A Thanksgiving Message 2019

I've seen fire and I've seen rain,
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,
But I always thought that I'd see you again....

- James Taylor

Several years ago, my uncle passed away. He was a jolly, upbeat person who everyone loved. Although we didn't get together as often as maybe we should have, I always enjoyed his company. So, when he left this world, it was a big loss for everyone who had the pleasure of ever meeting him.

During his viewing, a family friend brought his guitar and played a rendition of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain". I had heard the song many times before. I always thought is was a nice song but it never really struck an emotional chord for me. But when our friend started to play the opening notes with our uncle laying motionless behind him, the emotion could be felt throughout the entire room. It was a beautiful moment. When he sang the last line of the chorus, it took everything I had to hold back the tears. I finally got what the song was all about.

This morning, for some unknown reason, I picked up my acoustic guitar and started to play the classic James Taylor tune. As I strummed the chords to the chorus,  I instinctively reflected on the family and friends that I have lost in recent years. I felt an instant rush of emotion that gave way to a subtle smile. A simple thing, but so powerful.

As we go through life, we meet many people. Some are family, some are friends. But they all touch us in their own unique way. As the years go by, our interactions and exchanges transition into precious memories. With each recurring encounter, we seldom consider that the next encounter may never come. Sadly, tomorrow is never guaranteed. That's why its so important to live life to the fullest and try to embellish the lives of everyone around you. And if you happen to meet a stranger who doesn't have a smile, be generous and give them yours. We all have friends out there who we have yet to meet...

On this day of giving thanks, be sure to remember all of those important people in your life, past and present. Be thankful for all of the good times that you have shared and will continue to share. And try to set aside your differences and appreciate the things that unite us and make us happy.

And last but certainly not least, please remember the troops and first responders who work hard today and every day to keep us safe and secure.

Happy Thanksgiving!

kw

Perils of the Modern Business World

There are many different reasons why a start-up company becomes successful. The ability to make a presence in today's market place requires ingenuity, vision and effective marketing. And sometimes, a bit of luck can factor into the the equation too. But the key to maintaining a successful business can often be a little more tricky...

To stay successful, a company needs to recognize the evolution of it's business. Many companies respond to these changes. However, the most successful companies have the foresight to proactively make the changes that will keep them in a lead position of the never-ending race. No company, despite how beloved or iconic, is exempt from failure when they ignore the necessity to innovate and renew.

One the first companies that comes to mind is Blockbuster Video (For you youngsters out there, Blockbuster was a brick-and-mortar store where you could rent your favorite movie or video game. As hard as it might be to fathom, you actually had to get off of the couch and physically go to the store to obtain your rental). With the streaming business on the horizon, it was Blockbuster who chose to sit on the couch while Netflix bulldozed it's way to the top of the online video business. Ironically, in 2000, Netflix proposed an idea to Blockbuster to run their online business. Blockbuster turned it down and blindly coasted to their peak in 2004. Today, Netflix is a multi-billion dollar success story while Blockbuster is down to it's last dying breath in the form of it's lone store in Bend, Oregon.

And remember when Kodak trademarked their "moment"? Well, like most good things, it too has passed. With every increasing mega-pixel, Kodak watched the demand on their traditional film supply rapidly give way to the digital age. Perhaps the most puzzling thing about Kodak's demise is that the first digital camera was invented by Steve Sasson, (drum roll please), a Kodak engineer! Although it was right on their doorstep, the leaders of Kodak failed to see the looming revolution of digital photography. I still have one of their old Kodak Disk camera's buried in my basement somewhere. I wonder what it would fetch on Ebay?

Sears is another troubled company that personally saddens me. I have been shopping here since I was a young boy. I bought my first pair of Levis here (after I outgrew my Tough-Skins, of course). Sears also supplied me with my first retail credit card (I'm still a cardholder today). But I guess the writing was one the wall when the "Made In China" inscription began to appear on my beloved "all-American" Craftsman hand tools. Subsequently, Sears leadership failed to recognize the threat of "inferior" discount stores like Walmart. More and more Sears stores close every year. Although I see it as inevitable, I can't imagine a world without Sears.

And America Online.. Yes, I personally invested and lost my ass on this one. I am one of the few remaining people in the western hemisphere to still have an AOL email account. I'm a traditionalist, what can I say?

The US Postal Service is a hard one to figure out. Although it loses billions of dollars every year, it somehow remains afloat. It's like the Titanic with an adequate supply of life boats.  There have been several dramatic ideas over recent years of how to turn the ship around. But none have gained any traction up to this point. The USPS differs from the traditional companies as it's a quasi-government agency. And with the Post Office having the third highest civilian work force in the US, can it be one of those entities that truly is too big too fail? Stay tuned on this one...

Perhaps the closet to my heart are the countless record stores that suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of the digital download. It was a right of passage to to make the trek to your favorite record/tape/CD sore and thumb through the latest releases. Although the instant attainability of a digital copy is attractive, it also destroyed an American tradition. I'm not sure places like Sam Goody and Tower Records ever had a fair chance to compete. With the introduction of Napster and then the discounted downloads of Amazon, it would have taken a marketing version of Einstein to save their sinking ship. But, with all of this being said. I will always cherish that moment of leaving the record store with my first copy of "Cat Scratch Fever". The looks, the mumbling and at least one unexpected reference to Charles Manson. You just can't get those reactions with a digital download....

kw

A Drive Down Hanover Street

As I made my way into Baltimore City on a recent summer morning, I couldn't help but notice the many peculiar sights that greeted me along my way. It was reminiscent of a gritty drama that you might see on late night TV. But, aside from the occasional "will work for food" panhandler, there were no actors here. This was real life....

As I approached the city/county line, I noticed a guy walking with a sign in one hand and a leash in the other. The sign read "Free To Good Home" and the other end of the leash was a attached to a large pit bull. The guy seemed oblivious to the traffic as he and the dog walked effortlessly between the moving cars.

As I passed Gonce's Funeral Home, two cars ignored the lane directions and proceeded to cut me off as I made my way onto Hanover Street. There was a time that I would have flipped them or unleashed a profanity-laced tirade. But over the years, I've learned to take the "no harm, no foul" approach on these things. It's just not worth it....

A few seconds later, I pass the former site of Gunning's Crab House. Once a bustling restaurant that supplied steamed crabs to the masses, it has since been demolished. In a brief moment of nostalgia, I fight the urge to roll down the window to catch the scent of Old Bay coming off of the steaming crabs. But all that remains today are the memories and an empty lot on which Brooklyn's iconic crab house once stood.

As I move along, I see an open-air drug market in full action. It makes me think of the HBO series "The Wire" which was actually based on Baltimore's illegal street activity. Gathered on the stoop of a corner row-home, a group of young men tend to their customers. Cars pull up to the house like it was a McDonald's drive-thru. Everyone involved in the transaction seems to be oblivious to the passing traffic and other activity around them.

About a block ahead, I see what appears to be a prostitute trying to catch the attention of passing motorists. The woman, whom I guess to be in her mid-40's, flashes a half-smile which reveals a set of of neglected teeth. Using her body to raise money for drugs, which in turn will destroy her body, seems like a cruel twist on the cycle of life. But nonetheless, she eventually finds a potential customer. She jumps into the passenger seat and the car turns onto Patapsco Avenue where the two will ultimately find a romantic spot to consummate their business transaction.

Sitting at the red light at the intersection of Hanover and Patapsco, I glance across the street to see what used to be a corner market. It is now a vacant building that keeps company with the adjacent abandoned structures on the block. Next door used to be a shoe store (Allen's Shoes?). This place remained there for much of the neighborhood's downturn. But like most other Brooklyn staples, it left only an empty shell of itself behind.

Across the street on the other corner is a large building where Sunny's Surplus once conducted business. It now appears to be a take-out place that supplies fried food to the community. There is a large sign on the building which says "Chicken Fish N' Chips". It seems to be a popular place as I can see people munching on various fried items as they gather at a nearby bus-stop. Responsible trash disposal appears to be optional as I see a woman casually toss a greasy paper bag onto the sidewalk. Ironically, there's a trash can just a few away from where's she's standing.

As I near the end of my drive and prepare to turn onto Maude Avenue, I glance up at the old Brooklyn Bowling site. It sat atop the large Shiller's Furniture store. You entered the bowling alley on the street level and had to walk up several flights of stairs to get to the lanes. It was a place where neighborhood kids would gather on weekends to converse and compete in a few games of duckpin bowling (it's a Baltimore thing). I am still friends with many of the people that I used to bowl with here. So, it always holds a special place in my childhood memories.

The only two sites that are still operating at they did 40 years ago are two bars, one next door to the bowling alley entrance and the other across the street on the corner of Hanover and Maude. I guess bars and liquor stores are a bit like cockroaches in the sense that they'll always be the last thing standing, no matter how bad things get.

Over the past few decades, things have changed dramatically in this area. Hanover Street, in particular, used to be a bustling area with thriving small businesses. It had all the things you would expect on an American "main street". There was a hardware store, a movie theater, two crab houses, sub/pizza shop (with pinball machines), two bait/tackle shops, a shoe store, a bank, a Chinese carry-out and, of course, several bars. It was never a rich neighborhood but it was working-class proud. Sadly, as I witnessed first-hand on my ride through, it has since been replaced with images of abandonment and hopelessness.....

kw

The Davis Dilemma Continues

It was hard to absorb the mass exodus of our favorite Oriole players last season. We said good-bye to the dynamic duo of Machado and Schoop. We dealt Zack Britton to those dreaded Yanks. And perhaps the hardest to absorb was the decision to cut ties with fan favorite, Adam Jones.

But, as enjoyable as baseball can be, it's ultimately a business at the Major League level. Unless you're the Yankees, you simply can not pay out the money to keep a team of great players together for a very long time. It's a bit frustrating. You groom a player from farm to table. Then when he eventually becomes a great player in the Big Show, you can't afford him anymore.  

With all of this being said, I find it a bit ironic that the only Oriole "super-star" that remained after the dust settled was Chris Davis. It seems just like yesterday that "Crush" was mashing baseballs like a bag of Idaho potatoes. But similar to an aging rock star, Davis has fallen on some hard times. Over the past three seasons, he has batted a dismal .221, .215 and .168. If I'm not mistaken, last year's .168 ranks as the lowest average in MLB history (for those with sufficient at-bats to qualify). To add to the perplexity, Davis is in the fourth year of a 7-year, $161 million contract. To say that the Orioles are not getting a decent return on their investment would be a vast understatement.

Entering today's game, Davis hasn't had a hit in his last 38 at-bats (going back to Sept. 15 of last season). During those 38 plate appearances, he has struck out an astounding 29 times. For all you baseball trivia buffs, the all-time record for hit-less at-bats is 46 which was set in 2010 by Eugenio Velez. Baltimore's former masher is now within a couple games of breaking this infamous accomplishment.

So, how does a guy go from being a bonafide slugger to this? It certainly doesn't appear to be a physical thing as Davis looks to be in great shape. So, my guess is that it's mostly a mental issue. By this, I am certainly not questioning Davis' intelligence. But in any high pressure situation, such as making contact with a 90 mph slider, mental concentration is pushed to the utmost limit. As you progressively fall short on your goals, the gears in your mind spin progressively faster to make the necessary adjustments. And when the results continue to be unsatisfactory, frustration has the tendency to overcome you. Your thought process becomes clouded because of the countless things racing through your mind. I don't know, maybe Dr. Phil can offer some suggestions.

Although the fans have voiced their discontent of Davis' recent performance, I can't help but feel really bad for the guy. Can you imagine the pressure this guy is under? Every time he steps to the plate, he can probably feel the criticism. Yes, he's making a ton of money, But from an emotional standpoint, ironically, that probably makes it worse for him. He knows that he's being paid a lot of money to perform. I'm sure that he's also aware of the fact that he's not fulfilling the latter end of that deal. 

In the end, I hope Davis can somehow pull out of this extended slump. If he can somehow figure things out and start launching missiles over the centerfield wall again, the fans will quickly forget about the past few years. 

kw

The Not-So-Great Smollett Hoax

Well, it looks like the cat is finally out of the bag on Jussie Smollett's fake "hate crime". When this thing was initially reported, I immediately sensed a distinct aroma of liberal bullshit. A noose, bleach, "MAGA country" ramblings, etc. Come on, could this thing be any more orchestrated?

Honestly, I had never even heard of Jussie Smollett before this story went down. Maybe that's because I've never watched an episode of "Empire". But Smollett has definitely made a name for himself now. They say that any publicity is good publicity. But the jury's still out on that one. Smollett, who is now charged with felony disorderly conduct, will have to do some serious spinning to come out of this one looking good. 

Even with these latest developments, many on the left will still defend Smollett. I expect to hear how he fabricated his story to expose a bigger problem in our society. Many will view him as "sacrificing everything" for his cause (By the way, remember when Colin Kaepernick sacrificed "everything". That was, of course, before he got a reported $60 million pay-out from the NFL). This is just another example of how the political gears of our society turn. If it's your guy or your cause, the end ultimately justifies the means. In layman terms, this is known as throwing a bunch of shit against the wall to see what sticks.

What I find most ironic about Smollett's stunt is that is was intended to paint Trump supporters as racists and himself as the victim. But in reality, he screwed the pooch in more ways than one. First off, Trump is always reminding us of the "fake news". Well, Smollet just gift wrapped a perfect example for him. Before the media investigated anything, they immediately ran with their predictable narrative. It's similar to the way they pick and choose which cop-shooting stories to run. Secondly, if one has to actively seek out and fabricate a "hate-crime", is racism really as bad as the media wants us to believe? Was oppression so bad for Smollett that he had to hire two Nigerians to "oppress" him? 

I am certainly not saying that racism does not exist. It does. And it's wrong. However, making up a story as Smollett did, serves no useful purpose in resolving anything. It only serves to set things back even further. As a result. Smollett's antics will now cast inevitable skepticism on any future "hate crimes". In essence, he sabotaged his own cause.

This whole thing was a powder keg that had the potential to explode at any moment. People could have gotten hurt or even killed over an incident that never actually happened. And for what? Apparently, Smollett was unhappy with the salary he was receiving as an actor on "Empire". So. he recklessly tried to fuel racial tensions in a lame attempt to boost his career. As a result, he is now facing three years in jail. Probably not the best move for career advancement.

A few additional things to note....

A year or so ago, Rosanne Barr was forced off of her show for an alleged racist tweet she made. Not only did Rosanne create the show, but it also happened to be the hottest show on TV at the time. So, she obviously paid a hefty price for her actions. So, will Smollett's racially motivated actions be as damaging to him?

Smollett's legal team recently said their client deserves the presumption of innocence. Fair enough. But it wasn't that long ago, according to reports, that Smollett had commented on how then Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh should not be granted presumption of innocence on charges of sexual misconduct. I guess things are different when the shoe is on the left foot?

If this incident was indeed staged, can Smollett  himself be charged with a self-inflicted hate crime? Inquiring minds want to know...

The premeditation of this whole incident is what's most compelling to me. Knowing that the media salivates over stories like this, Smollett fed the beast and they ate it up. Thinking that he could actually get away with it seems kind of ludicrous at this point. But nice try....

kw

Super Bowl 53 Ramblings

So, here we are, on the dawn of another Super Bowl. There was a time, not so long ago, when I used to really look forward to this day every year. Whether I was hosting the party or I was joining friends somewhere else, it was always a festive occasion. Not so much anymore...

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't interested in tonight's game. After all, Tom Brady will potentially cement his place in history (again!) as the greatest NFL quarterback of all time. He's exciting to watch. Remember that comeback against the Falcons in Super Bowl 51? That was nothing short of spectacular! Sure Brady's got a lot of critics, but I think it has more to do with jealousy than anything else. I mean the guy has everything anyone could ever want: money, fame, success, beautiful wife, etc. I used to hear Raven fans try to elevate QB Joe Flacco by saying "all the guy does is win". That claim would be a vast understatement when it comes to Brady.

Tonight's match-up boils down to the old versus the new. You've got an aging but experienced Brady/Bellechick team taking on the young, hungry Rams led by QB Jared Goff and 33-year-old head coach Sean McVay. It should be an interesting contest.

By the way, am I the only one who likes the old Patriots uniforms of the 80's better than the modern ones?

I have dinner plans this evening, so I really don't plan on watching the game. Although, if it happens to be on, I'll likely glance at it every now and then to check the score. After all, I do have a few football pools for the game.

I don't feel the need to rehash the reasons that I don't watch much football anymore. Some friends agree with me, others don't. That's fine, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

With this being said, there is a potential controversy brewing over the halftime show. There is pressure on Maroon 5 and others to "make a statement" during their acts to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick's "knee campaign". No one has revealed if anything will be done or not. But I suspect that we'll see some form of protest. I think most people have become somewhat numb to it and will generally just ignore whatever the statement-du-jour happens to be.

I remember a Super Bowl a few years ago where Beyonce made her whole half-time act a political statement. As expected, it inspired/angered equally. I happened to be in the latter end of that group. I personally like to see politics left out of my music and sports. Of course, music can be a lot trickier because it's often fueled by politics. I get it. But the divisiveness is what really turns me off. As the old Coca-Cola commercial used to say, "I'd like the teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..." I know it's a pipe dream but it's still a nice thought.

Anyway, enjoy the game if you happen to be watching it. For what it's worth, my random prediction is Patriots 38 Rams 24.

kw

My Introduction to Politics

Well, the big mid-term election is finally behind us. And while both sides claim victory to some extent, one thing is certain: there will be two more years of bickering leading up to the 2020 Presidential election.

I am not here to lecture you on what's right or wrong with today's politics. I am not going to change your views. And you're probably not going to change mine. So, what do you say we just kick back over a cup of our favorite beverages and I'll tell you a story about how I was introduced to politics at a very young age.

It all started sometime back in the middle '70's in a small town in North Carolina. Most of my relatives on my Dad's side lived in this area, so we were making our visitation rounds.I honestly had never met most of them. I would later find out that many of these strangers were actually my second or third cousins. And there were a lot of them. I quickly learned that southern folks were very efficient at reproducing.

We eventually ended up at one of my Dad's distant aunt's house. We went inside and started the awkward introduction process. I soon met a boy about my own own age. He might have been a cousin but I can't really remember. But anyway, he invited me out back to check out his tree house. I was instantly intrigued. As a young city boy, I had heard about tree houses but I didn't know they really existed. Now, I was about to actually step foot in one.

We exited the main house and made our way back to a dense patch of woods. I was wearing a relatively new pair of Jack Purcell's. The thought of trampling through the soft, damp ground and ruining them made me a bit uneasy. But nonetheless, the opportunity to experience a real life tree house could not be squandered.

As we entered the woods, we came upon a small stream. This was also something new to me. The closet thing we had to a stream in Baltimore was a storm drain. So, my new friend (I'll call him Jim-Bob) proceeded to show me how beneficial a natural stream could be. He cupped his hands and gathered up some water. To my surprise, he then put it up to his lips and drank it. He suggested that I do the same. I declined by telling him that I was more of a Pepsi man.

Without missing a beat, he then turned up a large rock and extracted a small creature from beneath it. It turned out to be a crawfish. I had never seen one of these. He offered to let me hold it but I declined. For some reason, he then started to taunt me with it. He pretended to set it on my shoulder. Then he tried to put it down the back of my shirt. I flinched to get away from the little crustacean and the bigger psychopath. This should have been a sign to leave the woods immediately and go back to the city.

Anyway, he eventually got bored and returned the crawfish to the stream. He motioned for me to follow him deeper into the woods.I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive. Crazy thoughts began to run through my mind. The fact that I had recently seen "Deliverance" certainly didn't help things. But, for whatever reason,  I decided to venture on.

Before long, I could see the tree house. It was nestled about twenty feet high in a large oak tree. As we made our way closer, Jim-Bob made me even more uncomfortable when he pulled out a medium-sized pocket knife. He picked up a small twig and began to carve at it. It was really strange. Why would he pull out a knife at this very moment?  I mean, I had seen this kind of thing on "Little House on the Prairie" but Jim-Bob definitely wasn't one of the Ingalls.

So, I gathered up whatever courage I had left and followed him to the oak tree. There was a makeshift ladder that led up to the bottom entrance to the tree house. Jim-Bob invited me to go up first. Since I was a husky boy, I was concerned that the ladder would not support my weight. But I figured, it was probably better to die from a fall than to have Jim-Bob carve me into a Jack-o-Lantern.

I carefully climbed the ladder, grasping each rung as tightly as possible. I made it all the way to the top without incident and then I pulled myself up on to the deck of tree house. As I surveyed the the surrounding area from 20 feet in the air, I experienced a much-needed moment of comfort. But it was short-lived as Jim-Bob began to pull himself onto the deck.

He invited me to have a seat. So, we both sat facing each other from opposite corners of the tree house. We had a random conversation while he continued to widdle away at the twig. It was definitely making me uncomfortable and I think he could sense it. He confirmed by belief by asking, "Am I making you nervous?"

I had developed very early as a bonafide smart-ass. So, instead of answering him with a simple yes or no, I replied, "No, not all. Why would I be nervous about sitting in a remote tree house with a knife-wielding stranger?"

He just laughed and said, "We're not strangers. We're 5th cousins."

And, I know it took a while to get to this point, but this is where my introduction to politics was born. Jim-Bob then switched gears on me and asked, "So, are you a Democrat or Republican?"

I scratched my head my head and replied, "I'm ten years old. I have no idea."

"Well, you gotta be one. So, go ahead and pick," he replied.

I explained that I didn't really know the difference between the two. And then I tried to change the subject to baseball or something. But he wasn't having any of it. He was insistent that I pick one. Then, things really went to the dark side when he said, "You know, if we're from opposing parties, I could kill you right here and it would be totally justified."

Did I just hear this guy right? Now, my mind really started racing. Could I take this guy, even though he was armed with a knife? Could I overpower him and toss him out of the tree house? And then, would the fall be enough to hobble him long enough so I could make a run towards the main house? Pretty heavy stuff for a 10-year-old to comprehend, huh?

Although Jim-Bob may have been better versed at surviving on stream water and stabbing squirrels with a pocket knife, I had city smarts. So, I turned the game around on him and asked, "So, let me ask you, are you a Democrat or that other thing?"

"I'm a Democrat, just like my Daddy," he spontaneously replied.

Unknowingly, Jim-Bob had taken the bait and revealed his hand. Seizing the moment, I said, "Me too! Damn, you really had me worried there for a minute. I thought you were gonna say you were that other thing."

Feeling like I had just dodged a bullet (or more specifically, the dirty blade of a pocketknife), I breathed a sigh of relief. I then took that opportunity to make my escape announcement.

"Hey, Jim-Bob, it's really been a blast. Your tree house is bad-ass.. But I gotta get back to the house. My parents are gonna be leaving soon", I said.

To my surprise, he casually got up and said, "Yeah, I reckon we should be getting back." 

We made both made our way out of the tree house and through the woods towards the main house. As I looked down, I noticed that my Jack Purcell's were covered in semi-dried mud. But I really didn't care. Whether I was Democrat or Republican, I was just happy to be making it out of the woods alive......


Epilogue

My intent was not to take a political shot at either party. I'm just telling you about the non-conventional way that I was introduced to politics. But since you're probably wondering.... I registered as a Democrat at the age of 18 for no other reason than "that's what my Daddy was". I remained a Democrat until I was about 30 years. At that time of my life, I started paying more attention to the issues and realized that I aligned more with the Republican party. So, I switched over and have been a member of the GOP ever since. However, I always welcome a spirited debate and try to approach things with an open mind. Even if it happens to be in a tree house in North Carolina....