Too close to home

Again, more JCCs have been targeted.  However, this time, there was a little more of a media response.  Another JCC in NJ and many others across the US received another round of bomb threats...this time, not just to JCCs, but also to Jewish Nursery Schools.  Where before it could be rationalized that the perpetrators weren't aware that many JCCs have an early childhood program, this time they specifically targeted children.

The map looks ridiculous.  Check out this one maintained by submitters to Huffington Post (note: this isn't news, just a well informed blog entry).  Look past the spelling errors to see that this group of writers seems committed to update this map as these threats against Jews goes unchallenged.  

Again, and my thoughts are my own, I believe that there are no more anti-semites than there were before Trump took office.  However, I believe that a group who tended to keep their prejudices to themselves has been emboldened by the bully tactics of our sitting president.  It was very clear, and I've said this before, that if you disagreed with the then President Elect's point of view, your freedoms should be taken away as you are escorted from his majesty's presence.

I know, maybe being the opposing view at a rally meant to support the Presidents xenophobic view of the world, isn't the smartest way to approach the opposition.  In many cases, I don't know how you stop stupid people with fingers in their ears and hands over their eyes.  Any teacher will tell you that if the student is unwilling to learn, then the lesson is pointless.

Fast forward to this morning, as a friend was running in the South Mountain Reservation, in the heart of NJ, and with a large percentage of non-whites and non-Christians alike came across the following scene:

She writes on her post on FaceBook: "Today's run did not end with a smile. It ended with a few tears. This bridge is within south mountain reservation crossing over south orange avenue. This is not right. This is beyond stupid kids. These kind of feelings come from the home. This is not acceptable. The sheriff is well aware of this and all I know is they are photographing it and painting it."

It's spreading.

How do we combat this ignorance?  Furthermore, why is this happening in New Jersey, which has the second most Jews per capita in the nation according to the Jewish Virtual Library based on 2015 census data?  If we're failing here, then does that mean there's no chance for Kansas City, Boulder, and Salt Lake City?

What did I do?  I called Senator Booker's office.  I called Menendez, and I called my representative Bonnie Watson-Coleman and I said to each of them, enough is enough.  We as a minority in State and Nation are being targeted with terror.  History shows that we have consistently been marginalized from the Crusades to the Holocaust, and now here, in the "Land of the Free."    Again, ask Muslims and Blacks how they feel now that the Cheeto-in-Chief is in power.  We are all in this together.  We need to continue to rally against ignorance in the hope that we can go on with our lives.  We need to see law enforcement is doing something about this.  Call your legislators.  If they're doing something, praise them.  If not, ask them why.  This needs to stop now, and only with our voices together can we dissolve the ignorance and truly live freely again.

An unpopular position: DAPL

I have a feeling that this is going to be a fairly unpopular position.  However, I believe I’ve done my homework, so here it is.  The US Government is not wrong for continuing or allowing the development of the Dakota Access Pipe Line (DAPL).  Here are the facts (via Wikipedia):

Under Obama, Energy Transfer Partners and several other energy companies, designed and vetted the 1,172-mile-long oil conduit in June of 2014.  The purpose was to improve transmission of oil between the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota and an oil-tank farm in Patoka, Illinois.  It should be noted that, currently, oil from the Bakken fields is being moved by freight train.  As with any major development, the project required significant Federal approvals by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) due to the sensitivities of winding lengths of pipe that crossed major environmental and cultural features.  At the expense of the designers, these routes were re-tooled in order to minimize impact.  In fact, the routing is nearly identical to right-of-way of an already-developed gas main.  This was intentional so as to minimize impact even further.  And, the Washington Times has reported that the project is 89% complete. 

Before I go further, let me qualify my opinion.  I firmly believe that money spent on the physical development of the pipe could have been better used to research far more sustainable energy solutions.  The projected cost was at $3.78 Billion.  The total hasn’t been realized yet due to a political halt to the project, and then reinstatement.  However, Energy Transfer Partners has assumed the additional cost of the delay (at an amount projected as “millions of dollars”) as the USACE scrambled, under Obama, to force the company into an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for a lake crossing.  Then, when the company appealed to delay the EIS process, they were denied, again, through pressure from #44POTUS.  

This is what stinks most about this pipeline.  I’ve read the original Environmental Assessment (EA) which is the precursor for a full-out EIS.  When an EA is written, the process is to find out what the most direct path is.  If there’s a finding of no-significant-impact, then the project moves forward.  In the case of DAPL, most direct did not equal best.  There were direct impacts to Bismark as well as Native American reservations (i.e. cultural impacts) along with a slew of environmentally sensitive lands.  So, they figured out a way around all of those, minimizing direct impacts.  Typically, if there is an impact that is significant and unavoidable, then it moves to a full EIS which is a far more comprehensive environmental study to ensure that construction absolutely minimizes impacts.  Under Obama, the company successfully proved that there was no significant impact in the EA stage (achieving a FONSI: finding of no significant impact) and that includes lands held by indigenous peoples.

That’s right, it avoids direct impact of any reservation or Native American lands.  Why, then are so many tribal leaders upset with the alignment?  They’re upset due to the potential down-stream contamination IF it leaks along the Missouri River crossing.  I understand the concern.  There have been many instances of pipeline breaches and plumes that travel greater distances thanks to the currents.  But, it’s not built to break.  And, it can be argued that there’s risk with any development of our energy system.  Just ask the people who live proximate to Indian Point, NY…an aging nuclear power plant with an expired operations license that is only 36-miles north of NYC.  There are risks, but it’s definitely in the business' best interest to prevent failure and minimize risk for both environmental and economic reasons.

What’s your point Herb?  My point is, originally, the EA was enough to demonstrate that it could work as designed.  All Obama did by directing the USACE and courts to lengthen the permitting process by requiring a full EIS for DAPL was to stall.  And, when he was able to stall the work, he gave credence to the protest and protesters.  He made them feel as if they were accomplishing something.  Yet, all the former President did was provide false hope.  The DAPL was going to move forward eventually.  There are pages and pages of previously approved documents which would have weighed against the politically motivated stoppage of work.  It would have cost both the taxpayers and the company millions in legal fees.  And, the exiting President had nothing to lose.  He was on his way out.  And, rather than look like he wasn’t addressing the issue, he put the protesters lives in the hands of the Cheeto-in-Chief.  My concern now is that Trump uses undue force to clear the camp…a camp made on USACE lands.  That’s right, the protests aren’t on the reservation or lands held by tribal leaders.  Instead, the camp is on land that they have no claim to. 


As concerned as I am for our energy policies, I believe that I am now more concerned for the people at that camp, emboldened by the political actions of a president in his final months in office, and who are now facing a man with far fewer scruples.  This president will merely order the camp cleared by any means necessary, regardless of the potential image issues that may come from it.  While it may seem unpopular, I would urge tribal leaders and their supporters and any who are concerned about sustainable energy solutions to leave those lands in peace.  It may be smarter to intentionally lose the battle so that you can fight the war another day.

I give up

No, this is not a post about the Cheeto-in-Chief.  It could be.  With such an innocuous heading, there's much to throw up your hands about (or just throw up).  With a Senatorial Republican't majority, the sailing through of sub-par cabinet selections was to be expected.  Granted, it would go more speedily if the first choice for Labor Secretary didn't regularly employ illegal aliens, and the National Security Advisor didn't go mouthing off to the Russians before he was authorized to.  Yes, yes, leaks.  Frankly, if I were being accused of improprieties with Moscovian whores, the word "leak" is probably the last one I'd use.  (ed. Tee hee!)

Instead I'm talking about Mozilla: the one-time obvious choice for browser over IE and Safari where one could tailor it to one's specific needs. And, I thought it was building steam.  It had already developed a free and functional e-mail client that was sufficiently capable enough to remove the need for Outlook.  And, it experimented with a phone OS which fell flat against the major mobile players.  You can still download it...if you have an Android phone, and then it acts as a "skin" over your typical Android look.

Finally, while a Firefox app exists for iOS and Android, there's no real marketing push.  It's bare-bones.  It can do the job, but iOS devices already come with web browsers aplenty.  Plus, as browsers go, Firefox no longer reign's supreme as the "only" customizable alternative to IE, edge and Safari.  I believe that the champ for that is now Google's Chrome.  In fact, as of the end of last month (January, 2017), NetMarketShare reported that Google Chrome is easily the #1 Desktop Browser with over 57% of the market.  Where's Firefox?  Mozilla clocks in at over 11, while IE (despite the release of Edge) clocks in at nearly 20%.

Call me a follower, but that's where I'm heading.  I'm taking all of my RSS feeds and loading them into feedly.com.  As I already use G-Mail, my contacts, Google Drive, and e-mail accounts are already integrated...including this blog. Don't get me wrong, Mozilla has publicly declared that they're refocusing on the Firefox browser and improved browsing privacy.  That beats Chrome with a stick as the life-blood of Chrome and the Google business model is to sneak keywords you use and sell them to advertisers.  Still, more and more applications and websites tailor themselves to Chrome as it's the largest, and if you want to maximize functionality, you have to go with the 800 lb. Gorilla in the room.  Maybe, one day, I'll return to Firefox...but until then, I give up.

A hodgepodge

Three things.

One - If you haven't been to www.newtradio.org or visited their Facebook page and "liked" it, do it. The format is Adult Alternative and most DJs provide a great mix of classic rock, rock and alternative.  Me?  I always start with the Grateful Dead, meander into classic rock, maybe touch on prog rock, return to Phish and Zappa and then find some cool cover to end on...all in a 2-hour spot: Wednesdays, 5pm-7pm.  Do check it out on your drive home if you're on the East Coast, and/or have it playing in your office on the West.

Two - I'm not even sure if it's real, but, if you're a liberal or even a conservative who is sick of the bombastic tones from this president (note the little 'p'...I'm sure he does!  POW!) then the twitter feed of Rogue POTUS Staff is a fun read.  They make claims about the daily goings on in the White House and are specific enough (or creative enough) to make you think it's really happening.  I especially like the tweet from this morning which states:

"POTUS irritated that sev. members of Patriots team will not attend WH visit. Saying he will lobby owner to cut them from the team."

Now, I would argue that even the president is aware that the NFL is a business...and that the random cutting of personnel that may harm your bottom line is probably a poor way to manage your business.

Three - While the above was meant to be entertaining, the following is political advice.  Do you want change?  Do you have federal representatives already voting the way you would have them?  Then, it's time to turn your focus to your state representation.  Work on them to vote the way you'd like.  If they vote the way you would, then get local.  There is no shortage of people who are in the position of representing your interests.  Don't know who that is?  Check out this finder for the State of NJ.  I'm sure other states have similar utilities.

That's it.  3 things: Listen to me on the "radio," have a laugh, and restore power to the people.  Have a great weekend.

Compassionate Plea

For better or for worse, Sara's 2-year anniversary of her accident passed; better because she is; worse that I'm very frequently reminded of that uncertain time.

My posts about her condition were intended to be optimistic...mostly for selfish reasons.  I wanted people to not constantly ask me about how her recovery was going.  At first, it didn't appear that it was as her status didn't change much day to day.  Eventually, she did make an almost full recovery, and so, without getting back into the weeds of what needed to happen to have her the way she is today, let's just say that it worked.

That said, the reason I'm even writing about this is because of FaceBook.  The easiest way to communicate with friends, family and the community that was quickly rallying around her was by posting to FB.  It had some very positive and unintended consequences.  For one, my family was able to live on one salary uninterrupted.  My friends went to the grocery store for me and bought me groceries.  My kids were shuttled wherever they needed to be without question.  And, the comments and support I received was unified and loving and sensitive from everyone.

My selfishness is kicking in again.  All of the above happened regardless of religion or political belief in the name of humanitarian kindness for someone they knew or knew through me/family/friends/her work.   It was powerful and it was constant until she was able to finally return to home for her new lease on life. 

We need this now.

I know that it is far easier to care about someone you know, even if it's on the periphery, but that overwhelming support for me, should translate even more for those in war-torn countries?  No?  Or our student body in public schools?  Or for anybody who has family here from another country...or came from another country?

I understand the desire to "turtle:" bringing in your head, arms and legs into the shell so that you can protect yourself.  However, there is a delicate balance between liberty and security.  And this is not new:

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin

"[L]iberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others." John Locke

It is a question as old as our democracy.  Personally, I believe that we should sacrifice the perceived safety garnered by closing our borders to specific ethnicities and countries.  There are good people everywhere...people who are suffering...people who just want better lives.  The Statue of Liberty's inscription doesn't say "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!...except for those from Yemen or Syria or Mexico."  We were supposed to be a haven for the oppressed, a genuine melting pot of culture where, as long as you're not negatively impacting those around you, you're free to practice what you like. 

For those still impacted by the recession, I understand the allure of an administration claiming to make your lives better financially.  However, to what end?  The money we save by cutting "red-tape" on the environment will have to be spent on increased international pricing due to our more strict import tariffs.   Illegal immigrants are the grease that allows this country to move...including the one who hit Sara in her accident.  While it seems counter-intuitive, I understand that illegal immigrants are how I get my groceries delivered, how my dishes are washed at a restaurant, how my yard is landscaped, how my construction projects are completed on time and at a competitive price.  Once those people are removed from the equation, a part of our functioning society will go with it...one that's absolutely necessary as more and more "Americans" seek white-collar work.

I know I probably will not change the minds of anyone with this post, but, before you get into your next FaceBook argument or you start de-friending everyone with an opposing view, try to think about all the issues with a lens on humanity and compassion, much like you showed me.