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Michael Jordan
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Apr 6, 2006 1:29 am
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The year was 1982 and I was in my third year of my first real job. I was working for Dunlop Sports Company. I had recently been promoted to Territory Manager, for our largest territory, gross volume wise, Florida. I lived in The Grove in Miami, after all it was the GoGo Eighties. I had a house on the beach in Naples. It was a great job for a young ex athlete.
My Job was managing two salesmen who were great guys. I also handled marketing and advertising as well as promotions and the all important, Miami Sporting Goods Show. The Miami show was at this time, the largest in the world, everyone was there. While my bosses from the US and the UK (Dunlop is a UK company) were there in force, basically I was the young host. The promotions were abundant as Florida had several major tournaments. Many of the tennis professionals lived in Florida so if we were their sponsors, I would handle them too. Florida also had many DBA accounts ( Doing Business As) because the South and Central American's could buy their supplies from me rather than the UK and save money.
The first year with Dunlop I was the Sales Rep for Southern Florida, I worked hard and at the end of the year I had doubled the sales of my predecessor. This raised some eyebrows. I was on a salary plus bonus, all expenses paid. Dunlop was very generous. It was a awesome job for a young pup like me. The second year I started creating the DBA accounts and had also worked out a raise , bonus amounting to another 50%and commission, because of the newly created DBA accounts my commission was huge. My territory quadrupled it's sales. I bought the beach house. So as year three rolled around I was promoted again.
My brother, who I have written about here many times, was at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He was in his second year. During the first year, I had visited half a dozen times and he had come down to Miami and Naples, for his breaks and the occasional weekend. Dude, the girls were incredible at UNC and my brother was a handsome, popular young man. I was only in my early twenties so .....well you can imagine we had a terrific time. I had met the famous Los Angeles Laker James Worthy who was a friend of my brothers. Oh course, we both loved basketball and frankly James loved to party so, we were a good combination. I had also met the UNC athletic director who happened to be interested in getting his golf team on some of the major private very exclusive golf courses in Florida. Every year I learned from him, the golf team traveled to Florida and practiced during the Spring break. Well as every club was my client it was not too difficult to arrange. In return the A.D. gave me three tickets to every home basketball game including the tournaments.
University of North Carolina basketball is a tradition and a way of life, in North Carolina. Tickets were impossible to obtain normally. The waiting list is something like 100 years for tickets. Here were my tickets located in the student section ten rows off the floor next to the band. My brother was on the moon as were his Friends. So year three rolled around and I bought a big Mercedes that happened to be Carolina Blue. Every Friday, ( sometimes Thursdays ) during the basketball season, I would arrange to be in Jacksonville, located the north east corner of Florida. I would then, blast off in the Benz at breakneck speed in about six hours I was at Chapel Hill. Well in the course of things the UNC team won the National Championship.. Nope I was not at the game but I was at Chapel Hill on Franklin Street, with my Brother celebrating.
I left Dunlop the following year to pursue some patent rights they owned. Negotiated for these rights in London and stayed for the year commuting back and forth to Aspen. With these rights, I started a ski manufacturing company located in Aspen, Colorado. Sold it after less than a year and moved back to Chicago. I was trading commodities on the Chicago Board of Trade.
It was 1984. I was dating a famous newscaster who was also a fan of basketball. She was friends of the General Manager for The Chicago Bulls Basketball team. The Team was terrible and poorly attended games did not help. The ticket price for box seats was, I think, 15.00 per seat. She had two sons who also liked to watch basketball. Well amazingly the Bulls drafted a oaf but traded him for Michael Jeffery Jordan with the number 3 pick in the draft. Micheal Jordan had made the winning shot in the National Championship. I had met Michael a few times but we were not really friends more acquaintances. I thought it would be fun to get some tickets watch a guy I slightly knew, and make my girlfriends kids very happy, in the dead of the Chicago Winter. No big deal really, the 4 tickets in the 8th row behind the Bulls bench were $2500.00 USD for the entire season. About the price of a week in Europe. There were 42 home games. The seats were awesome. No I did not expect what happened next. It was just dumb luck, or destiny some might say.
So we fast forward to Now and yep I saw almost every game and yep, every championship game and tournament game. My four seats (oh yeah, I still have them ) Now cost a whopping 100.00 per seat What inflation? Michael Jordan is retired and I am waiting for the second coming of any decent player for the Bulls, here in Sunny Arizona. I must be nuts. I really miss those times at Chapel Hill. Of course I miss my brother too.
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Individuality
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Apr 6, 2006 1:23 am
1196 Views
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The United States of America has many problems one that is less obvious is the loss of it's individuality. Many may not see this particularly if you are younger. But ask your parent's, your grand parents or an older friend. Demographically we can look at the U.S. in three parts. City, suburbs and rural. The rural areas now have the most individuality, next the cities and lastly the suburbs. If we first look at the suburbs and see what I mean. Most of the suburbs town centers have died or are dying. The businesses that survive are professional (Doctors lawyers and accountants for example) along with restaurants. The action nowadays is in the outskirts of town where developers have added the same chain stores. Where is the local bank? The bakeries? The local grocery store? The butcher? The local hardware store? They have been bought by bigger chains or been put out of business. Times past one knew the banker personally, heck we knew all of the merchants. They were are friends and each had a unique personality.They made the communities close knit. The suburban towns have died. Now we get into our cars and go to the edge of town, dress our children in the same clothes. Manufacturing has suffered the same fate. The products mostly outsourced now. We can not compete with labor rates. City services are getting worse and pensions getting bigger. Voice mail replaces a live body to talk to. Our seniors are ignored and exploited. Children now need air conditioning in there schools? Good grief how did we mange before?
Our cities still have a bit of individuality, largely because space is at a premium in the cities. The chain stores and their strip malls have not the space they do in the suburbs. Housing is more unique as space again is difficult. In the suburbs we have the same developers building the same houses, sure there are a handful of models, but they are similar, streamlining windows, doors, floors, roofs. It is all the same. The local store is still evident in the city but these to are dwindling. In the last ten years I have started with my local bank, it was bought, then in turn bought, and again and again and again and finally now it is Chase. What has happened to SERVICE? It is dead. There is no obligation in our industries, if is is not profitable, you are stuck. The large companies blame the stockholders wanting more profits. I mean is it too expensive to put a companies name on an envelope? No we need to find the right window that the envelope fits in. I live in the tomato capital of the world here in Nogales. Can I get a decent tomato ? Nope. I have Walmart or Safeway as my choices. Tomatoes come from the main office in Denver to Phoenix to Tucson then Nogales. They are gassed the reason? Walmart and Safeway say they want the gassed tomatoes because there is consistency throughout the year. Vine ripened tomatoes are poor in the Winter. They feel by giving a consistant product that is always the same they are doing us a service...Bah Humbug. In the cities we can still find a decent tomato, In the suburbs? Forget it. Corn same deal, strawberries the same all fruit and vegetables the same. The independent shippers and truckers have all been bought by bigger companies.
Rural America is not my cup of tea but it is individual. Not a big enough concentration of people to warrant superstores. Farmers have a stand where a real tomato can be found. There are no track housing nor subdivisions. There are local merchants.
I miss the service that companies prided themselves on in the past. Yes there are individuals who will always dance to a different drummer. More and more I find myself being drawn to these individuals. Creativeness is an important part of what built America. Be unique and demand service and perhaps we can be saved from the sameness that is now prevalent.
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My Home Town Chicago !
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Apr 5, 2006 1:09 am
1575 Views
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Yep I live in Arizona now but I will always be a Chicagoan. I still keep a loft apartment there and get back when I can.
Chicago is a unique city in many ways. It is a city of neighborhoods. There is a large Indian section. Chicago has the largest population of Polish second only to it's capital Warsaw. Thai, Chinese, 30% are Latinos. Most are Mexican and Puerto Ricans, but all latins are represented. There is even 18,000 Cubans. It is diverse and this is one of it's charms, it is a melting pot. You can go to Swedish town or Andersonville as it is called and then pop over to Beverly where you will find the South side Irish, pop up to Devon Avenue and eat Indian.
Chicago is located on the shore of Lake Michigan. it is one of the Great Lakes roughly 300 miles by 1200 in length. The city is located with the Lake to the East. The showcase of the city is the " Magnificent Mile any kind of shopping you want is there. If you are on the South Side you will find the University of Chicago, Comiskey Field where the White Sox play. Soldier Field the home of our football team the Bears. The Art Institute of Chicago is here, where you will find the finest French Impressionist collection anywhere except perhaps the Louve itself.The Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Natural History museum and the Shedd Aquarium, to name a few. The Blues and Jazz were born simultaneously in Chicago, St. Lois and New Orleans, you will find the roots of Blues and Jazz here on the South side. Malcolm X was here, Mohammad Ali lived here, The department Store was founded here as was the mail order catalogue.
The North Side we have Northwestern University Graduate Schools, The museum of Contemporary Art, the Terra Museum, Wrigley Field where the Cubs play. The Civic Opera is one of the world's finest as well as the Chicago Symphony, The North side is more upscale than the South side, we do have the West side but mostly it is broken down South and North. The Bulls and Blackhawks play at the United center on the West side. This was Michael Jordan's home.
The two principal parks are Grant on the south and Lincoln on the North, yes both Presidents made their homes here and their families are still around. Business wise we have many. Amoco,Sears, Motorola, The Chicago Board of Trade, The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, The Chicago Stock Exchange, Oprah Winfrey is of course here. The City proper has around two million with the suburbs adding another 10 million. The architecture of Chicago is legendary, The Sears Tower, The John Hancock building, The Rookery. All forms of architecture are easily identified here.Montgomery Ward donated all the beach front 22 miles worth and there is no building allowed. So one sees a beautiful picture to the East.
The heart of the city is called the Loop. It is called this for our subway that is mostly above ground. In fact this is a great way to see the city. The city is on a grid so it is very easy to learn. only a few major streets are at diagonals. The beach is tremendous with the weather it is always a refreshing change. Chicago is called the " Windy City" not for it's wind but for it's " windy politicians. City politics is an art form here. There are 4 very distinct seasons in Chicago. The public transportation is the finest in the world. the city is kept quite clean.
Historically, Chicago was the gateway to the West. It was rebuilt after the Chicago fire. The world Fair was here in 1893, and the Century of Progress in 1933, both of these enhanced the city. The Port of Chicago was the link to the East. Pullman railway is here, The Chicago stockyards fed the world it's meat,all grains are traded here agriculturally, because the Midwest is the bread basket of America, Baxter, Eli Lilly, Walgreens,the Neilson ratings, McDonalds hamburgers are all started here. The Chicago Pizza, Al Capone, Civil rights movements , the Black Panthers, The world's largest Airport O'Hare,and even Fire insurance was invented here along with Parking buildings.
I am sure I missed a ton of stuff as I did not look up anything, this is off the top of my head, after all it is my city I am a Gold Coast kid and always will be. As Frank Sinatra sang Chicago is " My kind of Town".
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Nogales Arizona, Where I Live
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Apr 5, 2006 1:05 am
1497 Views
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Chicago is my home town, I keep a loft downtown because my roots are there. I go back when I can for the energy the city gives me. Last year I was only in Chicago for four weeks. I will always be a Chicagoan, but I live in Nogales.
Chicago and Nogales could not be more different. The weather in Chicago is terrible. The weather in Nogales is awesome. Chicago has two million downtown, Nogales has 30,000 on the U.S. side of the border. Yes Nogales is a border town. My family has been coming here for about 35 years not to Nogales but the swanker Tubac located half an hour North. I was never much for Tubac, if you think Nogales is dead, in Tubac the average age is like 75. Oh some beautiful pads, a good golf course ( where the movie Tin Cup with Kevin Costner was filmed) but boring. Nogales is higher, my house is at 4450 (1356M) feet above sea level. The climate is called High desert. Palm trees, Cactus, and often more brown than green. However plenty of vegetation. 99.5% Latin, I am the minority here (just like on our IFF site.)
There are two Nogales's where I live is in the U.S. but as soon as one crosses the International border you are in the heart of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Because my foundation is Mexican, I have a small building there with an office downstairs, and an apartment upstairs. Nogales, Mexico has 750,000 people. So it is a little misleading that I live among 30,000. The office is 7 blocks from the border line. I travel to and fro on a small 125 Honda scooter. The reason is the line at the border can take an hour or more for a car and 15 minutes to an hour walking. But with the scooter I jump the line, (this is permitted).
Nogales is burgeoning full of border business. Nogales is one of the largest port of entries into the U.S. More produce comes in here than anywhere. It also has many U.S. factories that assemble their products in Nogales, Mexico to save on labor costs. it is one of the largest points for illegal aliens to cross illegally. So there are tremendous amounts of border patrols and government agencies here. Anderson Cooper of CNN just did a week long piece on it. It irritated me because it showed the ugly side of Nogales. The ugly wall, the dark side of this town. Nothing was shown of the good parts. Just another example of the sensationalist press. You see, much of Nogales is beautiful and serene. Looking at the coverage one would be scared to death to visit here.
There are beautiful mountains, two fine golf courses within 10 minutes from my home. Genuine lovely people who are Latin and so proud to be Americans, it is shocking. There is many fine homes with swimming pools. Nogales is clean. We have a small airport for private jets. Flowers and trees are abundant. There are more secies of birds that travel to and from here, because I am not handling the birds I am not to worried about the flu, I do have 6 bird feeders at my home, and love to watch them with the sereness of the mountains in the background from my front veranda. But no my Nogales, was not shown fairly, and this is a shame.
Tucson, where the University of Arizona is located is an hour away along with the nearest major airport, or for that matter Indian (et al) food. Tucson has everything a major U.S. city has all the culture and conveniences.Nogales has a WalMart, Safeway and many restuarants but sadly not a single Indian (etal) one. It is not Chicago....Still I enjoy it here. With the travel involved in my work Nogales is a great place to return to and relax.
Note: The picture is looking at some of the mountains that surround my home and Lake Patigonia
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Child Pornography
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Apr 5, 2006 1:03 am
1367 Views
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Child pornography, is the most disgusting of topic I can think of. The spokesman for the United States Department of Homeland Security is being charged today. Brian J Doyle is this scum's name. He thought a girl was 14, he sent her his picture over the internet, chatted with her,and identified himself as the Spokesman ( on the first chat). Oh Yeah, he also sent her 12 pornographic films. For weeks this went on. He pandered her for sex, chatted dirty (according to sources it was beyond dirty, it was filty, abusive chat).
Shocked? Yes I was, Embarrassed for my country? Indeed I am. These are the same idiots that Bush put in office. He created this department. It is new, totally created by Bush, FEMA is part of it, the idiots who dropped the ball on Hurricane Katrina.The Secret Sevice, The Coast Guard, Immigration, Customs, Fedral Law Enforement Training, and many more departments. Our most sensitive agencies. Amazingly, this icon of Security, The Department of Homeland Secuirity did not learn of this of this. No, it was a local Florida Police Department, in Polk County. What do you want to bet this scum used his office computers too? Of course we won't hear of that... If we did, perhaps the USA would have to admit, just how pitiful our security really is. Well as it turned out, the 14 year old girl, was not a girl, after all. She was an female investigator, for the local Police.
I am ashamed to be an American today. These people supposedly go through a serious background check. How stupid could this scum Doyle be? How stupid is our Government for hiring this scum, let alone having him be our most important security agencies spokesman?
U.S. security is a terrible joke that is effecting every American. The world sees the mighty USA's incompitence and laughs or shudders. Will the Bush Administration get blamed for this as they did for Abu Ghraib? Yes, by the rest of the world. But here at home? I doubt it, America is too busy stuffing their pockets with money to worry about something as trivial as child pornography.... Unless of course it is your child. Then it becomes important. Well it is my country, and my country is important to me. I wonder if anyone else cares, or if they will stop stuffing their pockets long enough to do something about this. I expect more smoke and mirrors or sweeping it under the carpet, I sure don't expect our President to accept any blame.
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Christmas in July
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Jul 23, 2005 8:56 pm
1712 Views
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Snowflakes,seeing an old friend,
A sleigh around the next bend.
The New Year, proud to be free,
A young friend on Santa's knee.
Meals that never seem to end,
The Christmas cards we all send.
Ornaments,church bells, a tree,
Christmas is all these to me.
By
Charles Spencer King
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10 Acts of a Gentleman
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Jul 23, 2005 8:48 pm
1637 Views
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OK Boys here are a few pointers.
1) The man gets into the cab first. Why? Two reasons A) If the cab is dirty the woman might soil her clothes sliding over b) Your responsibility is to make sure an unknown environment is safe for the woman.
2) Following trough on B this is also the case in any potentially unsafe environment. Dark street, Elevator, The ladies room if it is not in sight, ETC.
3) The man walks on the street side the woman walks on the inside.
4) The man starts the revolving door for the woman (carefully)
5) Anytime a lady or older man comes to your table you get up off your ass. You offer your seat or go get another.
6) Any time your date goes to the powder room you at least get make a move to get up.
7. Never ask someone "what do you do?" in a social situation
8 Try not to give your business card out in a social situation. If you want to really be correct get some engraved not embossed calling cards and hand these out.. But remember if you are handing the card to the ultimate recipient you cross off the MR. If you are sending flowers for example one leaves the MR. intact as it is going through a third person.
9) Put the toilet seat back down unless you are in a gentleman's room. Also if you are at her house or her relatives or friends house, wipe off your splatter should your aim be poor. Believe me Mothers look for this kind of thing and it is simple courtesy. Any woman reading this will tell me this should be #1 on my list.
10) Never go into a woman's purse including your mothers. get the purse and take it to them.
Feel free to add any helpful hints ladies.
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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
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Jul 23, 2005 8:45 pm
1615 Views
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Well my book arrived today. Last month in Cuba I brought Goblet of Fire and reread that as the Movie will be out soon but mostly to revisit my friend Harry. Arriving at home I reread The Order of the Phoenix. Tonight and through the weekend I will read the new one. Woowho!
I like LOTR, Dune, CS Lewis and many others too. Does anyone have some other recommendations in this category?
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Soy yo
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Jul 6, 2005 7:19 pm
1525 Views
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Primeromente disculpa me porque mi espanol es mas o menos y mi forma es un poco duro (en espanol) por supuesto esta es mejor en ingles..jeje.
Soy un empressario, tengo un fundacion en Mexico soy el dueno de. Nosotros representamos: Compañias de Ballet, Bailarines Independientes, Coreografos y profesionales de danza en general. Asi como Orquestas, Conjuntos Musicales, Bandas,Compositores y Musicos Independientes.
Sin dejar a un lado a los Escritores, Pintores y Escultores.Entonces mi trabajo es en del mundo.
Vivo en Arizona, pero soy de Chicago. Tengo una casa aqui y casas en la Habana, Chicago y Escocia por que soy un fanatico desporto golfo.Aqui en Arizona vivo en las montanyas o la frontera con Mexico. Mi cuidad tiene veinte y cinco mil personas pero a la otra lado hay ocho cientos mil( dos kilometos distancia). La mejor ciudad circa (una hora)es Tucson.
Busando para una mujer buena para un relacion conmigo. Soy divociado sin ninos pero mi gusta los ninos en me planes para el futuro. soy muy selectivo y buscando para mi estrella. Mi gusteria mujers dieciocho a treinta y tres anos (con exceptions). Me gusta las flacas, delgada delgada. Alta o muy alta o bahitas. Mi gusteria mujers con intelligencia y humor. Addicto a piernas fina. jeje. Trabajadoras bienvinido. Aborgas, Medicos o un persona que saber que ellas quiere en la vida.Mi gusteria un mujer aggressiva que puede controla mi emociones fisicales. Una mujer timida normalmente me no gusta.
Seguro no es facil con relacions en otra partes del mundo pero yo pienso por que no tratar. Seguro esta carte puede moleste algunas personas pero bueno diculpame porque soy honesto y directo. Hay muchas amigas aqui y en del mundo y soy siempre albierto a amigas pero por amor esta es que me gusta. Possiblemente ustedes piensen soy arrogante... actualmente no, pero yo se que me gusta y puedo pregunto para esta. Soy claromente no timido..disculpa me forma y escribas a me si piensas una futura para nosotros!
Gracias y con respecto,
Spencer
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Pete and repeat Agency Girls
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May 23, 2005 12:05 pm
1665 Views
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I am writing in English because this is addressed to those of you who either write or receive the same messages I get.I am sure there are a heck of alot of great wonderful Russian women out there. I have met not a single one who speaks a lick of Spanish here at Amigos.com. So I am writing in English.
I have received the same exact email from many of them (Do they forget or are so disorganized that they can't remember who they sent emails to?) Many use US addresses and many are gold members. Many I suspect are from Agencies. I know that life is tough and times are hard but hey.... Just give it to us straight girls..
Clearly typing the same life story is a pain, even if one is interested in a woman. With everyone it is a process of narrowing it down, with love or friendship it is the same. Finding a serious relationship.. Humm. Unless you have a secret elixer serious relationships are not found... they are developed, built, constructed. poco a poco... There is nothing wrong with cutting and pasting part of your life story. Or is there?
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To link to this blog (bilingual) use [blog bilingual] in your messages.
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