NOBODY ASKED ME - BUT

I truly believe in the importance of voting and did so again recently.

My vote went to the Independent candidate who received 4% of the vote- versus the 5% needed to suggest our Florida two-party system is inadequate.

If the two nominees for Governor were the best choices our two leading political parties could come up with - am I wrong in concluding that neither party really gives a damn about what's best for the Florida voters?

Who vetted these two guys? Bernie Madoff?
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The media  - particularly USA Today - continue to dwell on the alleged political incorrectness of The Washington Redskins in refusing to change it's name.

Recently, columnist Nancy Armour reminded us that the issue is still a high priority "sports" issue because:

      The number of the people still SUPPORTING the name Redskins
      is shrinking from a "1992" polled 89%  to 71%  in September,
      2014 - a decrease of 18% over a 22 year period - in which I'm
      sure nothing else of particular interest or change took place.

      Armour failed to breakdown how many of the allegedly 3500
      "protestors" at Washington's last game were actually Native
      Americans  - and how many were there for the sole purpose
      of scalping tickets for the game.  (OOPS!)
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In the last couple of years, the board of the Augusta Golf Club - site of the annual Masters tournament - in a concession to the "pressure of the press" added females to their previously all male membership list.

With the 2015 Masters coming up in a few months ,can we now fully expect a media push demanding that, out of fairness -  the number of female members should more closely reflect the state of Georgia's male-female populace breakdown?

And, if so, should we be surprised - that their next demand will be for one of those female members - former Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice - to be  appointed to the board of  the club?

One assumes that would be as opposed to her being relegated to playing piano during the Sunday Brunch.
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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported early in the week that Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin is concerned about a possible letdown by his team when they go on the road to play the "one win - eight loss ''Jets", this Sunday - following winning their last three games in spectacular fashion.

Tomlin apparently fears an "intensity" breakdown similar to that which occurred when the Steelers caved in to the notoriously dangerous Tampa Bay Buccaneers one week after a brilliant team victory.

Is there anybody out there old enough to remember when making sure that doesn't happen - used to be the responsibility of the Coach?

Pehaps the reason for him voicing his concern so early is that, in the event of another spectacular "El-Foldo" by his team- and he is asked to explain  by the post game sports reporters - his prepared reply would logically be : "Hey, I warned you guys this might happen!"
_____________________________________

OK, I'm done!

Never should have quit smoking.

ANDY HARDY REDUX - "ON A ROLL!"

I can only assume that the Steelers management and coaches got together this past weekend - put their pocket change in a pile - and started a beer fund that would keep the screenwriters for last Monday night's game from leaving the park prior to the second half - thus keeping us from sitting on the edge of our seats as we did the previous Monday night.

Look! You got to admit this is getting scary!

We got two consecutive games of good football from the 2014 Steelers. What comes next, the Pirates end up with the highest MLB payroll in 2015?

A little history here.

I finished a tongue in cheek blog early this past Sunday morning - asking for a little screenwriting help for the Steelers in their game against the Indianapolis Colts later that afternoon. And then starting at about 4:35 or so - all Hell breaks loose at Heinz Field for our victorious Steelers.

Here are just a few examples:

A tall rookie receiver - who apparently was not ready to play prior to last week - catches his 3rd TD pass in two games.

Roethlisberger, the QB to whom I referred as possibly lacking mobility this year  - breaks a passing record for QB's by having his second 500 yard game - and throws 6 touchdowns w/o an interception in the process.

Our Defensive front helped by several judicious blitz packages launches a "ferocious attack" against our opponent, the Indianapolis Colts - the likes of which we haven't seen since Mickey Rooney was a KID.

Our Offensive Line strategy lacked only "a moat" filled with Tiger sharks as a sure fire plausible method of protecting our QB - who had enough time during the game to autograph the footballs with the signature "BBR - 500(2)" before heaving them.

One veteran back - not named Polamolu, (GAY) - actually intercepted the opponents pass - and ran it back for a touchdown.

Another new defensive back gave a tutorial to Cortez Allen on how you can actually keep track of the opposing receiver and still track the ball sufficiently so as to intercept it.

True, there were some lingering memories from the Steelers first 7 games - as well as some necessary follow-up questions?

Will the Steelers always be assessed more penalty yards than the opposing team?
(Where are the old Oakland Raiders when you need them?)

Could someone please explain the hands-in- the- face penalty to me - and are you allowed to call it against both teams - or is that part of a pre-game referee strategy that presumably is accompanied by secret handshakes?

Those two former Steelers who we let go and then re-signed? What were the Steelers feeding them last Sunday and whom do we thank for their visionary prowess?

And a few less specific questions:

Can somebody please explain - in detail - what caused this team to do such an about-face against a team that had just won 5 straight?

Can we expect to see this type of play by the Steelers next Sunday against the Ravens?

If and when the screen writers who assisted the Steelers game plan last Monday, and again this Sunday, become "free agents"  will somebody in the Steeler's organization please promise to find a way to fit their salaries under the cap?

With the success these guys had last Sunday in writing a new and even better follow-up script for the 2014 Steelers, one can safely assume the Pittsburgh Police blocked all exits leading out of town immediately after the game..

 Perhaps those guys (and gals?) can be found holed up in the old William Penn Hotel - drinking a few free beers to the tinkling of a piano by the ghost of Oscar Levant as they write screenplays for sequels to "The Great Gatsby" "Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca".

After Sunday's Steeler performance they can erase the name Andy Hardy from their memories - as well as their "curriculum vitaes".

These guys are clearly "on a roll!"

WE'LL MISS ANDY HARDY!

Another Steeler Football game has arrived. First, let's talk about the one last Monday night.

Perhaps some of you are old enough to be familiar with the old Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland "Andy Hardy" films?  If so, you'll recall a plot line in several of them that went something like this:

(Mickey) "Hey, I've got an idea. Let's hold a bake sale (or put on a play - or sell apples and cumquats - or clean up the barn and hold a dance , etc)  - so we can raise enough money for dear old Mrs. Mooney, and she can avoid getting kicked out of her home by that mean banker, Mr. Miserly".

This year a Steelers fan may well wonder if the Steeler owners (different Rooneys) and their management team and players, haven't also devised a similarly "well researched" plan for 2014 football success.

I make no claim for any prescient football wisdom nor illusions of grandeur regarding the extent of my football knowledge.

Despite that, I continue:

Most NFL teams have a downward spiral occasionally, but here are some  possibilities for the second half of the Steelers season; if a few things pan out for them:

They made a few good draft choices this year after a 16/16 record the past two seasons. Their discerning  decisions on the acquisition of available free agents prove to work out. They hired some new good coaches. They will see increased positive development of latent player skills. They will encounter a continuing stream of good luck (like last Monday). They will take advantage of their more  advantageous schedule resulting from the NFL's desire for team parity. They get together and make a decision in the second half of the season to obtain a more cohesive approach to building momentum from the few positive performance of players they currently have under contract.

OK? But, the most important one in my mind is: "Hire more more good screenwriters" - and pay them well!

Let's explore the screenwriter scenario option play (a little pun, if you will)

When you have:
- one good quarterback whose mobility is fading.
- a safety who is HOF material, but is slowing down.
- only one proven good receiver ( who for some unfathomable reason
  you are convinced is your best choice to run back punts against special
  teams who will do almost anything legal or illegal for a chance to be
  promoted from the practice squad).
- one established successful young running back/receiver.
-  a  veteran tight end whose name and number has apparently been removed
  from  your playbook
- a tendency to have forgotten about good clock management:

 YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT BACK TO AN 8 & 8 RECORD W/O THEM.

Excuse my fading memory here, but I believe late in the second half of Monday Night's game, while still ahead - the Steeler coaches made a decision to use up some of the remaining game clock time by inserting their "U.R.Z.S.S."* into their backfield - despite the fact they were still on their side of the field.

For any fan of the old Penn State University teams, it became abundantly clear they had mastered the Joe Paterno offensive strategy we once knew, loved -- and predicted.

As a matter of fact, at that point, I diverted my attention from watching the game by choosing to attempt to lip- read the fan's reactions. I very quickly spotted a young girl of about 5 or 6 years old who turned to her father and whispered: "They're going to give the ball to Blunt - aren't they Dad?"

It was clearly the same old Steelers strategy that had cost them the game against the Tampa Bay Teacups.

Let's go back to my "screenwriter" advice:

Late in the first half with the Steelers losing badly many Steeler TV fans had reached for the remote in their attempt to track down Marlin Perkins reruns.

Then a miracle APPEARED - not dissimilar to the one in the old flick "Angels In The Outfield" filmed not too far away at the old Forbes Field where the Steelers once played a game or two.

I'll skip the details, because by now, any true Steeler fan knows what happened in the closing seconds of the first half. With 3 minutes and 8 seconds left in the second quarter the Steelers scored 24 points - 21 of which arrived in the final 87 seconds - partially, "courtesy" of a long lost ball hawking Defense .

What followed in that brief period of time was as implausible to any current  Steeler fan as the sight of Andy Hardy - wearing a leather helmet four sizes too big - that completely obscured his vision - running for the winning touchdown  and saving his  beleagured coach's job in the process.

But, in the second half, those same screenwriters who once aided Andy - and re-appeared to scribe our second quarter miracle - had apparently left the stadium in pursuit of more reasonably priced alcoholic beverages- and our beloved Steelers reverted to their more typical game plan by scoring only two field goals.

Today, against the Indianapolis Colts at 4:25 PM - on that SAME  home field advantage location - we'll learn if the screenwriters have graciously returned to provide us with another miracle scenario.

One word of caution: Yesterday afternoon, at about the same time the Steelers begin play this Sunday afternoon  - and on that same field - The University of Pittsburgh -( Pitt as it is better known to those Pittsburghers who still retain local  college football hopes) - obviously lacked commensurate positive screenwriting assistance.

Pitt surrendered 5 fumbles in the first half  - tying a college football record - rewarding their opponent Georgia Tech with a 28 to 0 lead - by dint of the 4 touchdowns they scored from those fumbles  - and Pitt never recovered.

You got to wonder: Where is Andy Hardy when you really need him?

Game Day Question: Will the screenwriters return today with a more favorable scenario for the home team?

*URZSS - Unreliable Red Zone Super Stud

WORDS TO LIVE BY

In the September 29 "Time" magazine, Kristin Van Ogtrop had some good, if a little unusual, advice for kids who may be struggling with Common Core standards and their dream of college.

She first addresses the parents:"These will not help your kids get into college, but they will make them better people."

She followed with a message to the kids. "You need to be able to do the following in order to get your high school diploma."

1. Write a letter. An actual letter that does not begin with
    "Hey" and is written, in handwriting, on real paper.

2. Learn to cook a good meal that can feed the entire
    family - - -  One nice chicken roasted on a bed of
    vegetables might even provide leftovers.

3. Hold down an unpleasant job that makes you hate
    your parents a little bit because they won't let you quit.

4. Go somewhere for the weekend without your phone,
    just so you know what it feels like to be in solitary
    confinement, or dying.

5. Every time you get a new toy or gadget, give an old
    toy or gadget away to someone who doesn't get new
    things as often as you do.

6. Take care of someone or something other than
    yourself. A pet does nicely here. And if it's a dog,
    learn to brush your dog far enough from the back
    door that the hair does not all come  whooshing
    (love that word) back in when you are finished..

    (She admits she did that.)

7. Write a heartfelt thank you note to someone
    over the age of 70. Even if this person hasn't
    given you a holiday or birthday present, find
    something to thank them for.

8. Read a book for pleasure. If you start one and
    hate it on page 50,find another one. Repeat it as
    needed until you find a book you really love.

9. Do something nice for a neighbor without
    expecting any credit for it.Rake the leaves,
    shovel the walk, put the newspaper on the
    front step if it landed in the middle of the
    driveway. Keep your identiy here secret.

10. Don't race to the top. Never race to the top.
      If you want to aim for the top, good for you.
      But try to get there slowly, deliberately,
     without knocking everyone else out of the
      way. or missing the beautiful view.

Words to live by.

Good for adults as well.

WITH AUTHORITY - COMES RESPONSIBILITY

The title of my blog is meant only to repeat a simple rule of Managment that was drilled into my thick skull over 50 years ago. Unfortunately, it is a rule that seems to have been either overlooked or discarded by today's business leaders and politicians.

That's a shame.

Most of us understand there are 4 to 6 "stages" of grief". Not coincidentally, there are an equal number of "rules" for problem resolution.

As we currently deal with the long overdue outrage over subjects like athlete's concussions, child and spousal abuse, and immigration - many of us, particularly those who have witnessed these problems first hand - are experiencing various stages of grief.

So, perhaps this is a good time to review the problem solving model that is so tied in with that experience of grief.

My favorites are fairly basic:

1. Define the Problem.
2. Determine the Root Causes.
3. Develop Alternative Solutions
4. Select a Solution.
5. Implement the Solution
6. Evaluate the Outcome.

Of the six - I have always felt the last was the most important.

Too often - similar to laws we have passed (red light cameras comes quickly to mind), without  #6  the previous 5 steps can often be an exercise in futility that dashes and disappoints the hopes of those crying out for resolution.

If problem solvers fail to monitor the results of the proposed "solution" (and there may be several facets contained within), all the well intentioned thinking that led the deciders right up to that final stage may be all for naught.

Too many times their failure causes us to lose faith in those we discharged, either via the ballot box or our acceptance of their oft stated promises to "do the right thing".

It appears that's where we are today.

I also believe you can put together a thoughtful, intelligent, goal oriented team to follow the problem resolution exercise and it doesn't take until after the Super Bowl next February or the 2016 elections to come up with a game plan that can be monitored.

                      " With Authority - Comes Responsibility"

STRICTLY AN OPINION

A friend told me recently that the voters in his town recently elected a very liberal professor as their new Mayor. According to my friend, the mayor's first act in office was to have all of the town's stop signs changed so they now read  "STOP - ( IF YOU'D LIKE TO)".

You gotta love those liberals!*
--------------------------------------------
If our I-phones are so smart - WHY DO WE HAVE TO KEEP RECHARGING THEM - EVERY OTHER DAY?.
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I know our President is a sports fan. We've read and heard so much about it in the media. But, perhaps it's best he didn't choose team scouting as opposed to politics.

Regardless of your political persuasion one might think  to ask: "How does a group of athletic guys in Syria go from "JV" status in January - to full blown travelling squad members on the " first team" varsity in August - or/ to paraphrase Britains Prime Minister  - to become "our worst terrorist threat yet?"
--------------------------------
I saw the Prez defending his alleged comment in a recent Meet The Press inteview but still wondered to myself, "You always thought 'G.W' had the worst intel?"
--------------------------------------
I truly do love this country - despite what some of my blogs might suggest.

Perhaps it simply boils down to a theory I had back when they hung the title "management" on me - and I subsequently became a self-appointed preacher: "If everybody just did their job - you know that thing they're being paid to do - we'd have a lot fewer problems to deal with."

I fielded most of the complaint calls and would go to the employee to confirm or deny what I had patiently listened to. When I inquired why they had failed to follow up with the customer on the status of their claim, they would usually reply "I had nothing new to report."

"Then Tell Them That!" - I said....

Common sense just ain't that common for so many of us.
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I will never be  bored as long as the Pittsburgh Post Gazette continues to include comments to the sports page from the readers. Similar to humorist Will Rogers -  thought:(paraphrased here) "I will never run out of material  - as long as there is a Congress" .

My panacea for occasional mild depression is reading the comments from the Steeler's so-called experts, advising Steeler management as to what they REALLY need to do in order to be competetive this year.

There is nothing wrong with having an opinion  - as long as one understands, usually - that's ALL it is. Opinions aren't necessarily truisms.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Is it just me, or are we fans of the old show "West Wing" and now "The Veep", possibly getting the inside scoop as to what actually does go on in the White House - regardless of party affiliation?

If even 50% of what the writers include in "The Veep" scripts is accurate, we can understand how difficult it is for people in power to reach a decision.

 I once thought business management required some "squirrely thinking" in order to succeed. But in todays world of politics the battle cry seems to be:"YOU AIN'T SEEN NUTTIN YET!"
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I enjoy NBC's Meet The Press. In referencing my viewing of their  8/31/14 show I couldn't help but wonder about the criticism I was hearing: "What if we find out that despite his off the cuff comment, our President really did have a workable plan regarding Syria, Iraq, Iran, and the Ukraine?''

If so, how many politicians and commentators will be bailing ship now in an rush to obtain air time so they can tells us :"I knew it all the time!"

Of course, even if true, the Republicans still will find something to disagree with, ie, "too late, too little, too sketchy, etc.". We'll know more tomorrow night.
--------------------------
In all my years of following politics - I cannot recall a Congressional body who simply appear to have nothing on their mind but advancing their own interests.

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the term "traitor" in my Merriam Webster's Collegiate dictionary  (Hey, old habits die hard)  and found the leading  definition was: "One who betray's another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty".

You've all read the polls as to the current Congress's ratings. You decide.
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Yeah, I've lived through the Harry Truman vs "Do Nothing Congress" years but  the 80th passed a total of 906  bills - including 'The Truman Doctrine", "The Taft-Hartley Act," "The National Security Act" - "The Foreign Assistance Act" (Marshall Plan) - "Presidential Succession Act" - "Federal Water Protection Act", amongst other significant legislation.

Despite their argument to the contrary - about the only think noticeable this vainglorious group appears to have passed is - "gas."
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But remember, all of the above is strictly an opinion.

* OK, I made that up.

SPAM - I AM?

So-called "Experts" tell you to avoid viruses via opening e-mail from people you don't know. I assume that applies particularly to spam mail - the source of most of what I'm receiving lately.

 The problem, as I see it, is that if you don't open them you have no idea who sent them to you and why.

Articles I've read suggest it has something to do with "cookies"' I've stored. If that's true, I'm definitely giving up sweets.

 Some of my spam mail is scary, like. "YOUR FREE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE" (There goes my goal of living longer than my parents.)

Thank God for Publishers Clearing House" - which soon after - offered me a cure: "AVOID CANCELLATION BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, MR. SULLIVAN"

(OK, I'll buy one of your damned eggbeaters in four easy installments. But, I gotta tell you - my wife and I are getting awfully tired of leaving non-consumed milk and cookies on the dining room table at night for The Prize Patrol.)

"YOU HAVE SIX NEW FLIRTS" ( Now that scares me too. I can't even remember what I did with my car keys - let alone try to track down my "old" flirts.)

"FLIRT LIVE WITH SEXY GIRLS ON RUSSIAN BRIDES". ( Whatever happened with everyone just heading up to Niagara Falls for a week-end honeymoon - alone with their honey?  Assuming this is not a typo, I still want to make it clear that I have no interest in lesbians. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.)

 "MEET ME TONIGHT. I'M LONELY - SEXUALLY EXPLICIT" (Sorry, gotta pass. My BW isn't even that crazy about me driving in the daylight by myself.)

 "MEET FEMALE SWINGERS AND HOOK UP". (Count me out. My " hook" is simply not what it was at one time. Besides, with my current coordination challenges, I'd probably  fall off the trapeze and break my neck.)

"BEAUTIFUL CHINESE WOMEN ARE LOOKING FOR SEX. (Yeah, sure. And, in an hour I'd be hungry again! Due to my dietary restrictions I can't even take that sort of risk with Fritos - let alone women.)

"LIFETIME EASY SEX - VIEW MY (8) PRIVATE PHOTOS". That one caught me off-guard as the next spam - the first of two received from Facebook - referenced a good lady friend of ours: "WINDI SANDERS ADDED A NEW PHOTO"

What made matters worse was when they immediately followed that one up with: "A WOMAN ON THE FACEBOOK OF CHEATERS WANTS YOU." (Windi, say it 'taint' so.)

"JENNY 26 WANTS A BOOTY CALL" (Sorry Jenny, we got rid of all our booties years ago.)

 And, my favorite?

 "GOT BIG BOOBS AND KNOW HOW TO USE THEM"

(Some parental advice here. "Relax lady. It's just a phase all teenage boys go through. Their brains develop slower than girls. However,  the idea of getting them jobs is right on target. But, quickly! Make your local Amscot office off-limits and insist your kids immediately turn over their paychecks to you.

Otherwise, they'll continue to eat you out of house and home - even after treating all their new BFF's to all that junk food they purchased with their newly discovered wealth.)

Sorry, Dr. Seuss.

Porn spam?  Honest, that's just not me!