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Archive for October, 2005

This is the Worst Case of Phishing I’ve Ever Seen

Posted in Web/Tech on October 31, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

Good Gawd. 
eBay Verification Request – ID CODE: 00915731

It has come to our attention that your eBay billing information are out of date. This require you to update billing information as soon as possible. This billing update is also a new eBay security statement which goes according to the established norms on the User Agreement to reduce the instance of fraud on our website.

Please update your records on or before Nov 5, 2005. A failure to update your records may result on a suspension of your account.

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Maureen Dowd Revealing Why She is a Spinster

Posted in NY Times on October 31, 2005 | 3 Comments »

This article in the NY Times Magazine by Maureen Dowd laments that, among other things, modern girls forsake hardcore feminism because they are more interested in actually having a relationship. She also beats the old tired drum that men would rather have Mummy than a successful career woman like, say, Maureen Dowd.

John Schwartz of The New York Times made the trend official in 2004 when he reported: "Men would rather marry their secretaries than their bosses, and evolution may be to blame." A study by psychology researchers at the University of Michigan, using college undergraduates, suggested that men going for long-term relationships would rather marry women in subordinate jobs than women who are supervisors. Men think that women with important jobs are more likely to cheat on them. There it is, right in the DNA: women get penalized by insecure men for being too independent.

"The hypothesis," Dr. Stephanie Brown, the lead author of the study, theorized, "is that there are evolutionary pressures on males to take steps to minimize the risk of raising offspring that are not their own." Women, by contrast, did not show a marked difference between their attraction to men who might work above them and their attraction to men who might work below them.

So was the feminist movement some sort of cruel hoax? Do women get less desirable as they get more successful?

After I first wrote on this subject, a Times reader named Ray Lewis e-mailed me. While we had assumed that making ourselves more professionally accomplished would make us more fascinating, it turned out, as Lewis put it, that smart women were "draining at times."

Or as Bill Maher more crudely but usefully summed it up to Craig Ferguson on the "Late Late Show" on CBS: "Women get in relationships because they want somebody to talk to. Men want women to shut up."

Women moving up still strive to marry up. Men moving up still tend to marry down. The two sexes’ going in opposite directions has led to an epidemic of professional women missing out on husbands and kids.

The whole thing is pretty elitist stuff, actually. Between the lines of the whole article is a lament that she never found a husband. Dowd doesn’t get it. She never got it. She never will get it. That’s why, even though she’s attractive, successful and connected, she’s never been able to find a guy willing to put up with her.

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What He Said

Posted in Web/Tech on October 30, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

Please send this link to the person who forwards you every stupid thing (chain letter, internet rumor, scam, quiz, and other garbage) that passes their inbox.

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Autumn in the Hudson Valley

Posted in ME!, Real Estate on October 29, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

I have a beautiful listing in Putnam County, about 30 miles north of the Bronx. It is a stone tudor set on 5 acres and the autumn scenery is beautiful. Here are some photos of the grounds I took this past week. Incidentally, if you or someone you know is looking for a 2850+ square foot 4 bedroom 3.5 bath home on private acreage north of the City for $874,900, email me.
Side_foliage_mh_1
Side_wide_mh_1 Looking_out_mh Front_afar_mh

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One Degree of Separation

Posted in Current Affairs, ME!, Politics on October 29, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

My brother played Rugby with Leakgate prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. Nothing but good things to say about the guy. Bill Reilly referred to him last night positively as well (although not as glowingly as Tom) as not being an ideological nut. You can’t expect Reilly to say more, not having played rugby with him.

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This Halloween My Costume Will Be…

Posted in Politics on October 28, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

Halloween05_1

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Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are!

Posted in Arts and Culture on October 28, 2005 | 6 Comments »

Yesterday it was WNBA star  Sheryl Swoopes, and today I read over at A Stitch in Haste that George Takei (Mr. Sulu of Star Trek fame) has come out.
Hats off to both for their guts. I wonder at what point that these notables coming out will reach critical mass and we can get past the charade that there are no gays in pro sports and that there are only a handful in entertainment, business and politics. Then we can have honest dialog, and all the holier than thous (who unfortunately, are mostly on the right side of the political fence) will be forced to reconcile their views with the fact that they have a gay cousin, sibling, or coworker.
I know. You have nothing against them but you don’t want them shoving their sexuality down your throat 24/7. OK, there are annoying gay people. Just like there are annoying straight people. People condemn what they don’t understand. Sound familiar?

Afterhtought: If Gene Roddenberry were alive and creating Star Trek today (as opposed to 1966) what characters would he create to forecast 23rd century diversity?

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Jim Runsdorf

Posted in Current Affairs, Sports on October 27, 2005 | 2 Comments »

Readers outside of New York may not have heard of the tragic collision between a 4 man rowing crew and a motor boat which appears to have claimed the life of the bow rower, Jim Runsdorf. He is missing and presumed dead.

The media continue to screw up the rowing terminologies, but the bottom line is that there is no coxswain in the particular type of crew that Runsdorf and his mates were in, and without a cox navigating, the chance for tragedy was magnified. Most sweep style fours (not sculling, as the media continue to erroneously say. Scullers have two oars. Runsdorf’s crew had one oar per man, hence the sweep term) have a coxswain. I was the coxswain for the Villanova varsity four my sophomore and junior years, and my brother coxed at Cornell, as I have blogged previously.

Given the diverse boat traffic on the Harlem River, I am surprised that something like this hasn’t happened sooner. Most rivers and lakes where rowing is prevalent have severe restrictions on the types of motor boats on the course. The Schuylkill in Philadelphia where I was is perhaps the mecca of American rowing on the east coast and the home of the famed Boathouse Row. Only small coaches skiffs were allowed. Similar restrictions are on the upper Charles River in Boston, Carnegie Lake in Princeton, Lake Cayuga inlet in Ithaca, and most other popular rowing courses. The Harlem on the other hand had monstrous boats allowed- right up to the Circle Line, whose boats throw off relatively huge wakes.

And so Jim Runsdorf was happily enjoying his workout, rowing at the bow as the navigation eyes of his boat. The 29 foot motor boat did not see them, and the boats collided. And we have lost a man who, by all accounts, was a good guy. He was in real estate and was married with two daughters. This is a tragic loss, and questions must now be raised as to how the waters of the Harlem river will be governed so that this never happens again.

         A coxless four similar to the one hit. See any 29 foot motor boats here?

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Mr Veeck Must Be Smiling

Posted in Sports on October 27, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

True fans of the Great Game know that the poster child for frustration at the mediocrity of the Chicago White Sox through the years was former team owner Bill Veeck. Ever the  master of promotions (he virtually perfected giveaways (bat night, cap day)) as a way of bolstering attendance for his struggling teams, he was beloved by the fans.

Bill Veeck

Wherever he is now, Mr. Veeck must be smiling now that his White Sox have finally won the championship that eluded them since 1917.

Congratulations to all White Sox fans. Today you play second fiddle to no one.

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You Heard it Here First

Posted in Real Estate on October 25, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

The real estate market is slowing down. Is the bubble bursting? No. Higher end properties are moving slower, and we are going into the holidays, when the annual cycle is at it’s lowest ebb.
Come in off the ledge. I said slowing down, not collapsing.

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The World Series

Posted in Sports on October 23, 2005 | 1 Comment »

If martians read this blog they’d assume I don’t care for sports. Well, for all you martians, I love sports. I am a big Yankee fan, and count among my other allegiances the NY football Giants, NY Rangers, NY Knickerbockers, and Villanova University Wildcats. I was in the stands in October 2004 and witnessed firsthand the abomination of seeing the Red Sox celebrate their first pennant since 1986 at the Yankees expense, making the first comeback from a three -games- to-zero deficit in the history of the Game.
That sucked.
Anyway, It was just as well that the Yanks didn’t get past the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (why can’t they just go back to being the California Angels?), because I used to spend every post season on the phone with brother Paul, and I’d hate the prospect of another possible 14 games wishing I could call him more than I do now.
So we have the Chicago White Sox in their first Fall Classic since 1959 and the Houston Astros there for their maiden voyage. Last night’s game was terrific, with the Sox holding on for a 5-3 win and making it a best-of-six series at best for the ‘Stros. Here’s what I can’t get past- the number of ex-Yankees on both teams. Houston has Andy Pettitte, whom they let get away after the 2003 season, and Roger Clemens. That was 40% of the starting rotation in 2003, the last year the Yanks made the series. Chicago has Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Jose Contraras, two other ex Yankee pitchers who made big contributions to pennant winners (and in Hernandez’s case, World Series winners). There may be others, but the point is that the New York teams that won did it with pitching, and current teams have not had the kind of staff they had when they were winning it all. Last year’s Yankees had no starter with more than 14 wins. This team had one guy with more than 13.
In a short series that will kill you.
Hdr_od_87x80_nyy

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Jeff Fisher?

Posted in Politics on October 23, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

Some might recall this article, which was widely circulated after the 2004 presidential election in which a Florida congressional candidate claimed to have evidence that the election was stolen.

When I spoke with Jeff Fisher this morning (Saturday, November 06, 2004), the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida’s 16th District said he was waiting for the FBI to show up. Fisher has evidence, he says, not only that the Florida election was hacked, but of who hacked it and how. And not just this year, he said, but that these same people had previously hacked the Democratic primary race in 2002 so that Jeb Bush would not have to run against Janet Reno, who presented a real threat to Jeb, but instead against Bill McBride, who Jeb beat.

"It was practice for a national effort," Fisher told me.

And some believe evidence is accumulating that the national effort happened on November 2, 2004.

Well? Where’s the proof? My first-ever blog posting addressed the sour grapes concerns by some that those in power rigged the election.  It’s been a year. Where’s the smoking gun? Where’s Jeff Fisher?

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I Can Relate

Posted in Humor on October 22, 2005 | Leave a Comment »

A sign in the Bank Lobby reads: "Please note that this Bank is
installing new Drive-through teller machines enabling customers to
withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this  new
facility are
requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their
accounts.

After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE procedures have
been developed.  Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender."

MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off.

***********************************************************

FEMALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the
machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate
card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive
distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Re-insert card the right way.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the
inside  back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of
checkbook.
18. Re-check makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot
provided.
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Redial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
27. Release Parking Brake.

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Buzz

Posted in ME! on October 22, 2005 | 3 Comments »

I cannot determine the exact reason; it could be the recent death of my brother, or the complete loss of hair of my other brother due to his chemotherapy. It could be a combination, I do not know. But I did get a crew cut today. Maybe I’ll post a picture of it. That photo of my dog is getting a little tired anyway.
Here’s an awesome dog picture:
Hot_dog

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Noam Chomsky: Capitalist

Posted in Rectal Cavities on October 21, 2005 | 1 Comment »

Ironic. Tech Central ran this article on noted anti-capitalist Noam Chomsky’s business practices, his substantial holdings and the lengths he has gone to set up his estate. Just like any other millionaire.

Chomsky, for all of his moral dudgeon against American corporations, finds that they make a pretty good investment. When he made investment decisions for his retirement plan at MIT, he chose not to go with a money market fund, or even a government bond fund. Instead, he threw the money into blue chips and invested in the TIAA-CREF stock fund. A look at the stock fund portfolio quickly reveals that it invests in all sorts of businesses that Chomsky says he finds abhorrent: oil companies, military contractors, pharmaceuticals, you name it.

When I asked Chomsky about his investment portfolio he reverted to a "what else can I do" defense: "Should I live in a cabin in

Montana

?" he asked. It was a clever rhetorical dodge. Chomsky was declaring that there is simply no way to avoid getting involved in the stock market short of complete withdrawal from the capitalist system. He certainly knows better. There are many alternative funds these days that allow you to invest your money in "green" or "socially responsible" enterprises. They just don’t yield the maximum available return.

Check out the hole thing and you’ll see (if you don’t know it already) what a flaming hypocrite the man is.

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