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The Masters, one of the four major golf tournaments – along with the US Open, the (British) Open and the PGA –  is being played this weekend.   The Masters is the first of these majors to be contested.  For you non-golfers, the tournament consists of four rounds of 18 holes each, played Thursday thru Sunday.  Low total score wins.  A tie would be settled by a sudden death playoff.

Prior to the advent of the Masters and the growth of professional golf the four “majors” included the US Open, the Open and the US and British amateur championships.  Winning those four in the same calendar year became known as the “Grand Slam of Golf.”  It has only been done once, by Bobby Jones in 1930.  At the time, the feat did not have a name because it was thought to be impossible to achieve.  According to Wikipedia, the originator of the term “Grand Slam” was O. B. Keeler, a reporter for the Atlanta Journal, who simply took the term from bridge.

The modern GS came into being in 1960.  That year, Arnold Palmer won the Masters and the US Open.  Supposedly, a reporter friend of his, Bob Drum of the Pittsburg Press,  spread the notion that if Palmer were to add the Open and the PGA he would have completed a GS.  Palmer did not, but the notion “stuck.”  (Can you name the five golfers who have won all four majors during their careers?)

The Masters is always the first full week of April and, unlike the other three majors, it is always played at the same venue, Augusta  National Golf Club, a private club located in Augusta, Georgia.  AN was designed by golf legend Bobby Jones, and it opened in 1933.  During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the land  on which the course is situated was an indigo plantation and a plant nursery, which is why each hole is named after a particular tree or plant.  How many of these can you name?  See answers below.

The first Masters, known as the Augusta National Invitational Tournament, was held in March 1934.  The winner was Horton Smith, and he won a mere $1,500.  By contrast, last year’s winner, Danny Willett, earned $1.8 million out of a $10 million total purse, not to mention everlasting fame and other perks, such as invitations to play in the other majors that year, and a lifetime invitation to the Masters.  Yes, the tournament and golf, itself, have come a long way.

The tournament is famous for its various traditions, which are unique to this tournament.  Some of the more significant ones include:

1.  Since 1949 each year’s champion has been awarded a special green jacket.  This jacket is presented to him in a post-tournament ceremony by the previous year’s winner.   Although the jacket becomes the personal property of the winner he can only keep it in his possession for one year after which time it is required to be stored at the club.
2. Since 1952 the previous year’s winner has hosted a Champions’ Dinner.  Generally, only past champions are invited to attend.  The host selects the menu, and, over the years, there have been some unusual choices.  For example, Scotsman Sandy Lyle served haggis, and South African Trevor Immelman ordered up bobotie.  Are you familiar with these dishes?  See below.
3. Since 1963 certain legendary golfers, generally also past champions, have been given the honor of hitting a ceremonial opening tee shot.  In recent years, the honorees have been Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.   Palmer passed away this past September, so, to honor him, this year Nicklaus and Player performed the honors without him accompanied by an empty chair with his green jacket draped over it.)
4. Since 1960 a par-3 contest has been held on the Tuesday before the tournament.  This is an informal affair, and golfers often invite their children to caddy for them.
5. Until 1983 golfers were required to use caddies employed by the club.  This was significant, since professional golfers habitually use their own caddies.  Often, the golfer and the caddy become a team, and the golfer comes to rely on the caddy for advice and support during the round.  By tradition, the caddies were black.  In those pre-PC days, club co-founder Clifford Roberts was quoted as saying “as long as I’m alive golfers will be white and caddies will be black.”  Roberts was not the most enlightened man.  Thankfully, neither he nor that particular tradition is still alive.

CBS has televised the event every year since 1956.  Because the club is private and its membership highly affluent, it has been able to impose various unusual restrictions on CBS in exchange for lower revenue.  For example, commercial interruptions are very limited;  the announcers are required to refer to the gallery as “patrons,” rather than “fans” or “spectators; and “plugs” for other network programs are forbidden (except it may notify the audience of a delay in the following program, 60 Minutes should the situation arise.

One final question.  Which golfer has won the most Masters?

CONCLUSION

The Masters has become arguably the most prestigious of the four majors, at least in the US.  Golfers revere tradition, and, as denoted above, the Masters has them aplenty.  Also, it is played on the same beautiful, impeccably-groomed course every year.

Over the years, there have been a plethora of famous “Masters moments.”  I was too young to experience Gene Sarazen’s so-called “shot heard ’round the world (man, has that phrase been overused or what?) in 1935 when he “holed” a shot from the fairway on hole 15 for a double eagle.  But, I did see Larry Mize sink a 45-yard pitch shot to win a sudden death playoff in 1987.  In addition, I felt badly for Roberto de Vicenzo, who lost a playoff in 1968 when he was penalized one stroke for inadvertently signing an incorrect scorecard.  Golf has strict rules, and they are enforced unequivocally.  De Vicenzo’s reaction was a classic: “What a stupid I am.”

Answers to questions:

1.  Names of holes – 1) Tea Olive, 2) Pink Dogwood, 3) Flowering Peach, 4) Flowering Crab Apple, 5) Magnolia, 6) Juniper, 7) Pampas, 8) Yellow Jasmine, 9) Carolina Cherry, 10) Camellia, 11) White Dogwood, 12) Golden Bell, 13) Azalea, 14) Chinese Fir, 15) Firethorn, 16) Redbud, 17) Nandina, 18) Holly.
2. Haggis is the national dish of Scotland.  It is a pudding containing sheep’s “pluck” ( heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, suet (fat), and various spices.  Bobotie, pronounced “ba boor tea,” is the national dish of South Africa.  Basically, it is a mixture of curried meat and fruit.  Hmm. Yummy.
3. The five golfers who have completed the “career slam” are Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player,  Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
4. Jack Nicklaus – 6.

This is NOT an April Fools joke. It is a legitimate blog.

As you know, today is April 1, also known as “April Fools Day.” I like a good joke as much as anyone, but I am not a big fan of pranking people on this date. Maybe when I was 10, but not now. But, I am curious about the origins of the holiday, and how it is celebrated around the world.

AFD is not a official holiday in the US, or in any other country, for that matter, but it is widely recognized and celebrated around the world unofficially. Some people love to play jokes and perpetrate hoaxes. So, if you hear that President Trump has resigned to focus on building hotels and golf courses, or that the Mets have traded Noah Syndergaard, or that China has “forgiven” the US’s debt, don’t believe it. Those would, most certainly, be AFD jokes.

Even the media can be a willing participant. One of my favorite AFD pranks occurred on April 1, 1985. The Sports Illustrated cover story that day was about a baseball pitching phenom named Sidd Finch. At first, the story appeared to have credibility, as it was written by George Plimpton and published in SI. Finch was presented as an unknown rookie pitching prospect in the NY Mets training camp. So far, so good. But, as one read the details of the story, particularly about his 160 MPH fastball, it became apparent that it was an AFD joke.

Surprisingly, there are records of continuous AFD celebrations back as far as 536 BC in present day Iran.  They celebrate the Persian holiday of Sizdah Bedar, which falls on the 13th day of the Persian New Year, (April 1).  In addition, the Romans celebrated festivals called “Hilaria” on March 25 and the “Medieval Feast of Fools” on December 28. In certain Spanish-speaking countries, the latter is still a date on which pranks are played on people. Finally, there is a reference to the holiday in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.”

Nowadays, the holiday is celebrated differently around the world. Some examples are as follows:

1. UK – The April Fool joke is disclosed when the perpetrator shouts “April Fool” at the recipient. Traditionally, April Fool jokes are to cease at midday. After that time, anyone trying to prank someone becomes the “April Fool” himself. These AFD customs are similar in other countries whose traditions were influenced by the UK, such as the US.

2. Scotland – AFD is called “Hunt the Gowk Day.”  “Gowk” is Scots for a foolish person.

3. Ireland – A common tradition is to give the “prankee” an important letter in an envelope to give to a certain person. That person would ask the “prankee” to give it to another person, and so on and so on. Eventually, someone would open the envelope. The letter inside would say “send the fool further.”

4. Poland – Traditionally, April 1 is a day to play jokes and hoaxes. The media participates as well. Serious matters are to be avoided. For example, supposedly, a treaty signed on April 1, 1683 was later backdated to March 31.

5. France/Italy/Belgium – The holiday is called “April Fish,” for some reason.  One common prank is to attach a paper fish to the victim’s back without being detected. (Along these lines, in high school we used to put a “kick me” sign on a victim’s back, although not just on AFD.  Movie buffs may recall that this joke was played on McFly Senior in the movie Back to the Future.)

6. Sweden/Denmark – They celebrate on May 1 in addition to April 1.  Many Danish and Swedish news outlets will intentionally publish one false story on April 1.

CONCLUSION

April Fools Day can be fun, especially for kids. A little harmless fun never hurt anyone. For example, a few years ago my son told my grandson, who was six at the time and a huge Mets fan, that David Wright had been traded to the hated Yankees. To his credit, my grandson, merely shrugged his shoulders and asked “who for?”  I can remember being the perpetrator and butt of April fool jokes in grade school and middle school.  All in good fun.

I predict that some of you will be victimized today. Maybe you have been already.

Please tell me some of your favorite April fools moments. Were you the perpetrator or the victim?  I promise you I won’t put it on Facebook.

Now, THAT was an April fool joke.

 

Opening Day.  Mention those words to any sports fan, and, immediately, he knows what it means and to which sport it pertains. Not football, not basketball, not hockey.  OD means that another season of Major League Baseball is beginning.  Baseball fans look forward to OD every year.  Local newspapers step up their coverage of the local team in anticipation.  Many of them even print a daily countdown of the number of days remaining until OD.  In addition, OD occurs in the Spring, a season that symbolizes a new beginning and one which most people anticipate every year.

Most fans will acknowledge that baseball is no longer the most popular sport.  In fact, according to TV ratings, betting interest and most fan polls, football has superseded baseball. However, baseball, which has been played in the US in some form since the 1840s, is part of the social fabric of America.  Most men remember their first game of “catch” with their father or their first baseball game.  In fact, I have a more detailed recall of a World Series game I saw with my father in 1956 than I do of ballgames I saw last year.

Every fan is optimistic on OD.  Every team starts with the same 0-0 record.  None has lost a game yet.  Every team still has a chance to make the playoffs, and as we have seen in recent years, once you make the playoffs anything can happen.  For example, last year the World Champion Chicago Cubs (Wow, never thought I would ever say that!) won it all for the first time since 1908.  Think about that for a minute.  That means that no present Cubs fan, and virtually none of their fathers, were even born the last time the Cubs won before last year.

Many fans, and even some reporters, place undue emphasis on the opener forgetting or ignoring the fact that the season consists of 162 games. Over the course of a baseball season even the best teams will lose approximately 60 games. To many fans, a win OD means the season will be outstanding; a loss means the team “stinks.”

For many years, MLB had scheduled the very first game of the season in Cincinnati, usually on the first Monday in April. This was in recognition of the fact that the Reds were the first professional baseball team. The team was formed in 1869 as the Red Stockings.  Incidentally, for you trivia buffs, they went 65-0 that year, the only perfect season in baseball history.  However, several years ago MLB began scheduling Sunday night games to be televised on ESPN in prime time the night before the “official” OD.  This year there are three “pre-openers,”  the NY Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays, World Champion Chicago Cubs vs. the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Most teams will open on Monday, April 3.  Why multiple ODs?  TV dollars would be a good guess.

MLB has been trying to develop its international presence.  One way has been to schedule OD contests in various foreign venues.  The first one was in 1999 in Monterrey, Mexico.  For the record, the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres.  Since then, there have been eleven season openers held in international venues.  Tokyo has hosted the most, eight.  Sydney has hosted two and San Juan one.

Down through the years, OD has produced some memorable events, such as:

1. In 1907, the NY Giants, forerunner of the San Francisco Giants, forfeited the opener after rowdy fans began throwing snowballs at the players and umpires. There were not enough police on hand to restore order, so the umpires forfeited the game to the visiting Phillies.
2. In 1910 President Taft became the first President to throw out the “first ball.” In 1950 President Truman threw out the “first pitch” twice, as a righty and a lefty. In total, twelve Presidents have thrown out the “first pitch.”  Will we see President Trump follow tradition this year?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Can you imagine him doing the “wave?”
3. In 1940, Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians, known as “Rapid Robert” because of his high velocity, threw the only OD day no-hitter in baseball history. As an aside, there were no radar guns in Feller’s day, so one day some officials attempted to “time” his fastball by having him throw a pitch against a speeding motor cycle.
4. In 1947 Jackie Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers on OD becoming the first African American to play in the major leagues since the 19th Century.
5. In 1975 Frank Robinson became the first African American to manage in the Major Leagues.
6. In 1996, John McSherry, an umpire, suffered a fatal heart attack near home plate.
7. Early in the 20th Century teams would, on occasion, open with a doubleheader. Doubleheaders used to be quite common, particularly on Sundays and holidays. Now, they are rare, and when they do occur it is usually the result of adding an extra game to make up for a rain-out.  The reason?  Money.
8. Tom Seaver started the most openers – 16. Walter Johnson pitched the most OD shutouts – nine.

9. In 1974 Henry Aaron clouted his 714th homerun tying Babe Ruth’s all-time record for career homers.

CONCLUSION

Weather is often an issue on OD.  Many games are played in northern cities where it is not unusual to have cold, damp, rainy weather in early April that is more suitable to football than baseball.  (As I write this, it is cool, damp and rainy in NY, although our reliable local meteorologists assure us the weather will be nice for Monday’s Mets home opener.)  It reminds me of one of the major criticisms of baseball, that the season is too long.   We all know the reason – tv money.  The owners like it, because it makes them rich and less dependent on attendance for revenues.  The players tolerate it, because it fuels their astronomic salaries.  As for the fans, well, they will just have to grin and bear it.

Hall of Fame pitcher, Early Wynn summed up the essence of OD thusly:  “An opener is not like any other game.  You have that anxiety to get off to a good start, for yourself and for the team.  You know that when you win the first one you can’t lose them all.”   Finally, I am reminded of that renowned philosopher Yogi Berra, who could turn a phrase with the best of them, who is reputed to have said: “A home opener is always exciting, no matter if it’s home or on the road.”

PLAY BALL!

 

PLAY BALL!

Who is your hero?  Who has inspired you by exhibiting extreme courage and achievement in the face of adversity?   Is it a historical figure, like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, or,  a religious figure, like Moses, Jesus or Muhammed, or maybe, a civil rights icon, like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela?  Or, perhaps, it might be an ordinary person you know or know of who, while not famous, has accomplished something so truly remarkable, against such long odds that you are truly inspired.  Not all of us can point to such a person, but I can.  It is someone very close to me that I have known all his life.  It is my son, Matt.

It all began on July 5, 2015, a day I will never forget.  Like the JFK assassination and the 9/11 terrorist attacks I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard the awful news.  It was a typical summer’s day in the NY area, bright and sunny.  Matt was enjoying a family day with some friends and his lovely wife and two children at a local club.  Suddenly, after swimming in the lake he became dizzy, lost vision in one eye and collapsed.  He had suffered a dissection of his carotid artery, which had triggered a massive stroke.

Luckily, there was a doctor present.  He immediately recognized what was happening and knew exactly what to do.  This doctor accompanied Matt in the ambulance and stayed with him at the local hospital to ensure the ER doctors gave him the clot-buster shot and other appropriate treatment, including emergency surgery to remove the clot within the five-six-hour window that is considered to be optimal for treating strokes.  This certainly mitigated the effects of the stroke and may even have saved his life.

My wife and I were eating dinner with friends at a local restaurant when we got the shocking telephone call that Matt had suffered a stroke.  It seemed impossible.  Matt was only 40 and in excellent physical condition.  He worked out regularly, ran and practiced jujitsu.  The caller did not know any details, not even if Matt was alive.  If you’re a parent, you know that type of telephone call is as bad as it gets.  Luckily, our friends insisted on driving us to the hospital in Westchester to which Matt was being transported (the Westchester Trauma Center).  I don’t think I was in any condition to drive.  We arrived at more or less the same time as Matt.  We were able to see him and ascertain that although he was in very serious condition, he was alive.  After the surgery he was only able to breathe with the aid of a ventilator, and his skin was the color of white porcelain.

Over the next few days the medical news was very dire.  The doctors confirmed that Matt had, indeed, suffered a massive stroke.  He was not conscious; he was paralyzed on his right side; he might need a craniotomy; he was blind in his left eye; and he had only partial vision in his right eye. He was in such bad shape that I felt elated a few days later when I squeezed his hand and felt him squeeze mine back.

The doctors told us he was facing a long, arduous recovery, one -two weeks at the hospital followed by six to nine months at a rehab facility.  In addition, they said there was a good possibility that he would never recognize us, speak, or be able to walk unassisted.  As far as returning to a normal life as a husband and father and resuming his career as a senior research analyst, that was seemingly too unrealistic to even contemplate.  (Later, Matt told us that one of the doctors had flat-out told him he would not recover sufficiently to do so.  When we asked him if that had bothered him, he said “no, I knew he was wrong.”)  I realize that doctors feel compelled to disclose all possibilities, but there is a natural tendency to focus on the most negative ones, and that was an extremely disturbing prognosis.

Over the next year.  Matt made a remarkable recovery. He was discharged from the hospital in only six days and transferred to Burke for rehab.  Not only did he have to rehabilitate himself physically, but he also had to rehab his mind and his memory.  At first, he didn’t even recall very basic elements of his life, such as the names of his wife and children and his current address.  He had to relearn how to speak.   His rate of progress was beyond anyone’s most optimistic expectations.  He attacked his rehab with a vengeance. He attended every session.  He never once told them he was in too much pain, too tired, or not in the mood, as many rehab patients do.   Many times he would cut short our visit by telling us he had to leave for a rehab session.  If they told him to do ten of something, he would do 15.  He would complete the most tedious and frustrating of tasks without complaint.  His course of rehab included robotics, which helped considerably.  Of course, it helped that he was only 40 years old and in excellent physical condition, but, nevertheless, he astounded the doctors, the therapists, and, indeed, even us with his progress.  In August 2016, after less than one month at Burke, he was discharged, although he still undergoes private rehab once a week.

CONCLUSION

Matt’s astounding recovery has included the following accomplishments:

1. He completed his rehab at Burke and returned home to his family well ahead of schedule.
2. The day he was discharged he accompanied his wife and son to Nassau Coliseum, which was over a one-hour drive, to see Billy Joel’s last concert there.
3. He climbed up to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
4. He has resumed his career as a senior research analyst at a Wall Street firm.  This is a remarkable achievement since his job is very demanding, requiring many hours of complex analysis, a high level of prolonged concentration, and high-level meetings with clients.
5. He has completed two half marathons.  How many non-stroke victims can say that?
6. Most importantly, has resumed his role as husband and father, and my wife and I have our son back.

During his recovery period Matt was fond of saying his full-time job was to get better.  He applied the same single-minded determination and dedication to that task as he has to everything else in his life.   He is not yet all the way back, but if you were to meet him today for the first time you would likely not realize that he had suffered a massive stroke only 20 months ago.

My wife and I know that Matt was extremely lucky that there was a doctor present who ensured he received the immediate care he needed as well as an amazing support system of friends, relatives and colleagues, and, for that, we will be eternally grateful.  However, the determination with which he attacked his rehab virtually willing himself to get better was nothing short of amazing!

We have always been very proud of Matt, but, now, he is and will always be, our hero.

The UK has a significant terrorist problem.  Wednesday’s terrorist attack was not an isolated incident (a ‘one-off’ as the Brits like to say).  Nor was it an attack perpetuated by a “lone wolf,” as some originally thought.  Nor was it an attack perpetrated by foreign terrorists.  It was considerably worse.

It was a terrorist attack perpetrated by a small cadre of radical Islamic terrorists who actually live in the UK.  The actual murderer was a native-born British citizen (Kent).   One of his neighbors characterized him as a “nice guy” with a wife and young child who “enjoyed tend[ing to] his garden.  He had a long criminal record, including convictions for various violent offenses ranging from weapons possession to assault, but not for any terrorist activities.  London police authorities have stated that he had not been under investigation, and there were no indications that he was planning a terrorist attack.  It should be noted, however, that ISIS has claimed he was a “soldier” who had been directed to target countries that have been fighting jihadists.

This attack in the shadow of hallowed landmarks such as Westminster and the Parliament building while the Parliament was in session exposed the gross inadequacies of British counterterrorism policies and capabilities.  It is obvious they are in need of a major upgrade.  Moreover, I also believe it illustrates the difficulty of ferretting out such homegrown terrorists and their planned attacks beforehand.

As I write this, nine accomplices have been identified and arrested.  Their identities and backgrounds have not been revealed, and there may be more out there.  We have been told that they lived in Birmingham, a nearby city, which has long been suspected of being a hotbed of radical Islamic terrorist activities.  I suspect these accomplices will also prove to be either homegrown or individuals who entered the country after having emigrated to other EU countries.   Either way, it highlights the danger of open borders.

As I said, this was not an isolated incident.  Rather, it is the latest of a series of attacks in the last dozen years.  Since 2005 there have been six major terrorist attacks in London alone, which have resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

A brief summary of these attacks:

1.  July 7, 2005 – Four British Islamic terrorists detonated a series of bombs destroying one double-decker bus and a few underground trains.  Fifty-two people were killed and hundreds injured.
2. July 21, 2005 – Four more bombs were set, but they failed to detonate.
3. June 29, 2007 – Two unexploded car bombs were discovered.
4. May 22, 2013 – A British soldier was killed near the Royal Artillery Barracks.
5. December 5, 2015 – An assailant stabbed several people at a tube station shouting “this is for Syria.”
6. October 20, 2016 – An unattended bag was discovered on a train containing explosives , wires and an alarm clock.  Police detonated it, and there were no injuries.

This does not include various terrorist attacks in other European cities, such as Paris, Nice, Brussels and Berlin.

CONCLUSION

I believe that the root of this problem can be traced back to decades of permissive immigration policies and lax border security.  Britain, France, Germany and other Western European countries, seeking cheap labor, have long encouraged widespread emigration from Muslim countries in Africa and the Middle East.  Now, the jobs have largely dried up, leaving millions of idle and disgruntled people who are susceptible to being radicalized.

Furthermore, as we know, people can travel freely between EU countries without any documentation.  Therefore, all a terrorist has to do is find his way into, say, Turkey or Greece, which is not difficult, and from there he can easily emigrate to Britain, France or Germany.   I think that the major reason why the UK voted to withdraw from the EU last year was because of open borders and all its attendant problems, not for economic reasons as many think.  In my opinion, the US should learn from the mistakes of these countries in determining its own immigration policy.

 

Last week, a 14 year old student was brutally raped in the boys’ bathroom of her school.  This crime is heinous enough, but what makes it worse is that the alleged perpetrators were two illegal aliens aged 18 and 17, and worse yet, that many news outlets ignored or underreported the story, possibly for political reasons.  The salient facts of this case should make one’s blood boil.  As reported by Fox News, CNN, and various independent news outlets they are as follows:

1. The 18 year-old was from Guatemala.  ICE records show he entered the country illegally in August, 2016.  He was caught by a Border Patrol agent, issued an order to appear before an immigration judge and given a bus ticket to Maryland to join his father.  Classic “catch and release,” as practiced by the Obama Administration.  His court date has not yet been scheduled, some eight months later.  This is outrageous on many levels, but, sadly, it is not uncommon.  According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University there is a backlog of in excess of 500,000 such pending cases nationwide.
2. The 17 year-old was from El Salvador is here illegally.  As I write this, how and when he snuck in is unknown, but it is not significant.  What is significant, is the crime he allegedly committed.
3. The Montgomery County school placed both men in ninth grade classes with 14 year- olds.  School officials stated that their policy has been to place immigrants with language deficiencies with freshmen, rather than with their own age group.  I am not an educator, but I do have common sense, and I can see that this is an ill-advised policy.  Would you want your 14 year-old daughter commingled with 17 and 18 year- old men?   I know local school districts do not have the resources to vett all their students in detail, but at least separate 17 and 18 year-olds from 14 year-olds.

Outrage over the crime has come from many sources.  One parent’s comment was typical, and echoed the opinion of many  others nationwide. “I know that if this country enforced the laws that are already on the books those young men would not have been here and this rape, this horrendous rape, would not have occurred.”  When asked to comment at Tuesday’s press briefing Sean Spicer characterized the crime as “horrendous, horrible and disgusting.”  I think we can all agree with those two sentiments.

CONCLUSION

I believe there are broader aspects of this crime that need to be addressed.  For one thing, it was yet another example of the country’s utter failure to secure its borders and protect its citizens.  I am not talking solely about terrorists.  The problem is far broader.  FBI statistics clearly and conclusively demonstrate that illegals commit a significant number of drug and gang-related crimes, as well as other serious crimes, such as murder, rape, and sex-related crimes.  Our present “catch and release” policy has proven to be an utter failure.  Few illegals bother to show up for their hearings, which may be scheduled months or even years in the future.  Meanwhile, they are scattered all over the country.  We don’t know who they are, where they are, or what they are doing.  I realize that most illegals are law-abiding and contribute to society, but, that said, we are being plagued by the actions of a few.

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to address the mainstream media’s lack of coverage and/or underreporting of this crime.  According to reports by Fox News and various independent outlets, such as Newsbusters.org, neither ABC, NBC or CBS News reported the story Monday or Tuesday on tv, and CNN gave very sparse coverage.  This is despite the fact that Sean Spicer made his above comments at a well-attended White House press briefing.  All three networks did, however, find time to report on fluff pieces, such as (a) a comparison between expensive pasta and cheap pasta, (b) The Bachelor, (c) futuristic cars and (d) a flub on The Wheel of Fortune.

In my opinion, these omissions were not because the story wasn’t newsworthy.  It was politically-motivated.  The story casts the previous administration’s immigration policy in a bad light.  And, the media wonders why most Americans view them as biased and don’t trust them.

If any of you saw the story reported on one of the networks, please comment .  I would like to know.

 

Chuck Berry is generally recognized as one of the Founding Fathers of Rock ‘n Roll and one of the most versatile and accomplished RR artists ever.  He performed for some 70 years beginning in 1941 as a high school student.  He achieved prominence as a singer, songwriter, musician and performer.  He had many “hit” records, including “Maybelline,” “Johnny B. Goode,” which has autobiographical overtones, “Rock ‘N Roll Music,” and “Old Time Rock ‘N Roll.” But, all that said, perhaps, his greatest legacy was his influence on a plethora of successful performers, such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Elvis, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.

Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in St. Louis, the fourth of six children.  His family was middle class.  His father was a contractor and a deacon in the local church.  His mother was a public school principal.

Berry exhibited a talent and interest in music at an early age, and in 1941 at the age of 16 he gave his first public performance at his high school.  Unfortunately, he also exhibited another predilection at an early age – crime.  At 17, he was convicted of armed robbery and  sent to the nearby Intermediate Reformatory for Young Men.   At this point, it could have all gone “South” for Berry.  He could have descended into a life of crime, and the history of RR and music, in general, would have been significantly different.  But, Berry appeared to reform himself.  He took up boxing and formed a musical quartet successful enough that authorities allowed it to perform outside the detention facility.  Upon his release in 1947 at the age of 21 he got married and worked in an auto assembly and as a janitor.

In addition, he continued to perform with local bands, such as the Johnnie Johnson Trio.  Berry got his big break in 1955 when Muddy Waters recommended he audition with Leonard Chess of Chess Records in Chicago.  As it happened, Chess thought the R & B market was waning, and he was looking for a new sound.   He loved Berry’s adaptation of a country and western song called “Ida Red,” which Berry recorded for Chess as “Maybelline.”  “Maybelline” sold in excess of one million records and climbed to #1 on Billboard Magazine’s R & B chart.  Berry was on his way.

A succession of hits followed, including “School Days,” “Rock ‘N Roll Music”, “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Johnny B. Goode,” among others. In addition, he was a big hit on music impresario Alan Freed’s “Biggest Show of Stars” in 1957, and toured with the biggest stars of the day, such as Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Everly Brothers.

In addition to his music, which speaks for itself, Berry was a real “showman.”  His performances included the famous “one-legged hop” and the “duck walk.”  In his words, he would walk “stooping with full bended knees, but with my back and head vertical.”  He perfected this while performing for his family as a child, and they liked it so much he incorporated it into his act.  You might recall the actor Michael J. Fox performed these in the hit film, Back to the Future.

CONCLUSION

As I denoted above, Berry was truly a RR pioneer who was not only one of the most versatile performers ever, but also an influence on countless others who followed.  One would be hard-pressed to name any other performer who combined the talents of writing, singing, performing, and influencing others as well as he did.

Berry was the recipient of countless awards and honorariums.  Also, Rolling Stone Magazine has ranked many of his hits on its list of the “Greatest of All Time,” and he, himself, is ranked among the greatest performing artists of all time.

Perhaps, Berry’s legacy could best be summed up by the following selection of quotes from others in the business:

1.  Elvis – “I just wish I could express my feelings the way Chuck Berry does.”
2. Bruce Springsteen – Chuck Berry was rock’s greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock ‘ n roll writer who ever lived.”
3. Mick Jagger – “He lit up our teenage years and blew life into our dreams of being musicians and performers.”
4. John Lennon – “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’ “
5. Robert Christgau (notable rock critic) – the “greatest of the rock and rollers.”
6. Bob Dylan – “The ‘Shakespeare’ of rock ‘n roll.”

Chuck Berry passed away on March 18 at the age of 90.  Rest in peace Chuck.  You will be sorely missed, and your legacy will live as long as rock ‘n roll is played.

 

Richard Lyon, the first Navy seal to accede to the rank of Admiral, has passed away at the age of 93.  At the time of his death he had the distinction  of being the oldest-serving Navy seal, which had earned him the sobriquet “Bullfrog.”  The term, “Bullfrog” is an honorarium give to the Underwater Demolition Team Seal with the largest amount of cumulative service, regardless of rank.  The label is derived from the traditional depiction of seals as “frogmen” in recruiting posters, movies and books.  The superior “frogman” became known as “Bull Frog.”

Lyon was born on July 14, 1923 in Pasadena, CA.   Like most Seals, he was very athletic.  In fact, he was such a proficient swimmer that he qualified for the 1940 US Olympic swim team.  Unfortunately, as we know, due to the advent of WWII those Olympics were cancelled, and Lyon never got to compete.

Instead, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Lyon entered the Navy, serving in the Pacific Theatre.  He served in various roles, much of which was and is classified, including that of “Intelligence Officer” (in China).  Following Japan’s surrender Lyon was one of the first American military personnel to enter Japan.

Lyon served some 40 years in the Navy and fought in two wars (Korea as well as WWII).  He retired from the Navy in 1983, but he did not retire from life.  He had a successful business career in retail and finance.  He served two terms as mayor of Oceanside, CA and as a member of various boards of directors.  For recreation, he piloted private planes, body surfed and played golf.  In 2013 he was the recipient of the prestigious Yale University George H. W. Bush Lifetime of Leadership Award.

CONCLUSION

Over the course of his long and distinguished life and career, Lyon earned, perhaps, the greatest award of all – the respect of his peers.  Rear Admiral Tim Szymanski, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, characterized him as a “legend.”  Said lifelong friend, Kelly Sarber, who first met Lyon as a child through her own father, also a seal: “He reminded me of James Bond.  I never saw him lose his cool. … He was a real class act.”

Lyon passed away on February 3, 2017.  Rest in peace Admiral.  You made your mark and served your country with great distinction.  You will be sorely missed.

Have you ever been curious as to the origin and meaning of your surname?  I have, which led me to write this blog.  The short answer is – surname origins and meanings are complicated, very complicated.  Different cultures around the world have very different traditions with respect to surnames.  In this blog, I have attempted to present the information in an organized and logical way.

Generally, a surname is a family name that is added to one’s given, or first name.  It is given to one’s children and passed to succeeding generations.  In most Western Hemisphere countries, such as the US, the surname, or family name, is the last name.  For example, Lawrence is my given name and Jacob is my surname.  In some countries, such as China and Korea, however, the surname comes before the given name.  To complicate matters further, in most Spanish-speaking countries it is typical for people to retain the surnames of both the mother’s and father’s family, i.e. Jose Rodriquez [Y] Hernandez.  Finally, in some parts of Asia and East Africa surnames are not used at all.  To simplify matters, somewhat I will be discussing customs prevalent in the US and Western Europe unless otherwise specified.

The concept of a surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages.  It had often become confusing when too many people had the same first name in a particular locale.  Thus, John, who was a blacksmith, became John Smith, while John, who made clothes, became John Tailor or Taylor.

My research disclosed the following salient points of information:

1. The University of West England conducted a comprehensive study of the history of surnames in Great Britain from the 11th through 19th Centuries.  The survey’s findings were published in the Oxford English Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland in 2016. Among the major findings:

a. Irish surnames are the oldest in Europe.  The first recorded surname was O Cleirigh.  The death of one Tigherneach Ua O Cleirigh, Lord of Aidhne was recorded in 916.

b. As we know, the Irish commonly use surname prefixes.  These may or may not be attached to the main name.  Thus, we have the surnames “O’Brien” or “MacMillan.”

c.  In England, surnames originated circa 1086 following the Norman Conquest.  Many Normans used a “territorial surname” by simply attaching the prefix “de” to their town of origin in France, for example, Pierre de Lyon.  As one might expect, the trend began among the nobility and gradually spread to other classes.

d.  Many English would employ occupational or territorial surnames, such as John Chandler, John Butcher, John Hill, or John Meadows.

2.  Traditionally, it has been customary for the wife to assume her husband’s surname, but in recent years this custom has been relaxed due to PC.  Occasionally, a wife will not change her name, or, will use both surnames with a hyphen.  According to Wikipedia the first woman in the US to retain her maiden name was one Lucy Stone in 1855.  The best current estimate of wives who take the husband’s surname is 80%.

3.  In the US:

a.  Approximately 50% of the population has one of only 1,700 surnames.  As you could probably guess, Smith is the most common, with about 1%.  Rounding out the top five, in order, are Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones.

b.  Many names are corruptions of European names due to misspelling, mispronunciation, or other causes during the immigration process.  A common misconception is that these changes typically occurred upon entry at Ellis Island.  Many family legends insist that the clerk gave their ancestor a name based on his home town, (John London), trade (John Baker), or a physical characteristic (John Short).   Possibly, but, in point of fact, these changes could also have and often did occur at the country of origin or at any waypoint.  Consider that the clerk at Ellis Island was working from a passenger list that had been developed at the port of origin.   Also, during the peak of foreign immigration  (1894-1924) about one-third of the immigration inspectors spoke three or more languages.  Furthermore, interpreters were often available as well.  So, although they could have made a copying error, it would have been more likely that the name changes would have occurred elsewhere.

c.  In some cases family members arriving at different times ended up with different spellings of the same surname.  These differences may or may not have been rectified by descendants.  I have personal knowledge of a family situation such as this.

d.  It was common for immigrants to Americanize their names.  Reasons for this included patriotism, a desire to assimilate or a wish to avoid discrimination.  Many immigrants were so happy to be here they wanted a clean break, a fresh start.  One way to accomplish this was to take a new American name or Americanize their original one.  Thus, “Goldschmidt” could become “Goldsmith” or just “Gold.”  Many names, especially Eastern European names, which tended to be long on consonants and short on vowels, were too difficult to pronounce and spell.  This would instantly identify the person as an immigrant and could cause difficulties or embarrassment at work or at the children’s school.  So, a name like Zymancwiecz or Smirnoff could become Zell or Smiley.  Finally, and perhaps most common, was to avoid discrimination.  Virtually all ethnic groups faced discrimination to some degree.  In those pre-PC days, landlords and employers made no secret about discriminating against certain ethnic or religious groups.  Thus John O’Day would become John Day, and Greenbaum might become Green.

e.  Other reasons for incorrect names:  disguising oneself by using a fictitious name or another person’s name; using the name of a step-father instead of biological father, or using a nickname or a maiden name.

4.   Other countries’ customs:

a.  In China, legend has it that the origin of surnames was a decree by Emperor Fu Xi in 2852 BCE.  His purpose was to facilitate census-taking.

b.  In Japan, surnames were uncommon before the 19th century, except among the aristocracy.

c.  Ancient Greeks used identifiers, such as “son of” or clan or descendant identities.  For instance, Alexander the Great was also known as Alexander Heracleides (as a descendant of Heracles).

CONCLUSION

As I said, one’s surname often provides clues as to one’s background or place of origin.  For example, names such as Farmer, Thatcher, or Smith would be strong indications of a forebear’s occupation.  Names such as Glen, Forrest, or Mountain would be obvious indicators of locale.  President Dwight Eisenhower was likely descended from a person whose occupation was an iron cutter in Germany (“Eisen” means iron in German, and “hower” was likely a derivative of “hewer,” which means one who cuts wood, metal  or other materials).

Many people’s surnames are actual cities in Europe or derivatives of such indicating from whence they emigrated. Some names indicate patronage (Hickman, Johnson).  Many Jewish names have biblical or holy references, for example, Cohen, Kagan, Levy, and my own surname, Jacob.  Many Irish or Scotch surnames are derived from their ancestor’s clan (Macdonald, Forbes, etc.).  Many African Americans carry the names of Southern plantation owners.  The immortal Muhammed Ali, a Louisville native, derided his birth surname, Clay, as a “slave name.”  He was probably correct, as the name “Clay” is a prominent name in Kentucky aristocracy.

If nothing else, I hope this blog gets you thinking about the origins and meaning of your own name.  Let me know if you find anything interesting.

 

 

President Trump has hit the ground running.  In just two weeks he has already signed a flurry of EOs.  In my opinion, he gets points for decisiveness and for following through on his campaign promises.  Most politicians would have been more deliberate.  Some would not have followed through on their campaign promises at all.   For example, remember Bush 41’s pledge: “Read my lips. No new taxes.”  Or, perhaps you recall Obama’s pledge, “If you like your [health] plan, you can keep it; if you like your doctor you can keep him.”   (I don’t mean those as criticisms of those presidents, per se.  (All politicians obfuscate or lie, at times, to some extent.  That’s why every poll reports them to be so disliked.  I merely present these as examples.)

On the other hand, some commentators and analysts have characterized his actions as rash or not vetted properly.  These critics may have a point, to a degree.  I believe that most of Trump’s EOs will be beneficial to the country, but, in at least one case, I believe he acted somewhat precipitously to his and the country’s detriment.  Below please find my assessment of a few of these orders but, first, a little background.

EOs do not have the force of law.  Only Congress can pass laws.  In theory, their purpose is to enable the executive branch to manage its operation more efficiently.  It’s not always necessary or even advisable for the president to wait for Congress to deliberate over a minor matter.  Many EOs are routine and uncontroversial, for example, JFK’s EO to establish the Peace Corps and LBJ’s EO to appoint the Warren Commission to investigate JFK’s assassination.  Others, such as Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves residing in the Confederacy, and FDR’s decision to inter Japanese-Americans during WWII were more controversial.

Presidents have used EOs since the beginning of the Republic, some often, some seldom.  According to a study published by the American Presidency Project at the University of California, John Adams, James Monroe and James Madison only signed one each, whereas FDR signed the most, 3,721, followed by Woodrow Wilson with 1,803 and Calvin Coolidge with 1,203.  (Of course, FDR was President for 13 years.)

At least in recent times, presidents have often been criticized by the opposition party for many of their EOs.  For example, on a few occasions, Obama was criticized for using EOs to bypass Congress, and a few were overturned by the courts eventually, but he only averaged some 40 EOs a year, about the same as his predecessor, Bush 43.

Back to a few of President Trump’s EOs:

1.  Keystone pipeline –  This  one seems to me to be a “no-brainer.”  It will transport oil from Canada to the Gulf easily, cheaply, and safely.  It will create jobs; it will be environmentally safer then transporting by train or truck; and it will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Nevertheless, many environmentalists are opposed to it.
2. Trans Pacific Partnership –  Trump has pulled out of this arrangement, citing it is not in America’s best interests.  I am inclined to agree, but, Democrats and some of the other participants, such as Australia, have expressed displeasure.  Also, this could create a vacuum for China to exploit in the region.
3. Affordable Care Act – There is not much Trump can accomplish in this area by EO, but he will be waiving penalties against those who elect not to pay for insurance and he will allow individual states greater flexibility in administering the ACA.  These actions, though seemingly minor, will put a severe crimp in the ACA or, perhaps, gut it.
4. Abortion – This is an extremely controversial and emotional issue, particularly among women.  According to the latest CBS News poll from January 2017, 75% of Americans are in favor of abortion being available, half of them said “generally” and half favored availability under “stricter limits.”  According to a Quinnipiac University poll at the same period 46% would favor a ban after 20 weeks (so-called “late term abortions”) and 46% would oppose such a ban.  For many, it is the “litmus test” issue.  Many “choosers” are concerned that Trump opposes the Roe v Wade decision and wants to eliminate abortions  entirely for any reason.  I think that’s extreme and a mischaracterization of his position.  In my opinion, it’s more likely that he will seek to limit late term abortions.  Personally, I would be in favor of that as there is strong evidence that late term fetuses are viable outside the womb.  Trump’s opening salvo in this area was to prohibit foreign aid to any non-government organization that is offering abortion counseling or other services in foreign countries, even if abortion is legal in that country.
5. Financial Regulations –  Trump has taken steps to ease the financial constraints on the financial services industry imposed by the Graham-Dodd Act.  The Act was precipitated by the financial crisis of 2008-2009, which almost brought the financial markets to its knees.  But, the Act has proven to be very burdensome, especially to small firms, and memories have faded after eight years.  Hopefully, they won’t go too far the other way.  The financial services industry needs sensible regulation and government oversight to protect investors.
6. The Wall –  Trump has taken initial steps to secure our southern border.  He still insists Mexico will pay for it.  Mexico has adamantly refused.  The most likely outcome is that the US will lay out the money and find a way to charge back Mexico indirectly.  There are various proposals under consideration.  This has been very controversial on many fronts and will no doubt continue as such prospectively.
7. Immigration Restrictions – This has been the most controversial, and I could spend an entire blog on it.  Both sides have valid points.  On balance, I think there is a significant danger in allowing immigrants from locales where proper vetting is not possible.  Just look at  the situations in France, Germany and the UK.  That said, the rollout was mishandled.  Cabinet members, staff, and customs and border personnel were not briefed sufficiently beforehand, which resulted in the chaotic airport scenes we all saw on tv.  Lost in the shuffle are the facts that the seven countries were selected based on recommendations of the Obama Administration and that the ban is temporary until enhanced vetting procedures can be established.  As I write this, a judge has issued a restraining order, which the Administration will likely appeal.  Hopefully, the Administration will learn from this error and do better prospectively.

CONCLUSION

Trump remains a very controversial president.  Most people have very strong opinions towards him, pro or con.  Part of it is because of his unique style and personality.  He is fighting a three-front war – the Democrats, the media, and even some in his own party.  His most virulent enemies do not seem even to want to give him a chance.  He was being criticized before he even took office.  Some have even questioned the validity of the election, itself.

In order to be successful, he must be cognizant of the fact that his enemies will be monitoring his actions very closely and will take every opportunity to pounce on his errors, real or fabricated.  Reporting will often be distorted or even outright false, for example, the charge that he removed MLK’s bust from the White House.

I believe Trump can effect real change if given a fair chance.  Let’s hope he gets it.