black women, two Mexican women and an Indian man in the group of about 24.
The moderator was a nice man. He opened with a brief devitional and quickly got down to business. On each table, there was a handout. 20 pages of e-mail and sugestions for job seekers.
The moderator handed out a list of some 120 interview questions and we wet over possible responses, good and bad. Just like I used to do with the kids at Remington. I've taught this class. I know the answers. I only want to answer one question - does anyone know about a job?
The group was called something like "Career Transitions" but most of the folks were still hoping to do something like what they've done their whole adult life. I've already set my sights far lower. I suspect that most of these folks haven't been unemployed long.
I sat next to one guy who was obviously going through the anger stages of unemployment. He complained about the questions interviewers pose, over and over. He resented having to audition for a position he felt his background made him deserving. He probably had to interview with youngsters who could see his contempt.
While I understand his frustrations, I'm long past that stage. After years of being the boss, I welcome the opportunity to take orders from someone else.
There was some discussion about dressing up one's resume and profile. The moderator advised against being dishonest, as well he should. A battered victim of the job market advised putting a positive spin of things and reminded us that an interview is a sales call. You only get the job if the interviewer buys what you're selling.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
School Merger Could Mean Short-Term Pain, Long Term Gains for All
The people of Memphis may or may not decide to disband their public school system in a few weeks. Although there are still a number of questions to be answered, it looks like the city will hold a referendum on the question sometime in February.
The city of Memphis has operated a city school system for more than 100 years. Students who live outside the city limits attend schools operated by Shelby County. The city system has three times the number of students as the county schools. The city system is funded by Shelby County as well as the Memphis City Council.
Later today, the county election commission will answer some questions relating to the referendum. One of the key questions is whether or not county residents living outside the city will be allowed to vote. This is a key question. Voters in the county recently overwhelmingly defeated a referendum on consolidating Memphis and Shelby County government. The same proposal was narrowly approved by Memphis voters.
If only Memphis voters are allowed to take part in the referendum, it will very likely pass. Supporters of the charter surrender maintain that city property taxes would decline if the city school system is disbanded. But county residents, who would see taxes increase, are likely to vote against a consolidated school system. They will vote against consolidation in order to avoid higher taxes, certainly, but the county residents have a more powerful incentive to reject consolidation.
The city school system is a dismal failure. Led by overpaid, ineffective administrators, the system is bloated with ineffective teachers and administrators. Test scores are abysmal and waste and corruption are rampant. County residents fear that merging the two systems would lower standards in county schools, not raise them throughout the countywide system. It's a legitimate fear, given Memphis schools' long record of failure.
The county election commission also must set a date for the referendum. The timing of the election will also be significant. The referendum could be held as soon as Feb. 8 even though many important questions have yet to be answered. Among the questions that have not been answered:
When would the charter surrender take effect? Immediately after the referendum is certified? At the end of the school year? In 2012? No one knows.
Who would operate the consolidated school system? The current county school board, or a new board that would also include Memphis residents? When would the new board take control? How would the new district lines be drawn. No one knows yet.
How will the two systems be merged? They have different rules, different books and different curriculum? How are the systems to be merged? What about employees of the disbanded Memphis system? Will the consolidated system be required to retain former city employees?
If this important referendum proceeds as scheduled, voters will be expected to make a monumental decision without knowing many key facts.
I suspect that merging the county and city school systems would be a benefit to all of Shelby County in the long run. But the long run in this case could extend to 20 years, an entire generation. In the short term, the transition will be costly and painful. If I'm correct, the question is - will voters opt for accepting short term pain in hopes of seeing a long term improvement in their schools.
Stay tuned....
By
The city of Memphis has operated a city school system for more than 100 years. Students who live outside the city limits attend schools operated by Shelby County. The city system has three times the number of students as the county schools. The city system is funded by Shelby County as well as the Memphis City Council.
Later today, the county election commission will answer some questions relating to the referendum. One of the key questions is whether or not county residents living outside the city will be allowed to vote. This is a key question. Voters in the county recently overwhelmingly defeated a referendum on consolidating Memphis and Shelby County government. The same proposal was narrowly approved by Memphis voters.
If only Memphis voters are allowed to take part in the referendum, it will very likely pass. Supporters of the charter surrender maintain that city property taxes would decline if the city school system is disbanded. But county residents, who would see taxes increase, are likely to vote against a consolidated school system. They will vote against consolidation in order to avoid higher taxes, certainly, but the county residents have a more powerful incentive to reject consolidation.
The city school system is a dismal failure. Led by overpaid, ineffective administrators, the system is bloated with ineffective teachers and administrators. Test scores are abysmal and waste and corruption are rampant. County residents fear that merging the two systems would lower standards in county schools, not raise them throughout the countywide system. It's a legitimate fear, given Memphis schools' long record of failure.
The county election commission also must set a date for the referendum. The timing of the election will also be significant. The referendum could be held as soon as Feb. 8 even though many important questions have yet to be answered. Among the questions that have not been answered:
When would the charter surrender take effect? Immediately after the referendum is certified? At the end of the school year? In 2012? No one knows.
Who would operate the consolidated school system? The current county school board, or a new board that would also include Memphis residents? When would the new board take control? How would the new district lines be drawn. No one knows yet.
How will the two systems be merged? They have different rules, different books and different curriculum? How are the systems to be merged? What about employees of the disbanded Memphis system? Will the consolidated system be required to retain former city employees?
If this important referendum proceeds as scheduled, voters will be expected to make a monumental decision without knowing many key facts.
I suspect that merging the county and city school systems would be a benefit to all of Shelby County in the long run. But the long run in this case could extend to 20 years, an entire generation. In the short term, the transition will be costly and painful. If I'm correct, the question is - will voters opt for accepting short term pain in hopes of seeing a long term improvement in their schools.
Stay tuned....
By
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
As Seen On Google
I googled this blog today and actually found it! I feel famous! Now, if only someone else with a million close friends will stumble upon it.
Waiting with bated breath to find out if I've won the $355,000,000 lottery. I like my chances. I made a deal with God to give away the first $100,000,000.
Waiting with bated breath to find out if I've won the $355,000,000 lottery. I like my chances. I made a deal with God to give away the first $100,000,000.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Help (NOT) wanted
As the new year begins, I and thousands of other Americans are looking for work. While many thousands have simply given up the search, there are many more like me that keep plugging away every day, hoping to find a job that will allow them to pay the bills, put food on the table and live with a measure of dignity.
Some would have you believe that unemployment insurance only discourages people from seeking work. Those who make this argument haven't tried to live on the $300 or less that recipients receive. While I'm sure there is a small minority who would rather collect a government check than do real work, I don't believe tis is true of most working people.
In March, it will be three full years since I last worked on a full-time basis. Since that time, I have applied for hundreds of jobs in a wide variety of fields. Although at first I focused on jobs in teaching or in print journalism, I long ago abandoned that focus. Although I have four years' experience as a college English instructor, I am not "qualified" to teach high school kids because I don't have state certification. Although I have more than 20 years' experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, the newspaper industry is on life support and not looking for reporters or editors.
I applied for a job editing my small hometown newspaper. This was a position I was amply qualified for, but the job went to a much younger editor. The publisher informed me of his choice and offered me part-time work covering the local high school football team. He was willing to pay $15 per game for coverage. I pointed out that covering a high school football game takes about three hours. At $15 per game, he was offering less than the minimum wage. I declined and suggested he look for a high school student, perhaps the team manager.
I suppose that critics of unemployment insurance would point to this example as proof that it makes people lazy and unwillling to accept work. If that's true, then they're right. But I don't think rejecting a ridiculously low offer makes someone a bum. The minimum wage law was enacted to prevent employers from exploiting workers.
The employment picture is so bad these days that employers routinely receive a hundred applications for every vacant position. This has allowed employers to not only be very selective, but also allows them to lower wages. Many times, the person hired is the one willing to accept the lowest wage. Many employers are taking advantage of this. The salary offers I see on web sites like journalismjobs.com are the same low levels I saw when I first entered journalism 30 years ago.
Today before I begin the 2011 job search, I will go down to the unemployment office to verify what I already suspect - the unemployment extension approved by Congress last month doesn't apply to long-term unemployed such as myself. I suspect I already know the answer, but I want someone in a government office to tell it to my face. Whether or not I'm qualified, the search for a job, any job, will continue.
Some would have you believe that unemployment insurance only discourages people from seeking work. Those who make this argument haven't tried to live on the $300 or less that recipients receive. While I'm sure there is a small minority who would rather collect a government check than do real work, I don't believe tis is true of most working people.
In March, it will be three full years since I last worked on a full-time basis. Since that time, I have applied for hundreds of jobs in a wide variety of fields. Although at first I focused on jobs in teaching or in print journalism, I long ago abandoned that focus. Although I have four years' experience as a college English instructor, I am not "qualified" to teach high school kids because I don't have state certification. Although I have more than 20 years' experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, the newspaper industry is on life support and not looking for reporters or editors.
I applied for a job editing my small hometown newspaper. This was a position I was amply qualified for, but the job went to a much younger editor. The publisher informed me of his choice and offered me part-time work covering the local high school football team. He was willing to pay $15 per game for coverage. I pointed out that covering a high school football game takes about three hours. At $15 per game, he was offering less than the minimum wage. I declined and suggested he look for a high school student, perhaps the team manager.
I suppose that critics of unemployment insurance would point to this example as proof that it makes people lazy and unwillling to accept work. If that's true, then they're right. But I don't think rejecting a ridiculously low offer makes someone a bum. The minimum wage law was enacted to prevent employers from exploiting workers.
The employment picture is so bad these days that employers routinely receive a hundred applications for every vacant position. This has allowed employers to not only be very selective, but also allows them to lower wages. Many times, the person hired is the one willing to accept the lowest wage. Many employers are taking advantage of this. The salary offers I see on web sites like journalismjobs.com are the same low levels I saw when I first entered journalism 30 years ago.
Today before I begin the 2011 job search, I will go down to the unemployment office to verify what I already suspect - the unemployment extension approved by Congress last month doesn't apply to long-term unemployed such as myself. I suspect I already know the answer, but I want someone in a government office to tell it to my face. Whether or not I'm qualified, the search for a job, any job, will continue.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Credit Conundrum
I thought we'd managed to make a deal for Will's new car yesterday, but the deal fell through today thanks to his grandmother.
Will had found a 2004 Volvo wagon for $6900 that looked promising. It had 99,000 miles, but appears to be in good shape. The blue book value was about $13,000 so the dealer was willing to take half price basically. The dealer had reduced it from $7300 last week and we agreed on a price when he came down to $6500. If Will could get $400 for his Odessey and an extra $500 from Granny, it was a done deal.
But when he called her today, Granny said that $6500 was too much to pay for a seven-year-old car with nearly 100,000 miles. She told him to keep looking. So that's what he'll have to do because no one tells Granny Annie what to do.
Granny is no automotive expert. I doubt she's ever paid much below sticker price. I'm sure she doesn't realize that 100,000 miles is not a lot for many modern cars. The Odessey has over 200,000 on it. I'm sure Will could get another 100,000 out of the Volvo, but I'm not about to butt in with Granny Annie.
I pointed out to Will that his granny is and always has been a control freak. She's never given away a dime that didn't come with strings attached. She's been that way all her life and isn't about to change now. That's just the price you pay when you need her help.
I thank God that I've never had to ask for her help. I pray that I never will because for me, the price would be just too damned high.
Maybe she'll change her mind. Maybe the dealer will come down another $500. Who knows?
The Odessey continues....
Will had found a 2004 Volvo wagon for $6900 that looked promising. It had 99,000 miles, but appears to be in good shape. The blue book value was about $13,000 so the dealer was willing to take half price basically. The dealer had reduced it from $7300 last week and we agreed on a price when he came down to $6500. If Will could get $400 for his Odessey and an extra $500 from Granny, it was a done deal.
But when he called her today, Granny said that $6500 was too much to pay for a seven-year-old car with nearly 100,000 miles. She told him to keep looking. So that's what he'll have to do because no one tells Granny Annie what to do.
Granny is no automotive expert. I doubt she's ever paid much below sticker price. I'm sure she doesn't realize that 100,000 miles is not a lot for many modern cars. The Odessey has over 200,000 on it. I'm sure Will could get another 100,000 out of the Volvo, but I'm not about to butt in with Granny Annie.
I pointed out to Will that his granny is and always has been a control freak. She's never given away a dime that didn't come with strings attached. She's been that way all her life and isn't about to change now. That's just the price you pay when you need her help.
I thank God that I've never had to ask for her help. I pray that I never will because for me, the price would be just too damned high.
Maybe she'll change her mind. Maybe the dealer will come down another $500. Who knows?
The Odessey continues....
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Resolutions
By now, I know myself well enough to know that New Years' resolutions are a waste of time. I've made and broken enough resolutions over the years to know that I can't depend on myself to keep all those well-intentioned promises.
Over the years, I've made and broken promises to quit drinking, quit smoking, eat better, exercise more, go to church, stop gambling, be a better person, work harder, work less, get more sleep, eat my vegetables, say my prayers, etc. etc ad infinitum. All these wonderful ideas for making life better, so carefully thought out in December forgotten before Valentine's Day.
And then there were all those resolutions made in the drunken, hungover haze of New Years' morning. How many times did I vow I'd had my last drink before noon on Jan. 1 and forget long before midnight?
In spite of the odds, in spite of my past record, I will try again this year. Maybe by sending my resolutions out to the world I'll feel a greater sense of responsibility. Knowing that some school kid in Hong Kong might stumble across my blog makes me somehow more accountable.
In 2011, I resolve to be a kinder person to everyone. Make that everyone except bill collectors. I know that they really are human beings doing a crummy job for crummy wages, but no kindness for them.
In 2011, I resolve to be more optimistic. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, I will remind myself every day that life is good.
In 2011, I resolve to be grateful for what I have and share my wealth of gratitude with others.
I will also quit smoking, start walking, listen more and talk less.
Wish me luck. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Over the years, I've made and broken promises to quit drinking, quit smoking, eat better, exercise more, go to church, stop gambling, be a better person, work harder, work less, get more sleep, eat my vegetables, say my prayers, etc. etc ad infinitum. All these wonderful ideas for making life better, so carefully thought out in December forgotten before Valentine's Day.
And then there were all those resolutions made in the drunken, hungover haze of New Years' morning. How many times did I vow I'd had my last drink before noon on Jan. 1 and forget long before midnight?
In spite of the odds, in spite of my past record, I will try again this year. Maybe by sending my resolutions out to the world I'll feel a greater sense of responsibility. Knowing that some school kid in Hong Kong might stumble across my blog makes me somehow more accountable.
In 2011, I resolve to be a kinder person to everyone. Make that everyone except bill collectors. I know that they really are human beings doing a crummy job for crummy wages, but no kindness for them.
In 2011, I resolve to be more optimistic. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, I will remind myself every day that life is good.
In 2011, I resolve to be grateful for what I have and share my wealth of gratitude with others.
I will also quit smoking, start walking, listen more and talk less.
Wish me luck. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Buying A Car
Today I am going out with my son to try to buy a car. I'm going along for the ride to keep my boy from getting his head knocked off by a salesman. Hopefully, my calm presence will prevent him from making a terrible mistake. Hey, there's a first time for everything.
I've tried in the past to assist all my children when the time came to buy a car. For the most part, they've ignored my advice and limited my assistance to providing cash.
I am not a meddlesome father. For the most part, my adult children conduct their lives the way they see fit, with the mixed results you'd expect from amateurs. When it comes to schools, work or the people they marry, I keep my nose out of their business. I stick to what I know and I know how to buy cars. I know how to buy cars because I used to sell cars and I know all the tricks the dealers use to pick your pockets.
Today, we'll start our search at CarMax, the home of "no haggle pricing." Whoever invented the idea of "no haggle pricing" was a marketing genius.
It certainly has a ring to it. "No haggle pricing" sounds so much more appealing than "Just pay what we say and go away." But that's really what they mean by "no haggle pricing."
Many people find haggling over the price of a vehicle distasteful. That's the beauty of the slogan. Car dealers spent decades trying very hard to make the buying process as distasteful as possible. At Carmax and other "no haggle" dealers, they will take the most distasteful part of the process out if you'll just agree to lay down and do what you're told. You'll wind up paying hundreds or thousands more than necessary, but you can avoid the hassel of negotiating with a salesman, his sales manager and the owner.
We're certainly going to test the "no haggle" slogan today. We'll begin by ascertaining how much his beat-up 1996 Honda van is worth. I wouldn't give you $100 for the wreck, but I'm expecting the folks at CarMax to pony up a couple of grand for it. They'll have to if this deal is going to work because he'll need that money for his down payment.
CarMax doesn't sell 15 year old wrecks like Will's Odessey. But that doesn't mean they won't buy it and send it off to auction. They won't make a dime on the sale, but that's really not the point. They'll make their money selling cars, not buying them. Many times, it works both ways for the dealer, but not in this case. They will likely be willing to take a loss on the trade if they'll make enough profit on the sale to justify it.
Today is likely just a test run. I don't expect to buy a car today. I want to do what the dealer does, build excitement and anticipation. But it's the salesman I want to build up, not Will. My job today is to keep him calm and collected so as to avoid a costly mistake.
The salesman wants to close the deal TODAY. He will have other customers to deal with tomorrow. He wants to get you and your dream car off the lot TODAY. Listen to his pitch and you'll hear that word frequently. Tomorrow is out theme today. Tomorrow, the price will be lower. Tomorrow, he'll need to make a sale more than today. Tomorrow, we win. Tomorrow it's going to rain. Tomorrow, no one else will be interested in that car he's trying to sell TODAY.
UPDATE: It turns out Car Max really means it when they say "no haggling" We never got past their $500 offer for Will's Odessey. Financing anything may be difficult for a kid with no credit history. I scouted out a few "Tote the Note" joints, but they don't have much to pick from. A lot of the lots were half-empty.
The Odessey continues...
I've tried in the past to assist all my children when the time came to buy a car. For the most part, they've ignored my advice and limited my assistance to providing cash.
I am not a meddlesome father. For the most part, my adult children conduct their lives the way they see fit, with the mixed results you'd expect from amateurs. When it comes to schools, work or the people they marry, I keep my nose out of their business. I stick to what I know and I know how to buy cars. I know how to buy cars because I used to sell cars and I know all the tricks the dealers use to pick your pockets.
Today, we'll start our search at CarMax, the home of "no haggle pricing." Whoever invented the idea of "no haggle pricing" was a marketing genius.
It certainly has a ring to it. "No haggle pricing" sounds so much more appealing than "Just pay what we say and go away." But that's really what they mean by "no haggle pricing."
Many people find haggling over the price of a vehicle distasteful. That's the beauty of the slogan. Car dealers spent decades trying very hard to make the buying process as distasteful as possible. At Carmax and other "no haggle" dealers, they will take the most distasteful part of the process out if you'll just agree to lay down and do what you're told. You'll wind up paying hundreds or thousands more than necessary, but you can avoid the hassel of negotiating with a salesman, his sales manager and the owner.
We're certainly going to test the "no haggle" slogan today. We'll begin by ascertaining how much his beat-up 1996 Honda van is worth. I wouldn't give you $100 for the wreck, but I'm expecting the folks at CarMax to pony up a couple of grand for it. They'll have to if this deal is going to work because he'll need that money for his down payment.
CarMax doesn't sell 15 year old wrecks like Will's Odessey. But that doesn't mean they won't buy it and send it off to auction. They won't make a dime on the sale, but that's really not the point. They'll make their money selling cars, not buying them. Many times, it works both ways for the dealer, but not in this case. They will likely be willing to take a loss on the trade if they'll make enough profit on the sale to justify it.
Today is likely just a test run. I don't expect to buy a car today. I want to do what the dealer does, build excitement and anticipation. But it's the salesman I want to build up, not Will. My job today is to keep him calm and collected so as to avoid a costly mistake.
The salesman wants to close the deal TODAY. He will have other customers to deal with tomorrow. He wants to get you and your dream car off the lot TODAY. Listen to his pitch and you'll hear that word frequently. Tomorrow is out theme today. Tomorrow, the price will be lower. Tomorrow, he'll need to make a sale more than today. Tomorrow, we win. Tomorrow it's going to rain. Tomorrow, no one else will be interested in that car he's trying to sell TODAY.
UPDATE: It turns out Car Max really means it when they say "no haggling" We never got past their $500 offer for Will's Odessey. Financing anything may be difficult for a kid with no credit history. I scouted out a few "Tote the Note" joints, but they don't have much to pick from. A lot of the lots were half-empty.
The Odessey continues...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Street News has no street cred
Last month, I came across a web site called Memphis Street News that proported to be an online news service geared to Memphis. I noticed that the articles on the web site seemed vaguely familiar. A Google search quickly showed that the "articles" on the Street web site were originally published in The Commercial Appeal, a print publication in the Bluff City. Someone at Street News was simply cutting up the original stories published in the Commercial Appeal and piecing them back together for use on the web site. If the Street News was a college student, this would be known as plagiarism and expulsion would be in order. But in this case, the offender is guilty of copyright infringemnt for the unauthorized use of the Commercial Appeal's intellectual property.
The web site's owner, Tony Falasca, took exception to my criticism and threatened to sue me. This is the sort of bullying tactic I've seen before. Tony isn't the first person to threaten to sue me over words I wrote and published. Fortunately, it's just an empty threat, a bully's best effort to silence criticism of his questionable business practises.
Apparently Tony knows as little about the law as he does about journalism. In order to win a libel case, he will have to prove that I knowingly published false information about him and his web site. Nothing I wrote about his web site was untrue. A quick Google search of his web site and the Commercial Appeal archives will clearly demonstrate that he published stories taken directly from the print publication. No lies, no libel.
But even if the truth weren't on my side, I have yet another defense that Tony and his attorney should consider. I'm flat broke. In the unlikely event that Tony could somehow win a judgement in court, he will never collect damages because there's nothing to collect. I suppose he could win my 15-year-old car, but beyond that, there's precious little to collect.
The web site's owner, Tony Falasca, took exception to my criticism and threatened to sue me. This is the sort of bullying tactic I've seen before. Tony isn't the first person to threaten to sue me over words I wrote and published. Fortunately, it's just an empty threat, a bully's best effort to silence criticism of his questionable business practises.
Apparently Tony knows as little about the law as he does about journalism. In order to win a libel case, he will have to prove that I knowingly published false information about him and his web site. Nothing I wrote about his web site was untrue. A quick Google search of his web site and the Commercial Appeal archives will clearly demonstrate that he published stories taken directly from the print publication. No lies, no libel.
But even if the truth weren't on my side, I have yet another defense that Tony and his attorney should consider. I'm flat broke. In the unlikely event that Tony could somehow win a judgement in court, he will never collect damages because there's nothing to collect. I suppose he could win my 15-year-old car, but beyond that, there's precious little to collect.
Pickler's Pickle
David Pickler is a member of the Shelby County Board of Education. A senior member of the school board, Pickler serves as the chairman of the board. Earlier this year, Pickler proposed that the county school board seek special school district status from the state.
Special school district status would allow the Shelby County school board to impose taxes to fund education and would freeze the current borders of the county school system. Within Shelby County, the city of Memphis operates its own school system. The county-run schools are mostly white, in suburban areas outside Memphis. The Memphis city schools are predominantly black and serve an inner city community plagued by poverty and crime.
In recent years, Memphis has expanded its boundaries through annexation. With each annexation, schools that were built by the county school system were turned over to Memphis officials following annexation.
Pickler argued that the county schools needed special status in order to make long-range plans. He said that special school district status would permanently freeze the current district boundaries, preventing Memphis from annexing county-operated schools.
Both city and county schools are funded, in part, with county property tax revenues. Under the current formula, the much larger city school system receives $3 for every $1 allocated to county schools. In addition to county tax revenues, the city school system also receives funding from city taxpayers. Memphis school officials heave learned that counting on the city's share of funding can be problematic. A few years ago, in order to cut city taxes, Memphis City Council cut the city's funding for schools by millions. Memphis schools filed suit and won in court, but have yet to receive the money that was withheld.
Pickler's plan to create a special school district, with taxing authority, aroused Memphis school officials. If approved, the county schools would have authority to tax residents. Funds generated by the special district tax would not have to be shared with Memphis schools. The result - county taxes would decline while city tax rates would increase substantially.
As a result, Memphis school officials voted to disband the city school system. If approved in a referendum of city residents, the city school system would cease to exist, leaving it the responsibility of the county school system to operate the city schools as well.
Disbanding a large inner city school system seems like an act of surrender to me. But the idea has been gaining traction within the city. Some see consolidating the suburban and city school systems as the last hope for united this divided community. Memphis voters will decide the question some time in February, when the weather is likely to produce a slim turnout. A vocal minority of voters could produce a stunning change in the way kids are educated in Shelby County and Memphis.
This certainly isn't the way Pickler envisioned things when he first proposed setting up a special school district.
Special school district status would allow the Shelby County school board to impose taxes to fund education and would freeze the current borders of the county school system. Within Shelby County, the city of Memphis operates its own school system. The county-run schools are mostly white, in suburban areas outside Memphis. The Memphis city schools are predominantly black and serve an inner city community plagued by poverty and crime.
In recent years, Memphis has expanded its boundaries through annexation. With each annexation, schools that were built by the county school system were turned over to Memphis officials following annexation.
Pickler argued that the county schools needed special status in order to make long-range plans. He said that special school district status would permanently freeze the current district boundaries, preventing Memphis from annexing county-operated schools.
Both city and county schools are funded, in part, with county property tax revenues. Under the current formula, the much larger city school system receives $3 for every $1 allocated to county schools. In addition to county tax revenues, the city school system also receives funding from city taxpayers. Memphis school officials heave learned that counting on the city's share of funding can be problematic. A few years ago, in order to cut city taxes, Memphis City Council cut the city's funding for schools by millions. Memphis schools filed suit and won in court, but have yet to receive the money that was withheld.
Pickler's plan to create a special school district, with taxing authority, aroused Memphis school officials. If approved, the county schools would have authority to tax residents. Funds generated by the special district tax would not have to be shared with Memphis schools. The result - county taxes would decline while city tax rates would increase substantially.
As a result, Memphis school officials voted to disband the city school system. If approved in a referendum of city residents, the city school system would cease to exist, leaving it the responsibility of the county school system to operate the city schools as well.
Disbanding a large inner city school system seems like an act of surrender to me. But the idea has been gaining traction within the city. Some see consolidating the suburban and city school systems as the last hope for united this divided community. Memphis voters will decide the question some time in February, when the weather is likely to produce a slim turnout. A vocal minority of voters could produce a stunning change in the way kids are educated in Shelby County and Memphis.
This certainly isn't the way Pickler envisioned things when he first proposed setting up a special school district.
Macy's
My brief career as a sales associate at Macys came to an end on Christmas Eve. I was hired as a seasonal employee back in November.
I began my new career on Black Friday. The only training I received was a three-hour computer tutorial followed by a tour of the store. I managed to get through that crazy first day by smiling a lot at the customers. We were so busy, the nine-hour shift went by quickly. It was on the slow days and nights that I realized what a mindless, depressing job it could be. How many times can you fold and refold Dockers and sweaters without losing your mind? I didn't find out, but I suspect it would get to you after a while.
I can only imagine how boring a job it can be when there are no customers to wait on, or greet, or ring up. And I also imagine that there are many, many hours like that for sales people who work full-time.
The toughest part of the job for me was the wear and tear of being on your feet for eight hours, standing on hard marble floors. At the end of a day, my dogs would be barking. I learned to spend as much time as possible on the small carpeted spots on the sales floor. Thankfully, Macys does have carpet at the cash registers.
Just like a car dealership, Macys starts each day by trying to pump up the sales force. I don't think it really works, but they do it anyway. I never could get pumped up at 7:45 am, especially if I worked the night before. I guess it gives the managers something to do to make them feel managerial.
I worked for a couple of managers, young folks in what was probably their first management position. For the first few days, they felt like they had to make suggestions or give orders every time I saw them. After a few days, they decided I could keep myself busy without their supervision. It really wasn't hard - wait on customers or fold pants and sweaters. Since I wasn't mad about folding sweaters, I made sure no one walking through my department was neglected.
Working in retail at Christmas wasn't the horror story I anticipated. Oh, the wages are pitiful and the hours sporadic, but I wasn't subjected to abuse at the hands of customers. In a month at Macys', I only came across two real assholes. Most people responded to me the way I responded to them, with a smile.
I was worried about running into old friends or acquaintences. Worried that they'd see me in this trivial job and pity my fall. That never happened. I did run into many people I knew, but they all seemed to understand that I was there to do a job and earn some money. In today's economy, even a crummy job is better than no job.
The best customers were folks who had once stood in my shoes with aching feet. I don't know how many times a customer told me, "I used to work in retail. I feel sorry for you."
Would I do it again? Well, I hope the economy improves and provides me with some alternatives, but if things don't get better, I suspect I'll be back at Macys' next year, folding sweaters and smiling through aching feet.
I began my new career on Black Friday. The only training I received was a three-hour computer tutorial followed by a tour of the store. I managed to get through that crazy first day by smiling a lot at the customers. We were so busy, the nine-hour shift went by quickly. It was on the slow days and nights that I realized what a mindless, depressing job it could be. How many times can you fold and refold Dockers and sweaters without losing your mind? I didn't find out, but I suspect it would get to you after a while.
I can only imagine how boring a job it can be when there are no customers to wait on, or greet, or ring up. And I also imagine that there are many, many hours like that for sales people who work full-time.
The toughest part of the job for me was the wear and tear of being on your feet for eight hours, standing on hard marble floors. At the end of a day, my dogs would be barking. I learned to spend as much time as possible on the small carpeted spots on the sales floor. Thankfully, Macys does have carpet at the cash registers.
Just like a car dealership, Macys starts each day by trying to pump up the sales force. I don't think it really works, but they do it anyway. I never could get pumped up at 7:45 am, especially if I worked the night before. I guess it gives the managers something to do to make them feel managerial.
I worked for a couple of managers, young folks in what was probably their first management position. For the first few days, they felt like they had to make suggestions or give orders every time I saw them. After a few days, they decided I could keep myself busy without their supervision. It really wasn't hard - wait on customers or fold pants and sweaters. Since I wasn't mad about folding sweaters, I made sure no one walking through my department was neglected.
Working in retail at Christmas wasn't the horror story I anticipated. Oh, the wages are pitiful and the hours sporadic, but I wasn't subjected to abuse at the hands of customers. In a month at Macys', I only came across two real assholes. Most people responded to me the way I responded to them, with a smile.
I was worried about running into old friends or acquaintences. Worried that they'd see me in this trivial job and pity my fall. That never happened. I did run into many people I knew, but they all seemed to understand that I was there to do a job and earn some money. In today's economy, even a crummy job is better than no job.
The best customers were folks who had once stood in my shoes with aching feet. I don't know how many times a customer told me, "I used to work in retail. I feel sorry for you."
Would I do it again? Well, I hope the economy improves and provides me with some alternatives, but if things don't get better, I suspect I'll be back at Macys' next year, folding sweaters and smiling through aching feet.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Race Town
If there is a city in America that is more divided racially than Memphis, Tn. I have never been there. I suspect that if America ever again has race riots in the streets, the riots will begin in Memphis.
While other American cities torn by the race riots of the 60s have moved on, Memphis remains stubbornly fixed in place. While most of America has progressed from the days of segregation, Memphis continues to pick at the sores of a shameful period in American history. Even though recent decades have seen an influx of Mexicans, Cambodians, Chinese and Indian residents, Memphis continues to view every conflict as a racial conflict between black and white.
There are very few integrated neighborhoods in Memphis. The ghettos in North Memphis and South Memphis are solidly black. Whites gravitate to the gated communities in East Memphis. The city itself is majority black, while just beyond the city limits, whites are the overwhelming majority, the result of decades of "white flight" to the suburbs.
Two generations after school desegregation ended, Memphis city schools are more segregated than ever, with some schools reporting nearly 100% minority students. Outside the city limits, Shelby County operates a separate school system that is majority white.
Memphis churches are even more racially divided than its schools or neighborhoods.
Other cities have moved beyond the divisiveness of the Jim Crow South. Why is Memphis a notable exception?
Politics is certainly one of the main reasons. For nearly 40 years now, black politicians have worked to maintain the divide between blacks and whites in order to hold political power on the local level. The Ford family built a political dynasty by playing to the resentment of black residents who once were barred from many aspects of life. The scion of the Ford dynasty portrayed whites as devils in order to maintain his congressional seat. Memphis mayor Willie Herenton repeatedly stoked the fires of racial hatred in order to win five terms as the city's first black mayor. Herenton would portray his critics as racists and Uncle Toms while enriching himself with real estate deals and ignoring the needs of the black poor.
When law enforcement caught a number of black officials soliciting and receiving bribes, these thieves attempted to convince the public they were singled out because of race by racist prosecutors. The county commission is similarly divided - with black Democrats holding seats within the city limits and white Republicans controlling the suburban bloc.
But perhaps the worst offender in creating racial tension may be the daily newspaper, The Commercial Appeal. Hardly a week goes by where the newspaper hasn't published a story guaranteed to heighten racial tensions. Today's newspaper is a prime example. In one front page story, the CA informs readers that black men still make significantly less money than white men. Is this really news? In the same edition, a letter to the editor criticizes an earlier article that suggested that the Civil War was fought to end slavery. The letter received more than 170 responses online. One hundred and fifty years later, Memphians want to refight what's called the War of Northern Aggression.
For years, a racist named Mike Fleming had a daily talk show which he used to fuel racial tensions in order to attract ratings. Fleming is forgotten now. He's disappeared except for an occasional television appearance as a so-called "political expert." But the daily newspaper that once employed Fleming has taken up his cause, continuing to stir racial tensions in Memphis at every opportunity. I hope I am far away when those tensions once more come to a boil.
While other American cities torn by the race riots of the 60s have moved on, Memphis remains stubbornly fixed in place. While most of America has progressed from the days of segregation, Memphis continues to pick at the sores of a shameful period in American history. Even though recent decades have seen an influx of Mexicans, Cambodians, Chinese and Indian residents, Memphis continues to view every conflict as a racial conflict between black and white.
There are very few integrated neighborhoods in Memphis. The ghettos in North Memphis and South Memphis are solidly black. Whites gravitate to the gated communities in East Memphis. The city itself is majority black, while just beyond the city limits, whites are the overwhelming majority, the result of decades of "white flight" to the suburbs.
Two generations after school desegregation ended, Memphis city schools are more segregated than ever, with some schools reporting nearly 100% minority students. Outside the city limits, Shelby County operates a separate school system that is majority white.
Memphis churches are even more racially divided than its schools or neighborhoods.
Other cities have moved beyond the divisiveness of the Jim Crow South. Why is Memphis a notable exception?
Politics is certainly one of the main reasons. For nearly 40 years now, black politicians have worked to maintain the divide between blacks and whites in order to hold political power on the local level. The Ford family built a political dynasty by playing to the resentment of black residents who once were barred from many aspects of life. The scion of the Ford dynasty portrayed whites as devils in order to maintain his congressional seat. Memphis mayor Willie Herenton repeatedly stoked the fires of racial hatred in order to win five terms as the city's first black mayor. Herenton would portray his critics as racists and Uncle Toms while enriching himself with real estate deals and ignoring the needs of the black poor.
When law enforcement caught a number of black officials soliciting and receiving bribes, these thieves attempted to convince the public they were singled out because of race by racist prosecutors. The county commission is similarly divided - with black Democrats holding seats within the city limits and white Republicans controlling the suburban bloc.
But perhaps the worst offender in creating racial tension may be the daily newspaper, The Commercial Appeal. Hardly a week goes by where the newspaper hasn't published a story guaranteed to heighten racial tensions. Today's newspaper is a prime example. In one front page story, the CA informs readers that black men still make significantly less money than white men. Is this really news? In the same edition, a letter to the editor criticizes an earlier article that suggested that the Civil War was fought to end slavery. The letter received more than 170 responses online. One hundred and fifty years later, Memphians want to refight what's called the War of Northern Aggression.
For years, a racist named Mike Fleming had a daily talk show which he used to fuel racial tensions in order to attract ratings. Fleming is forgotten now. He's disappeared except for an occasional television appearance as a so-called "political expert." But the daily newspaper that once employed Fleming has taken up his cause, continuing to stir racial tensions in Memphis at every opportunity. I hope I am far away when those tensions once more come to a boil.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Remington College: A Warning for Students
It's amazing to me that, of all the millions of possible ads that could have posted alongside my scribbling, I keep getting ads for Remington College. I won't repeat all my previous remarks about this scam college, but I would advise readers to scroll back to my Nov. 18 blog on Remington before they consider enrolling at this institution.
Here, in brief, are a few reasons NOT to attend Remington College:
1> Your diploma, if you ever receive one, is basically worthless.
2> Credits you receive while at Remington will not tranfer anywhere. After two years of hard work, you'll still be a freshman.
3> You will be taught by unqualified instructors, including graduates of Remington College.
4> You will have thousands in student loan debt but won't be able to find a job to pay them off.
Need more reasons? Scroll back to last month's warning.
Here, in brief, are a few reasons NOT to attend Remington College:
1> Your diploma, if you ever receive one, is basically worthless.
2> Credits you receive while at Remington will not tranfer anywhere. After two years of hard work, you'll still be a freshman.
3> You will be taught by unqualified instructors, including graduates of Remington College.
4> You will have thousands in student loan debt but won't be able to find a job to pay them off.
Need more reasons? Scroll back to last month's warning.
Bill Mazeroski broke my heart
Last night, I spent three hours watching a 50-year-old baseball game even though I knew how it would end. I watched as if it were being played live because, even though it was a game I'll never forget, it was a game I'd never seen before except for the final pitch.
On October 13, 1960, I was in the third grade at Saint Joan of Arc School in Jackson Heights, New York. I was in Sister Saint Catherine's class. Sister Saint Catherine was tough. She thought our education was somehow more important than the seventh game of the World Series. While kids in other classes were listening to Mel Allen broadcast the game, we were listening to Sister Saint Catherine explain the suffering of the martyred missionaries who'd come to America to win souls for Jesus.
We didn't have televisions in the classrooms at Saint Joan's. Some kids would sneak in a transistor radio to listen to the World Series back before baseball's biggest games were played in the dark. Frankie Giannone brought his Japanese pocket radio to class and he kept us all informed of the score while we pretended to be paying attention to Sister St. Catherine.
We'd only begun the afternoon lesson when Frankie informed us that the Pirates had taken a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by Rocky Nelson. The news didn't bother us. It was only the first inning. There would be plenty of time for a Yankee comeback, we thought.
Our early optimism faded somewhat in the next inning when Giannone announced that the Bucs had scored another two runs as starting pitcher Bob Turley was removed for Bill Stafford. The young Stafford quickly gave way to little Bobby Shantz, a 5'6" righty who would silence the Pirate bats for much of the afternoon.
Sitting in the back of the classroom with a tiny earpiece hidden from Sister Saint Catherine, Frankie kept us informed of the game's big plays. When Moose Skowron led off the Yankees fifth with a home run, we all knew something good had happened even before Frankie could relay the news. The shouts coming from the other classrooms told us something good had happened. Skowron's solo homer closed the gap to 4-1 and we knew the Yankees would come back.
It was in the sixth inning, as Sister was drilling us on the multiplication tables, that the Yankees staged an heroic comeback. Second baseman Bobby Richardson began the comeback with a single. Shortstop Tony Kubek followed with a walk to bring up the mighty Roger Maris. The following season, Maris would erase Babe Ruth's record 60-home run season, but on this day in Pittsburgh, he lofted a lazy pop-up to third.
With one out, Mickey Mantle revived the Yankees' hopes with a single to right, scoring Richardson with New York's second run. With runners on the corners, Yogi Berra ripped a three-run homer to right field to give the Yanks a 5-4 lead. Cheers erupted throughout the school, except in Sister Saint Catherine's classroom.
Little Bobby Shantz continued to frustrate the Pirate hitters through the sixth inning. In the seventh, Shantz began to tire and the Bucs began to mount a rally before Shantz got Bill Mazeroski to hit into an inning-ending double play.
By the time the Yanks came up in the eighth, the school day was nearly over. As some of the boys were erasing the blackboard, the Yanks added two more runs on a walk to Berra, singles from Skowron and catcher Johnny Blanchard and a run-scoring double by Tony Kubek. The Pirates trailed 7-4 as they came to bat in the eighth.
As always, Sister Saint Catherine led her students in prayer as we waited for the school bell to ring dismissal. During the Hail Marys, the Pirates rallied.
Pinch hitter Gino Cimolli opened the eighth with a single. Next, Bob Virdon lined a hard shot to short. What should have been a double play ball took a bad hop at the last second and struck Kubek in the throat. Kubek had to leave the game and was replaced by Joe DeMaestri.
The next Pirate hitter, shortstop Dick Groat, singled to left to score Cimolli. Casey Stengel came out and replaced Shantz with Jim Coates. The Old Professer had Whitey Ford, the greatest World Series pitcher in history, warming up in the bullpen. But Ford had pitched a complete game shutout the day before, so Stengel went with Coates.
Coates was able to get Rocky Nelson to fly out to right for the second out. Clementa was coming up to bat as we gathered up our books to march out of school. Clemente hit a soft grounder to first that Skowron fielded, but Coates was slow getting over to cover the bag and Clemente beat out a single to drive in a run and keep the inning alive.
As we were walking down the stairs, Frankie removed the earphone so we could all hear the game. Just as he did, Hal Smith launched a Coates pitch into the stands for a three-run home run. The Pirates took an 8-7 lead, prompting one of our classmates to utter a word seldom heard in the hallowed halls of Saint Joan's.
Sister heard the offensive word as she was leading the class down the stairs. There in the stairwell, she brought our march to freedom to an immediate halt. We would leave, she told us, when the offender stepped forward to receive his just punishment. The seconds went by like hours as Sister stood down her terrified charges.
Stengel replaced Coates with Ralph Terry, who got the last out in the eighth. The standoff continued as the Yanks came to bat in the ninth, needing two runs to tie. Frankie hid the radio in his jacket pocket and tried to hear the play-by-play as Sister Saint Catherine lectured the class on the evils of curse words.
Finally, as Richardson opened with another single, Tommy Kern stepped up to take the fall. Tommy was always a stand-up guy, but never more than that late afternoon. Tommy was sent back to the classroom while the rest of us resumed our march up 82nd Street where we would be set free.
As we walked up the block, Dale Long hit a pinch hit single. Maris again popped out and Mantle followed with an RBI single. Yogi Berra hit a line shot to first that allowed the tying run to score as Mantle dove to avoid a tag that would have ended the game.
Sister Saint Catherine set us free as the top of the ninth came to an end. It was tied 9-9 in the ninth with the Pirates coming to bat.
It was at the corner of 82nd Street and 35th Ave. that I had to make a choice. I could stand with Frankie at the bus stop and listen to his pocket radio, or I could run to find the nearest TV set to see the end of the game.
I decided to make a run for it. I could have run the four blocks to my home, but the game could be over by the time I made it up to our third floor apartment. I decided instead to run down 82nd. Street to 37th Ave. I knew that Davega's appliance store on 81st Street would have the game on a set in the store window. I raced down 82nd Street, crowded with school kids and their mothers, shoppers and people coming and going to work.
I reached Davega's window just in time to see Ralph Terry's second pitch to Mazeroski. The second baseman swung, and lifted a high fly ball to left field. I watched in horror as Yogi Berra turned his back to home plate and watched as the ball cleared the fence. In that moment, it was over. The Pirates had won the World Series. I stood a moment frozen, unable to move, as the Pirates and their fans mobbed Mazeroski at home plate.
In that moment, my eight-year-old heart was broken. Summer had ended and with one swing of the bat, Bill Mazeroski had brought winter to New York City.
Fifty years later, I have not forgotten that moment, that home run that changed my eight-year-old world. But until last night, I'd never had the chance to see that game in its entirety.
On October 13, 1960, I was in the third grade at Saint Joan of Arc School in Jackson Heights, New York. I was in Sister Saint Catherine's class. Sister Saint Catherine was tough. She thought our education was somehow more important than the seventh game of the World Series. While kids in other classes were listening to Mel Allen broadcast the game, we were listening to Sister Saint Catherine explain the suffering of the martyred missionaries who'd come to America to win souls for Jesus.
We didn't have televisions in the classrooms at Saint Joan's. Some kids would sneak in a transistor radio to listen to the World Series back before baseball's biggest games were played in the dark. Frankie Giannone brought his Japanese pocket radio to class and he kept us all informed of the score while we pretended to be paying attention to Sister St. Catherine.
We'd only begun the afternoon lesson when Frankie informed us that the Pirates had taken a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by Rocky Nelson. The news didn't bother us. It was only the first inning. There would be plenty of time for a Yankee comeback, we thought.
Our early optimism faded somewhat in the next inning when Giannone announced that the Bucs had scored another two runs as starting pitcher Bob Turley was removed for Bill Stafford. The young Stafford quickly gave way to little Bobby Shantz, a 5'6" righty who would silence the Pirate bats for much of the afternoon.
Sitting in the back of the classroom with a tiny earpiece hidden from Sister Saint Catherine, Frankie kept us informed of the game's big plays. When Moose Skowron led off the Yankees fifth with a home run, we all knew something good had happened even before Frankie could relay the news. The shouts coming from the other classrooms told us something good had happened. Skowron's solo homer closed the gap to 4-1 and we knew the Yankees would come back.
It was in the sixth inning, as Sister was drilling us on the multiplication tables, that the Yankees staged an heroic comeback. Second baseman Bobby Richardson began the comeback with a single. Shortstop Tony Kubek followed with a walk to bring up the mighty Roger Maris. The following season, Maris would erase Babe Ruth's record 60-home run season, but on this day in Pittsburgh, he lofted a lazy pop-up to third.
With one out, Mickey Mantle revived the Yankees' hopes with a single to right, scoring Richardson with New York's second run. With runners on the corners, Yogi Berra ripped a three-run homer to right field to give the Yanks a 5-4 lead. Cheers erupted throughout the school, except in Sister Saint Catherine's classroom.
Little Bobby Shantz continued to frustrate the Pirate hitters through the sixth inning. In the seventh, Shantz began to tire and the Bucs began to mount a rally before Shantz got Bill Mazeroski to hit into an inning-ending double play.
By the time the Yanks came up in the eighth, the school day was nearly over. As some of the boys were erasing the blackboard, the Yanks added two more runs on a walk to Berra, singles from Skowron and catcher Johnny Blanchard and a run-scoring double by Tony Kubek. The Pirates trailed 7-4 as they came to bat in the eighth.
As always, Sister Saint Catherine led her students in prayer as we waited for the school bell to ring dismissal. During the Hail Marys, the Pirates rallied.
Pinch hitter Gino Cimolli opened the eighth with a single. Next, Bob Virdon lined a hard shot to short. What should have been a double play ball took a bad hop at the last second and struck Kubek in the throat. Kubek had to leave the game and was replaced by Joe DeMaestri.
The next Pirate hitter, shortstop Dick Groat, singled to left to score Cimolli. Casey Stengel came out and replaced Shantz with Jim Coates. The Old Professer had Whitey Ford, the greatest World Series pitcher in history, warming up in the bullpen. But Ford had pitched a complete game shutout the day before, so Stengel went with Coates.
Coates was able to get Rocky Nelson to fly out to right for the second out. Clementa was coming up to bat as we gathered up our books to march out of school. Clemente hit a soft grounder to first that Skowron fielded, but Coates was slow getting over to cover the bag and Clemente beat out a single to drive in a run and keep the inning alive.
As we were walking down the stairs, Frankie removed the earphone so we could all hear the game. Just as he did, Hal Smith launched a Coates pitch into the stands for a three-run home run. The Pirates took an 8-7 lead, prompting one of our classmates to utter a word seldom heard in the hallowed halls of Saint Joan's.
Sister heard the offensive word as she was leading the class down the stairs. There in the stairwell, she brought our march to freedom to an immediate halt. We would leave, she told us, when the offender stepped forward to receive his just punishment. The seconds went by like hours as Sister stood down her terrified charges.
Stengel replaced Coates with Ralph Terry, who got the last out in the eighth. The standoff continued as the Yanks came to bat in the ninth, needing two runs to tie. Frankie hid the radio in his jacket pocket and tried to hear the play-by-play as Sister Saint Catherine lectured the class on the evils of curse words.
Finally, as Richardson opened with another single, Tommy Kern stepped up to take the fall. Tommy was always a stand-up guy, but never more than that late afternoon. Tommy was sent back to the classroom while the rest of us resumed our march up 82nd Street where we would be set free.
As we walked up the block, Dale Long hit a pinch hit single. Maris again popped out and Mantle followed with an RBI single. Yogi Berra hit a line shot to first that allowed the tying run to score as Mantle dove to avoid a tag that would have ended the game.
Sister Saint Catherine set us free as the top of the ninth came to an end. It was tied 9-9 in the ninth with the Pirates coming to bat.
It was at the corner of 82nd Street and 35th Ave. that I had to make a choice. I could stand with Frankie at the bus stop and listen to his pocket radio, or I could run to find the nearest TV set to see the end of the game.
I decided to make a run for it. I could have run the four blocks to my home, but the game could be over by the time I made it up to our third floor apartment. I decided instead to run down 82nd. Street to 37th Ave. I knew that Davega's appliance store on 81st Street would have the game on a set in the store window. I raced down 82nd Street, crowded with school kids and their mothers, shoppers and people coming and going to work.
I reached Davega's window just in time to see Ralph Terry's second pitch to Mazeroski. The second baseman swung, and lifted a high fly ball to left field. I watched in horror as Yogi Berra turned his back to home plate and watched as the ball cleared the fence. In that moment, it was over. The Pirates had won the World Series. I stood a moment frozen, unable to move, as the Pirates and their fans mobbed Mazeroski at home plate.
In that moment, my eight-year-old heart was broken. Summer had ended and with one swing of the bat, Bill Mazeroski had brought winter to New York City.
Fifty years later, I have not forgotten that moment, that home run that changed my eight-year-old world. But until last night, I'd never had the chance to see that game in its entirety.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Poor Cannon Smith
Now those are three words that are seldom used together, but today I have to feel some sympathy for the son of the richest man in Memphis.
Cannon Smith is a student at the University of Memphis. He is a member of the Tiger football team and for a time was the starting quarterback. The son of Fed Ex founder Fred Smith would have been a big man on most any college campus, but at the University of Memphis, Daddy's company's name is over the school's shiny new building.
Apparently Cannon Smith went out with friends last night, got drunk, and landed in jail. College students get drunk and jailed every day. The overwhelming majority of these arrests never make the headlines. But if your name is Cannon Smith, there will be a dozen reporters and cameras waiting for you when you make bail. When this kid makes his walk of shame for the 5 pm news, he may wish he'd stayed safely tucked away in a cell.
On some level, I can justify the news media for reporting the arrest. But I really can't understand the breathless way Memphis media will jump on so many minor stories. If Cannon Smith was a pilot for Fed Ex, this would be a legitimate news story. But poor Cannon Smith isn't a pilot. He's the second-string quarterback on a very bad college football team. By this time tomorrow, thousands of people who had never heard of Cannon Smith will know that he was arrested.
Cannon Smith is a college kid and a jock. College kids and jocks tend to get drunk and obnoxious at times. This isn't news. If the media is going to report minor crimes such as public drunkeness, are there any minor violations that do not merit media attention?
Cannon Smith is a student at the University of Memphis. He is a member of the Tiger football team and for a time was the starting quarterback. The son of Fed Ex founder Fred Smith would have been a big man on most any college campus, but at the University of Memphis, Daddy's company's name is over the school's shiny new building.
Apparently Cannon Smith went out with friends last night, got drunk, and landed in jail. College students get drunk and jailed every day. The overwhelming majority of these arrests never make the headlines. But if your name is Cannon Smith, there will be a dozen reporters and cameras waiting for you when you make bail. When this kid makes his walk of shame for the 5 pm news, he may wish he'd stayed safely tucked away in a cell.
On some level, I can justify the news media for reporting the arrest. But I really can't understand the breathless way Memphis media will jump on so many minor stories. If Cannon Smith was a pilot for Fed Ex, this would be a legitimate news story. But poor Cannon Smith isn't a pilot. He's the second-string quarterback on a very bad college football team. By this time tomorrow, thousands of people who had never heard of Cannon Smith will know that he was arrested.
Cannon Smith is a college kid and a jock. College kids and jocks tend to get drunk and obnoxious at times. This isn't news. If the media is going to report minor crimes such as public drunkeness, are there any minor violations that do not merit media attention?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Crime & Punishment
Mark Madoff, the 46-year-old sone of Ponzi swindler Bernie Madoff, hung himself in his Manhattan apartment yesterday. The son hung himself from a dog leash wrapped around a beam in the apartment's living room while his two-year-old son slept in another room.
The son of the swindler killed himself on the second anniversary of his father's arrest for defrauding clients of millions of dollars. Bernie Madoff was arrested after Mark and his brother went to authorities with information regarding his father's Ponzi scheme.
Bernie Madoff ruined many wealthy families who entrusted their fortune to his care. Many of his former clients lost their entire fortune in the investment banker's scheme and several former clients killed themselves in the days after the Ponzi scheme was revealed. The father's scheme even took advantage of long-time friends.
Bernie Madoff was quickly tried and convicted of massive fraud and will likely spend his remaining days locked in a federal prison in North Carolina.
But today, with the death of his son, Bernie Madoff is finaly paying the price for his crime. He will sit in his prison cell knowing that his actions led to the death of his own son. In this case, the punishment fits the crime.
I was visiting Palm Beach in the days just after Madoff's arrest, when word of the lost millions started to come out. The fear in that wealthy community was palpable. Many of Madoff's biggest clients lived in the area, behind gated walls. But it was soon very clear that many of these wealthy families were facing ruin after trusting Madoff with their fortunes.
Although there were certainly tragic stories of ruined lives, I have trouble sympathizing with the victims of Madoff's scheme. After all, all such schemes depend upon the greed of the victims in order to succeed. Madoff was able to steal millions from wealthy investors by promising far greater returns that they could receive from other investments, returns that should have seemed impossible to wealthy, sophisticated investors.
Lawyers and accountants will spend decades attempting to record a small fraction of the funds Madoff abscounded. The court fights will go on long after Bernie Madoff is dead and gone.
The courts were able to seize much of what remained of Madoff's ill-gotten fortune. They auctioned off his property, his jewels and yacht in order to reimburse his victims. They put his in shackles and put him behind bars for the rest of his life. But the death of his own son is probably the worst punishment the swindler could have received, a penalty far beyond the power of the courts to impose. In the little time Bernie Madoff has left on earth, he will every day have to face his role in the destruction of his own son. I can't think of a more powerful punishment.
The son of the swindler killed himself on the second anniversary of his father's arrest for defrauding clients of millions of dollars. Bernie Madoff was arrested after Mark and his brother went to authorities with information regarding his father's Ponzi scheme.
Bernie Madoff ruined many wealthy families who entrusted their fortune to his care. Many of his former clients lost their entire fortune in the investment banker's scheme and several former clients killed themselves in the days after the Ponzi scheme was revealed. The father's scheme even took advantage of long-time friends.
Bernie Madoff was quickly tried and convicted of massive fraud and will likely spend his remaining days locked in a federal prison in North Carolina.
But today, with the death of his son, Bernie Madoff is finaly paying the price for his crime. He will sit in his prison cell knowing that his actions led to the death of his own son. In this case, the punishment fits the crime.
I was visiting Palm Beach in the days just after Madoff's arrest, when word of the lost millions started to come out. The fear in that wealthy community was palpable. Many of Madoff's biggest clients lived in the area, behind gated walls. But it was soon very clear that many of these wealthy families were facing ruin after trusting Madoff with their fortunes.
Although there were certainly tragic stories of ruined lives, I have trouble sympathizing with the victims of Madoff's scheme. After all, all such schemes depend upon the greed of the victims in order to succeed. Madoff was able to steal millions from wealthy investors by promising far greater returns that they could receive from other investments, returns that should have seemed impossible to wealthy, sophisticated investors.
Lawyers and accountants will spend decades attempting to record a small fraction of the funds Madoff abscounded. The court fights will go on long after Bernie Madoff is dead and gone.
The courts were able to seize much of what remained of Madoff's ill-gotten fortune. They auctioned off his property, his jewels and yacht in order to reimburse his victims. They put his in shackles and put him behind bars for the rest of his life. But the death of his own son is probably the worst punishment the swindler could have received, a penalty far beyond the power of the courts to impose. In the little time Bernie Madoff has left on earth, he will every day have to face his role in the destruction of his own son. I can't think of a more powerful punishment.
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