ON ONE LINERS: BIDEN’S ADMINISTRATION

March 1, 2022

March 1, 2022

It’s been over a year since an article of a political nature. Here are 30 one (or occasionally two) liners drawn from my Biden file. For some of you: please don’t get upset – these are only my opinions.

A comment on history repeating itself before providing my notes. In 1939, it was Hitler and Chamberlain on Poland with Churchill waiting in the wings. Today, its Putin and Biden on Ukraine with Trump waiting in the wings. Perhaps Putin and Biden should hold hands and visit WWII cemeteries in Europe.

  1. Two impeachments and now a senate trial on the events of January 6, 2021; these have proven to be nothing but bad theater in a useless attempt once again to defame and insult President Trump.
  2. Polls clearly indicate that Biden continues to reject the desires of the voters and has failed miserably on near all of his actions.
  3. Our Constitution might be somewhat flawed but it is still the most ideal way to govern a complex entity such as our country.
  4. The democratic party is infested with career bureaucrats who are cunning and corrupt lawyers / politicians.
  5. The current immigration policy of the democrats will get them voters, which will get them the desired vote, which will get them money and power. In the meantime, they are violating federal law, endangering lives (health and crime), and negatively impacting our economy.
  6. Trump has many faults, but he is devoted to our nation and to its defense; his original mission remains unfulfilled.
  7. The enemy continues to rant about Trump’s lies. I’ve listened to all his speeches and am still trying to figure out what the lies are.
  8. Trump delivered on virtually all his promises prior to his election – particularly providing 3 vaccines and 2 antibodies. And, what about historic peace in the Middle East, Korea, China, etc.
  9. I am really mad at our elected officials. Why aren’t they demanding Biden sever all relations with Russia and move back to Trump’s state of energy independence? Don’t they understand that there is a war and people are dying?!
  10. Here is what we are currently experiencing under the Biden Administration: shootings, murders, vandalism, riots, silencing opposition, defunding police, open borders, pacifying our enemies, inflation, etc. Add to these attempts to abolish the Electoral College, pack the Supreme Court, attempting statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., terminate the filibuster, etc.; perhaps ever worse is their current education policy of defaming our country and also really dividing our country. How about the recent Durham revelations that Trump was indeed spied on.
  11. Obama has blood on his hands with what transpired with ISIS. Now Biden has blood on his hands because of Ukraine.
  12. Biden and his administration claim that government spending does not cost the taxpayer. Is it creative mathematics or a complete fraud?
  13. The fact that 38% of the electorate think that Biden is doing a good job is a tribute to how dumb, indifferent, and misinformed they are.
  14. Biden has unquestionably emboldened our enemies: Taiwan and Ukraine are prime examples.
  15. What the hell is Biden doing? Surrendered Afghanistan, failed our citizens and allies remaining there, and left military equipment for our enemies (that could now be used in the Ukraine). Can anyone be that dumb?
  16. Biden appears more concerned on attacking individuals such as your favorite author than in protecting us from our enemies; I’m also tired of him, his cohorts, and the news media calling me a racist, un-American, a Nazi, a hater, etc.
  17. FOX News, better than anyone, has proven that media bias exists with their videotapes of CNN, CNBC, etc.
  18. The New York Times news reporting is disgusting; just read their headlines every day.
  19. Biden and his family are probably the most corrupt family in American history; the recent news about Pelosi puts her in second place. Virtually every elected official in Washington becomes a multi-millionaire; thank you Donald for opening my eyes to this fact.
  20. Biden’s entire cabinet is made up of career bureaucrats; none have ever worked for a living. And, no surprise, there are no republicans. How’s this for his promise to put forth a competent and diverse cabinet.
  21. Pelosi labeled Biden as “just perfect.” Really?? Wow!! She obviously is lying and she must know it.
  22. Biden called Trump’s COVID testing a travesty, then promised free testing without an ability to provide testing. Another failure.
  23. Perhaps we should pray for Biden because next comes Harris (what a disaster) and Pelosi (is there a more evil person?).
  24. Any chance Pelosi will provide her tax returns given what was recently made public? And what about Hunter Biden’s returns?
  25. The corrupt media is the greatest concern. Many citizens are either misinformed or not informed. Prior to Biden’s election, 30% of democratic voters did not know of Hunter’s activities and 25% of those said they would not have voted for Biden if they knew.
  26. Our nation definitely needs Trump. Hopefully, he will pick a woman for a running mate to pick up some of his haters (perhaps it would be best if he didn’t run with the raw hatred some have for him).
  27. This COVID-19 pandemic came about primarily because of the incompetence and inaction of both the CDC and WHO. Fauci the Fraud, who heads up the CDC’s 50-billion-dollar program, has caused the death of many Americans.
  28. Trump was transparent from the day he entered the race, always responding to a hostile media… and, on a daily basis. Biden? He’s been AWOL since Day 1 and refuses to answer questions.
  29. Regarding January 6, nearly 1,000 were arrested but only a handful were guilty of wrong doing. This demonstration was peaceful compared to some earlier fanatical democratic demonstrations.
  30. Finally, and thankfully, it appears most (but not all) of our elected Republicans have united.

I really believe that Trump looked after those – such as your author – who have no voice. But we may still survive. When will I return with another one of these? Who knows?

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

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NEXT POSTINGS

APRIL 1:        On the Ultimate Quiz VI (replacing Hofstra’s season)

MAY 1:          On the EWSD School Tax Vote

JUNE 1:          On ZZZabuu VI

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Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Players should not view defense as a time to rest and relax. Practice time on defense should be as important as time on offense.
  2. If an opposing team’s offense is run by their playmaker, the defense should attempt to prevent him from getting the ball.
  3. Defensive drills should include double and perhaps triple-teaming an offensive player.
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ON ZZZABUU V

August 1, 2021

August 1, 2021

You were reintroduced to Zzzabuu four months ago. He had arrived earlier in 2003 from the planet Zzokki in a faraway galaxy, having been dispatched to Earth on a fact-finding trip involving politicians in the United States. Zzzabuu had been selected once again for a special assignment by The Superiors in 2021 because of his great intellect, analytical mind, and his love of gambling. On reaching Earth, Zzzabuu set out immediately to accomplish his specific assignment: to determine details (both pros and cons) of gambling investment opportunities on Plant Earth. As per instructions from the Superiors, Zzzabuu met with a retired, often confused, outspoken, nefarious chemical engineering professor (who shall remain nameless) in order to obtain background material and guidance prior to preparing a final report on his assignment.

As promised, this second of five articles on gambling is concerned with pari-mutuel racing, i.e., betting on horse races. This piece is particularly appropriate since the New York Racing Association (NYRA) venue is now in full swing in upstate Saratoga Springs…a place I have visited 66 years in a row. In any event, here is my take on this betting activity.

Let’s proceed directly to the bottom line. This sport is dying a slow death. Why?

  1. NYRA is a totally corrupt and incompetent organization, unable to run a legitimate business.
  2. There is a 15-20% “takeout” that significantly – and I mean significantly – reduces the probability of the bettor winning.
  3. The sport is currently supported by the aged few, e.g., yours truly, for whom this form of gambling has unfortunately become a way of life. Attempts to attract the younger generation and the opposite sex continue to fail miserably.
  4. The bettor has consistently been treated as a third class citizen, not a patron to be valued.
  5. I predicted NYRA’s demise when I appeared as an invited guest at a Presidential Crime Commission hearing in 1976. My predictions have come true.
  6. I have proposed a legitimate possible solution to the sport’s dilemma…but I hold no hopes for its implementation.
  7. Finally, NYRA has successfully alienated its base and continues to discourage live fan involvement.

But, what about those in this reading audience who will continue to wager on horseraces? Although you should accept the fact that the probability of losing is extremely high, here are a handful of hints that I believe will increase your chances of winning.

  1. For the beginner or novice, who has little or no knowledge of pari-mutual wagering, simply bet the number 1 (one) horse every race.
  2. Always give serious consideration to betting the 1 (one) horse, particularly with 2-turn races where the inside post is a major advantage.
  3. What about tips? The general rule here is to never bet tips. Here’s a quick tale that will seal the deal. Mary and I owned Katy R, a standardbred. One night prior to one of her races at Roosevelt Raceway, I was introduced to a guy who suddenly claimed he had a tip on a horse in the race. What horse? Katy R. I asked him about the source of this tip. He showed me the program that read OWNER: M.K. Theodore and L. Theodore, Jackson Heights. He claimed that he got the tip directly from L. Theodore, a gambling degenerate who was owner and the chef of a diner in Jackson Heights. I showed him my horseman’s photo ID card. He snickered and walked away. So much for tips.
  4. What about win bets? I rarely bet win because tickets are being punched AFTER a race starts. I believe this could be proven in a court of law. (Successfully gaining illegal entry to computers, protected by sophisticated systems operated by true experts, has become painfully clear in recent months.)   Never bet place or show. I also generally try to stay away from favorites, particularly in stake races. I also prefer betting large field cheap claiming races rather than small field stake races.
  5. Try to key on betting on Pick-3, Pick-4, Pick-5, and triples.
  6. What about jockeys? I stay away from established older jockeys, e.g., John Velasquez. Their ROI, i.e., return on investment, is almost always negative. For me, the greatest jockey of all time was Jerry Bailey. The most overrated were Angel Cordero, Eddie Arcaro, and Mike Smith. Give bug-boys (apprentices) more consideration for longer races since the weight allowances are sure to come into play.
  7. Give apprentices more consideration in later races, particularly during the cold winter months, as the journeymen are more likely to be disinterested bystanders.
  8. What about race changes? I love first-time turf but stay away from turf to dirt. I also love horses going long the first time and stay away from horses going long to short.
  9. Give special consideration to 2nd-time starters.
  10. Try to stay away from betting on favorites.
  11. Give special consideration to speed horses in stake races.
  12. Try to avoid betting on layoff (21 or more days) horses in cheap claiming races since they obviously have missed a turn — for a reason.
  13. Finally, stop betting NYRA tracks. I now bet Gulfstream, Pimlico, etc.
  14. Where to bet? Find an OTB or a simulcast facility that offers track odds or bet from home with a phone account since live at-the-track betting has become a dying form of entertainment.
  15. What about money management? Forget about it. It is a non-entity for the real gambler. It all depends on the risks you are willing to take. For the novice, bet only an amount that losing will have no impact on your life.
  16. What about bringing friends and family to the track (as I have often done)? Don’t waste your time. Most are looking for “instant gratification” and become disillusioned / bored when they realize there are 30-35 minutes between races.

Good luck in the months (and hopefully years) ahead. If you continue to bet, and my above suggestions don’t work, blame it on Karma.

Zzzabuu will return early next year (if  I’m still around).

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

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NEXT POSTINGS

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Great Eats VI

OCTOBER 1:             On Technical Writing

NOVEMBER 1:         On the Ohi Day IV

DECEMBER 1:          On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Basketball Season / EWSD (Budget Vote)

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Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Practice putting the ball in play; there should be several options available (and known) without the need to take a time out.
  2. Always run on offense; the only exceptions are:
  3. The bench is weak, and
  4. A key player is in foul trouble (shorten the game).
  5. Motion offense is a must, otherwise your grandmother can guard you.

Note: Mary (M.K. Theodore) and I (L. Theodore) just published a book titled “Introduction to Environmental Management”, 2nd edition, CRC Press / Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, 2021 (99$). The book is the definitive source for those seeking a non-technical presentation of technical environmental issues, e.g., electromagnetic waves, noise pollution, nanotechnology, global warming, desalination, etc. Homework problems and exams (with solutions) are also available for those who adopt.

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On Technical Jargon II

July 1, 2021

July 1, 2021

Many of the individuals in my reading audience classify themselves as “professionals.” A good number of them would also classify themselves as “technical”. I think of myself as fitting into both categories but I doubt anyone would agree with me.

Here’s what I recently wrote about technical professionals communicating with the average citizen: “Be honest, fresh, and open … technical language and jargon are useful as professional shorthand, but they are barriers to successful communication with the public.” I believe this is good advice when dealing with the public. But, it is another matter if you are dealing with another professional. All bets are then off, and many revert to a language that resides solely in the domain of the professional. I became aware of the unique phenomena following receiving two potable water provisional patents, the submission of a report to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the preparation of a proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Although words can mean different things to different people, I have listed below two dozen sentences and phrases employed by us gifted few; each is followed by a layman’s pragmatic definition and / or explanation.

  • Congratulations continue to pour in – The only thing being poured is the Dewars to help me forget this mess.
  • I can say with certainty – My brother-in-law Vito (on my wife’s side) mentioned it to me last night in a Go-Go joint.
  • We can say with certainty – My cohorts were also there.
  • A Foundation Director concluded – She read it in the New York tabloids.
  • An informed local official concluded – He’s got an IQ to match his age.
  • An informed state official concluded – Her IQ is in the single digit range.
  • An informed federal official concluded – He doesn’t have an IQ.
  • An informed career federal official concluded – His IQ approaches negative infinity during any thought process.
  • There may be negative international repercussions – Only if our findings get out.
  • Definitely worthy of NSF support – It is a totally useless project that can in no way serve mankind.
  • My mental process has concluded the following – Your guess is as good as mine.
  • A reliable source has just informed me – A guy named Pepe mentioned it to me in a bar last night; we were both cockeyed.
  • There is wide range agreement – No one believes a word of it, including my colleague Lefty.
  • The results appear to indicate a trend – Unfortunately, we can’t figure out what the trend is.
  • The results appear to indicate a definite trend – We are totally confused at this point in time.
  • We intend to pursue this aspect of the investigation vigorously – Only if someone puts up the moola.
  • Based on my limited experience – I’m looking for clues.
  • Based on my experience – I’m desperately looking for clues.
  • Based on my extensive experience – I’m clueless.
  • Getting started on the study was no problem – We simply assumed the subject in question to be a sphere.
  • Thanks are due – I had to mention his name since dinner at his restaurant last week was on the arm.
  • Thanks are due the NSF – I have a policy of thanking anyone who gives me money on a no-strings-attached basis.
  • My colleagues congratulated me – They really meant that I was mentally deranged.
  • If I were you – Thank God I’m not.

Much of the above material was drawn from yes, an earlier “On Technical Gargos” article that appeared in the press on July 6, 2000 – 21 years ago … and much of it still applies.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

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NEXT POSTINGS

AUGUST 1:                On Great Eats VI

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Technical Writing

OCTOBER 1:             Zzzabuu V

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Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Practice inbounding the ball at various locations on the court when the opposing team is pressing.
  2. The player nearest to the ball should take it out immediately after a basket or foul shot and pass it to the first open man.
  3. Do not leave the foul line after the first of two (or three) free throws, and do not slap / shake the hand of a fellow teammate.

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On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Men’s Basketball Season and The East Williston School District Budget Vote

May 1, 2021

May 1, 2021

This is not an easy newsletter for me to write. There are two parts: one concerned with Hofstra’s 2020-21 basketball season and one concerned with the upcoming East Williston School District (EWSD) budget vote. There is bad news on both subject matters. In any event, here goes.

  1. Hofstra’s 2020-21 Men’s Basketball Season

In case anyone forgot, Hostra won its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA Men’s Basketball Championship) in March 2020, defeating Northeastern 70-61. The teams’ combined wins over its past two years include 26 wins in 2019-20 and 27 wins in the 2018-19 campaign. These 53 wins placed them 14th nationally and was the main reason they won consecutive regular season titles. In addition, Isaac Kante was exceptional with a 65 percent field goal average – 9th in the nation. They were worthy champions in 2020 but, alas, the COVID-19 struck and the NCAA Tournament was cancelled.

The bad news continued following the conclusion of the 2019-20 season when coach Joe Mehalich took sick and has retired from basketball. The new season brought forth a new coach with Kante selected on the CAA’s preseason first team plus Jalen Ray and Tareq Coburn were preseason honorable mentions. I was pretty certain they were going to have another great year. But, the team’s performance turned out to be less than stellar. They arrived at the CAA Championship Tournament with high hopes but failed miserably.

My notes on this past season are listed below:

  1. They continued to play zone defense; even mediocre teams don’t play zone.
  2. There was no hustle on defense – a characteristic of many zone defenses with players confused at times as to who was guarding who.
  3. They couldn’t hit 3-pointers with any consistency.
  4. There was often poor shot selection.
  5. The other teams were simply better.

What makes for a winning team? Here is what legendary coach Rollie Massimino offered in my Basketball Coaching 101 book: “Every team has an identity and for me it is family. The magic word is WE. We are all together. Most of our family of players, coaches, etc., regularly contact each other for Christmas. I also still get calls from my gang at the beginning of each season wishing me well.” The Hofstra team? They looked like a pickup team; it was as if the 5 players had just been introduced. The bench? It appeared comatose most of the time. I once half-jokingly mentioned that “if you hope to win a championship, you’d better be with people you love.” Now I don’t think of it as a joke.

Next season? Look for them to rebound with a new coach. The new coach? What a great choice: Craig “Speedy” Claxton. Speedy played at Hofstra and won the Haggerty Award (top New York metropolitan player) as a senior. He followed that with 7 years in the NBA. Hopefully, he will not follow in the same footsteps as Chris Midlin. One thing we know is that Hofstra has had a really fabulous record of recruiting top guards and this included both Speedy and Juan’ya Green plus my favorite – Charles Jenkins. More recently, Speedy was apparently responsible for not only recruiting but also developing Justin Wright-Foreman and Desure Buie. Let’s hope the tradition will continue since it is guards who bring home championships. Regarding Speedy, my dear friend and mentor, Jack Powers, former Executive Director of the NIT, had this to offer: “He is a wonderful kid, a quality person, a credit to our sport, and certain to succeed. Rick Cole made a great choice.” My sentiments … exactly.

II. The East Williston School District (EWSD) Budget Vote

Over the years, I have been critical of teachers for taking yearly salary increases at a time when many people in the private sector are being laid off, taking salary cuts, or losing their benefits. Such is the situation this year.

A question we engineers often ask when evaluating a scheme, proposal, contract, etc., is as follows: Is it cost-effective and is there sufficient accountability? When applied to education, most school boards, school administrators, and teachers have conveniently avoided answering this question. In fact, these individuals continue to try to convince concerned taxpayers that taxes need to be raised further if our children are to receive a quality education. Our teachers also maintain that they are dedicated professionals. What in the world is the rest of the workforce? To hear the teachers you would think they were God’s gift to society. Regarding our teachers, I have more respect for the NYC teacher, who I believe is as dedicated, if not more, because they are exposed to combat duty, often on a daily basis. Furthermore, one need only compare the recent conduct of teachers with 9/11 first responders and the COVID-19 pandemic health care workers.

Needless to say, I shall vote against the budget since it contains increases and not reductions in teachers’ salaries and benefits. I suggest District taxpayers do likewise. Remember, it is Okay to vote NO on the budget.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS

JUNE 1:                      On Memorial Day VI

JULY 1:                      On Purely Chaste, Pristine, and Random Thoughts XXXI

AUGUST 1:                On Great Eats VI

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Technical Writing

OCTOBER 1:             Zzzabuu V

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Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Every attempt should be made to exploit the team’s offensive capabilities against the opponent’s defensive weaknesses.
  2. Players should learn to dribble with either hand.
  3. Players should learn to shoot with either hand.

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ON THE THEODORE COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PLAN

February 28, 2021

March 1, 2021

The distribution process for the COVID-19 vaccine is obviously significantly flawed. Who is at fault? It depends on who you talk to but it really doesn’t matter. For sure, there has to be a better way of handling this situation. Here are my comments followed by my vaccine distribution approach.

Three questions first need to be addressed before proceeding.

  1. How should the number and timing of vaccines be maximized?
  2. Who should decide who gets the vaccine and when?
  3. How should the vaccines for the recipients be distributed?

The answer to question (1) is simply this: the federal government should subsidize the creation / discovery and preparation of the vaccine supplies with generous bonuses for timely deliveries. This apparently did occur. Anyone or any group – other than the CDC or WHO – should determine the answer to questions (2). Why not me, even though there must be a host of others who could better provide an answer. Obviously (3) is the key question. Both questions (2) and (3) should be dynamic and vary with individual states, counties, locales, etc. In any event, here is what I propose.

The prioritization (high priority to low priority) is presented in terms of 6 categories. Categories include:

  1. Healthcare workers
  2. Infrastructure personnel (police, firefighters, etc.)
  3. Senior citizens
  4. High risk groups
  5. Children
  6. Others not included in A-D

My prioritization follows. Note that there are 20 groups.

A1.   Employed healthcare workers

B1.   Policemen and firefighters

C1.   Citizens 90 and over

D1.   Citizens with cancer, lung, liver, or heart disease

C2.   Citizens 85-90

A2.   Unemployed healthcare workers

C3    Citizens 75-85

D2.   Citizens with flu or pneumonia

C4.   Employed citizens 60-75

D3    Citizens with any past lung, liver, or heart disease

C5.   Parents with 3 or more children

D2.   Other employed infrastructure personnel

D3.   Other unemployed infrastructure personnel

E1.    Children under 1

C6.   Employed citizens 18-60

C7.   Unemployed citizens 18-60

E2.    Children 1-18

F1.    Used car salesmen, realtors, and dentists

F2.    Lawyers, elected officials, and government personnel

F3.    School teachers, college professors, and veterinarians

I believe the first four groups (A1-D1) in any order – should receive the vaccine first. The last three groups should receive the least consideration.

The assignment of any of the priorities above is not based on any solid scientific or medical data and information. It is simply a gut feeling drawn from my limited experience. As is the case with this sort of judgement, this prioritization will vary with both the individual and time. But for me, the key would be to have as little impact as possible from the government and bureaucrats.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

APRIL 1:                     On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Basketball Season

MAY 1:                       On Great Eats VI

JUNE 1:                      On Technical Writing

———————————————————————————————————————

Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Practice inbounding the ball at various locations on the court when the opposing team is pressing.
  2. The player nearest to the ball should take it out immediately after a basket or foul shot and pass it to the first open man.
  3. Do not leave the foul line after the first of two (or three) free throws, and do not slap / shake the hand of a fellow teammate.

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Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ IV

February 1, 2021

February 1, 2021

As indicated in III, this has become one of my favorites. But, this one is a little different. It is solely political in nature and each statement to follow requires either a true or false answer. And, there is no correct answer … it is basically your call. The 40 comments to follow concern events/ actions that occurred during the 2016-2020 time period. You are asked to provide a true or false response.

I personally will not take a position on the results/grade of your true – false test. But, based on your number of true answers, I feel that you would be classified in one of the five categories:

  1. 0-8:     a staunch liberal
  2. 9-16:   a liberal
  3. 17-24: a moderate
  4. 25-32: a conservative
  5. 33-40: a staunch conservative
  1. The stock market increased at a near exponential rate, no doubt due to a turnaround robust economy, commitments to job creation, and a decline in poverty levels.
  2. Our nation is now classified as energy independent (remember the price of gasoline is now $2.00/gal)
  3. Contrary to earlier predictions, there was a return of manufacturing jobs.
  4. Black colleges and universities received an unprecedented increase in financial aid from the Federal government.
  5. The U.S. military prowess increased dramatically.
  6. The air, water, and land (soil) was never cleaner.
  7. Despite a departure from the Paris Peace Accord, CO2 emissions decreased below expectations.
  8. NAFTA was dissolved and replaced.
  9. New rules were put in place to stop the exploitation by China.
  10. Built nearly all the Southern wall and stopped illegal immigration across the Southern border.
  11. The majority of the public came to realize that the media was corrupt, self-serving, and un-American.
  12. The Washington establishment – consisting primarily of career bureaucrats, often referred to as “The Swamp” – was corrupt, self-serving, and un-American.
  13. Stopped the ISIS killing and torture.
  14. Several elements of the Obama Health Care Act were eliminated.
  15. Reduced the North Korean threat.
  16. For many citizens, there was a return of pride and love of country.
  17. Contrary to earlier predictions, our presence in foreign wars was significantly reduced.
  18. Abuses in veterans’ hospitals were significantly reduced.
  19. The COVID-19 pandemic was responsibly addressed medically and economically.
  20. Delivered ventilators and hospital beds immediately to an ill-prepared NYS.
  21. Delivered the COVID-19 vaccine in 7 ½ months, not 5-10 years (as predicted).
  22. Taxes were lowered for the middle class.
  23. The President was impeached based on a telephone conversation with a third-world country that was interpreted in a questionable manner.
  24. Unemployment levels for Blacks reached an all-time low.
  25. The Food Stamp Program was significantly reduced.
  26. Per capita wealth increased at a near exponential rate.
  27. Property values increased at a near exponential rate.
  28. Many companies, after moving abroad earlier, returned home.
  29. The MS-13 presence in our country was reduced.
  30. Eliminated the presence of ISIS in the Middle East.
  31. Our soldiers are now coming home.
  32. The Iranian threat was significantly reduced.
  33. Contrary to earlier concerns, no nuclear wars were initiated.
  34. The US was the first country to stop to and fro travel with China.
  35. Unemployment levels for Hispanics reached an all-time low.
  36. Unemployment levels for Asians reached an all-time low.
  37. Unemployment levels for women reached an all-time low.
  38. Contrary to failed promises from a host of past presidents, the US Embassy in Israel was relocated to Jerusalem.
  39. The economy and newly created jobs grew at an unprecedented and exponential rate.
  40. Contrary to the prediction of nearly all the bureaucrats, peace treaties were signed between Israel and several Arab nations.

How many true answers did you come up with? Where do you think Trump would be classified? Biden? Pelosi? Cuomo? Pence?

Note: For some of my fans, I recently co-authored an Amazon book ($7.99) titled “Virus Contacts”. The lead author is Ann Marie Flynn.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

MARCH 1:                 On Technical Writing

APRIL 1:                     On Great Eats VI

MAY 1:                       On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Basketball Season

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Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Every shot, particularly of an “outside” variety, should be contested — unless you are the size (5’ 6”) of the author.
  2. Every attempt should be made to exploit your team’s defensive capabilities against the opponent’s offensive weaknesses.
  3. If fouls committed by your team are low relative to your opponent, substitute for your star or key players – assuming they need a breather anyway – since the officials are more prone to call “touch” fouls on your team.

Leave a Comment » | Basketball, East Williston, Economics, Education, Politics, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON PURELY CHASTE, PRISTINE, AND RANDOM THOUGHTS XXX

January 1, 2021

January 1, 2021

Here we go again, but, given the present political climate, this one is strictly devoted to political thoughts. I hope you find the nearly 2 dozen comments interesting.

  • It’s bad enough the media chose not to initially cover the “Hunter” fiasco, but they still have essentially chosen to ignore it.
  • The fanatic liberals now claim there is an “assault on democracy” by the Republicans. How would one describe their conduct during the last 4 ½ years?
  • Pelosi and her fanatics impeached Trump based solely on an inert call to a fifth-world country. Will they also now attempt to impeach Biden for his thieving, lying, and traitor-type conduct?
  • Trump unquestionably made the best decisions on the pandemic given the knowledge and resources available from the CDC (ugh!) and WHO (ugh!). As a successful businessman, he foresaw what was going to happen and took appropriate action.
  • The liberal fanatics claimed it would take at least 5 years to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Trump claimed we would have it before the end of year. Who was right?
  • There was no coordinated response from the CDC on nursing homes, the epicenters of death, until Trump took action.
  • The electorate obviously has little to no knowledge of social, economic, and scientific matters.
  • Since 1986, all elected officials have avoided taking action on the immigration crisis and border security. Trump is the only one who fought for the safety and security of the American people.
  • The Democratic Party’s agenda is perfectly clear: destroy Trump…not to serve the electorate.
  • Since Day 1, Trump has been betrayed by Washington insiders, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party.
  • Liberals appear hell-bent on frustrating and embarrassing Trump, no matter what the cost to our nation. They claim he is a traitor. Based on his track record on peace and economics, I claim he should be President of the world.
  • Mueller will go down in history as a biased incompetent Special Council who, during his witch hunt, believed in two codes of justice while applying Gestapo tactics.
  • Mueller and his henchmen have for obvious reasons, refused to investigate and indict those, e.g., Comey, Clinton, etc., who have repeatedly committed criminal offenses.
  • I could be wrong but I believe that Pelosi is an evil person with mental problems.
  • Schumer strikes me as a conniving and untrustworthy individual.
  • I have three new acronyms: FTF – Fauci The Fraud, BCF – Biden Crime Family, and CTD – Cuomo The Dimwit.
  • I can’t think of anyone more stupid than Joe Biden, although Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters are close seconds.
  • The aggressive, belligerent behavior of many of the fanatical liberals regarding three recently Supreme Court appointees, Republican elected officials, Trump fans, Catholic school kids, etc., has been approved by both the corrupt fake-news media and Democrats.
  • The ten Democratic senators who questioned Kavanagh, accusing him of rape-related activities, should have been removed from office and jailed. Their concerted effort to destroy this man was unforgiveable.
  • Democracy cannot exist with a biased media. We are about to approach this state.
  • I’m accused of being a racist and un-American because I have no sympathy for those individuals planning to illegally overrun our borders. Is it old age, or am I missing something?
  • I still believe most Americans believe in supporting hard working individuals, not illegal immigrants.
  • I’m one to give credit where credit is due. Contrary to Republican claims, Cuomo definitely deserves an Emmy for absolving himself of the nursing home fiasco that resulted in the death of 40,000 seniors. Remember that it was Cuomo who issued a directive on March 25th that “no resident should be denied readmission to a nursing home if they test positive for the coronavirus.” What a slimy egomaniac.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

FEBRUARY 1:           On Technical Writing

MARCH 1:                 On Great Eats VI

APRIL 1:                     On the EWSD Budget Vote

MARCH 1:                 On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Basketball Season

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Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Until one learns otherwise, one should assume the offensive player dribbles with the right hand.
  2. Until one learns otherwise, one should assume the offensive player shoots with his right hand.
  3. Until one learns otherwise, one should assume the offensive player drives to the right.

2 Comments | East Williston, Economics, Education, Politics | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

On a Baker’s Dozen

November 1, 2020

November 1, 2020

  1. Trump or Biden? That’s the question that needs to be answered this election. I won’t pussyfoot around, so here’s the answer. It simply must be Trump and it definitely should not be Biden. Justification? Here it is.
  2. The liberal democrats attempted to remove President Trump from office. This was – plain and simple – a coup, and a coup is a treasonous act that is punishable to death. It’s now clear that Obama, Biden, Comez, Brennan, Etc., were all involved in this disgraceful act.
  3. The liberal democrats plan to “pack the Supreme Court, an act that would essentially eliminate the balance of power between the President, Congress and the Supreme Court. FDR tried nearly a century ago and even his own supporters rejected it.
  4. Black Lives Matter (and ANTIFA). Their acts of burning and looting is indefensible. Black lives do in fact matter, but not the organization. Threatening, brutalizing, and murdering innocent citizens must stop. Ditto with the police. These people have taken to the streets – destroying homes and business, violating curfews, desecrating statues and monuments, etc. There is only one person who has condemned this from the street. The dishonest BLM needs to be destroyed.
  5. The lies, manipulation, and deceit. Lying, manipulation, deceiving has become a way of life for the liberal democrats, and this particularly applies to Obama, Biden, and the Hill.
  6. The conduct of the news media is sickening. I’m not an English or Journalism major, but one only needs to read the headlines in The New York Times to appreciate how these individuals have sold their soul. The words professionalism, integrity, and ethics, are simply no longer in their vocabulary.
  7. The conduct of almost all sports figures, entertainers, and educations is now a spectacle. Sports and entertainment concreate hope and provide opportunities to minorities. Today, it is being used to develop racial barriers. For what it is worth, I no longer watch either the NFL or the NBA.
  8. During the 2016 Republican nomination process, I initially ranked Trump last amongst the 17 (I loved Dr. Ben Carson – having read his autobiography). But as time went on, and the more I heard of Trump’s analysis of the “swamp” and his promises to attempt to reform a broken bureaucratic system, the more impressed I become. I voted for him in 2016 with some trepidation. He honored his promise to the American people these past four years—something that rarely occurs these days–and my concerns are gone.
  9. The stock market has gone through the roof thanks to President Trump’s actions and policies. Even though I am essentially not in the market, the market’s rise has been good for both the rich and poor. Most agree that the market will nosedive and our economy will be left with another 1929-type of depression if Biden is elected.
  10. President Trump will continue to do everything in his power to stop illegal immigration, enforce border control, and deport those illegals who deserve to be deported. You can be certain that Biden’s “free everything for the illegals” will not occur.
  11. When the President got into office, his opponents claimed that he was a war monger, would escalate our involvement in foreign wars with more Americans dying and probably start a nuclear war. Well? What happened? He destroyed ISIS, is talking to both North Korea and China, effectively isolated Iran, and has brought back most of our soldiers.
  12. Mayor Giuliani described Joe Biden as a “crook.” After 47 years of bureaucratic service in government, he and many members of his family are multi-millionaires. But, then again, nearly all bureaucrats serving the government (liberals and conservatives alike) are millionaires. Just look at the Hill and Obama. Joe’s son Biden is simply the icing on the cake.
  13. Someone needs to stop the conduct of these fanatics. They have a hatred for President Trump that is both shocking and unjustifiable. Look at the conduct of Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, etc. It has gotten so bad that it is almost impossible to carry on a civil discussion with liberals. I can’t remember how many times they’ve shut me up with “I don’t want to discuss it.”
  14. How in the world can anyone vote for a racist (the tapes are the proof) babbling idiot like Biden. He was a moron from Day 1 and failed third rate attorneys like Harris who will inherit the throne soon after the election. Did you watch the Harris-Pence debate? Did this talentless, smirking woman look presidential? Can you see her in negotiations with our enemies? We would become the laughing stock of the world. This is a pair that could probably be defined as a disaster in the making. Shame on anyone who votes for these two…you’d be getting what you deserve.

No discussion on the election would be complete without reference to COVID-19. Here’s what happened. China caused and should never be forgiven for what ensued. The incompetent WHO, an absolutely useless organization, was MIA from Day 1; they don’t deserve any financial support from any nation. The equally incompetent CDC, whose stated mission is to “protect” us, did just the opposite. But, then again, the CDC is manned by career bureaucrats, e.g., Dr. Fauci, who initially incorrectly claimed the masks didn’t work and China was being open and cooperative. The entire organization should dissolve and be replaced. Thankfully, President Trump kept the damage down to a minimum, contrary to the classes of the Monday morning quarterbacks of the liberal media.

No discussion on the election would also be incomplete without reference to Biden and his family plus the accompanying conduct of the media.  In recent days, we are now rapidly moving close toward a Fascist state with the liberal corrupt media’s attempt to suppress not only the opposition but also the opposition’s views and the corrupt conduct of Biden and his family.  As Jefferson once put it:  “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.”  The bottom line is that while bragging is a way of life for The Donald, lying and exploitation has long been a way of life for Biden.

Finally, this election is personal for me. Both my parents, who couldn’t speak English, were teenagers when they emigrated from Greece in 1920. My father’s formal education ended when he was 10 years old. When he was 49 years old, one of his dreams came true when they bought a two-family attached house in Astoria. Prior to that, I was brought up in a slum (Hell’s Kitchen). My success story (am I bragging?) can primarily be attributed to our country, democracy, and capitalism. If Biden-Harris are elected, fewer youngsters will be provided with the opportunities I experienced during my developmental years. I don’t want that to happen. So vote for Trump. He’s my savior and the savior for our great nation.

God Bless America!

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

DECEMBER 1:           On Great Eats IV—Burgers and Pastrami

JANUARY 1:              On Hofstra Men’s Basketball—The 2020-21 Season?

FEBRUARY  1:          on Purely Chase, Pristine, and Random Thoughts XXX

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Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Offensive teams often have a set or sets of plays at decision time near the end of the game. Defense(s) should be put in place to counter these plays.
  2. Do anything within the team’s capabilities not to play zone and accept the fact that zone defense is a weak replacement for a man-to-man defense.
  3. Defense should be played with intensity; it is NOT a time to relax and/or rest.

1 Comment | East Williston, Economics, Education, Politics, Views from Others | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON PURELY, CHASTE, PRISTINE AND RANDOM THOUGHTS XXIX

August 1, 2020

 

August 1, 2020

 

Here’s a couple for you to think about.

  1. It’s baseball time. The Mets are going to have a tough time with their division but I still bet on them.
  2. When are baseball batters going to wake up and figure out to go the other way when the shift is on?
  3. I could never function effectively today without Mary holding my hand in this high tech society.
  4. My new book on “Water Management” arrived earlier this year. It could be doing better.
  5. Our second edition of the classic 1950 chemical engineering book “Process Heat Transfer” by the legendary Donald O. Kern is surprisingly doing well. I say surprisingly because all my books have one thing in common – they don’t sell.
  6. There’s a great local Italian restaurant named The Sicilian. It’s connected and a tough place. A really tough place. The hat-check girl’s name is Angelo and their special featured dish on Friday night is broken leg of lamb.
  7. Another tough winter. They keep getting tougher and tougher. Really appreciated the move to spring and summer.
  8. Dear friend and noted sports historian Arthur Lovely gave me two new-gems: The two most important words in the English language are “love” and “thanks”.
  9. Finally make contact and had a great conversation with Patricia Pyke, an old flame who (at that time) didn’t know I existed. We reminisced about growing up in Hell’s Kitchen during the Depression, World War II, and several subsequent years.
  10. The highlight for me during the winters is my trip to West Palm Beach and visiting my superstar guard (once the face of Playboy Magazine) Richie Bennett, Cooper Union classmate Arnie Weiss, and first cousin (paternal-side) Nora.
  11. Despite the claims of the environmentalists, air quality has never been better.
  12. I loved growing up in New York City (especially Astoria) because that was where the action was. Sorry to say that it is no longer true.
  13. Still love doing crossword puzzles, Jumbo, and cryptograms. I think it’s the “aha”, “gotcha”, and “eureka” moments that make them exciting.
  14. If you have money, which I don’t, invest in sports book stocks. Bought some William Hill and immediately went down.
  15. Biological terrorism has become a major concern and is apparently here to stay.
  16. Have yet to make it to “6” at Jones Beach. Ouch!
  17. Hoping to do a book on viruses (that I know nothing about). The invisible kingdom and reactions of bacteria and viruses may ultimately destroy civilization as we know it. Hopefully, the CDC and WHO will be displaced and replaced by competent agencies and individuals.
  18. Here is a given from 9 months ago: Biden will NOT debate Trump.
  19. Cuomo seems hell-bent on rewinding the tape of history. After sending the 6200 COVID patients to senior care facilities resulting in thousands of deaths, he is now bragging about his accomplishments and blaming others for his failures. What a guy. I’m also convinced Cuomo is an idiot. Not as dumb as Biden, but close.
  20. The term “peaceful protests” has disappeared from the English language.
  21. How about the teachers, who have forever claimed their dedication to students. Unlike our health care workers, they are now balking at going back to work because of safety concerns.  What a disappointing and parasitic group of non-professionals.
  22. Democrats, liberals, anarchists, socialists…call them what you may, appear hell-bent on personally humiliating Trump, irrespective of the negative political fallout on our nation. They are all traitors whose conduct is disgusting, e.g., Obama’s speech at Lewis’ memorial. Bottom line: Trump is fighting alone for America without the help of the Republican Party and the enemy are fighting Trump.
  23. My neighbor claims that if vandalism arrives at your door, it will be a white kid-with a rich father-attending an Ivy college where a professor has assured him that it is appropriate and proper to loot, maim, and destroy.
  24. Recently saw a TV program on The Battle of Midway (WW2-South Pacific). I wonder if these Bernie thugs and anarchists appreciate the sacrifices Americans made to help ensure our present way of life for those of us who truly love our country.
  25. Never underestimate the stupidity of the electorate: nearly half plan to vote for Biden along with Pelosi, Schumer, and Bernie’s thugs.

 

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

 

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Four Issues II: The New York Racing Association (NYRA)

OCTOBER 1:              On the Ultimate Quiz III

NOVEMBER 1:          On Election Time

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Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

 

  1. Practice putting the ball in play; there should be several options available (and known) without the need to take a time out.
  2. Always run on offense; the only exceptions being if:

a. The bench is weak, and

b.  A key player is in foul trouble (shorten the game).

3. Motion offense is a must, otherwise your grandmother                    can  guard you.

Leave a Comment » | Barack Obama, East Williston, Education, Health, Politics, Sports | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON THE CORONAVIRUS II

July 1, 2020

July 1, 2020

 

Four months ago, I put forth an article concerned with the coronavirus. This is a follow-up piece that details my thoughts on some of the major players in the field.

 

Two things have occurred in the interim. I am now planning on writing a book on viruses (even though I know nothing about the subject) titled “Virus Contact Agencies and Organizations: A Resource Guide”, and secondly, the virus pandemic has been ebbing at this time. Nonetheless, here are my thoughts on seven of the aforementioned players in the field.

 

  1. Mayor DeBlasio. Ouch! Is this guy dumb or is he an anarchist? He apparently has his priorities on the police and rioters reversed. How in the world could anyone vote for him?
  2. Governor Cuomo. Here is another wimp whose only positive position is that he hates DeBlasio. He is still desperately trying to act presidential during daily press conferences while bragging about his accomplishments and at the same time attempting to rewrite history. His idiotic blunder on the nursing home patients and failure to purchase ventilators cost at least a thousand lives and will forever haunt him. He, like DeBlasio and NYC, is destroying our state — which may explain, in part, why he appears to be losing his mind. What a loser.
  3. President Trump. The Donald just can’t seem to do anything wrong. He guessed right on the early travel ban, approached the pandemic problem as only a competent non-bureaucratic individual would, and set us on the right path to rid ourselves of this menace. Furthermore, the economy (including the stock market) seems headed to bigger and better things. And to top this, it now appears with a high degree of certainty that Barack Hussein Obama and his henchmen in the FBI and DOJ did attempt a coup, an act (if proven) is punishable by death; these guys are really in hot water.
  4. The Media. Many of them belong in jail. I just can’t believe the blatant lies and distortions on CNBC (or what Hannity justifiably refers to as CDNC) and CNN. Their accusations regarding Trump and the pandemic are, at times, actually unbelievable. Their hatred for Trump just simply doesn’t make sense.
  5. The New York Times. Once a great newspaper. Still a great paper except for their coverage of the news and their raw hatred for Trump. I ask the reader to just read the headlines on the first page each day. No fair and learned individual could possibly claim that they are neutral and objective.
  6. Fauci. A fraud. A legitimate fraud who the Donald flushed out early in the pandemic. In March, Fauci proclaimed during a news conference that face masks serve no useful purpose. In April, he revised his position from March, claiming that the masks protect people around you. Then finally in May, he was back on TV telling us that masks were essential. With the coronavirus around for years, how could a so-called expert not know what was going on? His projections, based on poor data and faulty models, also failed us. I’ve written two books on and taught statistics and can assure even the novice or anyone who has taken a high school stat course would have known better. We now know he was wrong – flat out wrong – and should have not extrapolated the models. His advice was anything but science. In addition, he was no doubt attempting to protect the standard and traditional protocol of his profession and also help insure additional so called “critical” tests on oxychloroquine. Write this guy off!
  7. The Center for Disease Control (CDC). They are no different than any other bureaucratic organization… looking to survive and prosper, irrespective of the impact on us. It was founded in 1946 with a 10 million dollar budget. Its budget today is 1500 times larger and is manned with thousands of government employees. It advertises itself as “commitment to excellence”, the “premiere health prevention and preparedness agency”, and (get this) “protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S.” I’ve taught numerous courses titled “Emergency Planning and Response” and “Risk Assessment” (and associated calculations). Firemen take similar courses and can no doubt better attend to this issue than the CDC. In any event, one needs to answer two questions.
  8. Did the CDC do a good job (not ever excellent) of preventing and controlling this virus?
  9. Was the CDC prepared for this once in a decade (or is it century?) the pandemic?

They obviously failed miserably on both counts. This pandemic has made it clear that a significant part of the bureaucracy failed us. Fortunately, we Americans always respond to a crises.

We have been taught a painful and expensive lesson. Has the bureaucracy? I doubt it; they’re still employed, collecting checks, and attempting to dictate national policy. Bottom line: The CDC is a typical failed and useless bureaucratic organization.

 

Enough already. Let me know what you think.

 

Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publisher. Opposing views are welcomed.

 

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

 

NEXT POSTINGS:

 

AUGUST 1:                On Four Issues II: The New York Racing Association (NYRA)

SEPTEMBER 1:         On the Ultimate Quiz III

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Next month’s article will contain three defensive suggestions (from a total of 59) from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

 

2 Comments | East Williston, Health, Politics, Uncategorized, Views from Others | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

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