and another thing or few

And Another thing…or a few things…

1)      Don’t call us we’ll…never mind, just don’t call us!

 It’s not often I agree with Rand Paul and by not often, I mean ever. But as the olde saw goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day. (Which depends on the break, but that’s a column for another day) Rand Paul has proposed a 28th amendment to The Constitution that is so brilliantly simple, so deceptively easy…so good for the country…that is has absolutely no chance of happening in this polarised political climate. The Jr. Senator from Kentucky has proposed an amendment whereby all members of Congress have to abide by the same laws and rules as the rest of us. Now before you think this is going to spin off into an Affordable Health Care Act treatise, fear not, for not only has it been done to death, but my concern is something far smaller in scope, but truly concerns many more people than the ACA will. I am talking about…The Do Not Call List. I came home the other day to find a message on my answering machine from Rudy Giuliani of all people, asking me to vote for someone.  Now I just re-upped on the DNCL, so I wondered why the voice of America’s Mayor would be lurking about. Then I remembered that political calls are exempt from this list. I would bet that if you asked most people what calls and mail they would like stopped more than any other, these guys would be the winners, hands down. Let’s see…politicians pass a law for the people not to be bothered by anyone…except politicians…nope, nothing dodgy there.

2)      It’s beginning to look a lot like…NOTHING….IT’S TOO EARLY!!!!!

Listen, I love the holiday season, I truly do.  I love the family togetherness, the food, the music, the chill in the air, the television programmes, (It takes a lot to get me to miss Rudolph, Charlie Brown, or The Grinch!) But I love them after Thanksgiving not Halloween! I realise this is not anything new, but I was in a large shop with my daughter last weekend…a week before Halloween, and there it was…in the back…along the wall….CHRISTMAS stuff. All manner of elves, Santas, candy canes….I saw them while I was buying Halloween candy…I’m sorry, someone needs to tell me why this is acceptable. Can we not wait? I know we are a consumer driven society and economy but holy mackerel Andy…give us a rest.

3)      I want to ride my bicycle…Freddie Mercury

So…you want to take a nice ride around say…Central Park, but you don’t want to rent one of those Citi bikes. You bought yourself a nice bike and want to ride that. It’s a great way to get in shape, and a great way to see The Park.  So being a good, conscientious person and caring about the environment, rather than putting the bike and bike rack and driving into Manhattan, (not to mention the loan you need to take out to get parking) you decide to take the train in. No worries there, except when your ticket taker comes, you get charged $5 for having you bike on the train with you? WHAT? Are they out of their minds? Is this the wave of the future for MTA? What next, baggage charges? A lot of people take the train in to get to the JFK express…if you have a suitcase, is that to be additional also? How is this possible and moreover, how is this accepted? Did they ask anyone? Are the ticket prices not high enough, (I’ll answer that one…YES THEY ARE!) they have to find revenue enhancement (to borrow a phrase from the aforementioned Mr. Giuliani) elsewhere? I have seen a lot of bikes on the train (LIRR) and they have never been an encumbrance. It’s appalling. The MTA tends to take that last word of their name far too seriously. Why, next thing you know they’ll want to start parking trains here (in Port)….