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The Rolls Royce
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Jun 9, 2006 11:07 am
2740 Views
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The Rolls in my family is a 1955 Silver Dawn, It is black with a soft elegant brown leather interior. We do not use it too much but it runs well and has few problems. A Rolls is one of the great works of art particularly the old ones, at least I think so.
My swimming pool man Dante lives in Tucson an hour away. He hates coming to Nogales and charges me accordingly. There are two closer pool service companies that are closer but basically they are clueless. I found Dante when I bought the house here it has a large in ground pool twenty meters long. There is a diving board, These are rare nowadays due to the insurance costs. Still I like to dive in. I am not a stick my toe in kind of a guy. The pool has an attached Jacuzzi Spa, eight can comfortably fit in the Spa.It is alot of fun
having a pool particularly in this warm to hot climate. I use the Spa in the Winter but not the pool. A big pool is pricey to heat.
Dante does not come regularly, only when a problem arises. He added another blower to the Spa for me on his last visit as I like alot of bubbles.The time before that he came to do some maintenance and as I needed a new vacuum, I asked him to recommend one. Dante has six locations in Tucson and so he operates a retail outlet as well as his booming pool service business. He ran through the various makes and models of pool vacuums and at last came to the " Rolls Royce" of pool vacuums. The Mac Daddy. it was the most expensive of course but according to him made like a fine machine and well worth it. OK, so I bought this " Rolls Royce".
I used the " Rolls Royce" and sure enough it made the chore of vacuuming a one pass chore where others needed 2 or 3 passes. I was happy. It worked fine for the first ten times vacuuming. Then it broke. I called Dante not too happy but understanding that even a real Rolls Royce sometimes is not up to snuff. Rather than suggest he replace it I was surprised he asked for a description of the problem , this of course I provided. It seemed according to him that a connecting bolt has severed. I could not find the bolt or the hole. I took the head off of the " Rolls Royce" and sent it to him. I did not hear from him until I called a week later. My pool was filthy.
He said that yes it was the bolt and I asked him to reattach it and send it back promptly. He told me that I would have to pay for the postage. Now, I asked it this why you have not sent it back? Was this my fault the bolt severed? Was this a " Rolls Royce" without a guarantee? He did not budge from his position. Here is a supposed businessman who is successful in Tucson, who I have spent about
1500.00 USD with over 18 months, paid his bills without complaint and timely, holding me up for a 10 cent ( .1 USD) bolt and postage of about 5.00 USD. It really irked me that he did not even call me and say, " Hey Spencer, give me your credit card number". Well, I finally convinced him to just bill me and send it he said he would but that he could not do this until the following Saturday. It was a Monday. So I bit hard on my lip and said OK. Today the mail has come and it is the following Friday six days from the Saturday he was supposed to send my part. Perhaps the camel he sent it on has broken a leg?
Now, my lip has a tooth sized hole in it and I am still waiting. This is a true story and is yet another example of what is wrong with my country and the people in it. My advise to any enterprising Latins with a desire to move to a warm climate and start a business is this. Look at Tucson, think about a pool service company, let me know if you need backing. But remember this is a daisy chain and a typical, uniquely American story. The Rolls Royce? It is
made in England.
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I'm a Girl Watcher
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Jun 9, 2006 11:00 am
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Sure I have a PHD in Fine Art, I love to look at all kinds of art, a beautiful painting, I can look at for hours, the lines of a sculpture, it's patina, sometimes makes the back of my neck tingle. A carpet fragment can intrigue me, or a piece of architecture can leave my mouth agape. Sometimes it is a piece of furniture or a finely
crafted weapon, it all depends. I do find beauty in unusual places and not always when I plan to.
I can spend days in a museum, my friends like me to take them for an educational tour. This is fun but honestly, I think I prefer it on my own. I do not feel the need to share my tastes and why the perspective of a painting does not appeal to me. When one is instructing one has to look at the negatives. Negatives when I am alone, I can overlook, and see the positives. I have a home in Havana, Cuba for instance, Havana is a dilapidated city. It is one of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere. Havana had street lights and a museum 80 years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in the U.S. It is a place stuck in time. It has a huge concentration of 1950 American cars, more Cadillac's were bought in Havana than any other city in the world in 1959. 1959 Brought Fidel Castro and Che Guevara sweeping out of the mountains to unseat the puppet President of the U.S., Batista was his name. Havana is poor it used to be rich and very elegant, but 45 years of socialism is hard on an economy.Doctors make about 50.00 USD a MONTH.
The thing that is great about Havana is exploring the city. There are these huge pads and great old architecture. Yep, it needs paint and is falling apart but there is still some fantastic examples of old world craftsmanship. It can be a stained glass window or a colonial railing that is hand wrought, or a fresco, cupola, one of the abundant mesquite wood doors, or a fine example of the Deco style. Havana was
the birthplace of Deco, not Miami Beach. Las Vegas is patterned after the Tropicana night Club in Havana, the woman are incredible at the Tropicana. This is what I mean about finding the positive in anything. This is certainly true with women. Sorry, I was sidetracked, this was a piece about girl watching.
Any city I love for the culture and the pace of life. Particularly, I like the fact that people get dressed up in a city. Everyone walks alot, women walk, this gives their calves a special definition, perhaps from the high heels, for me it is as beautiful as any sculpture seeing this definition of the calf. Women in the city have nice manicures to, I like looking at ladies hands. Their haircuts are as varied as their dress. I like the shoes, their strut, the face,for me it is all great! In the middle of a cold Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, I love watching them. I can find a seat in a busy place or corner and my agape mouth catches flies just as it does in the museum. I can watch them in daylight or in the moonlight, I enjoy both. It is strange because I have decided I prefer to watch them clothed rather than at the beach partially clad in a swimsuit.
Just seeing how they move is a treat. I watch them in restaurants, at parties dancing, at the ballet, opera, symphony or theater. But really the street is my favorite place and either coming or going from work is my favorite time. Yes, I get caught looking, sometimes producing an ugly snarl. But it is a small price to pay for the privilege of my favorite entertainment.. Really I am not trying to " pick one up" I just like looking and admiring. Like in Havana or studying a painting, I find the best feature they have and focus on that. Let's face it women are God's gift to men, at least the heterosexual ones like me. I don't think I will ever tire of looking. When I am 85, I will be out there, doing the same thing gawking. Of course the married man should not gawk , just us bachelors.
I enjoy watching the gals in all shapes and sizes, young old it matters not to me. I really truly do like seeing a well kept lady of 75 bopping down the street, it puts a smile on my face. Women, I am not sure, like looking at each other. It is quite interesting to watch a seated woman watch another woman walk past her. They all have the same expression, it is amazing, this never changes, they look her up and down as she passes, from head to toe mind you. Their gaze does not linger, next the eyebrow raises slightly, the nose crinkles a bit,
the eyes roll, just a tad, and the head tilts back normally toward the right shoulder but not too much. If one listens closely we hear a sharp exhale. Now, if they happen to be with another woman, we see both of them so the exact same ritual, but just a hair more pronounced. I would not presume to guess what this means. Next time you are out, see if you don't notice this too. Just food for thought
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A US Border Solution
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Jun 6, 2006 2:42 am
2284 Views
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The current issue in America is homeland security and securing the borders.Additionally, the illegal aliens already inside the border is a significant problem. Revamping the current system is a thorn in the side of U.S. citizens and politicians. Estimates range from 10,000,000 to 25,000,000 illigal aliens are already within our borders. The majority are Mexicans. A fence is not a practical solution.
I favor a moat with a ditch. My Idea is to have a moat filled with some sort of obstacles such as razor wire and other goodies. This would prevent boats or swimmers from crossing. Beyond this moat, I would put a ditch with shear 30 ft. walls and razor wire on the bottom. Access to the new border would be from gates. The moat could run the entire length of the Mexican border. The President's pals at Haliburtan could build this for all I care. The border would be patrolled by drones. (the same that are used in Afganistan) A guard station every 2 miles along the border maned by a vehicle defined by the type of terrain. Rocky mountain? An ATV. Flat? A Jeep. Now there is about 2000 miles of border with Mexico. That is 1000 shacks. The moat would be accessible every 10 miles so in 200 places. Two border patrols per shack is 2000 agents x 3 shifts is 6000 agents. But before you all say how barbaric I am listen to the solution completely, please.
Legal immigrants main problem is the wait for their families. Sometimes it can take 20 years for a spouse or immediate family member to join the immigrant. This is barbaric in my mind. Can you imagine your wife or child never seeing your house? This needs to be streamlined to a 2 year maximum. But based on performance. If the immigrant can demonstrate to an immigration court, that he is a solid citizen, his immediate family get to come, but on probation for 3 years. If they get into problems all of them have to go, including the immigrant. Just like in law, where we are responsible for our minors, we are responsible for those we choose to bring in to the States.
The U.S. military needs boosting as recruitment is low, join the military for 4 years, one is rewarded with being on a fast track to citizenship. Want benefits like education or social security or welfare ? Immigrants and their families need to earn them. No green card ? No school for your children. No green card ? No welfare for your family or food stamps. No green card? No employment. Employers are severely fined if they are caught. Give a reward for the anonymous party that turns in an illegal and use the money from the penalty the employer is fined, to pay the reward. Not all of it because there will be administrative costs. but say a 500 to 1000 dollar fine for first offences escalating to higher fines for repeat offending companies. $ 200 would be a powerful incentive to turn in illegals.
Get serious about speaking English proficiently to enter the U.S. not just the immigrant. Members of his or her family will need to speak English conversationally, write decently, and read comprehensively. The English requirements now as they stand are a joke. Immigrants need only to speak a smattering of English. America always needs new citizens provided they have something to offer, and are not just looking for a free ride.
As for Canada, same thing but that is secondary. With this solution terrorists will have a tougher time entering and the Mexican problem is solved as well.
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He Asked " Hey What do You do?" I felt like saying" It is None of Your Business"
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Jun 6, 2006 2:35 am
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One of the things I measure a conversationalist by is how long it takes them to ask the question. you know the Q, the one almost everyone asks right off the bat, when meeting you. The one that tells us right away they are not a conversationalist. The rude one. The one that one is not supposed to ask at a social gathering. The one that mixes business with pleasure. Yeah that is it.... " So what do you do?"
"Well right now I am at this party trying to enjoy myself". "I am here to have a good time and be pleasurable." I am a businessman, I am serious about business. I do not want to feel compelled to be serious or discuss business at a social gathering. Why do people ask this? I am not at a party to network business. I am at the party because business hours are over for the day. Can't they find a zillion other topics to discuss?
Don't get me wrong, I love what "I do". So do other people. I avoid discussing my work so that others can be part of the conversation. Once, I start explaining, I become the conversation. About twenty years ago, I found a partial solution for this recurring problem.
The other thing I find annoying is people giving me their business card in a social setting, with the comment call me, or here is my number. " Hey do you have a card?" " Here is my card, may I have one of yours?". Sorry, but I do not want you calling me at the office for pleasure, I am working at my office not socializing. Am I being too harsh? Unreasonable? No, I don't think so.
The partial solution I found was in front of me all the time. I read Etiquette books. While some might find this odd, I find it entertaining, I like to know the correct forms. Whether it is responding to an invitation or knowing what fork I use at what time in a full dinner table setting. I read Vanderbilt and Post, books on manners, and decorum. I have a small collection of these books, about fifty. I have them from a hundred and fifty years ago to the present. Books on business etiquette and travel etiquette, weddings, yeah it is all there. Etiquette is mostly common sense, however there are certain forms that are accepted and one's that are not. Not everyone knows this but some do, and because it is important to them, I find it useful to me. For example how to address people in person or in writing. Titles like a Bishop are addressed differently than a Queen or a Congressman. The solution for me to the annying question I found many years ago, it was these things named " calling cards".
Calling cards are somewhat outdated like the spinster. Yet they have a very useful purpose in today's society. There is a whole convention that revolves around calling cards. What they are is a personal card. They are normally finely engraved, not embossed. One needs to find an engraver to make them. The Engraver then makes a engraving plate and prints from this. The stock for the card is heavy card stock. They are very handsome. My brother's said , Mr. Andrew Marshall King Yep that is it. Just the name. Now a few of the conventions with these wonderful cards are that they are used for various things. Never for business. If I want to send flowers to a hostess or to a lady I have affection for I enclose my card as it is.
However, if one hands you the card personally and it does not go through a third person, one draws a line through the Mr. This is because he would not say, " Hi, I am Mr. Andrew Marshall King" It is also very acceptable to write a small note on the card. This can of course include a telephone, or email or address.
When the obnoxious question comes up at a party, after I dance around it and am finally trapped into answering it, the second obnoxious question comes and I respond with the card. If the offender still does not " get it" I leave the card blank.
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Textbook Influences in Societies
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May 31, 2006 2:07 am
2175 Views
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Reading about the ongoing debate of the Saudi textbook saga has caused me to write this post. The situation from the Western perspective is that Saudi Arabia needs to change their textbooks. Saudi Arabia has been changing the textbooks the Saudi students read. However it is a slow process.
The textbooks are being targeted because of their outline a systematic theme of "hatred toward 'unbelievers,' " mainly Christians, Jews, Hindus and atheists, but also Shiites and other Muslims who do not ascribe to the country's orthodox Wahhabi teaching of Islam. (NYTimes).
First-grade student is taught that "Every religion other than Islam is false"; the teacher instructed to "Give examples of false religions, like Judaism, Christianity, paganism, etc." Fifth graders learn "It is forbidden for a Muslim to be a loyal friend to someone who does not believe in God and his prophet, or someone who fights the religion of Islam." NYTimes
Now the focus is Saudi Arabia but is this not a much more far reaching problem? Really it is not just the textbooks it is the teachers and the conservative fundamentalist elements. It is not just Saudi Arabia. These teachings are widespread and consistent all over the Islamic world. My opinion is this has reached epidemic proportions and has for the last 30 years.
But let us be fair, The United States own textbooks are not without lies. Until the last 20 years we were brought up on movies of the gallant cowboys against the evil Native American movies and TV shows. Or our policies with Israel make the U.S. an easy target in the Islamic world. Until the internet, many of the English speaking textbooks came from the United States spouting off our nationalistic, expansionist policies and beliefs.
Now with the internet and a more global balance of information the world see's the U.S's unfair expansionist policies throughout history. From the Dole pineapple land grab of Hawaii to the Spanish American war were in a short 42 days the US won Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, The Philippines etc, How we exterminated many Native Americans in the name of expansion, The banana republics of Central and South America. How we bankrupt small countries economies for the sake of squeezing an extra dollar. I think the sword cuts both ways.
This is one reason America is now hated rather than loved. Absolutely Islamic textbooks and teachers need to be reeducated. Absolutely the U,S. and other Western societies need to be also. Absolutely the other Islamic countries need to change textbooks and teachings. I have not even started on China and it's educational system, and that is the largest and one of the most aggressive of all. Europe has done a better job of revamping their cold war educational systems but still textbooks attitudes and teachers loyalties remain.
Without this, the world is doomed. Hatred will fester.Why is this hard to understand? The U.S is not exempt from this responsibility and neither is Pakistan or India. religious schools teach some very basic good things but a hell of alot of bad things that influence a child right through their formative years. Yes their formative years, Do we want our children's formative years filled with hate, lies and misconceptions? How deep rooted are these feelings? Dude, they are deep.
It is often said that youth is the hope of the future. What hope is there if 80% of the youth is brainwashed with hate, lies and misunderstandings? Even 10% is way way way too much. No sorry I am not terribly optimistic. But until the world changes into global thinking we are in big trouble.
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3 Great Friends, Please, Thank you and You're Welcome
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May 31, 2006 2:05 am
2313 Views
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Lately I have seen a real lack of common courtesy in our society. Perhaps it is just the U.S. A simple Thank you or Please can make all the difference in the world.
You're Welcome is another one that I hear less and less. I miss common courtesy. I think it shows etiquette and respect....
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The Heart and Love verses The Brain and Logic
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May 31, 2006 1:58 am
2260 Views
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There is nothing more powerful on this earth than Love, I mean romantic love. It can cause us to do the strangest things. It can take over all of our emotions and wash them away. It can make grown men cry like babies and turn women into giddy school girls. It can cause us to go against everything we have painstakingly learned. It can cause us to be happier than we ever thought possible. It is also perhaps the most difficult of our emotions to understand. More poems have been written about Love than any other single subject. More Blogs have been written about Love than any other subject. More Books have been written about Love than and other subject. More music has been written....Well you get the point..... Why is is that we just can't understand this basic emotion? The heart rules Love, it gives us Love and it takes it away. Love heals the heart and then breaks it. Yet it is what we all strive for. Everyone wants Love.
Logic is something that we develop. It is the sum total of what we have learned. It is reasoning, analyzing and weighing the value of situations both real and hypothetical circumstances. We input data, turn it into information, and then balance this information in our brains. The output is logic. From logic how we create, derive at, and base our conclusions. Logic is a key to our survival and self preservation. It saves us from doing dumb things, making wrong choices it makes us consider the consequences of our actions. It is a wise person's best friend and a fools biggest adversary. Logic rules the brain.
The problem often arises when logic meets love in our brains. It is strange that Love often wins this ongoing battle.Why do we disregard the warnings that logic tells us? Would one leave themselves naked in the Gobi without water? Perhaps, if they were searching for Love. Otherwise no. So powerful is this battle within our selves that some throw themselves off of buildings. Why is Love so powerful? What logic is there in embracing Love when logic tells us something is wrong? Something is dangerous. So we throw away all of what we have painstakingly built? It seems this is often the case. Love and Hope are great pals. The Hope that this Love will be different, perfect, and pure that it will survive all challenges. This is what every human dreams of. Most have to wait for the next life as time after time our love is proved to be less than we hoped for. Yet ,it sure does not stop us from trying again and again, pushing aside what logic tells us.
The question then becomes would we not be happier having less expectations? Living for the moment and not putting all of our eggs in one basket? Can Love and logic live together in peace and harmony? Well it can happen and does happen but very very rarely. So logic would say play the odds right? Wrong, we never do that because, Love when it is with it's pal Hope, makes a temptation we can never resist. Sure some can walk away but nary a soul walks away happy or unscathed. If we walk away early we are haunted by what might have been. If we walk away later we are bruised and battered. Yet within time we are faced with the same choice again. Logic fighting Love and Hope is always fighting a losing battle anyway we look at it.
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Ten Most common Lies on Amigos and a Bonus
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May 16, 2006 3:23 pm
2249 Views
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10) You invited me to your network? Gosh I never saw the invite!
9) Swear to God that's my picture
8 ) Sorry, I don't have IM ( or it's broken)
7) Send me your address and I will send you mine
6) I have so much mail I can't read it all
5) My cam is broken along with my IM voice
4) Sure, I can still type at 94
3) BRB
2) This is my only handle
Naturally.... The DRUM ROLL please.....
1) Cybersex? What's that?
The One Truth....Nope it's not a copy and paste
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"Spencer ,do you believe in God?"
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May 16, 2006 3:20 pm
2065 Views
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MY Sister on Indian Friend finder Indu asked me this question, here is my response, BTW I have the same handle there and there is a very lively blog comunity there in English.
I believe as the Hindu's and Christians do in a supreme being, a creator.All the science Big Bang theory still does not explain those two atoms that collided and their origin. So that is the short answer Indu.But I know this will not satisfy you...Cuz I know you LOL.
Religion I have written on before but a recap seems to be wanted.Let me start at the beginning. I was baptized Episcopalian as the Rector was a friend of the family. I attended Sunday school as a Congregationalist in my childhood.I had many friends and often would visit other churches starting at about 10- the present. In my teens my church merged with the United Church of Christ. This was probably where I started hating mergers. Unless one is a stockholder mergers are bad. Quality goes down, the local business suffers and independents get squeezed, most of all a sameness sets in and individuality ( see my blog) suffers.So I did not dig or like the concept of a joining of two similar but not equal faiths. I left the church and continued visiting other churches and began exploring aspects of all different types of spirituality. I educated myself.
Hailing a cab one day in Chicago on Michigan Avenue in the rain I reached the door as a priest did, I naturally said " Please Padre take this" He said "No No No" as we were both getting soaked. We shared it. He was first and lived nearby in the Cardinal's mansion with Cardinal George Bernadine. The Chicago Church is an important one in the Catholic system it is a large Archdiocese. Well I met the cardinal after a time and the three of us became fast pals. Cardinal, Monsignor and heathen. LOL quite an odd couple. I had some amazing discussions on a variety of subjects and met some icons of society and spiritualists in various forms until the Cardinal died 3 years later. I think the real reason for my invitations was the attractive newscaster I was dating at the time..LOL Now, she was smart, could do the NY Times crossword in HER HEAD, I just read her the clues. The Cardinal was replaced with another Cardinal George. Anyway I helped develop the Catholic Charities in Cuba and we did and do alot of good there.
I did not become a catholic. I continued my browsing of Christian churches.For me as some have pointed out...I like to dissect things. my philosophy of life (not just religion) is to constantly be searching for understanding and knowledge and if I find a better way, solution or understanding , I embrace it. Therefore, I am always changing and hopefully growing. I would not say I was anything organized, except spiritual. I enjoy the afro Cuban Santeria and I am enjoying the stories of Hinduism as well. Aspects of Buddhism intrigue me also. Really it all is interesting. I like history and stories, religion has alot of both. Concept are large and thought provoking. Much of creeds are repetitive, yet interesting with the different twist to the same story or concept or belief.
I do not believe in the confession or absolution of sins or the baby lives and the wife dies. So Catholicism is out for me. I prefer it my way. I do not need a set of guidelines to know right from wrong. I do give around 15% a year to charities, while most religions suggest 10%. I study the charities carefully and try to take an active role when I can.
There are many problems created from religion (see my Blogs) .. Many wars have been caused by religion and the blind service of some of the drones that follow it. Interpretation is varied and inconsistent. I mean who can say that the translator of the bible was a good one? Why can a Mullah issue a fatwa and there is no oversight in the Muslim religion? If there was a hierarchy this kind of ridiculous practice would not exist and the radical fundamentalists would fade away to obscurity. So do I need to be a blind follower of an organized faith? I don't think so. I respect all religions but not always those that follow as drones. So why give my 15% to these people? I prefer to do my own homework, see how much goes to those who need it rather than administrative costs. Now don't get me wrong, all of these have worthy endeavors. For many people organized religion is a positive and helpful structure. Some need structure, I don't. I like to meditate and would like to become more proficient at that. I would like to visit some monks in Tibet. I would like to learn and keep learning. I am not a fanatic though. Yep, I am a bit jaded though. I do not need it, because I am happy where I am and my beliefs are somewhat defined although willing to be changed.
The afterlife? Sure, why not give us hope. Heaven and Hell? Well I need not worry about that until when and if I arrive. I will tell you about one final thing.... The thought or hope or faith that I will be blessed with Indu as my Sister for 13 plus more years sure makes me like Hinduism.
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A Few days ago When Duty called
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May 11, 2006 1:10 pm
2362 Views
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This morning, I awoke to the phone. I have a cell but only when I am on business travel, I hate the intrusiveness of cellular phones. If I had a wife or kids OK, but I don't, and I won't until and if that happens. I really hate it when the phone rings at night. It is either a wrong number or a problem. This time it was a problem. I run a foundation that represents ballet companies, music, art and writers. Groggy I answered the call the operator came on and said Sr. King? Momentigo ("Give me a moment" I said .. Well the long and the short of it was one of our big clients had been arrested in South America. Of course it was from the music side, it is always the Music side that gives me headaches. But music is an important part of culture and so we represent many forms of music. We do stay away from though as that is even too " gangster" for us.
It seems one of our artists was in trouble and needed help. I called our lawyer and quickly brushed my teeth. All day I have been making my arrangements, damage control. plane arrangements, banking, packed and now I am on a private jet speeding to South America. My weekend is shot to pieces. This weekend is Mexican Independence. Cinco de Mayo. It is the biggest weekend in Mexico every year. I had a golf tournament Friday, parties, the parade, GRRR.
But Montevideo and Buenos Aries are two of may favorite towns, so it is not all bad. Also our legal counsel in South America is a real hottie and single and 31, she is sharp too. Celeste I had not seen in gosh 18 months. Man time flies. Not that we will have much free time on this trip, but still one never knows. Anyway she is picking us up at the airport.
A friend of mine owns a charter service and taking a long plane ride is an expensive and time consuming proposition on a few hours notice. Also we have 4 people traveling besides me. So there are five of us, Me, two attornys, and two security people, and of course the two pilots and the hottie serving. So it ended up being about the same price and we get there quicker with my pal's new ride. I had called him, and he told me he had a new plane I would like and fortunately it was in L.A not NYC. He said he get it here by 5: 00PM. which would give my attorneys time to arrive.
The plane is a Cessna Citation X , it is one of the most comfortable private planes I have flown on. The seats recline all the way back and are plush leather. I do not know what he spent on this baby but wooowhoo is it nice. It is like an air palace. It is not huge it only seats eight passengers but it cruises at 600 MPH. I am told it is one of the fastest private planes produced. I bet AXE would like to get a peak at these engines LOL. So rather than the one day flight on commercial we will be there in 13 hours with a quick stop. Therefore, I am writing you offline and will post tomorrow at the hotel. We are being picked up and heading right for our negotiations with the authorities.The one great thing about the Latins is negotiations are always possible and normally go smoothly. In Europe or the States the press gets involved and then it becomes a nightmare. The Latins are smart enough to know that by keeping it quiet the negotiations go better for them.
The day was busy, I was busy I hit the office, bank (we are holding heavy ) , Even made Dad's dentist appointment against his objections. Dad even briefly considered joining us but decided even 13 hours was too much. Now 84 he is not happy with long flights about 6 hours is his limit. These days, I do not go too on tour too often. Today my counterpart is on a plane from Madrid to Tokyo negotiating future contracts, so duty calls.
Wow, I just found out this Baby has internet too!!!!! Technology what a marvelous thing.Time to eat and get some rest.
Postscript: We landed, zoomed off in a limo, Freed our client for a lot less than I planned on, Put him on the plane sent he and his group to the next country, left the next morning after confirming the media did not get the story!! woooowho!! Stopped in the second capital, stayed over night and came home like heros! Sometimes life is so good maybe next year for Cinco de Mayo..
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To link to this blog (bilingual) use [blog bilingual] in your messages.
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