Weekly Mail, February 17, 2019

Happy President's Weekend!


This is one of my favorite times of the year believe it or not. We managed to slog through the first 6 weeks since New Year's Day. The post holiday blues are dissipating if not gone and we are closer to the beginning of spring. Football is over, pitchers and catchers have reported, the playoff races in hockey and basketball are heating up and March Madness is right around the corner. Many of us get a three day weekend and a lot of us get a week off. (I don't this year, but I have the past 3).  We're not out of the woods yet weather wise, but the threat of a massive snow that sticks around for weeks is gone.

I don't know, I just really enjoy this time of year.

Anywho onto the week that was.


BUSINESS: Amazon leaves Queens in the dust.


I have gone so back and forth on this not only since Amazon announced they were not going to build their new headquarters in Long Island City, but actually when they first announced they were.

I liked the idea of one of America's most successful companies coming to my old neighborhood. I didn't like that they were getting massive tax breaks to move here. I like the idea of 25,000 new jobs being added to the local economy, I didn't like the idea of the 7 train being more crowded than ever. (Even though I hardly ever ride it anymore, that's still my train dammit). I like the idea of property values going up but not the idea that I couldn't afford to live there (I realize that's quite a paradox.)

Shoot even choosing a political side was difficult. Do I side with The Dope from Park Slope and Angry Andrew Cuomo, or Captain America herself, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. AOC was on the Take These Jobs and Shove 'em side, while TDFPS and Angry Andy were the ones who proposed the massive tax breaks for a trillion dollar company.

Both sides have valid arguments. Shoot, I'll even give AOC some props. Use that tax money to improve schools, pay teachers fix the subways etc. That's what she was saying, and I think she's right. Do I think for one second any of that stuff is going to happen?  Not bloody likely.

And that's why my gut tells me that Amazon not coming to NY was bad news.

Look, I love the idea of the Mom and Pop stores, the successful small businesses, but I'm not going to lie, I use Amazon to do a ton of shopping. I haven't had a bad expirence with them yet, and they aren't going anywhere. I think they are only going to get bigger and create more jobs and more revenue, so why shouldn't NY be a part of that. No I don't think they should get any tax breaks. Few things burn my ass more than the thought that James Dolan, the scumbag owner of Madison Square Garden gets massive tax breaks from the city and state, but Amazon is one company who I believe would use those breaks for the betterment of the area. Most corporations pocket that cash, Amazon would reinvest it. Again, that's just my gut talking.

Anyway, for now Jeff Bezos gets to cheat on his wife in Seattle and not in Long Island City. Too bad.



RELIGION: Perv Priest List

Friday afternoon, the Brooklyn diocese released a list of 108 priests who were "credibly accused" of sexual abuse. I knew more of these priests than I almost care to admit.

To be clear: I was never touched by any priest inappropriately. If I was, I'd call 'em out right here on line. For the most part, I've had positive experiences with the priests I've dealt with. Some of them were nasty to me as a kid, but never physical.

I saw a couple of people on Facebook the other day say that the priest that married them was on the list. (The priest that married Tara and I was too busy partying with the paparazzi at Elaine's to be involved in any of that $h-t, but I digress). I'm sure most of you who grew up with me would recognize some of the names.

The scary thing? These are only the names the diocese are releasing. Most of these guys are dead and buried. I bet my bottom dollar there are many more from where these came from.

And the shame of it all? I mean besides the obvious, is that a good priest can do wonders, I still believe that. Fr. James Hansen here in RVC, the priest who did my father in law's funeral, has been wonderful. There are good ones out there.

But ever since I read Jimmy Breslin's book The Church That Forgot Christ, and now seeing this list, it's really hard to see it.


AVIATION: What not to say on a flight...

It was August 21, 2001.

Myself, Karl (the Ace) Ludwig and Ace's brother Keith were waiting to get on a plane at New Orleans International Airport heading home after three days of carousing in the Big Easy. It was 96 degrees with 1000% humidity, and we were nursing ripping hangovers. We seemed to be standing in the jetway forever, and the three of us idiots began cracking jokes. I came out with the line from Airplane II, "Would everyone please move to the back of the plane who is not carrying a bomb!" Karl was doing George Carlin's airplane routine. "In the unlikely event of a water landing.... Now what exactly constitutes a water landing? Is it just me or does water landing sound an awful lot like Crashing into the ocean!"  

The people around us were giggling. Everyone knew we were goofing off No one gave it a second thought.

Exactly three weeks later, 9/11 happened.

It's been 16.5 years. And it's still way too soon.

Nathalie Tremblay found that out the hard way.

The 53 year old Canadian woman was boarding an Air Canada flight in Ft. Lauderdale last Tuesday when a flight attendant inquired about a black bag in an overhead bin. When the flight attendant asked whose bag it was, Tremblay answered "There's a bomb in it."

This caused the flight attendant to report to the captain, who had the plane evacuated, the terminal closed and the authorities called in.

Tremblay's boyfriend, clearly the smarter of the two, told her not to make jokes like that, but it was too late.

Tremblay was arrested and charged with one count of making a false bomb threat.

I'm not looking for this dimwit to do hard time or anything. But jeez how stupid can you be?

Here is linked to WPTV's West Palm Beach story

https://www.wptv.com/news/state/womans-stupid-joke-about-bomb-on-fll-flight-leads-to-arrest-bso


I normally like to end these posts with a goofball story like that, but I would be remiss if I didn't express my sorrow over the death of Detective Brian Simonsen in the line of duty Tuesday evening. To all my family and friends who are cops, thank you for keeping us safe and please be careful.


Thank you.

Enjoy your President's Day Weekend