ASSAULT & BATTERY

Mitt Romney returned from a three-week spring break in 1965 to resume his studies as a high school senior at the prestigious Cranbrook School. Back on the handsome campus, studded with Tudor brick buildings and manicured fields, he spotted something he thought did not belong at a school where the boys wore ties and carried briefcases. John Lauber, a soft-spoken new student one year behind Romney, was perpetually teased for his nonconformity and presumed homosexuality. Now he was walking around the all-boys school with bleached-blond hair that draped over one eye, and Romney wasn’t having it.

“He can’t look like that. That’s wrong. Just look at him!" He said. 

 
So, I'm reading this article in the Washington Post about Willard's roommates recounting this incident that happened with him and this free spirit puff. Obviously an effeminate fellow student that didn't quite fit in. What is a well-to-do, self inflated bully like Mittens to do? Well, beat up on the guy of course.
 
The story just makes me reflect on my youth as well as the generations before and after me enduring those troubling High School and College years. Granted I went to SUNY Ulster so I never faced the drama of dorm life, but I can imagine what the underclassmen must go through elsewhere. It's a formative period in our lives. Fun and exciting, but also very scary.
 
By today's standards, the holding down and cutting someone's hair would be considered assault. Perhaps in the 60's on a campus like Cranbrook, it was probably expected. I don't know, I wasn't there. But fast forward to today. Now we are faced with the possible leadership of our country with a man who thought traumatizing an assumed homosexual classmate through public haircutting was no big deal. I suppose, anyone other than the fella on his back probably walked away without so much as a care. (OK, so I was wrong)
 
The point is, this blast from the past probably wouldn't have even come back to haunt Willard had it not been for the recent Same-Gender Marriage conversation occurring at every dinner table this week. Yes, Obama has finally admitted that everyone should be treated as equals. Don't you just hate this shit? Just when so many of us were getting used to living as second class citizens, the President throws us into some kind of "I'm worth living" sense of righteousness. Ugh. Now we have to contend with the mobilization of bigots across the nation spewing the same hysterical nonsense we've heard for decades. It's so tired.
 
Saddled with the task of weeding the grounds with my co-workers this afternoon, I mentioned how some of my friends feel we are educating and changing minds every year. I continued to tell them that no, they aren't changing, they are simply being replaced. It's a generational thing. People who harbor the darkest thoughts passed on from our parent's era are simply growing old and passing on. Those of us who feel all humans are simply people worthy of equal rights are replacing them both in the home and in position of influence. Simple.

 
So I see it as some kind of evolution too. Like the President and the general public opinion that's shifted toward equality for everyone. Who knew.
But for all you faithful out there, here's to another baby step toward a better America!

NEWS COMEDY NEWS COMEDY

ROBBIE WILLIAMS MEDLEY

FAIR HOUSING EXPO

FREE FAIR HOUSING EXPO SCHEDULED IN KINGSTON

Fair Housing Week Celebration

Mayor Shayne Gallo is pleased to announce that a Fair Housing Expo for all area residents will be held on Thursday, April 26 at the Midtown Neighborhood Center in Kingston, NY.  The event, which will feature a variety of family fun, educational activities and refreshments, will be held rain or shine from 2 pm – 6 pm at the Midtown Neighborhood Center at 467 Broadway in Kingston, according to event sponsor, Community Development Director Jen Fuentes, in partnership with Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO).

Current and prospective homeowners will learn about available housing restoration grants and about first time homebuyer programs as well as a number of initiatives to promote Fair Housing and enhance the quality of life in the City of Kingston.  Members of the Green Jobs, Green New York program will provide information to apply for free energy audits and contractor opportunities.  Consumer services and legal services will be covered, as will accessibility options for persons with disabilities. 

To celebrate Fair Housing Week, the event will host representatives from many City of Kingston departments and various non-profit service providers, including the Human Rights Commission, the Water Department, the City of Kingston Assessor’s office, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, U.C. Health Dept, Local Lenders, City of Kingston Police, Building and Safety, Public Works, Parks and Recreation Dept, and Real Estate Professionals.  Free refreshments will be provided throughout the afternoon, along with various family fun activities.

ASTEROID MINING

So, there's this group of super wealthy billionaires who have decided to join forces to realize what I guess has been a childhood dream. They want to mine asteroids for resources just like all those science fiction movies we grew up with. So, get ready because this group of billionaires and former NASA scientists will announce Planetary Resources Inc., the first asteroid mining company in history.
Ordinarily, I would just read about this with amusement and think "how 2050" but then the list of contributors strikes you as almost doable. Serious even.
Harnessing the resources of asteroids is not a crazy proposition and the return of investment could be amazing. So much that they are convinced they can "add trillions of dollars to the global GDP." More importantly, this may solve many of our material needs as resources on Earth keep dwindling fast.
 
What's important to know is that the world governments couldn't embark on this kind of investment. Not because they couldn't, but because the general public, especially here in the US are thinking regressively. There's no way people would trust government, when all anyone's witnessed is leadership helping those who contribute substantially to campaigns.
 
Which is why, the billionaires list kinda makes sense. These are people who no longer need government and haven't for quite some time. Some got there by bilking the system decades ago, but that's another matter. So the question is, is this a hobby? or is this doable?
 
There are no details yet, but if they are going to invest millions of dollars on it, you can be sure it is doable and it will be profitable. They don't have to travel to the asteroid belt to grab them. There are many passing near Earth that may be accessible. Will it happen any time before we feel the passing of peak oil? Exhaust our coal and gas? We'll see. Will our global resources be better managed during the time they perfect their project? Don't be silly. The corporatocracy will continue to plunder what's left for their own profits.
 
Be aware of the press on this in the weeks to come. There are some famous names associated with this and plenty of money to make it so.

WORKIN SO FAR...

HOPE FOR THE "OLD LACE"

Mayor Shayne Gallo supports a plan by an affordable-housing provider to turn a former Midtown factory building into a 55-unit apartment complex.

Gallo said the renovation project by Rural Ulster Preservation Co. would transform a vacant building, add to the city’s housing stock, serve to help revitalize Midtown, and provide an oasis for young artists and couples.

“It would improve the quality of life in that neighborhood and contribute to the revitalization of Midtown,” Gallo said. “We need to do anything we can to revitalize Midtown and the (project) goes a long way to that end.”

The above statement and quote are from the Daily Freeman, and let me say, I am thrilled to have started my day with such news. Anyone who knows recent Kingston history remembers a not-too-distant Common Council that worked hard to change the zoning around this abandoned mill.The idea was fostered by former Alderman Chris Gonyea of Ward 2 in his attempt to increase our urban housing stock. After much effort, he Artist Loft Mixed-Use Overlay was born and extended into this M-1 Zone. 
I'm glad to have worked with Chris and the rest of my former colleagues to help lay the opportunity for RUPCO and associates to make this huge investment in this neighborhood.

Another great point: Gallo stressed that the creation of housing at the former United States Lace Curtain Mill site would help Midtown businesses as well because people living in the facility would frequent neighborhood shops and restaurants.
  
The right Mayor at the right time.

XAVIER COGAT

THINK

JUST YOUR AVERAGE GUY

ZOMBIE ECONOMICS

YUMMY FAST FOOD

By now, you've heard of that Pink Slime stuff they've been mixing with your fast food burger meat for decades. The 2008 documentary called FOOD Inc. raised our awareness of some of the creative short cuts the meat industry has used to increase their profits. 
  

This Pink Slime is made from all the trimmings in the packaging plant that you'd never purchase on the shelf. I am so not going into those details any further.
The question is, even if it's all beef, how safe can it be when you have to shower the parts with ammonium hydroxide to kill the bacteria? In the instances where the potency of the chemical was reduced, the FDA discovered several batches of burger destined for school lunches to test positive for E. coli and Salmonella. So you're stuck with that ammonia smell.
 

But is pink slime really any worse than hot dogs, balogna or yellow nuggets of mystery poultry? Probably not. But it might be smart to ask more questions about this stuff too. Unlike your burger patty, many nuggets and hot dog cylinders are made with mechanically separated meat. Chicken, turkey and pork carcasses, already picked clean of presentable cuts, are pushed through filtering machinery under high pressure, removing every last scrap of tissue. The resulting fragments are used in chicken nuggets, turkey and pork sausage, and many other processed meats.

 

I haven't ingested anything from the fast food joints in years. I think Wendy's was the last time about three years ago. However, I have enjoyed the burgers at Five Guys, but then you can see the ground beef handled right in front of you and you can ask which farm the cow flesh came from. The potatoes too.

 

As for the rest of the processed food supply, some legal preservatives have been linked to cancer, and the World Cancer Research Fund has recommended that people avoid processed meats altogether. Just the fact that humans are starting to resemble the pigs, chickens and cows they consume at such an alarming rate, should be an indication that the growth hormone enhancers in the livestock is making it to our Happy Meal.

THEY'RE PICKIN ON MITTENS AGAIN

BONACIC OFFERS THE CASINO BILL

John Bonacic, pictured here with Mary Wawro of 

Saugerties, has offered a bill in the State Senate 

that would open New York State to casino gambling

without the Native American reservation restrictions.

It may be time we actually think about this. 

Way to go John!

Here is the Bill as posted: 

BILL NUMBER:S6734

TITLE OF BILL:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to subdivision 1 of section 9

of article 1 of the constitution, in relation to 

casino gambling in the state

PURPOSE:
Provides for the authorization of commercial casino 

gambling in New York State.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Article 1, Section 9 of the State Constitution would

be amended to allow no more than seven casinos as 

authorized and prescribed by the legislature.

EXISTING LAW:

Article 1, Section 9 of the State Constitution 

generally proscribes all gambling except for four 

exceptions. These four exceptions are: 

(1) pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing; 

(2) State lotteries; 

(3) bingo conducted by certain charitable, 

non-profit and religious organizations; and 

(4) games of chance conducted by these same 

charitable, non-profit, and religious organizations.

JUSTIFICATION:
Casino gaining has significant potential to be a 

major economic engine for New York State and the 

fact is that gaming already exists throughout the 

State but the State is unable to fully capitalize on
it. Native Americans have five casinos and there are 

nine racinos at the racetracks in New York State. 

In fact, New York State now has more than 29,000 

electronic gambling machines; More than Atlantic City

and more than any state in the Northeast or Midwest.

New York State is also surrounded by gambling. 

States & Canadian provinces just across the State's 

borders have legalized casino gambling and they are 

the beneficiaries of the tourism, revenue, and good 

jobs that could be in New York.

It is estimated that over $1 billion of economic 

activity can be generated from casino gaming. Passing 

a Constitutional amendment would allow New York to 

maximize opportunities. Limiting casino gambling to 

between three and eight facilities guarantees there 

will not be an excessive proliferation of casinos 

within New York State.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Over the past 40 yrs, numerous resolutions have been 

introduced to amend the Constitution in New York 

to authorize commercial casino gambling. 

None of these proposals have achieved the required
second passage by the legislature and have never 

been subject to a vote of the electorate. 

In 2011, Assembly Bill No.3293/Senate Bill No. 3326, 

Assembly Bill No. 3605/Senate Bill No. 3327, and 

Assembly Bill No. 6753 were introduced to authorize 

casino gambling. None of the bills were acted on.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
There are no immediate budget implications since the 

Constitutional amendment cannot go into effect until 

January 1, 2014. Future budget implications would 

depend on the enabling legislation that would 

accompany passage of the amendment.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Constitutional amendments require the passage of a 

concurrent resolution by two separately elected 

Legislatures and subsequent approval by the voters. 

As a result, the amendment could not take
effect until January 1, 2014.

CONGRATS RICKY

Congrats to Ricky Santorum on his primary wins in Alabama and Mississippi. The south may actually rise again. Who knows.
  
Will Newt get out and provide the path for Ricky to take Romney out at Tampa? Time will only tell.
Meanwhile, None of them are talking about GWBush, the two unnecessary wars, Medicaid Part D, Wall Street prospecting inflated gas prices and that the Stock market is way up & economy is turning around.  
C'mon fellas, get to these talking points. You'll be faced with it once either of you is the nominee.

WHATS THE BEEF?

I know what you're thinking... but last month McDonald's announced it would stop using the stuff. So now you're thinking the industry will avoid this stuff right?

But back in February, this pink amonia slime got a de facto endorsement from the USDA, which plans to keep buying millions of pounds of it for use in the National School Lunch Program. 

To find out the full story behind the return of pink slime, click here.

THE O'BAMAS ENJOYING GUINNESS

Last year, while in Dublin, the President and Michele hit a few pubs and enjoyed Guinness among other cocktails. Where do you think they will be this St. Patrick's Day?
More importantly, where will you be?

City of Kingston St Patrick's Day parade will be this Sunday. Rendezvous Lounge, among all the other pubs & restaurants in the city, will be open for the party. Please enjoy yourselves responsibly.

TAKE ME HOME

This sweetheart needs a home. She is in custody of the Kingston Dog Warden and is closing in on the last of her days. If you'd like a lovable addition to the family and make one worthy dog very happy, contact the City of Kingston dog warden in the City Clerk's office soon.

TERRY'S BIRTHDAY BASH

Happy Birthday Terry Bernardo! Tuesday night's party was held at the Hillside Manor in Kingston and attended by friends and fellow politicos from across the county with a special appearance by State Senator John Bonacic. 

This is the camaraderie that I thought was long gone. People from all philosophies were mixin it up while eating birthday cake. The drinks didn't hurt either. 

GOP SANDBOX

 
Whether it's a Democratic, Republican or Independence primary, Closed is the only way to insure that the members of THAT party influence the outcome, thus deciding who best represents the whole.
 
Democrats across the country argued this point through the 2008 season as the primary season tanked along. Where it was an "open" primary, outside influence was noticeable. Here comes 2012.
 
Democrats have decided to play in the Republican sandbox. Several states have open primaries so there is potential to have fun with their results like they did four years ago. Unfortunately, like a sand box, there are usually things in the sand not many of us would want to bring home. Enjoy.