Author: webuiltitblog

I am a retired financial services executive who worked on Wall Street for 42 years. I established this blog to publish commentary on politics and business as I still follow these areas closely. My hobbies include golf, reading, travel and spending time with my grandchildren.

TRICK OR TREAT

On Friday, October 31, many of us will celebrate Halloween. We will dress up in costumes and attend parties. Children will go door-to-door “trick or treating.” Of course, some will use the holiday as an excuse to create mischief or even mayhem, but for most of us it will be a day of fun and games and an opportunity to gorge ourselves on candy.

But, few, if any, of us will bother to stop and think about the origins of the holiday. When and where did it begin? How did it evolve? Why do we dress up in costume? Why do we go “trick or treating?” Glad you asked. Read on.

The origin of Halloween is a Celtic holiday dedicated to the dead. Although the Celts were interspersed in many areas of Europe, they were concentrated in what is now, England, Ireland and Scotland. The Celts divided the year into four sections, each of which was marked by a major holiday. The beginning of the winter season was November 1, which was celebrated by a festival called “Samhein,” pronounced “Sah-ween,” which means “end of summer” in old Irish. The word “Halloween” can be traced back as far as 1745. It means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening.” It is derived from a Scottish term for “All Hallows Eve,” the evening before “All Hallows Day,” aka “All Saints Day.” Over time, the word “evening” was contracted to “e’en,” thus Halloween.

The Celts were a pagan people and very superstitious. They believed that the ghosts of those who had died during the year had not yet completed their journey to the “otherworld,” and at Samhein they were able to mingle with the living. Accordingly, to placate these ghosts and other spirits the Celts offered sacrifices and lit bonfires to aid them on their journey. It has been suggested that the origin of wearing costumes was to disguise oneself from any lost soul that might be seeking vengeance on the living before moving on the next world. Some, believing that the souls of those who had died recently were still wandering in a sort of purgatory set a place for them at dinner. Many of these ancient traditions have persisted to this day.

In 601 Pope Gregory I issued an edict, the gist of which was that missionaries were to combine Christian holidays and festivals with existing pagan holidays and festivals and, hopefully, eventually supersede them. The ultimate objective was to foster the conversion of pagans to Christianity. As a result, All Saints Day, aka All Hallows Day, was moved to November 1 to coincide with Samhein.

By the end of the 12th century other Halloween traditions had developed. For example, the clergy would ring church bells for the souls stuck in purgatory; and “criers,” dressed in black, would parade through towns reminding the citizens to remember these poor souls. In about the 15th century people began to bake “soul cakes,” which are small round cakes, a practice called “souling,” which is believed to be a forerunner of “trick or treating.” Poor people would go door-to-door and collect these cakes in exchange for saying prayers for the dead. Interestingly, Shakespeare mentioned “souling” in The Two Gentlemen of Varona” in 1593. Over time, celebrations of All Hallows Day began to include additional customs, such as “trick or treating,” lighting bonfires, attending costume parties, carving “jack-o’-lanterns, apple “bobbing,” and attending church services.

As mentioned above, it is believed that the practice of “trick-or-treating” was derived from “souling” or “mumming,” which is going house-to-house in disguise singing songs in exchange for food. This was believed to have originated in Scotland and Wales in the 16th century. Sometimes people would paint their faces and threaten mischief if they were not welcomed. This evolved into the customs of wearing costumes and playing pranks. Nocturnal pranksters needed illumination, hence the development of jack-o-lanterns. In England, people would fashion them out of turnips or mangel wurzels, which are large, thick roots suitable for carving. In America, pumpkins were used, because they were plentiful and better suited for carving anyway. Jack-o-lanterns are believed to frighten evil spirits. In France, people believed that the dead buried in cemeteries would rise up and participate in a wild carnival-like celebration known as the “danse macabre.”

“Trick or treating,” as such, is a relatively modern development. As I said, it is believed to have evolved from “souling” or “mumming.” The earliest mention of it in print was in 1927, and it did not become widespread until the 1930s in the US. Also, costuming has evolved. Popular fictional characters have been added to the traditional skeletons, ghosts and ghouls. Basically, now, anything goes.

CONCLUSION

At the present time, Halloween, like other holidays, has become highly commercialized. Selling costumes and other related paraphernalia has become big business. The original religious significance of the holiday has been eclipsed and forgotten by most people. Yes, some people still attend church, but many more attend parties. Many if not most people, especially children, know Halloween merely as a day to dress in costumes and go “trick or treating.” We do love our candy.
Hopefully, after reading this blog you will have gained some knowledge of and perspective as to the origin and meaning of the holiday.

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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

If I were to ask you to name the most popular sport in the US most of you would answer football, and statistically, you would be correct. According to a recent poll published by Yahoo sports, football is the sport most watched on tv in the US followed by baseball. There are many reasons for this, which I won’t get into as they are outside the scope of this blog. But, if I were to ask you which sport is the essence of America, is woven inextricably into the fabric of American lore, is part of our soul, chances are you would say baseball. Who doesn’t remember, as a young boy or girl, that first game of “catch” with their father or attending their first baseball game. I, for one, have better recall of a World Series game I attended with my father in 1955 than I do of things I did yesterday. So, at this time of the year with the World Series in progress, I feel it is appropriate to blog about our “National Pastime,” baseball. The focus of this blog will be on the origins of the sport.

Until recently, the widely held belief was that baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, NY in 1839. This myth appears to have originated in 1905. Apparently, at the time there was some controversy as to whether the sport, which had become known as the “American Pastime” had originated in the US or had been descended from an English game called “rounders.” Influential baseball people, such as Abraham Mills, the President of the National League, and Albert Spalding, the President of the Chicago Cubs, formed a commission to research and study the matter. Mills and Spalding had a great stake in the Commission deciding that the game had originated in the US, and they packed the Commission with persons who agreed with them. Predictably, the Commission determined that baseball had, in fact, originated in the US and was not related to or descended from the English game of “rounders” or any other game. Furthermore, the Commission promulgated the myth that Abner Doubleday had invented the game. Supposedly, in 1839 he had a “eureka” moment. In a flash, he laid out the diamond and set forth the rules. The first game was said to have been played in Cooperstown, NY in 1839. This story held sway for many years despite considerable evidence to the contrary.

Abner Doubleday was born on June 26, 1819 in Ballston Spa, NY. He was a career US Army officer who had fought in the Civil War. There is no record that he ever claimed to have invented baseball. Furthermore, neither his private letters, his diaries nor even his obituary so much as mentioned the game. He was not even in Cooperstown in 1839. He was stationed at West Point. Although I can see how the Mills Commission could want to claim that baseball was invented in America by an American, it is unclear how it came up with the name Abner Doubleday. It could be that the Commission relied on a certain witness, one Abner Graves, whose credibility was, to put it mildly, questionable. Another theory is that Abner Doubleday was confused with another Doubleday who was living in Cooperstown at the time. In any event, at the time the myth was accepted as truth.

Now, thanks to continuing research, we know better. It is clear that baseball evolved over hundreds of years from other bat and ball games, rather than from a “eureka” moment. For example, a French manuscript from 1344 depicts French clerics playing a game with similarities to baseball. In addition, for many years the English played various games called “rounders,” “tut-ball,”and “stoolball,” which exhibit similarities to baseball. Some sports historians believe “cricket” may also have descended from those games, although there is contrary evidence that suggests it may been imported from Flanders. In any event, by the 1830s many varieties of bat and ball games were being played in America.

Most sports historians credit Alexander Cartwright with promulgating the first rules of the game in 1845. Cartwright was born on April 17, 1820 in NYC. In the 1840’s He was a volunteer fireman with the Knickerbocker Fire Engine Company in NYC. At that time, they were playing an informal bat and ball game called “town ball.” With the help of others, he codified some 14 rules of the game. For example, he stipulated that the field be laid out in a diamond shape; there were nine fielders and three outs per inning. He has long been recognized as the “father of baseball” and was officially designated as such by Congress in 1953. He was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1938, 46 years after his death. Furthermore, it is believed that the first officially recorded game was played on June 19, 1846 at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, NJ. Some of the early rules were weeded out over time, to wit:

1. One of the ways to record an “out” was for a fielder to throw at and hit a runner with the batted ball.

2. The ball was required to be pitched underhanded.

3. A batted ball caught on a bounce was an “out.”

4. Fielders did not wear gloves.

5. Foul balls were not counted as strikes.

Baseball’s “modern era” began in 1901 when the American League was formed to join the National League, which been established in 1876. Most baseball records are counted from 1901. The oldest professional team was the Cincinnati Red Stockings, which was formed in 1869 and went undefeated that year playing against semi-pro and amateur teams.

At first, there were no prohibitions against blacks playing. In fact two brothers, Moses and Welday Walker did play in 1884. But, by the 1890’s due to a “gentlemen’s agreement” among the owners, blacks were effectively barred. This ban continued until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1946 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

CONCLUSION

Modern day baseball has some flaws, which need to be tweaked. The pace is too slow, the games are too long, and many believe the game is not as exciting as other sports. It has been usurped as the #1 sport in America by football. On the other hand, it has many plusses:

1. Baseball is the only sport with an official song, which is sung at every game. “Take me out to the Ballgame” was written in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert Van Tilzer, who, ironically, had never attended a game prior to writing the song. It was not sung at a ball game until 1934. The version we all sing is merely the chorus. (Incidentally, crackerjacks may own its very survival to the song. Have you ever eaten them other than at a ball game?)

2. It is highly statistical, which enables fans to compare the abilities of current players with those who played 50 or 100 years ago with some reliability.

3. Its records have more meaning and familiarity than those of other sports. Most fans know who has the lifetime hits record, Pete Rose, who had the highest lifetime batting average, Ty Cobb, who hit the most home runs, Barry Bonds, and who has won the most World Series, the Yankees. Conversely how many fans know who holds the NFL rushing record, who has won the most Super Bowls, or who led the NBA in scoring last year. Does anyone even care?

4. Baseball is the only sport without a time clock, so the trailing team always has a chance to come back. At some point in a football or basketball game it becomes obvious that the clock will run out on the losing team. But, in baseball the losing team will always get its “last licks.” You have not won until the last out has been recorded. Just ask the 1986 Boston Red Sox.

5. Baseball connotes nostalgia. We associate it with our youth. After all, the movie, “Field of Dreams” was not about football.

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BARBARY PIRATES

Every once in a while one of my followers requests that I publish a blog on a particular topic. So, Michael, my friend, this one’s for you.

The Barbary pirates, aka Barbary corsairs, operated primarily in the western Mediterranean Sea, however, on occasion, they ranged as far as Iceland and South America. Their primary bases of operation were the ports of Tripoli, Algiers and Tunis, which, collectively, were known as the Barbary Coast. Piracy in the Mediterranean can be traced back to the Emirate of Crete in the 9th century, but its peak was from the 16th to early 19th centuries. The pirates would not only hijack ships but they would also raid coastal towns ala the Vikings of earlier times. The main purpose of these raids was to capture Christians who would either be held for ransom, sold to the Ottomans as slaves, or retained as galley slaves on pirate ships. Basically, galley slaves were subjected to a horrendous existence. They were chained virtually permanently to their seats, received very little rest or sustenance, and were worked to death in a relatively short period of time.

Normally, the money for ransoms was paid by church groups or wealthy individuals. It seems to have operated as a type of business arrangement – the corsairs would capture individuals and sell them back at a certain price. One can see parallels to how the Somali pirates of present day operate. These raids of coastal areas, known as “Razzias,” had a secondary consequence, which was that coastal areas of Italy and Spain, among others, became abandoned as people were afraid to live in those areas. During the aforementioned peak period, it is estimated that as many as 1.2 million people were captured and sold into slavery. During much of this period the pirates operated, for the most part, with little organized opposition as the European powers had not yet developed naval power sufficient to oppose them. European military forces consisted primarily of mercenaries, not professional, well-trained, soldiers.

Interestingly, not all the pirates were Muslims or North Africans as one might assume. For example, about two-thirds of their ships captains were Europeans, no doubt motivated by financial gain, who had “taken the turban.” The pirates’ power began to wane at the end of the 17th century when countries such as England, France, Spain and Portugal developed their navies into effective fighting forces. It took another blow when the US defeated them in the Barbary Wars; it ceased for good when France conquered Algiers in 1830.

Until the American colonies won their independence from England their shipping was protected under the umbrella of the British, who, like other European powers, had negotiated a treaty with the pirates. Typically, these treaties required the payment of tribute in return for safe passage. Reasonable tributes were regarded as merely a cost of doing business. One of the unintended consequences of independence was the termination of this protection. Ironically, Morocco, which had been the first nation to officially recognize the US as an independent country also became the first to seize an American ship. Eventually, the US negotiated a treaty of its own, but the cost of tribute and ransoms was exorbitant. As a fledgling nation, America’s financial resources were limited. In 1800 the amount of tribute and ransom paid amounted to 20% of the US government’s expenditures. This was unsustainable. Something had to be done.

Many politicians were vehemently opposed to paying this onerous tribute. Among the most outspoken was Thomas Jefferson. He had firsthand experience as during the 1790s he was often involved in negotiating the release of prisoners. He firmly believed that paying tribute and ransoms only encouraged further hijackings. (If this sounds familiar, it should, as this was likely the foundation of our policy of not negotiating with terrorists.) Around this time the US began to develop a navy to deal with the pirates as well as to protect its national interests on the high seas.

When Jefferson took office as President in 1801 he decided to cease these payments. This decision led to two Barbary Wars, 1801 – 1805 and 1815. The pasha of Tripoli declared war on the US in May of 1801. In response, Jefferson sent a fleet to the area. At first this show of force calmed things down, but things accelerated again when one of the ships ran aground, and the pirates captured its crew. That led to armed conflict. Eventually, the US marines landed in Tripoli and captured the port. This battle was the genesis of the line in the Marine hymn with which we are all familiar – “from the halls of Montezuma to the shore of Tripoli.” As a result of this victory a new pasha was installed who was friendly to the US. As a symbol of this victory, the new pasha presented the American naval commander with a special sword called a “Mameluke,” which is named for North African warriors. The “Mamaluke” became the model for the Marines’ dress sword. It is still in use today. The victory at Tripoli marked the end of the first Barbary War. Incidentally, two young officers and soon-to-be-famous naval leaders whom you may have heard of distinguished themselves in this war – Stephen Decatur and William Bainbridge. They both went on to long, distinguished naval careers.

The second war began after the conclusion of the War of 1812. The Dey of Algiers, believing that the US was now considerably weakened, declared war. In response, the US promptly sent a fleet under the command of Decatur and Bainbridge to the area. The fleet defeated the pirates quickly and decisively. This led to a new treaty and the end of the pirate attacks on US shipping permanently. As mentioned above, the pirates’ power ended soon afterwards when France conquered Algiers and established colonies in North Africa.

CONCLUSION

The Barbary Wars marked the first time that the US asserted itself on the world stage. The prompt response and decisive victories served notice that the US was to be respected. I believe that establishing itself in this manner was critical for the young fledgling nation.

In my opinion, we can learn a lesson from this that can be applied to today’s terrorists. It sounds trite, but it’s true. Deal with them promptly and decisively and from strength, not weakness. History has demonstrated this time and again. Compare and contrast our success/failure in WWII with that of Viet Nam and the Barbary pirates with ISIS and other Muslim terrorists. It doesn’t take a genius to see which approach is more effective.

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EBOLA

Ebola is a relatively new disease. It was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, there have been several outbreaks of the disease, however, until now the disease has been confined to Africa (although there have been a few deaths elsewhere due to contamination in laboratories). It is believed that “patient zero” of a particular outbreak catches the virus from contact with bat detritus.

The current outbreak is the largest and most dangerous ever, based on the number of cases and the geographic areas affected. Although the primary affected area is West Africa – Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria – it has spread to other locales, such as the US and Spain. The CDC, WHO and other relief agencies have been working diligently to contain the disease, but heretofore, it appears they are playing catch-up. WHO has warned that within two months West Africa could be facing up to 10,000 cases a week. Even worse, the death rate has been approximately 70%. I repeat, 70%, although part of that is due to the relatively primitive level of healthcare in West Africa. (In some areas, patients still consult witch doctors for medical issues.) Although comparisons could be misleading, by contrast the death rate during the Flu Pandemic in 1918, which caused widespread panic and killed an estimated 30 – 50 million people worldwide, was only 2%; in the 14th century, the so-called Black Death pandemic killed over 100 million people in Europe, which was about 1/3 of its population at the time.

Some facts and figures about Ebola and the current outbreak:

1. There is no FDA-approved vaccine or medication for it.

2. Treatment consists primarily of providing fluids intravenously, careful monitoring of blood pressure and oxygen levels, and treating any ancillary infections that may occur. These are not actual cures per se, but they serve to keep the patient alive until his body can develop its own antibodies to fight off the disease.

3. As always, early detection and strong supportive care are critical. All of the above are generally lacking in West Africa.

4. Survivors of the disease develop antibodies that last for at least ten years, although it is not known whether or not they can subsequently be infected with another strain of the disease prospectively. Additionally, some survivors have been known to develop other medical problems, such as joint or vision problems.

5. On the plus side, a blood transfusion from a survivor can be an effective treatment for a new patient. In point of fact, in Dallas one of the infected nurses is receiving such a transfusion.

6. Medical professionals have cautioned against panic, stating that Ebola can only be transmitted through direct contact. I agree that we should refrain from panicking, but there are many ways one can become infected, some of which one might not realize.

a. “Direct contact” includes not only means one would expect, such as touching the blood, semen, urine, saliva, sweat, vomit, feces and breast milk of an infected person, but also if an infected person sneezes or coughs on you.

b. The virus can survive in the open for several hours, if not days. Thus, it can be transmitted by a handshake, stepping in a puddle, or touching a dry surface, such as a door knob, needles, clothing or bedding. Family members and healthcare providers are at the greatest risk. Transmission on an airplane certainly seems plausible, though not likely. Furthermore, it is more than a little disconcerting that nurses have caught the disease despite wearing protective gear.

7. Speaking of airplane flights, it has been proposed that the US suspend all flights from West African nations and deny entry to any persons holding passports or visas from a West African country at least until the situation is under control. This would insulate Americans better and alleviate health concerns. I am in favor of this. I think it is unrealistic to expect untrained airport and airline personnel to be capable of screening passengers for Ebola symptoms. It is dangerous for the screeners and creates a false sense of security for the public.

CONCLUSION

The CDC and US government must step up their game. The CDC appears to have been caught off-guard by the severity of this outbreak and is still playing catch-up. They must be honest with the American people. CDC Director Tom Frieden’s conflicting and illogical justifications for not suspending flights from infected areas have not exactly inspired confidence. Most people are in favor of suspending flights from infected areas or at least quarantining them. There is precedent for that (Ellis Island).

Many people have sensed that Frieden is presenting an overly optimistic or even unrealistic picture of the situation. I understand the government doesn’t want to create panic, but don’t sugarcoat it either. Polls show that about half the people believe the government is withholding information, and it makes them uneasy.

The present Ebola outbreak is definitely the most severe since the disease was first discovered in 1976. It has the potential to become as devastating as the Flu Pandemic of 1918, however, through modern healthcare facilities and techniques we have the means to contain it. Literally, the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies here. The key is prompt, comprehensive and decisive action.

The situation remains very fluid. I will provide updates when, as and if necessary.

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COLUMBUS DAY

Columbus Day was celebrated on October 12 as it is every year on that date. The purpose of the holiday is to commemorate Columbus’ “discovery” of America in 1492 (more on that later). In addition, Italian-Americans observe the holiday as a means of celebrating their proud heritage. The holiday is celebrated in various forms in most, but not all, of the States and in many foreign countries as well.

The roots of the holiday can be traced back at least to 1792 when various cities, such as NYC, celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage. Other celebrations were held in succeeding years. For the most part, these celebrations took on patriotic themes, such as nationalism, good citizenship and even support for wars. The first state to recognize Columbus Day as a holiday was Colorado in 1906. This was largely due to the lobbying efforts of one Angelo Noce, a first generation Italian-American living in Denver. It became recognized as a federal holiday in 1937, through the strong and persistent lobbying efforts of the Knights of Columbus and other Italian-American organizations.

As I alluded to above, Columbus Day is not celebrated universally in the US. The methods of celebration vary widely. Most states, such as NY and California, treat it as a major holiday. Schools and state office buildings are closed; there are parades and other official events. Other states mark the day merely as a “Day of Observance.” Virginia combines two celebrations on the same day – Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day, which recognizes the decisive victory that marked the end of the Revolutionary War. Four states – Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon and South Dakota – do not celebrate it at all. Hawaii celebrates the Polynesian discovery of Hawaii on that day, but it is not an official state holiday. Government offices and schools are open. South Dakota celebrates “Native American Day.”

Throughout the years there have been various protests surrounding the day. In the 1800s there was an anti-Columbus Day movement based upon its association with immigrants and Catholics in general and the Knights of Columbus, in particular. Those biases were prevalent in those pre-politically correct days. In present day, opposition is based primarily on Columbus’ harsh treatment of Native Americans. He has been labeled as an unsavory character and an opportunist. Furthermore, he has been accused of introducing slavery and disease to the indigenous populace. In general, many historians have a somewhat negative view of Columbus.

There are many myths and exaggerations surrounding Columbus and his famous voyage of discovery. Here are the facts as close as I was able to discern them:

1. Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. He was not Spanish, as many assume.

2. The main purpose of his voyage was to discover a western route to Asia. He was convinced one could reach Asia by sailing west. It wasn’t so much to prove the world was round instead of flat as by 1492 most astronomers, scholars and educated people recognized that it was. In point of fact, Aristotle had proven this concept scientifically over 1,000 years before by using astronomy. Trade with Asia was very lucrative. The only known routes were either sailing around the Cape of Good Hope or travelling overland, both of which were long, arduous and dangerous. If he could, in fact, find a faster alternate route, so much the better. Literally, time was money.

3. Columbus had great difficulty finding backers for his venture. Before King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to finance his venture, he was turned down by many others, including the governments of England, France and Portugal. Potential financial backers were quite skeptical of Columbus’ proposal. For one thing, the conventional wisdom of the day was that the earth was much larger than Columbus thought, and, of course, the experts were correct.

4. The “Nina and the “Pinta” were not the actual names of two of his ships. In those days it was customary to name ships after saints. Often, the sailors would rename them with nicknames. So, for example, the actual name of the Nina” was the “Santa Clara.” “Nina” referred to the ships owner, Juan Nino. The name Pinta was slang for “prostitute.”

5. Columbus was not the first European to set foot in the Americas. It has been well documented that the Viking, Leif Ericsson, landed in what is now Newfoundland in about the year 1,000. Furthermore, there is evidence that Irish and Celtic explorers may also have preceded him, and, of course, many thousands of years before even them Asians had trekked across the Bearing Strait to settle the Americas.

6. Columbus never did accomplish the primary objectives of his mission. He never found the Northwest Passage to Asia. In fact, Columbus did not even set foot in North America. In his maiden voyage he landed on the West Caribbean island of Hispaniola (present day Haiti). He thought he was in India, so he called the natives “Indians,” an appellation that has stuck. On subsequent voyages he landed on other Caribbean islands and in what is present-day Venezuela, never North America. It’s true that navigation in the 15th Century was far from an exact science, but nevertheless Columbus was nowhere near where he thought he was. (I suppose he could have used a GPS.)

CONCLUSION

Unlike other holidays, Columbus Day is not universally celebrated. In fact, one can argue that it was founded due to the intense lobbying efforts of Italian-Americans and other interested parties. As far as Columbus, himself, is concerned, his “discoveries” certainly paved the way for opening up the New World to European exploration and settlement (some would say exploitation). He deserves credit for that. But, present-day evidence shows conclusively that he did not actually “discover” anything. One might say he had a good press agent. I’m not trying to “trash” the man, but facts are facts.

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SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD PAKISTANI WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Finally, a feel good news story! Amid all the bad news and turmoil in the world nowadays, Ebola, ISIS beheadings, Middle East strife, nuclear proliferation, and economic uncertainty, to name a few, how uplifting is it to find a positive, uplifting news story?

Seventeen year old Malala Yousafzai, a human rights and women’s activist from Pakistan, has been chosen as the co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014, sharing it with Lailash Satyarthi, a children’s rights activist from India. (There is a certain symmetry and irony in a Muslim from Pakistan and a Hindu from India sharing a Nobel Peace Prize, don’t you think?) Yousafzai is the youngest winner of this award in its 114 year history. As mandated by Alfred Nobel’s will the peace prize is awarded annually to those persons or entities that have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”

The Nobel Prizes were established and authorized by the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swede who was a well-known inventor, engineer, chemist and arms manufacturer. Among the more famous of his over 300 inventions were cordite and dynamite. These inventions made him an extremely wealthy man. Interestingly, by some quirk Nobel was able to read his own obituary. His brother had predeceased him, and apparently, at least one newspaper, thinking Alfred had died, published a rather unflattering obituary in which he was described as the “merchant of death.” Supposedly, Alfred was so taken aback by this unflattering characterization he decided to change his will and use his fortune for some good. One of these changes was the establishment of the Nobel Prizes. Alfred died for real in 1896, and the first Nobel Prizes were awarded according to his will’s specifications in 1901. Without boring you with the details there is a lengthy nomination process, which takes several months to complete. The entire process, including the nominated names or entities, is kept sealed for 50 years. Not even the nominees are aware that they have been nominated. The winners are announced in October. For some reason the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the others, for chemistry, economics, medicine, and physics, are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.

In order to appreciate fully the magnitude of this astounding achievement one must delve into Malala’s life story and background. Malala was born on July 12, 1997 in Minora, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan. The area in which she lived was under the domination of the Taliban, which, as we know, strongly believes in suppressing women’s rights and has not hesitated to use force to achieve this goal. In February 2009 the Taliban began enforcing a ban on young women attending school in the area. They reinforced this ban by simply destroying the schools. In response, Malala’s father began to home-school her. Later in 2009, at the tender age of eleven, Malala began writing a blog for the BBC describing life under the thumb of the Taliban. One of the primary themes of her blog was to promote education of young women in the Swat district, where she lived. Even though she had used a pseudonym, apparently the Taliban eventually figured out her identity. First, she received death threats. These were published on Facebook and in newspapers and even slipped under her door. When that didn’t work, the Taliban leadership voted formally to assassinate her. Folks, just think. We’re talking about an 11 year-old girl! Finally, in 2012 a Taliban gunman boarded her school bus, seeking her by name. Once she identified herself, the gunman shot her three times and left her for dead. The assassination attempt backfired, however, as she recovered. All it did was raise her profile and trigger an outpouring of support for her and her cause internationally. To wit:

1. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, protests sprang up all over Pakistan.

2. In excess of two million people signed a petition supporting the “Right to Education” bill, which eventually was passed.

3. The Pakistani government offered a 10 million Rupee (US$105,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the would-be assassin. In due course the assassin and all members of the conspiracy were captured.

4. Time magazine featured her on the cover of its April 29, 2013 issue and in that same issue named her one “100 Most Influential People in the World.”

5. In July 2013 she addressed the UN to speak out for greater access for females to education worldwide.

6. In September 2013 she was the key speaker at the opening of the Library of Birmingham, England. She has also spoken at Harvard and met with both Queen Elizabeth and President Obama.

7. She was the winner of Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize.

8. And, of course, the big one – she is co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

CONCLUSION

Like I said at the outset this is a real feel-good story. From humble beginnings, a young woman, a child, really, has led a movement, survived assassination by terrorists, met with world leaders and received the Nobel Peace Prize. If this were a Hollywood movie, we would deride it as unrealistic. A truly amazing story, and an inspiration to us all.

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WHO AM I?

Many of you have requested another quiz. So, here goes. See if you can discern the identity of the famous person described below. I tried to give reasonable hints, although some may prove to be difficult.

1. Rapper and acting role in “Charlie’s Angels.” My real name is James Todd Smith.

a. Jay Z
b. Tupac Shakur
c. LL Cool J
d. Fitty Cent

2. Prussian statesman credited with unifying Germany.

a. Otto Von Bismarck
b. King Wilhelm I
c. Kaiser William I
d. Count Metternich

3. Renowned vaudeville straight-man from Asbury Park, NJ.

a. William Abbott
b. Dick Martin
c. Bob Hope
d. Bing Crosby

4. “I’d rather be in Philadelphia.

a. Charlie Chaplin
b. Lou Costello
c. Totie Fields
d. WC Fields

5. Fifteenth President of the US. Only bachelor, and only one from PA.

a. Andrew Jackson
b. James Buchanan
c. William Henry Harrison
d. Andrew Johnson

6. English monarch with longest reign.

a. Elizabeth I
b. Elizabeth II
c. Queen Victoria
d. King Henry VIII

7. Defeated Napolean at Waterloo.

a. Admiral Lord Nelson
b. Sir Walter Raleigh
c. Lord James
d. Lord Gladstone

8. The first horse to win the Triple Crown.

a. Silky Sullivan
b. Sir Barton
c. Citation
d. Much Macho Man

9. Member of “Rat Pack” from Steubenville, OH.

a. Sammy Davis, Jr.
b. Joey Bishop
c. Don Rickles
d. Dean Martin

10. Best selling author of horror and suspense novels from Maine. Also, a big Red Sox fan.

a. Stephen King
b. Dean Koontz
c. James Patterson
d. Brad Thor

11. Ne’er do well actress from Long Island.

a. Elizabeth Taylor
b. Lindsay Lohan
c. Sandra Bullock
d. Emma Watson

12. Entertainer known for frugality.

a. Jackie Gleason
b. George Burns
c. Jack Benny
d. Jackie Mason

13. TV personality best known as co-host of “Today Show.”

a. Norah O’Donnell
b. Hugh Downs
c. Regis Philbin
d. Brit Hume

14. AKA “The Merchant of Venom.”

a. Rodney Dangerfield
b. Jack E. Leonard
c. Alan King
d. Don Rickles

15. Best known as the “Lone Ranger.”

a. James Arness
b. Hoot Gibson
c. Clayton Moore
d. Chuck Connors

16. Only US President elected to two NON-CONSECUTIVE terms.

a. Grover Cleveland
b. James K. Polk
c. Teddy Roosevelt
d. Samuel Tilden

17. Late night TV host who got his start on “xxxxx Cellar.”

a. Jack Paar
b. Jay Leno
c. Johnny Carson
d. Steve Allen

18. “Casablanca” actor who frequently portrayed sinister characters.

a. Humphrey Bogart
b. Peter Lorre
c. Claude Raines
d. Lon Chaney, Jr.

19. Producer and director of films and tv shows who directed “Jaws” and “Duel.”

a. Ken Branagh
b. Robert Mandel
c. James Cameron
d. Steven Spielberg

20. Host of “GE Theatre” and “Death Valley Days.”

a. Garry Moore
b. Arthur Godfrey
c. Ronald Reagan
d. Ed McMahon

ANSWERS: 1. (c), 2 (a), 3. (a) (better known as “Bud.”), 4. (d), 5. (b), 6. (c), 7. (a), 8. (b), 9. (d), 10. (a), 11. (b), 12. (c), 13. (b),
14. (d), 15. (c), 16. (a), 17. (c), 18. (b), 19. (d), 20. (c)

CONCLUSION

Please let me know how you did.

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DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THE NFL

Let’s get the easy part out of the way first. Most of us can agree that the actions of Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Kevin Hardy, Ray McDonald and Jonathan Dwyer, among others, were despicable, cowardly, very likely criminal, and have no place in our society. There are many aspects of these incidents, but in the interests of time and space I will focus on three of them: (1) the actions, or inactions, of Roger Goodell and the NFL, (2) what is the appropriate football-related penalty, and (3) how these incidents relate to how men, in general, treat women and children in our society.

Regarding the Ray Rice incident, as more and more evidence comes to light, there seems to be little doubt that the NFL and/or the Baltimore Ravens acted improperly. Ray Rice was a star and the face of the Ravens franchise. As such, he appears to have received “star” treatment. A marginal player might very well have been treated more harshly. Both the team and the league knew considerably more in February and in the intervening months than the public has been led to believe. We don’t know what Roger Goodell knew personally or what he merely suspected. I believe that he was shielded intentionally by subordinates to give him plausible deniability. The same is true for the owner of the Baltimore Ravens. This is a time-honored tactic among leaders everywhere. Former President Harry Truman famously declared “the buck stops here.” In reality, in most cases, the buck never even gets to the President’s Office.

According to “Outside the Lines,” which has done an extremely thorough job of reporting on this incident, Messrs. Goodell and Biscotti both assiduously avoided actually viewing the video or even obtaining firsthand information from those who did see it, such as Ray Rice’s lawyer or the mysterious NFL staff person who supposedly received it. Thus, Mr. Goodell had “cover” to impose only a two game penalty. In any event, I maintain that a leader should not and cannot ever use willful blindness as an excuse. It’s a leader’s responsibility to be cognizant of problems and potential problems, and if he is not, that is an indication of weakness, if not downright incompetence. That goes not only for Commissioner Goodell but also for any leader from President Obama on down to the shift supervisor on the assembly line.

There now seems little doubt that Mr. Goodell engaged in willful blindness to minimize the impact on a star player who had become the face of the Ravens franchise, hence the initial decision to impose only a two-week suspension. Mr. Biscotti was also close to Mr. Goodell and a strong supporter. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the rest of us, the second video surfaced eventually.

Those who have been condemning Mr. Goodell for willful blindness and demanding he resign should be mindful that Mr. Obama has been using it as an excuse for six years. With respect to every scandal, including the IRS targeting certain groups for political reasons, the Benghazi massacre, NSA surveillance, and the Obamacare rollout, to name a few, his response has been “I didn’t know,” or “I heard about it on the news.” Ironic and inconsistent, but that’s a subject for another blog on another day. I especially have a bone to pick with women’s advocacy groups, such as NOW, that have been vociferous about these incidents but have heretofore been strangely silent on domestic violence as a whole, especially in the Muslim world. That inconsistency bothers me. Where has the outrage been before now?

Let’s all keep in mind that Mr. Goodell has taken corrective action. He (1) apologized, (2) launched an internal investigation, and (3) announced that the NFL would be implementing a new players’ personal conduct policy. One can argue that he didn’t go far enough or get specific enough, but I say give the NFL time to get it right. For one thing, they have to get the players’ union, whose job is to protect players’ rights, on board.

What would be the appropriate football-related penalty in these types of cases? I have heard many opinions ranging all the way up to a lifetime ban. It’s an emotional subject. To me, the main issue to iron out is that not all incidents are equal. Is it a first offense or part of a pattern? Has the player actually been indicted, convicted by a jury or merely accused? False accusations may not be the norm, but they do occur. Remember the Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger, and Duke Lacrosse cases. It is not one size fits all. Take the time to get it right.

Most of us can agree that these incidents are not limited to the NFL, or even to athletes in general. Rather, they are indicative of and consistent with a broader domestic abuse problem in our society as a whole. Football is a violent game and the NFL can be a violent place. In addition, most players, in order to be successful, develop a violent, aggressive edge when they play that is not easily turned off when they leave the field. I am not making excuses, just stating the situation. I am not cognizant of any conclusive evidence that the issue is more prevalent in the NFL than in society as a whole. One can argue that the high profile of the league and its players has created the impression that it is. Additionally, much of the domestic abuse among lower profile persons is not reported to the authorities for various socio-economic reasons.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Mr. Goodell has stated he has not considered resigning. I don’t think that his actions or inactions to date have risen to the level where he should lose his job. He has the backing of the owners, who are his employers, including John Mara, Robert Klein, and Art Rooney, three of the more influential ones. He made a mistake, and he has apologized for it and commenced corrective actions. We have all made mistakes in our lives. Americans believe in second chances. Let’s wait and see what happens prospectively.

The only thing that could cause Mr. Goodell to lose his job would be a revolt by the sponsors. That would impact the league’s revenue stream. That is highly unlikely. So far, the sponsors have been willing to let the NFL work through this. Yes, a few like Anheuser Busch and Pepsi, have expressed concern, but there is very little chance that they or any other sponsor will cease advertising with the NFL. Can you imagine an executive of one of those companies having the temerity to recommend dropping the NFL to his boss? That would be a non-starter. There is too much money to be made, and a competitor would be perfectly willing to replace them. The NFL brand is too popular and too lucrative. People love to watch it, gamble on it and play fantasy football. After all, we all know it’s all about money in this world.

As long as the NFL is perceived to be working on a solution most people will be satisfied, and I predict they will reach a satisfactory resolution in due course. Also, my cynical side says that eventually some high-profile celebrity will do something stupid to attract the media, and the public will move on.

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BRENDAN TEVLIN

This story should come with a warning label. NOT reading it could be hazardous to your health, or even your life. It should scare the s**t out of every American who assumes that he is safe. Most of us live our lives in a law-abiding manner. We are honest, work hard, obey the law, raise our children, provide for our families as best we can, don’t bother anyone, and try to do the right thing in our daily lives. In return, we want and expect the government to protect us, to keep us safe from criminals and terrorists.

Probably, most of you have never heard off Brendan Tevlin. Who was he? By all accounts, he was a kid any parent would be proud of. He was a straight “A” student in high school, athletic, popular. He did all the right things that we hope and expect from our children. Friends referred to him as a “model citizen.” He only made one mistake in his life. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

On the night of June 25 Brendan, home on college break, was on his way home from a friend’s house when he was set upon and murdered by four men. He was shot eight times while sitting in his car at a stoplight in West Orange, NJ. The police, his family, his friends, and the community as a whole were unable to determine a motive. Finally, the Essex County prosecutor, unable or unwilling to characterize it differently, concluded that Brendan was targeted specifically. CBS news reported that conclusion. Was this a whitewash? Perhaps. The unmistakable implication was that either Brendan knew his murderers or it was a drug deal gone bad. Supposedly, we could now all rest easy. It was just another case of a middle class white kid associating with the wrong people, possibly buying drugs, and paying the ultimate price. Nothing for the rest of us to worry about. We could all go on with our lives.

But, not so fast. On July 18 West Orange police arrested Ali Muhammed Brown in connection with another crime. In the course of his interrogation he confessed not only to Tevlin’s murder but also to three others in Washington State. Mr. Brown, an American citizen and a Muslim, offered, as his motive, revenge for the US’s killing Muslims overseas. So, apparently, what we have is four documented cases of domestic terrorism committed in revenge.

CONCLUSION

Folks, we can no longer ignore the fact that, to paraphrase Reverend Wright, terrorism has come home to roost. We have seen several examples in the last few years: the Fort Hood shootings, the Boston marathon attack, and these murders, to name a few. The fact that law enforcement and the government have characterized them in more sanguine terms for whatever reasons is irrelevant and misleading. These crimes are frightening for their randomness. These victims were not people who knew they were putting themselves in harm’s way, such as a soldier or a journalist. They were normal, regular people, like you and me. Any marathon spectator could have been at the finish line when the bombs went off. Any one us could have been the person sitting in his car minding his own business and been brutally murdered.

I am not suggesting that we live our lives in constant fear, always looking over our shoulder, constantly suspicious of strangers, seeing terrorists under our bed and around every corner. We should be vigilant, but not paranoid. But, the main thing is we should demand that law enforcement and the government tell us the truth. The facts clearly demonstrate that domestic terrorism is no longer a hypothetical. Regardless of what the government is claiming, it is a fact, and the perpetrators are American citizens. Let me repeat, these terrorists, and let’s call them terrorists, not radicals, were born here, live here, look like us and speak like us. In many ways, they are us. That is what is so scary. That is why I said this story comes with a warning label. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, “Are you going to believe what [the government] tell[s] you or what you see with your own eyes?”

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FAMOUS PHRASES

We all use and are familiar with certain odd-sounding phrases, such “an arm and a leg,” “one fell swoop,” and “nick of time,” to name a few. Many of the words that comprise these phrases make no literal sense individually, but, nevertheless, most of us comprehend their meaning collectively. I have often been curious as to their derivation and development. In some cases, the origination is fairly clear and logical; in others, it is murky and controversial. Often, the earliest usage could only be confirmed back to when the phrase first appeared in writing, such as in a newspaper, a poem or a novel. Other times, it could be traced back even further by a verbal history, such as oft-repeated legend or superstition. In any event, I have selected 20 of the more interesting ones for your reading pleasure.

1. “An arm and a leg” – A significant and, perhaps, exorbitant amount of money.

This phrase is of US origin coined shortly after WWII. One theory is that it was derived from the fact that during WWII many servicemen lost an arm or a leg on the battlefield, which would amount to a significant and, perhaps, excessive loss for them. Another explanation, which has more credence is that the phrase is descendant from two 19th century phrases: “I would give my right arm for…,” and “even if it takes a leg…”

2. “Bury the hatchet” – Final settlement of differences.

It was a tradition among American Indians that the chiefs of the two tribes would actually bury a hatchet in the ground to seal the resolution of a quarrel or difference of opinion.

3. “Close, but no cigar.” – Falling just short of one’s objective and getting nothing.

The prevailing thought is that this phrase is derived from the early to mid-20th century custom of concessions at fairgrounds to give cigars as prizes. There is no confirmation of this theory.

4. “Dead ringer” – Exact duplicate.

There are two sources. Another meaning for “dead” is exact or precise, such as “dead shot” or “dead heat.” “Ringer” is derived from horse racing whereby an inferior horse that closely resembled another is substituted for a better horse to deceive bettors.

5. “Getting out on the wrong side of the bed.” – Be in a bad mood.

The best theory is that it was derived from an ancient superstition that when first getting out of bed it was bad luck to touch the floor with one’s left foot first.

6. As dead as a doornail” – Finished with, unusable, devoid of life.

Traced back at least to the 14th century. At that time, in order to secure two pieces of wood to each other it was customary for workmen to hammer a doornail through them and then bend the protruding, or pointy, end. In this manner the nail would be rendered unusable, or dead.

7. “Easy as pie” – Very easy to accomplish.

This phrase has been traced back to the 19th century, although the origin is not what one might assume. It is not based on a pie being easy to make, but rather that a pie is easy, or pleasant, to eat. It goes down smoothly and nicely.

8. “Bring home the bacon” – earn money.

The actual origin is not definitive, but it was likely 12th century England. At that time, married couples that exhibited unusual devotion to their union were give a “flitch,” or side of bacon, in recognition. Over time, this phrase evolved to signify success.

9. “Bob’s your uncle” – All’s well.

This expression is used in England and other commonwealth countries, such as Canada. I was exposed to it when I worked for The Bank of Nova Scotia, a Toronto-based company. There are various theories as to its origin, but the most likely one is that it originated with a Lord Salisbury in late 19th century England. His first name was Robert, and he repeatedly used his influence to get his nephew appointed to various government posts. Interestingly, the word “nepotism” is derived from the word “nephew.”

10. “Fair and square” – Honest, straightforward.

This expression is traced back to 16th century England. “Square meant “fair and “honest,” so, over time, the expression evolved into “fair” and “square.”

11. “Once in a blue moon” – A very rare occurrence.

This is one of those murky and controversial ones. There are literary references to blue moons all the way back to medieval England. Also, the moon actually does appear to be blue at certain rare times such as following a volcanic eruption. Supposedly, this was documented following the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa in 1883. Most likely, however, the term blue moon refers to the extra full moon that occurs every three years. Since the lunar cycle differs slightly from the calendar, every three years there is a month with two full moons, making a yearly total of 13 full moons, not 12. This extra full moon is called a blue moon, a rare occurrence indeed. This phenomenon was first described in the Maine Farmers’ Almanac in the late 1800s.

12. “One fell swoop” – Suddenly in a single action.

The individual words do not make sense out of the context of the entire phrase. In this context “fell” is derived from its 13th century meaning of “savage,” “cruel” and “ruthless.” “Swoop” is derived from bird references. In Macbeth Shakespeare referred to a hunting bird’s “fell swoop.” Over the years, the meaning of this phrase has evolved from savagery to suddenness.

13. “To hell in a handbasket”- Rapidly deteriorating, heading for disaster.

This is another murky one. The best guess is that it was derived from when a person was guillotined. The head would be caught in a handbasket. Presumably, this person was going to hell. Any conveyance could have been used instead of handbasket, such as a wagon or wheelbarrow, but handbasket provided alliteration. So the phrase caught on with handbasket.

14. “Nick of time” – Just in time.

In 16th century England the word “nick” meant a notch or small cut in wood, for example, to connote precision. Originally, the phrase was “pudding time,” as pudding was the first course in a meal, and to arrive in “pudding time” was to make it just in time for the beginning of the meal. However, around his time pudding began to be served for dessert, so the wording of the phrase evolved into “nick of time,” or precisely on time.

15. “Keep a stiff upper lip” – To remain resolute and unemotional in the face of adversity.

This phrase is viewed as a personality trait characteristic of Englishmen, but actually it originated in the US in the early 19th century.

16. “Mad as a hatter” – crazy

Mercury, which was used in the manufacture of hats, affects the nervous system. It made people who came in repeated contact with it twitchy and nervous and induced mood swings and erratic behavior. In extreme cases, it drove people insane. Mercury poisoning became known as “mad hatters’ disease.”

17. “Murphy’s Law” – if anything can go wrong, it will.

Murphy was Captain Edward Murphy, an American aerospace engineer. In 1949 he conducted a study that concluded that if something could be done incorrectly, it would be.

18. “Raining cats and dogs” – Raining very heavily.

This is another controversial one. There are many theories and the actual derivation is not certain. There are two that appear to have the most credence. The first is that in medieval times serfs kept their pets on the thatch roofs of their huts. When it rained heavily the pets would literally fall off the roof. The novelist, Ken Follett, described this in one of his historical novels. The other theory is that during the same period the streets were filthy and full of debris, and in a heavy rain this debris as well as small animals, alive and dead, would be swept along. Either or both could be true. You decide.

19. “Wild goose chase” – Hopeless task.

This originated with Shakespeare in the 16th century. It is based on horseracing, not hunting. It refers to a chase in which horses followed a lead horse in formation, akin to geese flying. It evolved into the current meaning by the 19th century.

20. “Whole nine yards” – Everything

Again, there are many theories, none of which is certain. Most likely, the expression originated in the US in the early 20th century. It first appeared in print in 1907. Eventually, it came into colloquial use. The three most popular theories are (1) refers to the length of material used to make a suit, a sari or a kilt; (2) the length of machine gun belts on WWII era aircraft; and (3) the amount of yards on sailing ships. Again, the real answer could be all or none of these. You decide.

CONCLUSION

I hope you found reading this as interesting as I did researching it. As I said, the origination of many of these expressions is murky, controversial or lost in time. This is especially true for those which preceded the written record. Also, in some cases the expressions evolved in multiple places more or less concurrently.

Do you have any favorite expressions? I’d like to hear your comments.

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