tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61409312905252339152024-03-13T02:57:11.802-04:00Pick's Place ArchiveThe original Pick's Place blog.
See PicksPlace2.blogspot.com for the current Pick's Placejeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-26706941088224553802013-03-03T15:10:00.001-05:002013-03-03T15:10:50.285-05:00We're Moving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_2QFusrGGts1xdiDmEwLx3pw2ef8yJGjKdG_YmSKI3PyQDKwc7U9E5KPZjVkDsKPe1RFn9x1rEtxvjXH2qLnHW1acx_C93K1Ou4LKYCq4Orl6hYQ82HtPnO5uNcHmuvC5au9W6SwPXWG/s1600/Jeff_Panama_HatBW_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_2QFusrGGts1xdiDmEwLx3pw2ef8yJGjKdG_YmSKI3PyQDKwc7U9E5KPZjVkDsKPe1RFn9x1rEtxvjXH2qLnHW1acx_C93K1Ou4LKYCq4Orl6hYQ82HtPnO5uNcHmuvC5au9W6SwPXWG/s200/Jeff_Panama_HatBW_L.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is the last post on this version of Pick's Place. I am moving to a new blog, </span><a href="http://picksplace2.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Pick's Place 2.0</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The new web address is:</span><br />
<a href="http://picksplace2.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: x-large;">http://picksplace2.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This page, the original Pick's Place, will remain active but there will be noting new posted here from this point forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> - Jeff</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-514843780182306212013-02-25T05:29:00.000-05:002013-02-24T18:29:31.374-05:00Remembering George Harrison - Musician, Humanitarian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-8uCR8wkrjh6I3eQgSM6qFI0hEXhRKBlTAn6TBJD0FxbTzN09B5qgseGufVyf3YQqNq11fZQSGumWAh7AZLUzr_ZunVYkTxU-A1aPzu02c80fNKqgQFlaH2s2kpPDsnUjmyUgfDz_sj1/s1600/george_singing_bangladesh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-8uCR8wkrjh6I3eQgSM6qFI0hEXhRKBlTAn6TBJD0FxbTzN09B5qgseGufVyf3YQqNq11fZQSGumWAh7AZLUzr_ZunVYkTxU-A1aPzu02c80fNKqgQFlaH2s2kpPDsnUjmyUgfDz_sj1/s200/george_singing_bangladesh.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">George Harrison, 1943-2001</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Today, February 25, marks what would have been the 70th birthday of George Harrison, who died, way too young, from cancer in 2001 at the age of 58.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">George Harrison is remembered as not just a musician and a Beatle, but also as a humanitarian.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Before there was Live Earth -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Before there was Farm Aid -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Before there was LiveAid -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">There was the Concert for Bangladesh, a gathering of the greatest names in rock and roll in 1972 to raise awareness and funds to help the people of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), who at the time had suffered famines, poverty, natural disasters, and political turmoil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">The "Quiet Beatle" was also the coolest Beatle, and most definitely the coolest ex-Beatle.</span><br />
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<i>My friend came to me, with sadness in his eyes<br />
He told me that he wanted help<br />
Before his country dies<br />
<br />
Although I couldn't feel the pain, I knew I had to try<br />
Now I'm asking all of you<br />
To help us save some lives<br />
<br />
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh<br />
Where so many people are dying fast<br />
And it sure looks like a mess<br />
I've never seen such distress<br />
Now won't you lend your hand and try to understand<br />
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh<br />
<br />
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh<br />
Such a great disaster - I don't understand<br />
But it sure looks like a mess<br />
I've never known such distress<br />
Now please don't turn away, I want to hear you say<br />
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh<br />
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh<br />
<br />
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh<br />
Now it may seem so far from where we all are<br />
It's something we can't reject<br />
It's something I can't neglect<br />
Now won't you give some bread to get the starving fed<br />
We've got to relieve Bangla Desh<br />
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh<br />
We've got to relieve Bangla Desh<br />
Mmmm Mmmm<br />
Now won't you lend your hand and understand<br />
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh</i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-91012639237904740352013-02-13T08:09:00.000-05:002013-02-13T08:09:31.836-05:00The Sip Heard Round The World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OF_98EHJwRQ94y227cdZDBEYno9apfTfPmkitYwpqVWn4TwSAo8Qn6uad247LE4OSIEyR_5j0w5XmYUFI6hCRPLfqBlVW7ec4dz73tFED_yclnALE2JUwffykTw5sYq4-HQPRneA8ESN/s1600/RubioWater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OF_98EHJwRQ94y227cdZDBEYno9apfTfPmkitYwpqVWn4TwSAo8Qn6uad247LE4OSIEyR_5j0w5XmYUFI6hCRPLfqBlVW7ec4dz73tFED_yclnALE2JUwffykTw5sYq4-HQPRneA8ESN/s200/RubioWater.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Big F-ing Deal.<br />
<br />
Last night, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/13/rubio-obama-must-abandon-his-obsession-with-tax-hikes/" target="_blank">when giving his rebuttal</a> to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/us/politics/obama-delivers-state-of-the-union-address.html" target="_blank">President Obama's State of the Union address</a>, <a href="http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/" target="_blank">Senator Marco Rubio</a> at some point paused to take a sip of water.<br />
<br />
And the <a href="http://www.voxxi.com/marco-rubio-water-break-web-buzzing/" target="_blank">Interwebs spontaneously combusted with Rubio/Water memes</a>.<br />
<br />
Now, far be it from me to defend any Republican, especially of the teabagging persuasion, but is this really the first time in the history of the world that a speaker, on television or anywhere else, paused to <a href="http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/food-nutrition/nutrients/hydration-why-its-so-important.html" target="_blank">hydrate his palate</a>?<br />
<br />
I repeat:<br />
Big.<br />
Fucking.<br />
Deal.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the water was spiked with a sedative to calm Rubio's jitters at having to give the speech without a teleprompter.<br />
<br />
Because we all know that <a href="http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2010/02/19/image6224386x.jpg" target="_blank">only Democrats use teleprompters</a>, right?jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-13392070478359636012013-01-01T19:32:00.000-05:002013-01-01T19:32:13.867-05:00Some Reasons to Like January<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">As much as I <b>hate</b> winter and cold weather, I still like January. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><i>Why?</i></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The end of the "Holiday Season". Hey, I like Christmas as much as anybody, but after having it shoved down my throat from mid-October on, I'm over it by December 26, and ready to stick a fork in it by January 1.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The NFL playoffs! </li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">New Years Day is a great day to just sit around doing nothing, or do something you like, if you're lucky enough to have the day off. Today, I watched the "Dance Moms" marathon on Lifetime and ordered a pizza.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The NFL playoffs! </li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The new year gives us a sense of a clean slate, time to think of new things to do (or old things to stop doing). Don't torture yourself with New Years resolutions. Just take a mental inventory and re-group.</li>
</ul>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Did I mention the NFL playoffs? No Eagles or Jets this years, but I always enjoy the games no matter who is playing.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRbl6egI2fbzwe5UZSqTU5mlts4H3Xtrj6S-MIiDzT07dXsVCY2Y79BmV-RvHrVJ6R8SZqhhgK2UlXRc6MgbjalMZfSK9WOnB60a4drOeDHsnwTRNwQsCQ0w3BFUUBTN8VIsD_MiormVZ/s1600/jetseaglesdream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRbl6egI2fbzwe5UZSqTU5mlts4H3Xtrj6S-MIiDzT07dXsVCY2Y79BmV-RvHrVJ6R8SZqhhgK2UlXRc6MgbjalMZfSK9WOnB60a4drOeDHsnwTRNwQsCQ0w3BFUUBTN8VIsD_MiormVZ/s400/jetseaglesdream.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-17225740979727331862012-11-22T07:09:00.000-05:002012-11-22T07:09:47.706-05:00A Remarkable Young Man Was He<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GJ7-F8_bEFzSlaGGmxoMoBWD97mIyw4LL3lkZtlMT7rDGnyU43Hf-Vt89kmr91CjIrmIg4j19rte1MsRMM6x5m9VYRNF5O10EPcrEIfkOk7CSIIptMVatZfuRUCl35vW28H4TpVd_43j/s1600/presidentssong+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GJ7-F8_bEFzSlaGGmxoMoBWD97mIyw4LL3lkZtlMT7rDGnyU43Hf-Vt89kmr91CjIrmIg4j19rte1MsRMM6x5m9VYRNF5O10EPcrEIfkOk7CSIIptMVatZfuRUCl35vW28H4TpVd_43j/s200/presidentssong+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="tr_bq">
If you remember where you were on November 22, 1963, you may also remember <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A2b_chk0Jc&" target="_blank">this song</a>, from the Peter Pan collection, "Sing A Song Of Presidents". It went from George Washington all the way to John F. Kennedy.</div>
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Lyrics are below (including additional post 1962 bonus lyrics), so sing along -<br />
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<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1A2b_chk0Jc?version=3&hl=en_US"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1A2b_chk0Jc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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<blockquote>
<div id="watch-description-text" style="background-color: #ebebeb; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.09em; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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John F. Kennedy <br />A remarkable young man is he <br />At age forty-three <br />Elected to the Presidency<br /><br />He was born in 1917<br />The second child of nine<br />In the state of Massachusetts<br />In the city of Brookline<br /><br />His granddad was a Mayor<br />His dad Ambassador<br />He graduated Harvard<br />Then gave service in the War<br /><br />(repeat chorus)<br /> <br />As commander of the PT Boat<br />He got the Purple Heart<br />He was a combat hero<br />And he bravely did his part<br /><br />He served his country proudly <br />And when the war was won <br />The hero of the Solomons <br />Went on to Washington.<br /><br />(repeat chorus)<br /><br />Then for three terms he served the House<br />Of Representatives<br />And after that a Senator<br />He gave all he could give<br /><br />As Senator this Democrat<br />Worked harder than before<br />'Til he became the President<br />Number thirty four (oops)<br /><br />(repeat chorus)<br /><br />He liked to have his booty calls<br />With Marilyn Monroe<br />He shared her with his brother Bob,<br />And Ted had Mary Jo<br /><br />And when Jackie was out of town<br />He used the White House pool<br />For skinny-dipping with the staff<br />While Caroline's at school<br /><br />(repeat chorus)<br /><br />He took a trip to Germany<br />The city of Berlin<br />He made a declaration<br />That started with "Ich Bin"<br /><br />But when he finished his speech<br />The audience was droll<br />'Cause "Ich Bin Eine Berliner" means<br />"I am a jelly roll"<br /><br />(repeat chorus)<br /><br />He was shot in 1963<br />His brain was blown to bits<br />Lee Harvey got three shots off<br />But he only made two hits<br /><br />Was there a second gunman<br />Behind the Grassy Knoll?<br />We don't know that but do know<br />In Jack's head there was a hole<br /><br />(repeat chorus)<br />John F. Kennedy<br />A remarkable young man was he<br />At age forty three<br />Elected to the Presidency</div>
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<div id="watch-description-extras" style="background-color: #ebebeb; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 1em 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
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jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-4244853857003850452012-11-16T20:13:00.000-05:002012-11-16T20:13:03.476-05:00Papa John's Appreciation Day in NJI found out about "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/166991153444752/" target="_blank">National Papa John's Appreciation Day</a>" through Facebook. A movement of over 21,000 people were planning to go to Papa John's to show their support for owner John Schnatter's threat to hike the price of his shitty pizza to pay for Obamacare.<br />
<br />
According to the Facebook Event Page:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Papa Johns has been targeted by the left for a boycott, for simply articulating that ObamaCare would hurt profits and force cutbacks in employee hours. Stand up to this nonsensical and illogical action and support Papa Johns this Friday!</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The CEO of Papa John's, John H. Schnatter, has said that he will have to cut employee hours because of Obamacare. Schattner has received intense media scrutiny in addition to being demonized as an evil rich guy by the Left. Obamacare is a fiscal nightmare and because of it, many small businesses aren't hiring now. Some are even closing their doors. Obamacare is now, as John Boehner said, "the law of the land."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In solidarity with John H. Schnatter, we propose that November, 16th, 2012 be National Papa John's Appreciation Day. The Left thinks we are discouraged; they think they have won. Let's send a clear message this Friday, like we did on Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day, that we are here to stay and that we won't stop fighting. There are over 2,600 Papa John's stores in the United States. Let's flood all of them like we flooded Chick-Fil-A.</span></blockquote>
There are a couple of Papa John's near where I work, in Cherry Hill, NJ. I decided to take a ride at lunchtime and check them out, in the hopes of finding, photographing, and interviewing on video people who would do something like this.<br />
<br />
Imagine my disappointment when I got to the Papa John's in Pennsauken, and saw this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTms17BKaxi4AzPtB-yh7j-YTkSuiNGYY4PWXxVU5AoQhRyBZ1YCsf77RSk2ICUPWEd0lf2U8Bgu5jGfndapSb9GljKITRJmo_1bQfLWbc3id5ByB0_ezJR5uER7cvr8vZYGYCh9lbz1OC/s1600/PapaJohnPennsauken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTms17BKaxi4AzPtB-yh7j-YTkSuiNGYY4PWXxVU5AoQhRyBZ1YCsf77RSk2ICUPWEd0lf2U8Bgu5jGfndapSb9GljKITRJmo_1bQfLWbc3id5ByB0_ezJR5uER7cvr8vZYGYCh9lbz1OC/s400/PapaJohnPennsauken.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And when I got to the Papa John's in Maple Shade, and saw this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFIltRozfQlTmnAnAU2cML88I7uWVvLMv1s6sIhSBnCv-NmNZ4mdY3CLL-u6VKZ58QY9H6rby1aVWBCPlTvcTlJiPEU16rGBHF564vGdTgSziHNdbhEE4EjI1z9I9ttRb7Azz6RMf5KXS/s1600/PapaJohnMapleShade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFIltRozfQlTmnAnAU2cML88I7uWVvLMv1s6sIhSBnCv-NmNZ4mdY3CLL-u6VKZ58QY9H6rby1aVWBCPlTvcTlJiPEU16rGBHF564vGdTgSziHNdbhEE4EjI1z9I9ttRb7Azz6RMf5KXS/s400/PapaJohnMapleShade.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I guess the teabaggers in New Jersey didn't get the memo, or, maybe we don't have teabaggers in New Jersey.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSqcNf9y3h4ac26sxQjNuTwNCf-uqFqsbCIvwO51XlbrH9rUcZ8BTDZv9tn0dkaZ3vm-JF3TTDg1MvMg6xSM69r2bHtKE5ZSJ0lGzYOp_w3sZafuTaA-1kgG8tokGAA4goCjyTj07IZjj/s1600/PapaJohnEvent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSqcNf9y3h4ac26sxQjNuTwNCf-uqFqsbCIvwO51XlbrH9rUcZ8BTDZv9tn0dkaZ3vm-JF3TTDg1MvMg6xSM69r2bHtKE5ZSJ0lGzYOp_w3sZafuTaA-1kgG8tokGAA4goCjyTj07IZjj/s400/PapaJohnEvent.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-72507942672524689912012-09-06T06:10:00.000-04:002012-09-06T06:33:09.014-04:00Fun with "Find and Replace"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, on the fifth anniversary of the death of Luciano Pavarotti, I recall a friend of a friend referring to him endearingly as "Fat Opera Fuck".<br />
<br />
What if the news picked up this sobriquet and used it in their account of his funeral? It would read something like this:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">- (Modena, Italy, September 8, 2007)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">About 50,000 mourners paid tribute to Fat Opera
Fuck at his funeral in his hometown on Saturday, an event Prime Minister Romano
Prodi said made Italy "sad but proud" to salute one of opera's
greatest Fat Opera Fucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Rock stars, political leaders and loved ones wept
and applauded after seeing a film of Fat Opera Fuck and his father Fernando
performing the hymn Panis Angelicus, giving the singer a standing ovation that
lasted several minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"The death of Fat Opera Fuck has made us feel
poorer," said Archbishop Benito Cocchi, leading the service at the
cathedral in Modena -- the town where Fat Opera Fuck was born the son of a
baker and died a superstar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fourteen pallbearers carried the coffin out of the
cathedral to applause and cheers of "bravo" from the crowd as a
recording of his most famous aria -- "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's
"Turandot" -- played over loudspeakers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As Fat Opera Fuck sang the song's famous line
"All'alba vincero'" -- "At dawn I will be victorious" --
the air force's aerobatics team soared above the church, marking the blue sky
with the green, white and red smoke in the colors of the Italian flag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">U2 frontman Bono sat next to film director Franco
Zeffirelli at the service, near Fat Opera Fuck's widow Nicoletta Mantovani, and
ex-wife Adua who sat an opposite ends of the same pew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fans crowding the sunlit square outside the 12th
century cathedral watched the service on giant screens. The images were
broadcast live on state television and the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Bulgarian soprano Raina Kabaivanska opened the
service, amid the cathedral's gilded frescos, with Ave Maria from Verdi's
Otello. Another of Fat Opera Fuck's friends, blind Italian Fat Opera Fuck
Andrea Bocelli, sang Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The choir -- Corale Rossini -- was the same one in
which both Fat Opera Fuck and his father once sang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">EXCEPTIONAL GIFT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Archbishop Cocchi remembered Fat Opera Fuck's life.
"The story of a boy who had the natural gift of an exceptional voice which
he cultivated with tenacity and thus became the leading figure among all the Fat
Opera Fucks of his time."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"Nessun Dorma", which has become a soccer
anthem, rang out at London's Wembley Stadium on Saturday ahead of a match
between England and Israel and was due to be played in Milan at a match between
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/places/france"><span style="color: #135989; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">France</span></a> and Italy as a
tribute to Fat Opera Fuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Prodi recalled the singer's role as a cultural
ambassador as well as his recordings and performances to promote peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"He made music an instrument for life and
against war. It's true that Fat Opera Fuck wanted to be remembered above all as
a great opera singer, but we want to pay homage also to his great
humanity," Prodi told mourners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Born to a local baker father and a cigar factory
worker mother, Fat Opera Fuck trained as a teacher, dreamt of being a soccer
star, but pursued a career in singing -- a passion instilled in him by his
father, a keen amateur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fat Opera Fuck shot to fame as an understudy in a
performance of "La Boheme" at London's Covent Garden in 1963.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He went on to popularize what had been an elite art
form, performing as one of the "Three Fat Opera Fucks" with Placido
Domingo and Jose Carreras in Rome during the 1990 soccer World Cup in Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Before the coffin was sealed, 100,000 mourners paid
respects to Fat Opera Fuck, dressed in a tuxedo with a trademark handkerchief
in his hand. On a wreath, his four-year-old daughter had left a colorful
stick-figure drawing signed "Alice".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"He seemed so small," said 51-year-old
housewife Rosanna Cipriano of the singer whose generous girth and twinkly eyes
were as famous as his voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After an operation for pancreatic cancer last year,
Fat Opera Fuck had hoped to finish a world tour but he died on Thursday at the
age of 71,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fat Opera Fuck's coffin was taken to rest at the
Montale Rangone cemetery near his villa outside of town, where his parents and
his stillborn son Riccardo are buried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The private burial was attended by his family, including Alice, born to
his second wife. Fat Opera Fuck also left three grown-up daughters from his
first marriage</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JkOQ49Gh03MG9hkdQty1CXzj-w7thKsplk0ziDkoCOZ74lJfEklRQ0lnC4tGr1LckVo0OFini03L5reOpMtu2Mh6SRdnm0l1kTTaGu7CfPP-l6B3QbUMiENVfw71Q8q-RrKMutdXCdmy/s1600/BachmannPavarotti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JkOQ49Gh03MG9hkdQty1CXzj-w7thKsplk0ziDkoCOZ74lJfEklRQ0lnC4tGr1LckVo0OFini03L5reOpMtu2Mh6SRdnm0l1kTTaGu7CfPP-l6B3QbUMiENVfw71Q8q-RrKMutdXCdmy/s200/BachmannPavarotti.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-30135758842686909902012-06-06T07:27:00.000-04:002012-06-06T14:50:57.082-04:00Voting in Washington Township<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw9XEt9sWnDNRuBNrUnBQLPXWAzGd3xU-XRsz80_yw158tr7Y1EZS_4AP_2WzD9v6UUyrrWCjbvE3unmFwa4sQ18NWLyz3mj4rkMkqIUzeyLr_SJxHUTEjF0YEuinhNYMhxnkRRQ1h6fM/s1600/WT_Polling_Place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw9XEt9sWnDNRuBNrUnBQLPXWAzGd3xU-XRsz80_yw158tr7Y1EZS_4AP_2WzD9v6UUyrrWCjbvE3unmFwa4sQ18NWLyz3mj4rkMkqIUzeyLr_SJxHUTEjF0YEuinhNYMhxnkRRQ1h6fM/s320/WT_Polling_Place.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polling place parking lot filled with poll workers' cars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday was Primary Day in New Jersey. There was not much in the way of contested Democratic primaries, but I try to vote in every election.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">At around 8:00am, I pulled up to the polling place, the Washington Township Ambulance Corps building, and saw a full parking lot. Great turnout? Think again. All the prime spots were taken by poll workers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Ambulance Corp building accommodates two voting districts, 23 and 24. Each district has a table, three people at each table. There are two page-turners, for the first and second half of the alphabet, and a third person who sits and does nothing. There is a greeter near the door, and and at least on curtain opener and ticket taker at the voting booths. There may be other hangers-on but in all I was able to count eight poll workers and one voter (myself).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I walked up to the district 23 table, and gave my name, and spelled it out. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Me: "P-I-C-K-E-N-S"<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Poll worker: "T-I?"<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Me: "No. P-I-C-K-E-N-S" </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After I spelled my name out not once, not twice, but THREE times, the idiot at the table still turned to the "T" page, and I had to direct him to the "P" page. Apparently he doesn't understand indexing because he started with the "PA" page, then went page by page, running his finger down each page so excruciatingly slowly I could barely detect movement. Then when he finally got to the "PI" page, looked up and me, and said "Pierce?", I had to find my name myself and point it out to him. Then to add insult to injury he asked, "Republican"?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He handed me my ticket (why are the Democratic tickets pick and the Republican tickets blue?) and I went into the voting booth. I voted for Bob Menendez, <a href="http://francisxtenagliouscongress.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Francis Tenaglio, running against Rep. Rob Andrews,</a> wrote my own name in for the LD-4 Assembly, and abstained on the rest.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I went back to my car, parked in the Midas Muffler parking lot because the polling place lot was filled with poll workers' cars, there was a kid standing near my car with a fistful of M&Ms. He asked me if I had voted for the <a href="http://www.votemorleymurphymella.com/" target="_blank">"Three M's" (Republicans running for WT Mayor and Council).</a> I asked him if he was 100 feet from the building. I wanted to ask him, "why the fuck aren't you in school", but I took pity on him as after a few hours I'm sure he would rather have been in school.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I could have lied and got myself a free bag of M&Ms.</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-34331303674381788902012-05-16T05:15:00.000-04:002012-05-16T06:42:02.925-04:00The American Cancer Society Bikeathon - Why I Ride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBs7fK6-4AmP464b6UOLcyYucF3DiXTMn1K_yfVud8EUwgXEF3WSXqZLow-puaQ5ej8ZK_i-5wzj9ZQNHKSrY7jmeQvCHzy5rxLQ_SKtm0DT0HHRgVcc5MWjeaYN5_vybY3Z0LruuGBo5/s1600/2012tshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBs7fK6-4AmP464b6UOLcyYucF3DiXTMn1K_yfVud8EUwgXEF3WSXqZLow-puaQ5ej8ZK_i-5wzj9ZQNHKSrY7jmeQvCHzy5rxLQ_SKtm0DT0HHRgVcc5MWjeaYN5_vybY3Z0LruuGBo5/s200/2012tshirt.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two weeks in a row, two colleagues of mine lost parents to cancer, both in their early sixties. I <b>hate</b> watching people I care about suffer the loss of loved ones to this disease. Through my lifetime, I have seen too many friends, relatives, colleagues suffer and die, too young, from cancer.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">
It's a horrible thing to watch someone go through this - the initial diagnosis, the aggressive treatments, cautious optimism, remissions sometimes, wishful thinking, desperate attempts to extend th<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">e patient's life, t</span>hen the realization that, in spite of everything, they are now in an end-of-life situation, a life ending too soon. Seeing the anguish on a person's face as they are telling me their story kills me, being unable to do or say anything to help.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">The good news is, a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily the death sentence it used to be, but we have a long way to go.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">For this reason, every year I get on my bicycle and ride 66 miles 90 degree heat in the <a href="http://www.jeffpickens.com/bikeathon.html"><span style="color: #1a37ee; text-decoration: underline;">Philadelphia Bike-a-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a37ee;">thon</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> to</span> help raise money for the <a href="http://www.acsbike.org/"><span style="color: #1a37ee; text-decoration: underline;">American Cancer Society</span></a>. I have upped my goal from $1,000 last year to $1,500 this year. I have a way to go, but I know I can count on my friends and family to help me fight this disease so no family has to go through the anguish of losing their mothers, fathers, and other loved ones to cancer. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">The ride is Sunday, July 8, 2012. If you'd like to help out, you can <a href="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/CommunityFundraisingPages/CFPFY10Pennsylvania?px=8775739&pg=personal&fr_id=41667"><span style="color: #1a37ee; text-decoration: underline;">click on THIS LINK</span></a> to get to my fundraising page.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">Thank you to all who have contributed so far.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333233; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-21689589158552923842012-03-25T07:05:00.000-04:002012-03-25T07:05:38.066-04:00COMCAST - The Most Hated Company In America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G8NG3_adyegAmCRGKRYlzFdb98TcWEhABkKHgrQKF0dKuO3sNPo5wK3F7H-VYYO3Tc-yzkmE805LVGixtyBlrmucULaKu_yW90dRUY-7s54oyhNScy2duJXgc8FgHdbrMsm9xPZ6hK4V/s1600/XfinityMyAss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G8NG3_adyegAmCRGKRYlzFdb98TcWEhABkKHgrQKF0dKuO3sNPo5wK3F7H-VYYO3Tc-yzkmE805LVGixtyBlrmucULaKu_yW90dRUY-7s54oyhNScy2duJXgc8FgHdbrMsm9xPZ6hK4V/s320/XfinityMyAss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yet another unpleasant customer service experience at the hands of Comcast so-called customer service.<br />
<br />
Our internet and phones went out on Friday 3/23/12. My wife called, and after interminable slogging through menus, finally reached a human, who, after going through some perfunctory self diagnostics, said a technician would be there between 3:00pm and 7:00pm. My wife had to be somewhere at 4:00, so I left work early to go home and wait.<br />
<br />
Four hours and 7:00pm came and went, and I called Comcast. An automated recording informed me they had arbitrarily changed the appointment to Saturday 3/24 between 11:00am and 1:00pm. Infuriated, slogged through the deep muddy of menu choices and finally got in touch with a human. He said somehow the dispatch had not reached any technicians and the service call was rescheduled. I told him I expected someone to be at my home tonight, not tomorrow, that it was unacceptable to have me leave work, costing my two hours pay, and unable to telecommute due to lack of internet service. He offered me a $20 credit which infuriated me even more. I demanded to speak to a supervisor. Once the supervisor got on the phone I did not relent until she agreed to send someone over. <br />
<br />
The technician arrived at 9:00pm. He did some diagnostics and said the modem was fine, then went outside and looked around and informed me there was a problem with the box on the pole, which was affecting everyone on the block. <br />
<br />
I found this odd, since no one I spoke to before this mentioned anything about anyone else having trouble, and wouldn't some other person have called if the entire block had this problem? <br />
<br />
He said a technician would fix the box on the pole overnight and my service would be restored the next morning.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, when I checked in the morning there was still no service. I called back, and explained the situation, and the person in the phone said someone worked on the pole overnight. They said they would send a technician over. The technician arrived at 10:00am and when he looked at the modem, lo and behold, it turned out the modem was bad, the opposite of what the idiot the night before said. He replaced the modem and all is now working.<br />
<br />
It is now obvious to me that the "problem with the box on the pole" story was false.<br />
<br />
So here are my problems:<br />
1.) Two hours of lost pay<br />
2.) Being trapped in my house for four hours, unable to leave, waiting for a technician who never showed up<br />
3.) Being lied to and jerked around on the phone by an incompetent service rep.<br />
4.) Having an incompetent technician come to the house, lying and misdiagnosing the problem.<br />
5.) Overuse of my iPhone data plan due to inability to connect to my wireless network, costing me money<br />
6.) Loss of service for over 24 hours, service I am paying for<br />
7.) Extreme stress due to having to deal with incompetence every step of the way, except for the technician who came Saturday morning and fixed what the others were unable to fix.<br />
<br />
I am blind with rage over this situation. It will take more than a $20 credit to make me whole.jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-53513193024321842012012-02-21T06:58:00.005-05:002012-09-15T19:53:56.825-04:00Mission Accomplished - JFK Oral History Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXCCjNPloTdqnCJ9SBSxY-KxI6ZTpKvbrk7WYSnhiK0XT7uWHFM6EcDXzAxwg-wYSo2OfM5XarSRS7m7x3N0r67JT2IEOa4FxbsecmFs0cqRagkeJB-5-kxwIZCz2jz6_6v9OhbWO6PK4/s1600/AndyJeff6thFloor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXCCjNPloTdqnCJ9SBSxY-KxI6ZTpKvbrk7WYSnhiK0XT7uWHFM6EcDXzAxwg-wYSo2OfM5XarSRS7m7x3N0r67JT2IEOa4FxbsecmFs0cqRagkeJB-5-kxwIZCz2jz6_6v9OhbWO6PK4/s200/AndyJeff6thFloor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><i>(Update: We received <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSY0uP32Jh4&" target="_blank">the DVD of our interview</a> on Friday, 3/23. It is beyond great. It should and must be seen by all.)</i></b><br />
<br />
As mentioned in these pages previously, <a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/2011/12/sixth-floor-summit.html" target="_blank">my friend Andy and I were invited by the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza to be interviewed about our memories and impressions of the events of November 22, 1963</a>. Here is a brief chronicle of the trip, which we made on Friday, February 17, 2012.<br />
<br />
I arrived at Houston's Hobby airport Thursday afternoon (on time, amazingly, thank you Southwest Airlines), took the shuttle to Andy's office in downtown Houston, then headed to his house in the Houston suburb of Spring, TX. Over dinner, we attempted to prepare for the interview, but having gone over this story so many times, there really wasn't much to rehearse. I went to bed, stayed up late like a kid on Christmas Eve, and woke up early.<br />
<br />
We began the day with a blend of coffee called "Lunch with Elvis", that contained a hint of peanut butter and banana flavoring. Andy is a coffee enthusiast and tries various blends of beans he gets from a place called <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-on-the-run-spring" target="_blank">HEB Cafe on the Run</a>. <br />
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At approximately 7:30am CST, we hit the road to head for Dallas.<br />
<br />
According to Andy, no trip up I-45 is complete without a stop a <a href="http://www.bucees.com/madisonville.htm" target="_blank">Buc-ees</a>, a rest stop in Madisonville. He had been singing the praises of this highway Mecca ("better than South of the Border") ever since we began planning this trip. The place did not disappoint. It has everything. Great for shopping, browsing and people-watching. We were stalked and stopped by a guy describing himself as a World War II re-enacter, and told us we must go to some event in Palestine (pronounced "PAL-est-een") in May. They even have a George Patton impersonator! We managed to break away and hit the road again.<br />
<br />
We arrived in Dallas around noon, parking in the Sixth Floor Museum parking lot, grabbed some lunch at a restaurant around the corner, then went over to the museum at 1:30. <i>(Sign on the front door of the museum: "No Firearms")</i>. We checked in, asked for Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator, who greeted us in the lobby and took us to the media room. Although we have dubbed this event "The Sixth Floor Summit", the media room is actually on the first floor.<br />
<br />
I had my copy of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_to_Judgment" target="_blank">Rush to Judgment</a>", a first edition I bought used at the Strand book store in Manhattan many years ago. I asked Mr. Fagin if Mark Lane happened to be in the building. When he said yes, I jumped out of my seat and asked if I could get him to autograph my book. However, by "in the building", Mr. Fagin meant there was video of Mark Lane among the museum displays. Oh well.<br />
<br />
We sat down, got mic'ed up, and started shooting. The interview went on for just over an hour, with Mr. Fagin moving the discussion along with brief questions and allowing Andy and me to do the talking. There were no brain freezes, very few, if any, "ums", and we had a great discussion, from our impressions of watching history unfolding through the eyes of a second grader and how our perspectives evolved over time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWYfzLWUKIWcAF3VrNFyGJGqbwHLvBOcwZ1GVL1QJCw7ypT8OJuliq6m-xaLHeHYdzl3URVZnH48KtwB1wVY7cDgipdkBlZjTw1n-qaZCK1PanunZarfSEooRl0ohfyPA8BzWo_s-GM0U/s1600/AndyJeffEnshrined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWYfzLWUKIWcAF3VrNFyGJGqbwHLvBOcwZ1GVL1QJCw7ypT8OJuliq6m-xaLHeHYdzl3URVZnH48KtwB1wVY7cDgipdkBlZjTw1n-qaZCK1PanunZarfSEooRl0ohfyPA8BzWo_s-GM0U/s200/AndyJeffEnshrined.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Once the interview was over, we went upstairs to the museum, which had not changed much since I had been there in 2005, just spruced up a bit. Mr. Fagin took us to the renovated seventh floor, which is used for special exhibits and lectures. We then went outside to walk around Dealey Plaza.<br />
<br />
The thing about Dealey Plaza is, when you go there for the first time, you feel like you've been there already, having seen so many pictures and documentaries. It all looks very familiar. Another thing about Dealey Plaza is, there really isn't much to do there, except walk around. Other than a very small plaque embedded in the ground, marking the spot as a national historic landmark, there is not much to see. The picket fence, one possible sniper's perch for a hypothetical second gunman, has been replaced with a new fence and backs to the museum parking lot. Nothing mysterious there. The other possible sniper's perch, the manhole on Elm Street, used to have a removable cover, but has now been welded shut. We walked around a bit, took some pictures, chatted with some tourists, and we headed back to Spring, stopping, of course, at Buc-ees for gas, and some beef jerky to take home.<br />
<br />
The next day, we sat at Andy's kitchen table and discussed the interview on video, and the awesomeness of the whole experience. After that, Andy drove me to Hobby for my flight home (again, on time).<br />
<br />
We will be getting a DVD in the mail of the entire interview. The video will also be available in the <a href="http://www.jfk.org/go/reading-room" target="_blank">Reading Room of the Sixth Floor Museum</a> for researchers and scholars. If anyone wants a copy of the DVD, please email your address to me at <a href="mailto:jrpickens@gmail.com">jrpickens@gmail.com</a> and I will send you a copy.<br />
<br />
We hope all will find our story as interesting as we think it is.<br />
<br />
<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tp3TlRprT-M?version=3&hl=en_US"></param>
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tp3TlRprT-M?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-72641935295582051132012-02-08T06:45:00.001-05:002012-02-08T06:54:14.486-05:00I love a parade, but...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvakfmC0r2__Os-Y2vxxzN0MX9QanO9HCQkFabWiOVZ5JJGQ8FzVSSUnfU-CKPuJxLFJou6pqO_eGsZ53epbps719JXjXkr2ci8BBlxVasyMqJKHGhXvzuX6vGInigC7A35cEM0qKY_Sw2/s1600/rainbowpeacesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvakfmC0r2__Os-Y2vxxzN0MX9QanO9HCQkFabWiOVZ5JJGQ8FzVSSUnfU-CKPuJxLFJou6pqO_eGsZ53epbps719JXjXkr2ci8BBlxVasyMqJKHGhXvzuX6vGInigC7A35cEM0qKY_Sw2/s200/rainbowpeacesign.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So, the Giants won the Super Bowl, and I hope my friends who are Giants fans enjoyed their parade. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dHfeyuNobw" target="_blank">I sure enjoyed the parade when the Phillies won the World Series in 2008</a>. <br />
<br />
Governor Christie wanted the parade in New Jersey, since that is where the Giants play their home games, but I say lets let New Jersey reap the tax revenues and let New York City pay for the parade, which we cannot afford.<br />
<br />
Now, some are calling for a parade to honor the returning veterans of the war in Iraq. I respectfully disagree. While I certainly appreciate the desire to honor the sacrifices of those who gave so much, a day of jingoistic flag-waving is not the way to do it.<br />
<br />
These veterans are coming home physically, mentally, and emotionally injured. They are coming back to a place where job prospects are weak. What they need is access to health care and job opportunities, not a parade.<br />
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As long as the war in Afghanistan continues, as long as drone attacks continue to kill innocent civilians and conduct targeted assassinations, including American citizens, as long as saber rattling replaces diplomacy with Iran, Syria and elsewhere, how about we hold off on the parades.<br />
<br />
Let's end this state of perpetual war, and then we'll have something to celebrate.<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ_JkRxsz90j1KU38j9FkX7V6j6JDRctwObIjukA3GpD9QSzgsCykGXiMJt1LkNPofvgdivZpkXqCY-N8jK0y__5OPaSpvn9uJca9R03jg6cTDxqH-C-f7rnEwKIMz2epVU_8XU-9OuPu/s1600/DogStationWagonMitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ_JkRxsz90j1KU38j9FkX7V6j6JDRctwObIjukA3GpD9QSzgsCykGXiMJt1LkNPofvgdivZpkXqCY-N8jK0y__5OPaSpvn9uJca9R03jg6cTDxqH-C-f7rnEwKIMz2epVU_8XU-9OuPu/s640/DogStationWagonMitt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-57941307970334548362012-01-14T08:25:00.000-05:002012-01-14T08:25:39.442-05:00"Town Hall" in Irvington - ALL are welcomeFor those of you lucky enough to be unemployed, or have the day off Thursday, Governor Chris Christie will be holding another one of his <strike>taxpayer funded partisan pep rallies</strike> "Town Hall" meetings, at the <a href="http://www.christianlovebaptist.org/home.html" target="_blank">Christian Love Baptist Church</a> in Irvington, Essex County.<br />
<br />
<u><b>If you go</b></u>:<br />
WHERE: Christian Love Baptist Church<br />
830 Lyons Ave.<br />
Irvington NJ 07111<br />
WHEN: Thursday, January 19, Doors open at 9:30AM. Event begins at 10:30AM<br />
RSVP by clicking here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/8yjoemc" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/8yjoemc</a><br />
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Below is a screen shot from the <a href="http://www.christianlovebaptist.org/home.html" target="_blank">Christian Love Baptist Church</a> website. No Comment:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEW3QTEh4CT8Xoe8nHl5qP6SrDa4fzcfGjUpfPfcP1rNN_DqzA00nnaZdKhncVnsARF6P9jALz4GQjzI1B_RufQIsgiwsBh5U9jedXQ6PGei4uXcfgkXlWflY2B2exCubvu0vaSLfjWIb/s1600/CLBC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEW3QTEh4CT8Xoe8nHl5qP6SrDa4fzcfGjUpfPfcP1rNN_DqzA00nnaZdKhncVnsARF6P9jALz4GQjzI1B_RufQIsgiwsBh5U9jedXQ6PGei4uXcfgkXlWflY2B2exCubvu0vaSLfjWIb/s400/CLBC.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-43388123202681277022012-01-08T17:25:00.004-05:002012-01-08T18:07:46.571-05:00Mitt Romney's Dog: An Investigative Photo EssayJust about everyone knows about Republican presidential candidate <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part4_main/" target="_blank">Mitt Romney's family trip from Boston to Canada with his dog in a carrier, strapped to the roof</a>.<br />
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After extensive research, <a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pick's Place</a> has discovered that this was neither the first nor last such incident.<br />
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Below are photos of the Romney family's various escapades with their dog and their car.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-_mRj0PBM58pnQaPMJS47AFbhC3vecp0smRPsTdRLnQqMPhxre2kAHe6Rn8G7J8vZa_cBVMx7_eAD80HP9MWiMlTZov-g2LdSBbiVHtK29WHORgIIV38mhJKzmkUWSCfUCiHZ5ReMGqm/s1600/Romney_Taco_Bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-_mRj0PBM58pnQaPMJS47AFbhC3vecp0smRPsTdRLnQqMPhxre2kAHe6Rn8G7J8vZa_cBVMx7_eAD80HP9MWiMlTZov-g2LdSBbiVHtK29WHORgIIV38mhJKzmkUWSCfUCiHZ5ReMGqm/s640/Romney_Taco_Bell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWEiTk0noQRhVgIKFoHdKgyfYAYjLa80NClwj322jUZr-sWfLPlMSuDi2JMo_qDNaLeyjCl4gC5QRbjt0Vt6DJfvtqqmcCTUv9hpQFUJrupMMpFdczjWOUQV9gwPUlMgcTykWrQ9NrLbI/s1600/RomneyCarWash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWEiTk0noQRhVgIKFoHdKgyfYAYjLa80NClwj322jUZr-sWfLPlMSuDi2JMo_qDNaLeyjCl4gC5QRbjt0Vt6DJfvtqqmcCTUv9hpQFUJrupMMpFdczjWOUQV9gwPUlMgcTykWrQ9NrLbI/s640/RomneyCarWash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf82NiNvasrgBklHYGV2t8yH6sAWM0qypCmBuEBkj1IE00UoFZJO9eCDBulo6ZsbVnjxTJERpGGVlOr4Wi0HpL6Xt3WUc3uVFSpm342xf2dvd7Y7GFUbgQKfIQoapgWwMIKuoxe9yTyVq/s1600/RomneyRoyalWedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf82NiNvasrgBklHYGV2t8yH6sAWM0qypCmBuEBkj1IE00UoFZJO9eCDBulo6ZsbVnjxTJERpGGVlOr4Wi0HpL6Xt3WUc3uVFSpm342xf2dvd7Y7GFUbgQKfIQoapgWwMIKuoxe9yTyVq/s640/RomneyRoyalWedding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItuf7s8ywcNLnvH03HsxNpIIbG45YdXbnVGRQpURDUWfYi-dhgehcoG0la-TsSRToKbEIx_24G2EuUqfTkLcKPPh2tWQA55geofEW5Mk7EHBb-JGdsmIK0ra0_1jCYBzqfdwL1QurqDD1/s1600/RomneyNASCAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItuf7s8ywcNLnvH03HsxNpIIbG45YdXbnVGRQpURDUWfYi-dhgehcoG0la-TsSRToKbEIx_24G2EuUqfTkLcKPPh2tWQA55geofEW5Mk7EHBb-JGdsmIK0ra0_1jCYBzqfdwL1QurqDD1/s640/RomneyNASCAR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnPI-TKXvHQwn0kYINigvJo3UaP2QkaRo1ctVQIuk-ItD2waHCiRgGdo-WfECZXxCUNmgPBPpaNLhpA-Z1RG_Mt5v124NFGCtyZbSrVs1ohxBjKQfr8Plym90uniGYxZ25Pcap7j2tb3O/s1600/RomneyDriveInMovie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnPI-TKXvHQwn0kYINigvJo3UaP2QkaRo1ctVQIuk-ItD2waHCiRgGdo-WfECZXxCUNmgPBPpaNLhpA-Z1RG_Mt5v124NFGCtyZbSrVs1ohxBjKQfr8Plym90uniGYxZ25Pcap7j2tb3O/s640/RomneyDriveInMovie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tPMx8kklKGiosiJ2JR7Vgju5tBp6dmd05DLHWOqJ1rBDf5YFnvTWEyIBlbauyY5Uny5I6HoXeyo8z5_Yx1DC3zRV52u_Y1Yo02YjEI960ujq2QbWBhOm_bHgihH0w4AvRheZ3-WFDJgO/s1600/Romney_elephants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tPMx8kklKGiosiJ2JR7Vgju5tBp6dmd05DLHWOqJ1rBDf5YFnvTWEyIBlbauyY5Uny5I6HoXeyo8z5_Yx1DC3zRV52u_Y1Yo02YjEI960ujq2QbWBhOm_bHgihH0w4AvRheZ3-WFDJgO/s640/Romney_elephants.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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More photos will be added as they are uncovered.jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-31448746247494647632011-12-30T07:32:00.003-05:002012-02-21T07:01:04.679-05:00The Sixth Floor Summit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AljtRdYbes/Tv2umfZy2cI/AAAAAAAAAOw/gI8X6bLqSmo/s1600/SixthFloorSummitLogoNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0AljtRdYbes/Tv2umfZy2cI/AAAAAAAAAOw/gI8X6bLqSmo/s320/SixthFloorSummitLogoNew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>(Update - On Friday, 2/17/2012, Andy and I went to Dallas for our JFK Oral History Project interview. It went very well. <a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/2012/02/mission-accomplished-jfk-oral-history.html" target="_blank">Read all about it HERE.)</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp3TlRprT-M&" target="_blank"><br />
</a></i><br />
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Some of you know the story - two boyhood pals in suburban New Jersey: While other kids were playing sports, Andy and Jeff were consumed with the JFK assassination. <a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/2011/11/where-were-you-on-112263-jfk-oral.html" target="_blank">We both vividly remembered where we were on November 22, 1963</a>, and from the time we met in 1967 at age ten through our teenage years and early twenties, we delved into the Crime of the Century - reading books, engaging in deep discussions of conspiracy theories, examining the Zapruder film frame by frame. We vowed to one day visit Dealey Plaza in Dallas. Over the years, we lost touch, but reconnected in 2002. We remembered The Vow, and that neither of us had let go of it. <br />
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Then, in 2005, I learned I had to go to Fort Worth for business. By that time, Andy had relocated to Houston. I contacted Andy and the plans were underway. On <a href="http://www.jeffpickens.com/dallas.html" target="_blank">November 16th, 2005, 11:45 CST, we both arrived at the parking lot of the Sixth Floor Museum</a> - formerly known as the Texas School Book Depository - each clutching our copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Evidence-Signet-David-Lifton/dp/0451175735" target="_blank">Best Evidence</a>.<br />
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We spent the day at Dealey Plaza, covering every inch of the Grassy Knoll, visiting the Sixth Floor Museum, re-enacting the frantic drive from Elm Street to Parkland Hospital, even visiting the grave of unsung 11/22 hero <a href="http://www.jdtippit.com/" target="_blank">J.D. Tippit</a>.<br />
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A while back, I heard about the <a href="http://www.jfk.org/go/collections/oral-histories" target="_blank">JFK Oral History Project</a>, which:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">explores the history and culture of Dallas and the 1960s, and preserves personal recollections regarding the life and death of President John F. Kennedy. These candid, informal interviews offer insight into the Kennedy legacy and the local—and global—impact of his assassination.</blockquote><br />
I contacted Andy and we knew we HAD to do this. So, on November 22, 2011, we simultaneously contacted the curator of the Sixth Floor Museum, who found our story compelling enough to invite us to Dallas to be interviewed on video for the Project. <br />
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Our interview is scheduled for Friday, February 17th, 2012, at 2:00pm CST. I will fly to Houston the night before, Andy and I will head to Dallas Friday morning, on the ultimate road trip. The journey will be documented on video and in writing. Stay tuned to <a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pick's Place</a> for updates.<br />
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The video of our interview will be archived for viewing on the website or at the Museum itself. We will not only talk about history. We will be part of history.<br />
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This will be HUGE.<br />
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This will be EPIC.<br />
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<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tp3TlRprT-M?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tp3TlRprT-M?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-33134554366640150452011-12-23T08:25:00.001-05:002011-12-23T08:32:27.888-05:002011 airing of "The Spirit of Christmas", featuring the Mabel Beaton MarionettesThis vintage Christmas special, featuring marionette performances of "A Visit From St Nicholas" and the story of the Nativity, has been shown in TV every year since 1950.<br />
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As a public service, <a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pick's Place</a> is providing the show times for "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spirit_of_Christmas_%28TV_program%29">The Spirit of Christmas</a>":<br />
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<b><i>The Mabel Beaton Marionettes perform " 'Twas The Night Before Christmas" and "The Christmas Story" </i></b><br />
Where: <a href="http://www.whyy.org/tv12/schedule.html">WHYY Channel 12 </a><br />
<div class="pbs_tvschedules_modules-programinfo-airdate_broadcast_time_datetime_by_broadcast_time">When: Saturday, December 24 - 10:00am, Sunday, December 25 - 1:30pm</div><div class="pbs_tvschedules_modules-programinfo-airdate_broadcast_time_datetime_by_broadcast_time"></div><div class="pbs_tvschedules_modules-programinfo-airdate_broadcast_time_datetime_by_broadcast_time"><br />
You can now see these vintage shows on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsDBfPWDv28">YouTube</a>, or DVR them, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Christmas-Spirt/dp/B000GDH8UQ" target="_blank">buy it on DVD</a>, but there's no substitute for catching them in real time on regular TV (for me, at least). </div><div class="pbs_tvschedules_modules-programinfo-airdate_broadcast_time_datetime_by_broadcast_time"><br />
</div><div class="pbs_tvschedules_modules-programinfo-airdate_broadcast_time_datetime_by_broadcast_time">"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night"<br />
<br />
</div>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-81347313941995883552011-12-15T07:39:00.001-05:002011-12-15T13:13:13.748-05:00Pitman Punts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XqII7zvu0xR_D4SZuL5ct7fuWcEPbydS_IiYNLLOxDn4YobD-pJ8ifG0nMgGYLmpxpsrLYl0uZ17Rymg8d0CK3r7XFJvA6iMkGhZQ2zVO3_IJZC2MOmGjb6H3wsbNMebyOGuTLdZHH-M/s1600/KeepChristInChristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XqII7zvu0xR_D4SZuL5ct7fuWcEPbydS_IiYNLLOxDn4YobD-pJ8ifG0nMgGYLmpxpsrLYl0uZ17Rymg8d0CK3r7XFJvA6iMkGhZQ2zVO3_IJZC2MOmGjb6H3wsbNMebyOGuTLdZHH-M/s200/KeepChristInChristmas.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><i>"Even though the prospect sickens, brother here we go again"<br />
- Tom Lehrer, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZR3lJobjw" target="_blank">A Christmas Carol</a>"</i><br />
<br />
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year again folks, and it wouldn't be the "Holiday" season without the War on Christmas, and all its battles, real and imagined, from the annual rumors that our secret Muslim President is changing the name of the White House Christmas Tree to the Holiday Tree, to the real story of the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/6/providences-holiday-tree-controversy-takes-root/" target="_blank">Governor of Rhode Island and the State Holiday Tree</a>, to the various whining talking heads on Fox "News", and the usual skirmishes over Nativity scenes on public property, which can easily be fixed by placing a Menorah beside them. <br />
<br />
But there is a real war on Christmas right in my own backyard, in <a href="http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2011/12/pitman_criticized_for_religiou.html" target="_blank">Pitman, NJ, where someone has hung a sign above Broadway (Pitman's main drag), that reads, "Keep Christ in Christmas"</a>. Now, you don't need to be a constitutional scholar to understand that this sign breaches the wall of separation of church and state, and one First Amendment advocacy group, the <a href="http://www.ffrf.org/" target="_blank">Freedom From Religion Foundation</a>, has complained. <br />
<br />
Now, this sort of thing is not unusual, but the response of the <a href="http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2011/12/pitman_attorney_said_christmas.html" target="_blank">Pitman Borough Attorney, Brian Duffield,</a> is quite interesting:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">“We found out that the banner is attached on one end to the old bank — which is privately owned — and on the other end it’s connected to an Atlantic City Electric or Verizon pole which the borough does not own. Also, Broadway is a county — not a borough — road. Everything related to the sign is not on Pitman public property.”</blockquote><br />
Huh? According to my map, the location of this banner lies withing Pitman's borders, hangs in Pitman's airspace, yet the Borough of Pitman has no legal jurisdiction to take it down? The banner, according to the Borough, hangs in some generic part of Gloucester County, not in Pitman. The banner just appeared by magic. Using this logic, I suppose I can park my car at one of the metered spots on Broadway without putting money into the meter, and no cop would give me a ticket because Broadway is out of Pitman's jurisdiction.<br />
<br />
Pitman takes pride in its origins as a Methodist encampment and its many churches, but there is no religious test to live in Pitman, nor is there a religious test to travel to or through it, to park on its streets, or to shop at its Mom and Pop stores on Broadway. A banner with a religious proclamation, hanging in a public street, whether it's a municipal road or a county road, is inappropriate and should come down.<br />
<br />
Duffield's punt on jurisdiction here pretty much ensures that the banner will remain in place, at least for the near future, but with Christmas just over a week away, it will be down in a few weeks anyway. <br />
<br />
So, what can church/state separation advocates do? A legal battle would not be resolved between now and December 25th. <br />
<br />
How about some civil disobedience, climb up there and take the sign down ourselves? After all, since the banner is out of Pitman's jurisdiction, we can expect the police to stand idly by and wait for the Gloucester County Sheriff to arrive, by which time the sign and the removers will be long gone, right?jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-19897656664038884232011-12-11T15:21:00.001-05:002011-12-13T05:41:08.776-05:00Disgruntled Eagles fan declares "Christmas in Distress"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwJwSP_Ux3nUEuiNUEL64cC8cnu3oY5TFadjByihUsCYmGSkuoY_StaLU4gt2CiNWYg-2eWea9tqAaRrPRWFLuzbbQx3Dmu1AmDTVTq1vjnDwFjDwQRqyEShfq2XgYbjdaZ7KyekqBMP_/s1600/Eagles4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwJwSP_Ux3nUEuiNUEL64cC8cnu3oY5TFadjByihUsCYmGSkuoY_StaLU4gt2CiNWYg-2eWea9tqAaRrPRWFLuzbbQx3Dmu1AmDTVTq1vjnDwFjDwQRqyEShfq2XgYbjdaZ7KyekqBMP_/s200/Eagles4.JPG" width="200" /></a><i>(Update: the final sentence of this post refers to a lost Vinny Testaverde ornament. In what can only be described as a Christmas Miracle, a new Vinny ornament arrived in my mail Monday night, 12/12, the work of a mysterious benefactor).</i><br />
<br />
I've been accused of being a Scrooge, and a Grinch, but I like Christmas. Really, I do. I like the lights on our house and our tree. I especially like my ornaments, in particular, my Jets and Eagles ornaments. <br />
<br />
Eight Christmases ago I ordered an Eagles ornament from Danbury Mint, and every year (springtime, I think) I get the new year's ornament. Then I put it away and wait until December, when I enjoy adorning my tree with my ornaments.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEyc-_iJDG8gvyBV2YATYnbIm5E5Y5YVhUSjgqxiBL-NLbMgOEEEhSIHEaMwFyF4BcqB2RTmlJqDyDgaqa-2pVwHbRYFVns_Rnj3NP29UA16xwy0ztgFDKLGecK40aY-3rEhIZgEbcDji/s1600/Eagles2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEyc-_iJDG8gvyBV2YATYnbIm5E5Y5YVhUSjgqxiBL-NLbMgOEEEhSIHEaMwFyF4BcqB2RTmlJqDyDgaqa-2pVwHbRYFVns_Rnj3NP29UA16xwy0ztgFDKLGecK40aY-3rEhIZgEbcDji/s200/Eagles2.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
However, this year has been different. The Eagles have been terrible. As in they suck, they suck really bad, and each game they find new ways to suck. If they suck so bad, how can I be enthusiastic about putting their ornaments on my tree?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRhOGBCXfbWaDh_kqIsM8fHwwAlEDnrsgSO_1MLguKZ7rzSFB3ajAIGQcxy-OGefVsAPPmLV6v5uAx_PxN3E2PdDUqD0xEod2aziFONb_LKye8GuhjxOSkJKCkXwRYvdvaE_zZyCGVa77/s1600/Eagles3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
Yes, I know you should be loyal to your team through thick and thin, and I am. But I cannot simply do my usual ornament thing without making a statement.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60F3nDheYxeqDnnouM1Yc-_fFAMPXzxidESwGpxJ-bm41uwUCrPRav-y_VU-0zbbaJxaNhr-SGPWn9fMHnyTodqTqRJCTKXdRRWwhkYqiijfmS5oaRNdnaAPro_lTjN9MBAV5-YgXG29F/s1600/Eagles1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60F3nDheYxeqDnnouM1Yc-_fFAMPXzxidESwGpxJ-bm41uwUCrPRav-y_VU-0zbbaJxaNhr-SGPWn9fMHnyTodqTqRJCTKXdRRWwhkYqiijfmS5oaRNdnaAPro_lTjN9MBAV5-YgXG29F/s200/Eagles1.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
The Solution:<br />
As we all know, the American flag flown upside down is a sign of distress. And distress is what I would call the Eagle's situation this year (as of this writing they are ahead of the Miami Dolphins, but I don't care. I'm not watching it). So I have decided to display my Eagles ornaments on the tree, upside down, as a sign of protest against a team in distress.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRhOGBCXfbWaDh_kqIsM8fHwwAlEDnrsgSO_1MLguKZ7rzSFB3ajAIGQcxy-OGefVsAPPmLV6v5uAx_PxN3E2PdDUqD0xEod2aziFONb_LKye8GuhjxOSkJKCkXwRYvdvaE_zZyCGVa77/s1600/Eagles3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRhOGBCXfbWaDh_kqIsM8fHwwAlEDnrsgSO_1MLguKZ7rzSFB3ajAIGQcxy-OGefVsAPPmLV6v5uAx_PxN3E2PdDUqD0xEod2aziFONb_LKye8GuhjxOSkJKCkXwRYvdvaE_zZyCGVa77/s200/Eagles3.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Maybe next year will be different. <strike>And maybe next year I will find my lost Vinny Testaverde ornament :(</strike><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79VcIQgRAyYFmR9XORX8Q5t2WWJu_wQIbynRAXGMBDkpL7WaDY1p0de12u8YpsBbeRPc0wrZXCV89UWblPiz-TkjDmhORP1ZZjot07MoPzWRm-Gcl4GZVmmXf95svFd9hPqOEEkEof1XK/s1600/VinnieOrnament_MISSING.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-85528204675314478522011-12-10T05:08:00.001-05:002011-12-10T05:18:20.662-05:00A Closer Look at Rick Perry's Video "Strong"Perry's homophobic video, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PAJNntoRgA&" target="_blank">Strong</a>", has overtaken Rebecca Black's "Friday" for the record of YouTube "dislikes", at 535,249 and rising as of this writing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pick's Place</a> has done a closer examination of "Strong" and found some subliminal messages. Rick may not be as homophobic as we think.<br />
<br />
<i><b>In fact, Rick actually supports marriage equality: </b></i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ofwjvuPzzK4fp7jZi-wh4rkskExWkPlujIW_TDLQSZGs7p0rSuM2PhogYvcKGadgPLbwJCWzwKXPDHlN4i00viHwtjB0i77jyLtu8om2TtBeqLVAbiPhx9cYkNYrVc9Mrw5aG1aU1yQt/s1600/PerryGaySign.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ofwjvuPzzK4fp7jZi-wh4rkskExWkPlujIW_TDLQSZGs7p0rSuM2PhogYvcKGadgPLbwJCWzwKXPDHlN4i00viHwtjB0i77jyLtu8om2TtBeqLVAbiPhx9cYkNYrVc9Mrw5aG1aU1yQt/s640/PerryGaySign.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>Here Rick shows us a sample from his music collection:</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaexRUN9S6OnKx5l9kNx6Z5k1uKWdirB1VJQ_o5hT9LqtL9pDxpTC-WjHsP5n3aApwez2PglaCXX2BIRCUri998DSF49Erjt4a5lrb6_wigfPgJ8Zu2TMwYBg80oqPDkWG3hN7qeSixvSk/s1600/PerryGarland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaexRUN9S6OnKx5l9kNx6Z5k1uKWdirB1VJQ_o5hT9LqtL9pDxpTC-WjHsP5n3aApwez2PglaCXX2BIRCUri998DSF49Erjt4a5lrb6_wigfPgJ8Zu2TMwYBg80oqPDkWG3hN7qeSixvSk/s640/PerryGarland.jpg" width="640" /></a><b><i>Candace Gingrich may be an Obama supporter, but she still </i><i>{{hearts}} Rick:</i></b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBXPBo_YERTdU11ysimP706TfhSgJuIB6m130ScULOU_CaivWfBI0GqyRSKescFiEtRJruWQNhEOFVTDmVKtS7vQEgY9vU53C2gyg4WuJk8A5grkuv3-47xy-zOAokdyhYdjL21YmH7H9/s1600/PerryGingrich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBXPBo_YERTdU11ysimP706TfhSgJuIB6m130ScULOU_CaivWfBI0GqyRSKescFiEtRJruWQNhEOFVTDmVKtS7vQEgY9vU53C2gyg4WuJk8A5grkuv3-47xy-zOAokdyhYdjL21YmH7H9/s640/PerryGingrich.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>While Fox may be Rick's favorite TV station, he still likes to Lean Forward with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZlGdvldAd6DiVBixL3u4KyU0f0_jGbUevzC5QvDdNdbJw0ypvTs2Udwgml9CzpgRj2CfeBibu9D324EKQh6NI1pNVxggAppRwmNEyZHNQ2RhlI7JVwKPHSETi-2mzVz4DDNgXo_5PsLl/s1600/PerryMaddow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZlGdvldAd6DiVBixL3u4KyU0f0_jGbUevzC5QvDdNdbJw0ypvTs2Udwgml9CzpgRj2CfeBibu9D324EKQh6NI1pNVxggAppRwmNEyZHNQ2RhlI7JVwKPHSETi-2mzVz4DDNgXo_5PsLl/s640/PerryMaddow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Somewhere in Heaven, Harvey Milk is smiling at Rick:</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFfBRdgPmAH15AWabHoQjpOHcTpH_GcQzD0xdaJDjrE5VmhM-rEEUDpE8wT8KBSoh9DaYCygkDHYKmn_q8LpHNj30keK1eTR9X5v-15_MKMgdw8voTQAF8hF4Smc_rGaXA1W4xwlBoVZ4/s1600/PerryMilk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFfBRdgPmAH15AWabHoQjpOHcTpH_GcQzD0xdaJDjrE5VmhM-rEEUDpE8wT8KBSoh9DaYCygkDHYKmn_q8LpHNj30keK1eTR9X5v-15_MKMgdw8voTQAF8hF4Smc_rGaXA1W4xwlBoVZ4/s640/PerryMilk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Do you have any of your own? Email them to <a href="mailto:jrpickens@gmail.com">jrpickens@gmail.com</a> and we'll post them.jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-14665308595714067652011-12-08T05:59:00.000-05:002011-12-08T05:59:24.213-05:00I heard the news that day, oh boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooc2Ni2J4nj-Y75f9qFJHZJTscMOhO3NfeiWrc3gjDUcI-C-fnfZwKo0yqhaAs81rsQbgPzw0AeVMm6pI9ELcO1qSr35VXaFXqi7ZquZ8-iosg99hcqY886gWJ8ztytaQSjAbyyveN5FD/s1600/BachmannLennon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooc2Ni2J4nj-Y75f9qFJHZJTscMOhO3NfeiWrc3gjDUcI-C-fnfZwKo0yqhaAs81rsQbgPzw0AeVMm6pI9ELcO1qSr35VXaFXqi7ZquZ8-iosg99hcqY886gWJ8ztytaQSjAbyyveN5FD/s200/BachmannLennon.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><i>Where were you on December 8, 1980?</i><br />
<br />
That night, actually. I was 23 years old. It was just after 11:00PM EST, I was watching the news on New York City's NBC channel 4 in my bedroom in New Jersey. Chuck Scarborough was delivering the news when he was handed a bulletin: "We just received some startling news. A man believed to be former Beatle John Lennon has been shot outside Central Park". That was all the details he had. Later in the broadcast he confirmed that the man was indeed John Lennon, and he had died.<br />
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I then shut the TV off and tuned my radio to WNEW-FM ("Where rock lives"). DJ Vin Scelsa, his voice shaking, was riffing on the shocking event that had just happened, lamenting that "the life of a man of peace would end in such a damnable manner". He then cued-up "Watching the Wheels" from John and Yoko's comeback album, "Double Fantasy". I fell asleep listening to the radio.<br />
<br />
I cannot say that the death of John Lennon affected me personally, but like many of my generation, for us, the music of The Beatles was the soundtrack to our childhood and coming-of-age. From their arrival in 1964, a welcome antidote after the assassination of John F. Kennedy (another "Where were you?" moment) when I was in 2nd grade, to the break-up in 1970 when I was entering high school, to Lennon's surprise appearance at an Elton John concert in Madison Square Garden on Thanksgiving 1974. I had a third row center seat that night, and it was, of course, one of the highlights of my life as a music fan. It was also the last time Lennon would ever appear on a stage.<br />
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It is impossible to say what John Lennon would be doing now if he had lived. I am almost certain, however, that he would have continued to be an outspoken critic of war and an advocate for peace.<br />
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Would he have made more music? I hope so.jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-75120497695999632452011-11-21T20:20:00.005-05:002011-12-30T09:20:46.327-05:00Where Were You on 11/22/63? The JFK Oral History Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghopQoKSk7UoSf9cRsWqN_gKAlfttDli1T3phpiZZrUkvQ_XpN0_j6Qm1SRjRPWfkd0HjpsqnjGf-yFv62a30jvsPW5wEo8y-6m1J1Cx0WKuIdK9hRNGM-2KhkHU-l3kZJz5gBvSseh6v7/s1600/jeff+andy+knoll+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghopQoKSk7UoSf9cRsWqN_gKAlfttDli1T3phpiZZrUkvQ_XpN0_j6Qm1SRjRPWfkd0HjpsqnjGf-yFv62a30jvsPW5wEo8y-6m1J1Cx0WKuIdK9hRNGM-2KhkHU-l3kZJz5gBvSseh6v7/s200/jeff+andy+knoll+2.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><i><a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/2011/12/sixth-floor-summit.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for an update on the <a href="http://jeffpickens.blogspot.com/2011/12/sixth-floor-summit.html" target="_blank">Sixth Floor Summit</a>.<br />
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(co-written with Andrew Kadin)</i><br />
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<i><u>Update</u>: Shortly after this blog was posted, Andy and I were contacted by a representative of the JFK Oral History Project who invited us to Dallas to be interviewed and have our story recorded on video. Details to follow, once arrangements have been finalized.</i><br />
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Anyone old enough to remember can recall where they were on November 22, 1963 when they heard the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. Mine is a story of a childhood memory, a lifelong interest, and the reuniting of two boyhood pals.<br />
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On November 22, 1963, I was in the second grade at St Francis School in Ridgefield Park, NJ. It was a Friday afternoon. I remember a kid coming into the classroom and handing the teacher a piece of paper. The teacher told us the President had been shot, then made us say a prayer, then sent us home. I went home and my mother was crying. What I remember the most about that day and the next three days was that time stood still for those three days. Everything was closed. No store would dare be open, not in the Irish-Catholic town I lived in.<br />
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Meanwhile, in Bridgeport, CT, a few years before moving back to New Jersey , Andrew Kadin was a second grader. Says Andy:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">I was 2 months past my seventh birthday and I was home from school sick on Friday, November 22, 1963. I remember lying on the couch in the living room in my pajamas watching some sort of ghost-comedy movie ("Topper"?) when the FlashBulletin screen appeared on the TV.<br />
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I vividly remember the announcer saying that shots were fired at the President's motorcade in Dallas but that no one was hurt. The movie returned and in a short time the Flash Bulletin screen was back and now the announcer spoke of people being hit. This went back and forth for a bit until a following bulletin first announced Kennedy was hit, perhaps fatally. The TV coverage was continuous now and next I remember the announcement that JFK had died.<br />
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I think my mother phoned my father at work and he may have come home early.<br />
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The next few days are fuzzy but I remember my father picking me up from Sunday school. The radio was on. That's when Oswald was shot.</blockquote>Fast-forward a few years. Andy and I met in 1967 and as youngsters, we both read many books and publications regarding the assassination. We had always promised that one day we would meet up in Dallas to test various theories and to visit specific locations now part of the assassination's history. <br />
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Those plans came to fruition on November, 2005. Both of us had plans to be in the Dallas area on business travel, and our long awaited historic summit occurred on November 16th when we met up at the Sixth Floor Museum, then spent the afternoon touring Dealey Plaza and the surrounding area, a boyhood promise fulfilled.<br />
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Andy and I have submitted our stories to the <a href="http://www.jfk.org/go/collections/oral-histories">JFK Oral History Project</a>, associated with the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas TX. We hope to be interviewed and recorded and have our story archived for posterity.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeSB6UJdlaoA9c86xZixG2-hMIDpZsqLDeqO5nI_khdi1ohPGSS0hdhDGhCTxuWMtLINZqjXcnAmz0M28fr8y-FmUFrPVz2KFEz2wCPEo6-H3F2LHABcS8472af3-gztFLVlpmWUyunkm/s1600/6thFloorOralHistory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeSB6UJdlaoA9c86xZixG2-hMIDpZsqLDeqO5nI_khdi1ohPGSS0hdhDGhCTxuWMtLINZqjXcnAmz0M28fr8y-FmUFrPVz2KFEz2wCPEo6-H3F2LHABcS8472af3-gztFLVlpmWUyunkm/s400/6thFloorOralHistory.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-36497623293418209002011-11-19T05:35:00.000-05:002011-11-19T05:35:38.139-05:00Guest Blogger: Abraham Lincoln<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnaKYAcBQ7iAevEP3p4QZGmZP1WLTHceyCRZX4ymUruP_SbmMWz0yfYEisMdRnDd1RGRkSSpegg012Z8SeC3zLXkF4HpwaxtNh5k5_tOeA2P2OSHQFz9PJIKbMuB4lefZA74Hzo8So6jH/s1600/LincolnGettysburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnaKYAcBQ7iAevEP3p4QZGmZP1WLTHceyCRZX4ymUruP_SbmMWz0yfYEisMdRnDd1RGRkSSpegg012Z8SeC3zLXkF4HpwaxtNh5k5_tOeA2P2OSHQFz9PJIKbMuB4lefZA74Hzo8So6jH/s200/LincolnGettysburg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>148 years ago today, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address as he dedicated a national cemetery at the site of the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania.<br />
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278 words.<br />
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Less is more:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.<br />
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Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.<br />
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But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.</blockquote>jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-19774458769577052982011-10-28T15:51:00.002-04:002011-10-28T15:56:18.484-04:00Washington Twp (Gloucester County) Mayoral DebateIn addition to the very important NJ State Legislature and County Freeholder elections on Tuesday, Washington Township, Gloucester County, will be holding a Mayoral election.<br />
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<i>(Disclosure: I have the unique distinction of having lived in two of the five(?) Washington Townships in New Jersey)</i><br />
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Notwithstanding the unfortunate headline juxtaposition on the front page of the <a href="http://www.nj.com/washington-township-times/index.ssf/2011/10/mayoral_hopefuls_agree_to_deba.html">Washington Township Times, for the benefit of Washington Twp residents, there will be a debate</a> between Mayoral hopefuls <a href="http://www.votekevinmurphy.com/">Kevin Murphy (R)</a> and <a href="http://barbaraawallace.com/">Barbara Wallace (D)</a>, in the Washington Twp Municipal Building on Egg Harbor Road, Tuesday, November 1, at 7:00pm.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">The one-hour debate will be held in the main council meeting room of the municipal building on Egg Harbor Road. The candidates will each respond to 10 questions – eight of which will come from the public, but not the audience. Murphy said they’ve established an email address – <a href="mailto:wtmayoraldebate11@gmail.com">wtmayoraldebate11@gmail.com</a> – where they’re asking the residents to submit questions. The questions must include the resident’s name, address and phone number in order to be considered.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbRL-J-K9e5Il7dzxUHpl8pVsUDyizYiQFOYT2QCeUWPYHuMSykrO-TrLtYCmpMQQYHOTc92W3Q2BGw_WHE5hPNVadiZ2Bh6fgWWOnWvSLj9X-0eLixo6OEecyjK9rMsGtSzyw2qduAaM/s1600/WT_Debate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbRL-J-K9e5Il7dzxUHpl8pVsUDyizYiQFOYT2QCeUWPYHuMSykrO-TrLtYCmpMQQYHOTc92W3Q2BGw_WHE5hPNVadiZ2Bh6fgWWOnWvSLj9X-0eLixo6OEecyjK9rMsGtSzyw2qduAaM/s640/WT_Debate.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
See you there, and don't forget to VOTE on Tuesday, November 8.jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140931290525233915.post-84274960408641996202011-10-23T09:14:00.001-04:002011-10-23T10:08:46.929-04:00Election? What Election?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUux-6mnwAHpoM7ArGAMpzHeEGLS_DxGzD9ejHtBgZFVsahpOwVeVX7VWbjIjfMERhlvgcIzGGWd6uHUsaSlm6AyMuX-Uw7RB2RuH_SJl0K6iQnWBa3KSGZTySgripAPuO0dsuVjQtUnD0/s1600/statehouse_chamber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUux-6mnwAHpoM7ArGAMpzHeEGLS_DxGzD9ejHtBgZFVsahpOwVeVX7VWbjIjfMERhlvgcIzGGWd6uHUsaSlm6AyMuX-Uw7RB2RuH_SJl0K6iQnWBa3KSGZTySgripAPuO0dsuVjQtUnD0/s200/statehouse_chamber.jpg" width="200" /></a>This is the question I get all too often when I talk about the upcoming NJ State Legislature elections on November 8, 2011.<br />
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It's not surprising. Most people who bother to vote pay attention to even-numbered years, when we vote for US House, US Senate, and, every four years, US President. It's different here in New Jersey, where state elections are held in odd-numbered years. Our gubernatorial election is the year after the presidential election, which draws some attention.<br />
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Unfortunately, the non-gubernatorial odd-numbered year is a black hole of voter awareness in New Jersey.<br />
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The NJ State Senate and Assembly candidates who are "walking", knocking on doors, have a two-fold task: They are asking for votes, and more often than not, they must explain what office they are running for, and that the election is <i>this year</i>, not next year.<br />
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There are approximately 1.7 million registered Democrats in the state of New Jersey. I wonder how many of them know there is an election here in less than three weeks? How many of them drive past yard signs without notice?<br />
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So, mark your calendar, November 8, 2011, and remind your friends that, however entertaining the 2012 Republican freak show my be, 2011 is not an off year in New Jersey. We have an election <i><b>this year</b></i>, and we need to vote.jeffpickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03869938392953942924noreply@blogger.com3