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.

CHUCK SCHUMER – POLITICAL CHAMELEON

Chuck Schumer has been a strong supporter of Israel for all of his nearly 50-year career in public service – until last week. Now, I sense that his formerly strong support of Israel has waned. Furthermore, he has not been as supportive of American Jews as he should be in light of the recent plethora of antisemitic incidents in our schools and in general. He has not condemned, criticized, or even commented. His silence has been most disappointing as he is in a unique position. Many Jews feel he should be more outspoken. What has caused this seminal change? See below for my opinion.

In my view, Chuck Schumer is the consummate politician, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. He epitomizes what I always say about politicians: their best abilities are to get elected and to get re-elected. He sees the seismic shift in the Dem Party to the left on major issues, plus away from Israel, and toward antisemitism that we all see, and he is reacting to it. Sure, he could stick to his guns and resist the trend. He could continue to espouse unwavering support for Israel, but the politician in him won’t permit him to do it. His overriding instinct of preserving his Senate seat against a possible primary challenge in 2028 won’t permit it (even though four years is a lifetime in politics). Moreover, his desire to maintain his Majority Leadership position in the Senate won’t permit it. And so, we have “THE SPEECH.”

Schumer began his political career in the NY State assembly in 1975. In 1981 he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1998 he was elected to the US Senate. Currently, he is serving his 5th term, which makes him the longest-serving senator ever from NY. He has worked his way up to the very influential post of Senate Majority Leader.

For most of his career Schumer has been a staunch and outspoken supporter of Israel. This was understandable since he is Jewish, and he has represented a heavily Jewish constituency.

For instance:

  1. In 1994, Schumer joined the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress in a campaign to petition the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Palestinian-American charity the Holy Land Foundation, which by the time it was shut down in 2001 was the largest Muslim charity in the US.
  2. In June 2010, while speaking at an Orthodox Union event in Washington D.C., Schumer expressed support for Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, which was then a controversial topic.  He buttressed his position by denoting statistics to demonstrate that the Palestinian citizens of the West Bank were experiencing “economic prosperity”, crediting this to their government’s cooperation with the Israeli government on combating various terrorist groups.
  3. When the Palestinian citizens of the Gaza Strip voted to be governed by Hamas he advocated for Israel to “strangle them economically until they see that’s not the way to go,” while also stating that Israel should continue providing “humanitarian aid” to Palestinian civilians.
  4. He has steadfastly supported Israel in its various conflicts involving others in Gaza and elsewhere. He defended the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2007 as being justified not only because it kept weapons out of the Palestinian territory, but also because it showed the Palestinians living there that “when there’s some moderation and cooperation, they can have an economic advancement.”
  5. In May 2017, Schumer co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, Senate Bill 720, which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.
  6. In May 2018, Schumer praised Trump for opening the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, saying, “I sponsored legislation to do this two decades ago, and I applaud President Trump for doing it.”
  7. In the past he has frequently criticized the Palestinians for opposing a Jewish state or even a two-state solution, although presently he appears to be supporting the Biden Administration’s party line of a two-state solution.
  8. Schumer was a co-sponsor of a Senate resolution expressing objection to the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement-building in the occupied Palestinian territories as a violation of international law.

The US and Israel have been strong allies since Israel’s inception. Some of you students of history may recall that the US under President Harry Truman was the first country to recognize the State of Israel a mere eleven hours after it declared its independence. Over the years through Administration after Administration both Republican and Democrat, both liberal and conservative, the US and Israel have forged and maintained a symbiotic relationship that has worked out very well for both countries. The US has realized that Israel is its only reliable ally in the dangerous, mercurial and strategically critical Middle East, and Israel has realized that the US is its only staunch and powerful defender in an otherwise very hostile world.

Unfortunately, it appears clear to me that the US’s support has grown tepid in the last few years. It began in the Obama Administration, and the trend has accelerated under the Biden Administration. Both Biden and his administration have exhibited anti-Israel and pro-Iran and Hamas attitudes, particularly with respect to the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks. More on that later.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has long had a contentious relationship with certain US presidential administrations. Most notably, I recall President Obama declined to invite him to the White House during his 2015 visit to the US in March 2015 to address Congress. Obama’s excuse was that it was policy not to meet so close to an election, but many interpreted it as a snub.

The Netanyahu-US relationship has deteriorated significantly following Hamas’ terror attack of October 7. Briefly, the Biden Administration has been pressuring Israel to exercise “restraint.” It has been pressuring Israel not to retaliate militarily. It favors negotiation and cease fires. It has been trying to balance its policy between the anti-Israel far left wing of the Dem Party and the majority of the rest of the country. Based on the polls I have seen it is not succeeding, and there is much concern. Many people in the US, particularly Jews, have interpreted the foregoing as anti-Israel and antisemitic. Israel has been adamantly pursuing a strong military response. Its attitude is that Hamas will continue to attack prospectively unless and until it is totally wiped out. It resents what it perceives as US interference.

Hence, we got “The Speech.” Essentially, Schumer threatened Israel. He said, in part, that “it’s become clear to me that the Netanyahu coalition[‘s reaction to Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack] no longer fits the needs of Israel. … If Netanyahu won’t step down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance [the US will be forced to] play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage.” President Biden doubled down by calling it a “good speech” that had been cleared in advance by his staff.

The speech was interpreted by many as blatant and inappropriate interference in the elections of a sovereign nation and a clear threat. “Do what we want or else.”

Reaction was immediate and fiercely critical. Benny Ganz, Israeli’s opposition leader stated “Israel is a strong democracy, and only its citizens will determine its leadership and future.” Former PM Naftali Bennett, no fan of Netanyahu’s, stated “we are an independent nation, not a “banana republic.” In the US Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, called the speech “unprecedented,” and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called it “just plain wrong.”

CONCLUSION

I would characterize it in stronger terms as a “sell-out” and “antisemitic.” In my experience such outrageous, blatant interference of a nation’s self-governance should be limited to dictatorships with massive human rights violations, not a staunch and reliable ally. Furthermore, every nation has a right, even an obligation to its citizens to defend itself in a manner in which it sees fit. Think what our reaction would have been if after the Japanese sneak attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 or the terror attacks on 9/11 if the world had urged us to stand down and not retaliate with force. Why should Israel be any different? Because it’s a Jewish state? You decide.

So why did Schumer give that speech? It was especially odd especially given his past support of Israel. Only he knows for sure, but I think he wanted to ingratiate himself with the members of the far-left wing of the Dem party, many of whom have expressed clearly antisemitic opinions. They are small but vociferous, and they have been pressuring the Biden Administration to scale back its support of Israel. They are particularly influential with the election looming. I don’t think Schumer is antisemitic, but, as I said, he is a political chameleon, and he perceives the trend of his party is to offer only tepid support to Israel in its fight with Hamas.

I seriously doubt that Israel will allow itself to be bullied by the US or anyone else, so it remains to be seen if the US will follow through on its threat.

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2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – TRUMP VS BIDEN

Trump and Biden are now the presumptive nominees of their respective political parties. Although anything can happen in politics in all likelihood they will become the official nominees at their respective party’s conventions this summer.

In my view, the 2024 presidential election will be extremely contentious. The campaign will include a surfeit of obfuscations, exaggerations and lies, even more so than usual. It is virtually axiomatic that all politicians are guilty of the above to some degree. We all know this. We don’t like it, but we accept it. A politician who tells the absolute truth all the time, like Jim Carrey’s character in the movie Liar, Liar, would never get elected.

That said, I maintain that voters should ignore all the bloviations, exaggerations and promises by the candidates and reported by the media. After a while, it all becomes so much “white noise” anyway. Promises are meaningless. Most of them never come to pass anyway. Rather than listening to what they say or promise focus on what they’ve done or haven’t done. You will find that that will clarify matters.

We can do this because in 2024 we have a very rare situation. Both candidates have actually served a term as president. Therefore, we don’t have to guess. We don’t have to predict. We can see what they’ve each done or not done as president. According to Wikipedia, Trump is only the 7th former president to run again after having left office, the first to do so since Herbert Hoover in 1940. (Only one of the previous six won – Grover Cleveland.)

The best way to analyze this election is to ask yourself that age-old question – are you are better off today under Biden’s presidency than you were four years ago under Trump’s. For example, is your quality of life better or not? Do you have more money or not? Are you able to provide for your family better or not? Regardless of what the government says, in your personal experience are prices of the necessities you buy, chiefly food, gas and shelter, higher or not? Has inflation impacted you or not? Do you feel crime is on the rise or not? Do you personally feel safer or not? Do you think the world is safer or not? Are you more or less satisfied with the US’s relationship with our friends, notably Israel, and our enemies? Do you feel the justice system is more equitable or not? Are your children’s and grandchildren’s schools educating them better or not? If you are Jewish do you feel the level of antisemitism is greater, lesser, or the same? If you are Black do you feel opportunities are better, lesser or the same? If you are a legal immigrant are you happy with special treatment of the flood of illegal immigrants that have entered the country or not? These are just some of the questions you should ponder. Your answers will make it obvious for whom to vote.

Don’t pay any attention to real or perceived personality flaws. They are largely subjective anyway. Like I said, follow your objective analysis. If you feel you and the country are better off under Biden than you were under Trump vote for Biden regardless of his cognitive status and legal issues. On the other hand, if you feel you and the country were better off under Trump then vote for him regardless of his abrasive personality and legal issues.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, the answer to all of those comparisons strongly favor Trump. Do I like him on a personal level? I don’t know him. Never met him. But if I were to know him personally, I probably wouldn’t like him. But I say so what? Who cares? We’re not voting for senior class president. It’s not a popularity contest. We’re not going to “hang out” together. We don’t have to like him. We just have to think that he will improve things. Moreover, if you know your history you know that many of our best and most popular presidents had serious physical and/or personality flaws that were hidden from the public. Today, due to the internet and social media virtually nothing is hidden.

Furthermore, let’s not ignore the empirical evidence. We saw what Trump did as president pre-Covid. The economy was booming. Unemployment was at record lows for all ethnic and gender groups. We were energy independent for the first time in over 70 years. There were no wars. Our enemies feared and respected us. Our border was secure. Yes, some people were put off by his mean tweets and abrasive personality. Well, strap on your “big boy pants,” hold your nose and deal with it!

On the other hand, Biden’s record speaks for itself. His supporters perceive him as a nice old man. Many of them choose to ignore his cognitive decline and his nefarious, if not treasonous, activities. They voted for him in 2020 and will likely do so again. My question to them is how is that decision working out for you? I repeat, focus on what the candidates do or don’t do, not what they say or promise.

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BIDEN’S SOTU ADDDRESS – ONE MAN’S OPINION

The following blog constitutes my assessment of President Biden’s 2024 SOTU address.

  1. To no surprise, based on the post-address media coverage, generally, one’s opinion and analysis of the SOTU depends on whether one is a Biden supporter or a Trump supporter.
  2. Biden’s supporters have been ebullient over the fact that his delivery was mostly devoid of any of the fumbling, stumbling and bumbling, which have characterized his public appearances over the last few years. I concede that this was true for the most part, but I would add that that was a very low bar to hurdle, akin to a high jumper clearing a two-foot bar.
  3. Like many observers I was struck by his tone. He came across as strident, almost shouting and lecturing. I found that very odd and off-putting. It was not typical of him at all. It was like he had drunk several cups of coffee or red bull or ingested some other kind of stimulant.
  4. In my experience, Presidents use the SOTU address to try to unify the electorate. It is their rare chance to address the entire electorate, to highlight their past accomplishments, present their vision for the future, and make the case that they are the person to lead us there. Yes, they want to present their record in the best possible light, but more importantly they want to heal, or at least alleviate any fractions between the two parties. Their message is conciliatory rather than contentious.
  5. Biden, on the other hand, did not do that. His address was more akin to a campaign speech. He played to his base rather than the broad electorate. I understand that he wanted to shore up his support on the left, but nonetheless I think that was a mistake. Every presidential candidate knows one has to appeal to the middle in order to win.
  6. He doubled down on his policies, which are largely unpopular.
  7. In the process he lied and exaggerated repeatedly. The most egregious were with respect to the border and the economy. For example, after spending three years telling us the border was secure, which was an obvious lie, he maintained that Congress had to pass a bi-partisan bill, which he supports, to fix it. He blamed Trump and the GOP for Congress’ inaction. He conveniently ignored the fact that (a) the border fiasco is entirely due to his policies and (b) he can resolve the problem on his own by issuing executive orders, which is how he caused it in the first place. Regarding the economy he tried to convince us inflation was the lowest in decades when anyone who has bought food, filled their gas tank or tried to buy or rent a home knows from personal experience that is a lie. All he did was demonstrate that he is out of touch with Americans’ daily lives and problems.
  8. He claims he supports Israel, but his actions speak to the contrary. For example, he continued to insist Israel must stand down, and he continued to advocate a two-state solution, which neither Israel nor Hamas wants. Furthermore, the proposed port in southern Gaza he is supporting is ill-advised. Humanitarian aid sounds good, but there is no guarantee the aid would get to the people for whom it is intended.
  9. He continued to exhibit absolutely no compassion for those Americans who have been victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. Also, he refused to honor Laken Reilly, or even say her name until he was shamed into it. And after he was, he proceeded to mispronounce her name as Lincoln Reilly, twice, even though he had her name written on a card right in front of him. He compounded his error the next day when he apologized for using the term “illegals,” saying he should have referred to them as “undocumented,” which is a “wishy-washy” characterization favored by the far left. He did not apologize to the Reilly family for mispronouncing Laken’s name, and to my knowledge he still hasn’t.
  10. He did not address the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan or the names of those Americans who were killed as a result.
  11. He still has not addressed the rampant anti-Semitism in our schools and in our society in general.
  12. He continued to offer no meaningful solution to the rampant crime wave in our cities and the coddling of criminals.
  13. He continually tried to portray Trump as soft on Russia and being subservient to Putin when, in reality it is he who has demonstrated those characteristics.
  14. He basically ignored his and his family’s corrupt dealings with Russia, China and other enemy states.

CONCLUSION

In summary, I think Biden did very little to repair his image or expand his support base. I think he will continue to lose support among Hispanics and Blacks, which will not augur well for his chances for re-election.

It will interesting and illuminating to see what the post-address polls show.

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FECKLESS JOE AND THE STATE OF THE UNION

Tonight, President Biden will deliver the annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, members of the Cabinet (except for one “designated survivor), and the justices of the Supreme Court. The SOTU is required by the US Constitution, Article 2, Section 3, Clause 1, which states that the president shall periodically “give to the Congress information of the SOTU and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”

George Washington delivered the initial SOTU to a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1790. For most of the next 100 or so years presidents fulfilled the constitutional requirement merely by submitting a written report to Congress. Then, in 1913 Woodrow Wilson commenced the current practice of delivering the SOTU in person. Later, with the advent of television and streaming the address has been delivered live throughout the entire country and much of the world.

Traditionally, the president uses this opportunity to review his administration’s accomplishments, outline what he hopes to achieve prospectively, and foster unity among the voters. In this case, however, I wouldn’t count on it. As I have written many times I cannot think of any positive accomplishments by the Biden administration. Moreover, I doubt that he will be able to achieve any in the remainder of his (hopefully only) term. Finally, the notion that he will unify the country, or even try to, is a joke. On the contrary, thus far his administration has done everything to demonize and criticize Republicans and, in particular, Trump and his supporters.

Those of you who have been paying attention over the last three years are cognizant of the following Biden lowlights, and I apologize for wasting your time by repeating them here, but for those of you who have been drinking the Dem Kool-Aid below please find a brief summary:

  1. Opened the border to virtually anyone who wants to enter the US. Millions have entered in the last three years. We don’t even know the identity of these people, how many there are, where they’re from or their intentions. What we do know is they done significant damage to our country economically, politically, criminally, and socially. And that doesn’t even address the real threat of terrorism they present. The negative ramifications of this action are incalculable and will be long-lasting.
  2. Suspended the production of oil and gas. Succinctly put, this took us from energy independence to energy dependence and in the process damaged our economy. Additionally, it has propped up the economies of many of our enemies, such as Russia and Iran. As a result, Russia has used its oil revenue to prosecute the war against Ukraine, and Iran has been able to finance terrorist activities in the Middle East and elsewhere.
  3. Created massive inflation through profligate spending. Don’t believe the government’s publicized inflation numbers. Anyone who has bought groceries, filled up their car’s gas tank, or tried to buy or rent a home knows they don’t reflect reality. We’re being gaslit.
  4. The evidence of his and his family’s corruption continues to grow. It’s getting to the point where only his most ardent supporters can deny their guilt of corruption and maybe even treason. In my view, he has been the classic “Manchurian candidate.”
  5. There are wars and conflicts all over the world. His weakness has encouraged Russia to invade Ukraine, Arab terrorists to attack Israel in the most heinous fashion, and China’s saber-rattling vis a vis Taiwan. The botched exit from Afghanistan was a disastrous embarrassment and caused the loss of hundreds of American lives. Furthermore, his tepid support of Israel should make every Jew very uncomfortable.
  6. The rise of crime due to the proliferation of “no bail” laws and woke DA’s reluctance to prosecute crimes has made all of us unsafe.
  7. He has done nothing to curb the very disturbing rise of anti-Semitism in the country and indeed the entire world. He has not taken any action, not condemned it, not even spoken out. I am not saying Biden is an anti-Semite, but his lack of support for Israel and Jews makes one wonder. Based on the foregoing, it is beyond me how any self-respecting Jew could vote for him.

It has taken over three years, but voters are finally catching on. All the polls speak loudly and clearly. Voters are beginning to realize that “the emperor [really] has no clothes.”

  1. According to the latest NY Times-Sienna poll Two-thirds of voters say the country is “heading in the wrong direction.”
  2. The latest CBS News/You-Gov poll has revealed that only one-third of voters think Biden’s presidency has been “excellent” or “good.” Some 61% of voters say he is “too old to be an effective leader.” It’s not just his chronological age. Many people have been lucid and effective well into their 80s. Contrary to what his supporters say, anyone who has seen Biden speak or even move around can readily see he is declining cognitively. It brings to mind the old Groucho Marx joke: “Are you going to believe what I tell you or what you see with your own eyes?”
  3. Despite the Dems’ and their supporters attempts to discredit Trump with bogus claims, even to get him disqualified from the ballot in some states voters are not being fooled. In fact, these false claims have served to boost Trump’s popularity. People are coming to realize that what’s being done to him could easily be done to them. Presently, the latest polls indicate that he leads Biden in every battleground state. This has led to widespread panic among the Dems. Some believe Biden may be replaced on the ticket, possibly at the convention.

CONCLUSION

I believe that tonight’s SOTU speech will be very interesting. I am anxious to see how Biden conducts himself. I’m not interested in what he says so much as how he says it. The pressure is on him to be articulate, cogent, coherent, and lucid. How will he justify his record? Will he attack Trump and his supporters? How many “Pinocchio’s” will he get. Who will deliver the opposition rebuttal, and what will he or she say?

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Trump “Show” Trial

We’ve all been raised to believe that the US justice system is fair, that justice is “blind,” that everyone is equal before the law. The Constitution guarantees that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. That’s what most of us have always believed. Trials with preordained verdicts, so-called “show” trials are the province of autocratic countries like Russia, North Korea and China. Not the US.

However, after witnessing the miscarriage of justice masquerading as Donald Trump’s trial for fraudulent valuation of certain assets, I have serious doubts regarding the equity of the US judicial system. Letitia James, the NYS Attorney General who brought the case had bragged continually during her election campaign that she would “get” Trump. The clear implication was that she would conduct an unrelenting investigation of Mr. Trump until she found a case that was prosecutable in her view. Mr. Trump became her entire focus. In the process she has essentially ignored the myriad of problems NY has such as, among others, rampant crime, the influx of illegals, and high taxes. She pushed all those problems aside to focus solely on Mr. Trump. Governor Hochul shares much of the responsibility as well.

Following her election, she felt it was incumbent upon her to make good on her campaign promise. She had to find something, anything and bring it to trial. The result was the fraud case. It was not a solid case. It had some fatal flaws as you will see below.

Briefly, the state alleged that in the course of applying for financing Trump had defrauded various banks by inflating the value of certain properties that were being offered as collateral for the loan. There are several problems with the case that eroded its validity, to wit:

  1. In applying for the loan Mr. Trump’s lawyers had specified that the banks were advised to calculate their own valuations of the properties rather than merely accept theirs. Indeed, these lenders were very sophisticated and experienced in the world of real estate and financing, and they would have done so as a matter of course. They were not the type of lenders that would be defrauded.
  2. Both parties agreed that the valuations were reasonable. However, the judge disagreed. He placed his own values on the properties, which were unrealistically low.
  3. None of the lenders lost any money on the deal. In point of fact, they all made a considerable amount of money. They had done business with Mr. Trump in the past and were eager to do so again prospectively.
  4. In the course of my research into this matter I did not find any independent person who agreed with the judge that the valuations were inflated and the lenders defrauded.
  5. According to Jonathan Turley and many other attorneys this case featured an “unprecedented” application of the law Mr. Trump was accused of having violated and the fine levied was considerably excessive. (More on that later). The law was intended to apply to situations in which the offender had committed a crime, declared bankruptcy to avoid repayment, or caused the victims to lose money. None of these applied in this case. Even the left-leaning NY Times, no friend of Mr. Trump’s, denoted that it could not find a single instance in which the accused was not guilty of any of those.
  6. Mr. Turley and many other attorneys maintained that the $455 million fine, including interest, imposed by the judge was excessive and designed to make it very difficult, if not impossible, for Mr. Trump to appeal the decision. Turley pointed out that under NYS law in order to file an appeal Trump would first be required to deposit the full amount in a court account. This is a very high bar even for a man of Trump’s immense wealth and resources. It may require him to sell properties at distress prices, or perhaps, even declare bankruptcy.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the prosecution and the court clearly overstepped. This case, itself, and the decision have been widely seen as a personal vendetta against Mr. Trump for the reasons cited above. Surely, the appeals court would substantially reduce the fine or even reverse the entire decision. The question is can Mr. Trump raise enough money to finance the appeal?

Most of the public sees this for what it is – a political “hit job.” It reinforces the growing feeling in America that the scales of justice are tilted depending upon the defendant’s politics. It compromises the entire notion of equity of our system of justice. The rest of us should beware. If this can happen to a prominent man like Trump, with all his resources, it can certainly happen to the average “Joe.” Again, this situation is a characteristic of an autocracy, not a democracy.

Even worse, it clarifies what many of us have long believed. The Dems are deathly afraid of Mr. Trump’s popularity, and this case and other pending cases against him, which are also comprised of “trumped up” charges, are designed to knock him out of the race. It is a blatant attempt at voter suppression, to prevent the people from being able to decide elections without outside interference.

The unintended consequence of all this, that the Dem governing class was either too blinded by hatred or too dumb to anticipate, is that once it becomes apparent to other business leaders and wealthy people what the governor and DA have done it could stoke fears that they may do it to them as well and may accelerate their departure from NY to states with more favorable political, economic and social situations. NY is already suffering a sizeable exodus of people and businesses, and it can ill afford this. The Dem leaders may end up being hoisted on their own petard, and it would serve them right.

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PRESIDENTS’ DAY

Tomorrow, February 19, we will celebrate Presidents’ Day, or do we? As you will see, the holiday is replete with quirks and contradictions.

According to Wikipedia, the moniker, “Presidents’ Day,” is actually a colloquialism.  The official name of the federal holiday is “Washington’s Birthday.”   According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution pursuant to the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act” passed in 1968 and effective in 1971 it is celebrated on the third Monday of February, which, depending on the particular year, can be anywhere between 15 and 21.  There is no mail. Federal and state offices, the courts, the DMV, banks and financial markets are all closed. Most public schools are closed. Some even take the entire week off as a winter recess.

According to Wikipedia although the day is also celebrated as a state holiday in most states various alternative names are used. Some examples include President’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, and Washington’s-Lincoln’s Birthday, among others.

As most of you know, GW was actually born on February 22, so the holiday never falls on his actual birthday.  Except, the year GW was born, 1731, the British Empire, including the American Colonies, was still using the Old-Style Julian calendar, which was eleven days behind the modern Gregorian calendar, which became the standard in 1752.  So, technically, GW was born on February 11, 1732 (Old Style). Confused?  Join the club.  Read on; it gets more complicated.

Congress first promulgated the federal holiday honoring GW in 1879.  Fittingly, GW was the first and only President to be so honored.  It was celebrated on February 22.  In 1951 a gentleman named Harold Fischer formed a committee with the apt name of the “President’s Day National Committee,” of which he became the National Executive Director, for the purpose of honoring, not a particular president, but the office, itself. There was sentiment for designating March 4 as the date since that was the original presidential inauguration date. Alas, Congress did not approve the proposal, although many states did declare March 4 as such.

At this point some states, which had been celebrating a separate holiday on Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12, combined it with GW’s BD to create Presidents’ Day. It should be noted that Lincoln’s BD, though celebrated as a state holiday in many states, had never been designated as a Federal Holiday.

Finally, in 1971 Congress clarified matters with the abovementioned “Uniform Monday Holiday Act” the purpose of which was to create three-day holiday weekends. It wanted to promulgate a holiday that would honor both GW and Abraham Lincoln, whom most historians recognize (as do I) as our two best presidents. The holiday was moved to the third Monday in February and renamed Presidents’ Day, which, as I have said, falls in between AL’s (February 12) and GW’s (February 22) birthdays. It has remained as such ever since. People liked it because it provided a built-in three-day weekend, and retailers liked it because customers could spend the extra day off shopping in their stores.

Still confused? Almost done, but there’s more. For example:

1. Today, the holiday is widely viewed as a plural (Presidents’ Day) to honor all presidents, both past and president, not only AL and GW.

2. The day is not a universal holiday, and it does not have a universal name in all states.

3. States that do observe the holiday recognize over a dozen variations, such as “President’s Day,” “Presidents’ Day,” “George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday,” “Lincoln/Washington/Presidents Day,” “George Washington’s Birthday,” and “George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day” (who?), among others.

4. Since 1862 the US Senate has observed the tradition of reciting GW’s Farewell Address on his BD.

5. Eight states do not observe the holiday at all.

6. Other variations:
a. Massachusetts celebrates “Presidents Day” on May 29 in honor of four specific presidents. Quiz question #1. Can you name them? Three are easy. They were born in the state and were well-accomplished, aside from being president. The fourth, who was more obscure, was born in a neighboring state, but served as MA governor before becoming president. Kudos if you can name all four. See answer below.
b. New Mexico celebrates the holiday on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
c. Georgia celebrates the day on Christmas Eve.
d. Indiana also celebrates it on Christmas Eve, or the previous workday.
e. GW’s adopted city of Alexandria, VA holds celebrations throughout the entire month of February, including what is billed as the nation’s longest running and largest George Washington Birthday parade.”
f. The city of Eustis, FL boasts a “GeorgeFest” celebration, which dates back to 1902.

Other quiz questions

2. Which popular food is traditionally consumed on this day?

3. Which medal did GW create for the “common soldier?”

CONCLUSION

I cannot conclude this blog without commenting on the “cancel culture” movement, which has, to a large extent, been taking over our lives.  In particular, personally, I find the movement to wipe out the legacies of past presidents, such as GW, AL, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and others to be ill-advised, distasteful, misguided, and just plain wrong.  Those who would do so are demonstrating a severe ignorance of our history and are pursuing a radical political agenda that is not shared by the vast majority of Americans.  We should fight back and not allow it to go on.

These individuals were heroes.  They helped forge this nation.  No one is saying they were perfect.  No one is.  Everyone has flaws.  Yes, many of them owned slaves, fought against indigenous peoples, or did something else objectionable to some present-day persons when viewed in retrospect.  However, it is important to recognize that they were a product of their times.  It is a historical fact, for instance, that before the Civil War it was very common to own slaves, even in the northern states.  Even some Blacks owned slaves.  We cannot and should not apply our present-day standards and mores to people who lived in anther time.

Quiz answers: 1) John Adams, John Quincy Adams, JFK, and Calvin Coolidge
2) Cherry pie, for obvious reasons.
3) The Purple Heart for being wounded in combat.

PS. Daisy Gatson Bates was a civil rights activist who played a leading role in the integration of Arkansas’ public schools in the late 1950s.

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SUPER BOWL LVIII

On Sunday, February 11 a goodly portion of Americans will enjoy the NFL Championship game, aka the Super Bowl. This will be SBLVIII. For those of you that are Roman Numeral challenged, that’s # 58. The viewing audience will include not only serious football fans, but also casual fans who typically only watch the SB and perhaps a few other games throughout the year, as well as people who know next to nothing about football but who are drawn to the spectacle. These fans enjoy the halftime show and, believe it or not, the commercials. 

The SB annually attracts a huge TV audience. According to Wikipedia the seven most viewed broadcasts in American history are all SBs. The SB creates a “coattail effect” with respect to other network programming. Typically, the network broadcasting the SB will use it as a “lead-in” to new shows. For example, this year following the SB CBS will introduce us to a new show starring Justin Hartley (This Is Us) called Tracker, for which it has high expectations.

As always, it’s fun to test your knowledge of the SB with a little quiz, so here goes. You know the drill. No peeking at the internet. No consulting Siri or Alexa. 

  1. The first SB took place in (a) 1964; (b) 1965; (c) 1966; (d) 1967.
  2. The two franchises with the most SB wins are the Patriots and (a) Steelers; (b) Cowboys; Giants; (d) 49ers.
  3. Each of the following franchises has never appeared in a SB EXCEPT: (a) Jaguars; (b) Lions; (c) Browns; (d) Bengals.
  4. According to Wikipedia the SB is the second largest food consumption day behind (a) Christmas; (b) New Years Eve; (c) July 4th; (d) Thanksgiving.
  5. The winning percentage of teams scoring first is (a) 60%; (b) 68%; (c) 75%; (d) 80%
  6. Who won the first SB? (a) Vikings; (b) Cowboys; (c) Raiders; (d) Packers.
  7. Who scored the first touchdown? (a) Paul Hornung; (b) Max McGee; (c) Len Dawson; (d) Willie Wood
  8. Which city has hosted the most SBs? (a) Miami; (b) LA; (c) New Orleans; (d) Dallas
  9. Tom Brady has won the most SBs (7). What player is next? (a) Terry Bradshaw; (b) Joe Montana; (c) Charles Haley (5); (d) Roger Staubach
  10. What player has won the most consecutive SBs? (a) Tom Brady; (b) Ken Norton, Jr.; (c) Troy Aikman; (d) Richard Seymour
  11. Which field goal kicker has the most game-winning kicks? (a) Jim O’Brien; (b) Jan Stenerud; (c) Steve Gostkowski; (d) Adam Vinatieri
  12. The name SB was derived from (a) a book; (b) a child’s toy; (c) vote by fans; (d) a comic strip.
  13. Who made the famous “helmet catch?” (a) Mario Manningham; (b) David Tyree; (c) Plaxico Burriss; (d) Randy Moss
  14. Who was the only player from a losing team to win the MVP? (a) Chuck Howley; (b) Lawrence Taylor; (c) Jim Kelly; (d) Chuck Foreman
  15. Who won the only SB decided by one point? (a) Patriots; (b) Rams; (c) 49ers; (d) Giants.
  16. Who will be the featured performer at this year’s halftime show? (a) Taylor Swift; (b) Lady Gaga; (c) Usher; (d) Bruce Springsteen
  17. Which team lost SBs in four consecutive years? (a Cowboys; (b) Bills; (c) Vikings; (d) Chiefs
  18. Each of the following teams is undefeated in SBs EXCEPT: (a) Ravens; (b) Bucs; (c) Packers; (d) Jets.
  19. Which team has played in four SBs and never held the lead? (a) Vikings; (b) Bills; (c) Raiders; (d) Dolphins
  20. Who was the first QB to win the SB with two different teams? (a) Tom Brady; (b) Bart Starr; (c) Jim Plunkett; (d) Peyton Manning (Colts & Broncos)

Answers: (1) d; (2) a; (3) d; (4) d;(5) b; (6) d; (7) b; (8) (a); (9) c; (10) b (3); (11) d (2); 12. b; (13) b; (14) a; (15) d [{20-19 over the Bills (“wide right”)]; (16) c; (17) b; (18) c; (19) a; (20) d.

Well, there you have it. Good luck. Let me know how you did.

Finally, something to ponder. How many times will CBS show Taylor Swift? And will Jason Kelce be wearing a shirt?

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

What’s in a name? Apparently, in some cases, a lot.

One cannot control one’s birth name. It is what it is. Our parents named us, and that’s that. The vast majority of us go through life with our given names and make the best of it, although some people create a nickname such as “Buddy,” “Sonny,” or “Junior.” Not so for many celebrities.

Many celebrities have changed their birthnames. There are various reasons for this. For example: 1) They or their agent may have felt it was “too ethnic.” This was fairly prevalent years ago in less enlightened times, not so much now. 2) It was too foreign sounding. 3) It could be confused with another celebrity’s name.  4) It was too hard to pronounce, which might impair the public’s ability to remember it. 5) It was too long for a billboard. 

Below I have selected 20 celebrity stage names and 25 celebrity birth names. See how many you can pair up. As you go through the lists, I think the reasons for many of the name changes it will become apparent to you. To be fair, I have tried to select people that were fairly well-known. Have fun, and good luck. 

Birth names:

  1. Eric Marlon Bishop
  2. Aubrey Graham
  3. Elizabeth Grant
  4. Neta-Lee Hershlag
  5. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
  6. Belcalis Almanzar
  7. Caryn Johnson
  8. Peter Gene Hernandez
  9. Ilyena Lydia Mironoff
  10. Alecia Beth Moore
  11. Maurice Joseph Micklewhite
  12. Carlos Irwin Estevez
  13. Robert Allen Zimmerman
  14. Vincent Damon Furnier
  15. David Robert Jones
  16. Archibald MacLeish
  17. Reginald Kenneth Dwight
  18. Marion Robert Morrison 
  19. Dana Elaine Owens
  20. Issur Danielovitch Demsky

Stage names:

  1. David Bowie
  2. John Wayne
  3. Drake
  4. Cardi B
  5. Whoopi Goldberg
  6. Demi Moore
  7. P!NK
  8. Bob Dylan
  9. Lee Grant
  10. Alice Cooper
  11. Kirk Douglas
  12. Ben Affleck
  13. Elton John
  14. Tom Jones
  15. Queen Latifah
  16. Jamie Foxx
  17. Matt Damon
  18. Lana Del Ray
  19. Lady Gaga
  20. Bruno Mars
  21. Helen Mirren
  22. Natalie Portman
  23. Eric Bana
  24. Charlie Sheen
  25. Michael Caine

Answers: 1. Jamie Foxx; 2. Drake; 3. Lana Del Ray; 4. Natalie Portman; 5. Lady Gaga; 6. Cardi B; 7. Whoopi Goldberg; 8. Bruno Mars; 9. Helen Mirren; 10. P!NK; 11. Micharl Caine; 12. Charlie Sheen; 13. Bob Dylan; 14. Alice Cooper; 15. Cary Grant; 16. David Bowie; 17. Elton John; 18. John Wayne; 19. Queen Latifah; 20. Kirk Douglas.

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IMPEACH OR IMPRISON?

The following rant is strictly my opinion, and, fair warning, some of you will not agree with it. But that’s okay. Unless I time-traveled last night and woke up this morning in Soviet Russia circa 1930 this is still America, and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are still the law of the land.

I have refrained from writing political blogs for a while now. Frankly, current events have been too upsetting. But I have reached the point where I simply must “get some things off my chest.” I feel like the character in the movie, Network, who shouted “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Like most of you I try to stay abreast of the news. However, whenever I do so I get depressed, ill, angry, or all of the above. Simply put, unless you are a terrorist, an illegal immigrant, a criminal, an anti-Semite, hate Trump, hate America, or an oblivious Ivory Tower liberal or elite at the present time there is nothing positive occurring in the country or, for that matter, the world. In just three years President Biden, his Administration, and his supporters, both in the mainstream media and among the general public have been systematically ruining this country and everything it has stood for. In his tenure I cannot think of one positive accomplishment. Not one. Can you? I challenge you, the reader, to identify one positive accomplishment.

We would have better off if he had done nothing, just hidden in his basement and slept for three years. But he has done worse than nothing. In my opinion, his actions and policies have been severely detrimental to America. I don’t know if they have been driven by ignorance, stupidity or a combination of the two, but the result is the same. Truly, it seems like he is the “Manchurian Candidate.” More on that later.

I don’t have the time and space to articulate all of Biden’s detriments, but below please find the most egregious.

  1. When he took office, the US was energy independent for the first time. We were pumping enough oil and gas not only to supply our needs but also much of the world. On day one, he ordered the cessation of drilling, and closed down the pipeline that was supplying much of our oil. Soon, we went from energy independence to having to beg the Middle East sheiks for oil. Furthermore, this action has propped up the economies of Iran and Russia, among others, which has enabled them to foment terrorism and the war in Ukraine.
  2. Under President Trump illegal immigration was a mere tickle. He was building a wall and had enacted various other measures to control it. Biden halted the construction of the wall and has systematically dismantled most of President Trump’s immigration policies. The predictable result was that illegals have been pouring in over the southern border. We don’t know how many (estimates run as high as 12 million), where they are from (all over), why they are here, and what they will do (nothing good). What we do know is they have caused increases in crime, strained our economic and social resources and divided the country further. Incredibly, the Biden Administration has been treating them better than American citizens. They are not all asylum-seekers. They are not all here seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Those are myths. In fact, many of them are single fighting-age males. Many of them have come from Russia, China, Iran and other countries that hate us and want to harm us. Young adult single fighting-age male refugees from China, Russia and Iran seeking asylum? Seriously? It is just as likely their governments sent them here to spy and cause other problems. Far-fetched? If you know your history you will recall that Japan employed this very tactic prior to WWII. This will be, perhaps, the most damaging of his actions long term. 
  3. When Biden took office we were not engaged in any wars. None. Terrorist groups were under control. Moreover, our enemies feared and respected us. Now, there are various wars, notably in Ukraine and the Middle East. Various terrorist groups have been operating with impunity. Iran, China and Russia have been saber-rattling. The world is a very dangerous place. It is easy to imagine WWIII breaking out.
  4. Crime is worse than ever. Criminals are not being imprisoned. Most of our cities are becoming ungovernable and unlivable unless one is among the elite. Many of them are or are becoming bankrupt paying for social services they can’t afford. We are being divided into tribes that hate and mistrust each other. Anti-Semitism is as overt as it has been at any point since the Nazis in WWII.
  5. Finally, the economy. Regardless of what positive information has been emanating from the government with respect to inflation, housing, rental costs and other necessities anyone who has bought food, gassed up their car, bought medicine or tried to rent or buy housing knows that it is harder to make ends meet. Approximately, 2/3 of households are living paycheck to paycheck or using credit card debt to buy necessities. Many households are having to choose among the Hobson’s choices of buying food, paying the rent or buying medicine. The middle class is dissipating. Biden is tone-deaf to this. He stupidly keeps praising “Bidenomics.” Someone should tell him that historically, absent war, elections, as the saying goes, are “about the economy, stupid.”

I could go on, but I think you get the point.

CONCLUSION

One could argue that as bad as the above is, it is not the worst of it. For several years, even before Joe Biden became president, it has been clear to many of us that Biden and his entire family have been compromised by China, Russia and other of our enemies. Obviously, there is a quid pro quo. Tens of millions of dollars have been paid to Joe, Hunter and other family members. The evidence has been mounting to the point where it can no longer be ignored. This would be one hypothesis as to why so many of Joe’s policies have been obviously detrimental to the US. They have made no sense otherwise. Our leaders cannot be that stupid, can they? I believe many of Joe’s and Hunter’s actions have risen to the level of treason.

That said, I would be surprised if Joe is ever tried for treason or if any of the Bidens see the inside of a prison. Joe will not even be impeached, nor probably will any of his Cabinet that deserve it, such as Alejandro Mayorkas Even Hunter will likely get some sweetheart deal. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t, just that they won’t.

The Dems are already trying to rig the 2024 election. They have been harassing Trump with a slew of bogus criminal charges. Moreover, in some states they are trying to remove him from the ballot. I believe these obvious attempts to suppress votes and thwart the will of the people will not stand, but they may have other dirty tricks up their sleeves.  It doesn’t look so now, but if through some miracle (or cheating) Biden were to win re-election. God help us!

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NEW YEAR’S EVE 2023

Wow, another year has gone by! That was fast. As we all know, the older we get, the more time seems to speed up.

Sunday night, people around the world will celebrate New Year’s Eve. Although the specifics of the celebration may differ in various countries, it is generally a time of social gatherings, parties, eating, drinking, and merriment.

The Pacific island nations of Kiribati (aka Christmas Island), which is nothing more than a coral atoll in the Central Pacific, and Samoa, which is the western-most of the Samoan Islands, will be the first to celebrate; American Samoa, which includes seven tiny islands and atolls in the eastern part of the Samoan Islands, and Baker and Howland Islands, which are uninhabited atolls some 3,100 km southwest of Honolulu, will be the last.

New Year’s Day has been celebrated on January 1 since 45 B. C. That year, Julius Caesar decreed that the Roman Calendar, under which the new year occurred in March, be replaced by the Julian calendar. It has been celebrated on January 1 ever since.

As always, the most extensive celebration will be in Times Square in NYC. According to multiple media reports approximately one million persons are expected to brave the elements and inconveniences to attend the festivities. Furthermore, approximately one billion persons are expected to watch worldwide on live TV and various streaming services. A cornucopia of famous entertainers will be performing live both in person and at various venues around the world. Live entertainment has long been a traditional part of the NYE celebration. Some of you may recall, with nostalgia, the most famous and enduring NYE entertainer of them all, Guy Lombardo. From 1928 until his death in 1977 he entertained us from the ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria, first on the radio, then on TV. 

Officially, viewers will be allowed into the Times Square area commencing at 6:00 pm, however it is expected that “early birds” will begin arriving early in the morning. After going through a security check viewers will be directed to one of various viewing “pens,” and there they will stay until the end. Basically, if you leave you cannot return. NYC police have decreed that items such as backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, chairs, picnic blankets, large coolers and alcohol are prohibited. Moreover, all items will be subject to search. Depending on your point of view these people are either, brave, hardy or crazy. They are willing to stand squeezed in for some 18 hours in the cold without food, water or use of a restroom just to be a part of the action. Depends, anyone?

As always, there is a risk that the festivities will be marred by violence ranging from demonstrations to terror attacks. I believe the risk is more serious this year due the high level of crime in NYC and the Israel-Hamas War. Law enforcement claims it has taken the necessary precautions, but who knows? Prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

If you want to view the ball drop from the comforts of a nearby hotel or restaurant, be prepared to “pony up” big bucks. It has been reported that tickets are going for as much as $12,500 apiece (at the Marriott Marquis).

Traditionally, NYE celebrations have been punctuated by fireworks. In NYC probably the best one can be viewed from Battery Park City. Many other cities in the US and around the world will have their own fireworks displays as well.

TV will present a plethora of entertainment options ranging from live entertainment to old movies. My personal favorite is Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, which will be televised for the 52nd consecutive year. Entertainment from various venues will likely be featured. If none of those offerings “floats your boat” you can escape with the Honeymooners marathon, featuring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, which is offered every year but never gets stale.

Many other cities and towns will present their own celebrations. Traditionally, NYE is the busiest day at Disneyland and Disney World, which feature Disney-character shows and fireworks. They will be open and will likely present an array of entertainment and fireworks.

As mentioned above, the biggest and most significant celebration is in NYC. Since 1907 people have been gathering in Times Square to watch the “Ball Drop.” The “Ball Drop” has been held annually every year since, except for 1942 and 1943 when it was canceled due to the wartime blackout.

At precisely at 6:00 pm a huge Waterford crystal ball will be raised to the top of the pole at One Times Square.  At 11:59 pm, the ball will be activated by the push of a special button. The original “ball” was constructed from wood and iron and lit with 100 incandescent bulbs. Over the years, it has gone through various iterations. The current iteration is a geodesic sphere. It is 12 feet in diameter and weighs 11,875 pounds. It contains 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles. This triangular design enables it to support extremely heavy loads. The ball will be illuminated by 32,256 light-emitting diodes (aka LEDs) of various colors – red, white, blue and green. It will look gorgeous on tv. It will begin its descent from the roof of One Times Square down a 141-foot-high pole. Exactly one minute later, at midnight, the ball will reach the roof of the building, and huge lights will signal the start of the New Year.

Times Square has been the focal point of NYE celebrations in the US since 1904. That year, the first organized NYE celebration, consisting of an all-day street festival culminating in a huge fireworks display, was held there. It was reported that at midnight the celebratory noise could be heard as far away as Croton-on-Hudson, some 30 miles away.

The celebration was organized by the New York Times owner, Adolph Ochs, to commemorate the opening of the Times’ new headquarters located in the tiny triangle at the intersection of 42nd Street, Broadway and 7th Avenue. The city renamed the area Times Square in honor of the venerable publication.

Quiz questions:

1) What other historically significant event occurred in NYC in 1904?

2) What was Times Square’s name prior to 1904? See below for the answers.

Two years later NYC banned the fireworks display. Ochs’ response was to replace it with the “Ball Drop.” The details of this “Ball Drop” have evolved over the years, especially technologically.

At the stroke of midnight it is traditional to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” I have always been curious as to the derivation of this song and why it is sung at New Year’s. The origin is murky, but it has generally been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. He wrote it in 1788, but it is likely that some of the words were derived from other older Scottish poems and ballads. “Auld Lang Syne” literally translates into English as “long, long ago,” “old times,” or “days gone by.” Thus, at the stroke of midnight we bid farewell to the past year and, at the same time, wish to remember the good times. In some areas the song is also sung at funerals, graduations and any other event that marks a “farewell” or “ending.” Sometimes the singers gather in a circle and hold hands.

As with any other holiday traveling is fraught with complications and dangers. The TSA advises to avoid traveling on NYE and NYD. They are the most expensive and most crowded days. As always during the winter the weather will be a factor. Some areas are forecasted to have snow or dense fog. 

CONCLUSION

Whatever your NYE plans may be and however you may celebrate, I urge you to be careful and drive safely and defensively. Pay particular care to watch out for the “other guy.” This is one night where too many people celebrate excessively and drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. These people should not be on the road, but, nevertheless, they are, and they are dangerous both to you and themselves.  For this reason, Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s long-time sidekick on the Tonight Show and a noted partygoer, used to refer to New Year’s Eve derisively as “amateur night.” New Year’s Day is the second most deadly holiday for drivers. (Thanksgiving is #1.) Moreover, a whopping 42% of the driving fatalities on NYD are the result of DUI.

Answers to quiz questions:

1) NYC’s first subway line opened in 1904.

2) Longacre Square.

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