One of the most enjoyable holiday tradtions for many New Yorkers is to go to the movies in the days between Christmas and New Year's Eve. There were many choices and after thinking about it for about half a minute, we decided that "Into the Woods" would be a good choice. My daughter and I had seen a revival of it on Broadway with Vanessa Williams a couple of seasons back, and we thought it might be nice to do a compare and contrast of her performance and that of Meryl Streep who is the witch in the movie version.
We were not disappointed. It is an excellent adaptation. Streep, Christine Baranski and Johnny Depp were magical. But the behvior of some of the local theater goers left a lot to be desired, leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
I do wish parents would read both the reviews and the age recommendations attached to films. This is afterall, not the Rogers and Hammerstein Broadway version of "Cinderella", it is, for G-d's sake, Stephen Sondheim....a bit more sophisticated and much darker. Don't bring your 5 year old or your toddler to this one. You will only guarantee yourself a sleepless night as the kiddoes will wake up from nighmares of giants stepping on people and princes falling into thorn patches.
If you want to get to the second row, don't climb over the first one leaving dusty footprinits on the seats. The UA Theater has designed the seating so there are several breaks with stairs that can be used to walk to the next row...and, by the way...when you accidently kick the person you are climbing over; it is considered good form to apologize.
Also, please do not let your seven and eight year olds run back and forth in the entry aisle. Their boredom with the film only confirms the fact that this movie is beyond their comprehension, and perhaps you should have hired a sitter and come with your spouse. And if they start screaming because they want more popcorn,please think about taking them into the lobby for your parential disipline speech. We've heard it all before, and would rather not be privy to it this time around.
And finally, we know the movie is just about ended, but there is still about ten minutes left to wrap up the storyline. Please don't leave the theater discussing the ending as you leave. Your car will still be in the lot if you could just wait for the credits to begin rolling....and oh, I like to read the credits, so if you are leaving...do it in a timely fashion and waith for your pals ourside, not in the center of the darkened theater. Besides blocking my reading the credits, you are a safety hazard for those who are exiting in a proper manner.
So, go, enjoy the film, just understand that there are some folks who need to take "Movie Viewing 101". Try not to let them bother you.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
New York Christmas Traditions
With the season of Christmas soon upon us, or upon us now depending on your
outlook; it may be time to look back on the mid-twentieth century and remember
some very New York Christmas traditions.1. Christmas Tree and Christmas wreath pressed butter cookies made from scratch and placed in tins to bring to friends and family as Christmas gifts. Some were
reserved to be served to friends and children who came to see your tree.
2. Candy canes on the tree served three purposes. They were nice decorations; they were given to children who stopped by to see your tree, and finally used as handy "swizzle sticks" in cups of steaming hot chocolate.
3. Hot chocolate at every neighbors' house or apartment. Children were greeted with candy canes and cups of hot chocolate topped off with a small mountain of fresh whipped cream dusted with Christmas colored sugars of red and green...as a special treat, the above mentioned peppermint candy cane was inserted to use as a whipped cream scoop and flavorful stirrer.
4. Visiting nearby churches to see their crèches was always a treat;
But my favorite Brooklyn crèche story revolves around a life sized manger scene that resided at Glenwood Road and East 36th Street near the B-6 bus stop. As was the local tradition, the three magi were not standing at the manger on Christmas Eve. They were S-L-O-W-L-Y moved day by day until their arrival on the Feast of the Epiphany. But one year the three wise guys took a different turn. With scarves, hats, and shawls wrapped around their plywood bodies, and package-laden Macy's bags hung over their outstretched arms that ostensibly held myrrh, frankincense and gold, these wandering monarchs stood stoically at the local bus stop as bus after bus after bus stopped by to pick up what appeared to be three hapless women struggling with gifts for errant kith and kin. This was the last year for the life-sized troupe. Soon they were unceremoniously retired after a scathing sermon about the sanctity of the season from the pulpit of the sponsoring church.
5. And speaking of Bensonhurst, the holidays were never complete without a trip
to view the monster-holiday house lights in Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst. My own
neighborhood of East Flatbush was downright sedate compared to these dueling neighboring 'hoods. I think Con Ed, our local electric power
company, made the bulk of its profits in the weeks heading up to and the twelve
days following Christmas.
6. And the well dressed matron would never think of leaving her home without her Christmas corsage of satin ribbons, glittering greens and a few small shining mini-Christmas ornaments. These were loving placed at the crèche of choice during the requisite church tour. Their accumulation at the mini-stable was the deciding factor in which congregation had done the best job and would wear the crèche crown until the next Christmas season.
7. And Christmas lasted for twelve whole days after the Eve. And we celebrated, and we visited folks near and far, and we really enjoyed ourselves.
8. And we sang: lovely seasonal carols at church and in the choir at school, Girl Scouts and Boy scouts caroled in the neighborhood visiting invalids and ending at someone's home for the cookies and candy canes and hot chocolate mentioned above. And if we were lucky, it snowed!
These traditions seem quaint in this time, but perhaps we need to look back and simplify our holiday lives and remember why we are celebrating this lovely time of year. This special time in which we welcome the Word made Flesh, the Light into the world, is a sweet time. Let's get some of that sweetness back into our celebrations.
Friday, December 5, 2014
Living on Staten Island...give us a break
So, I live on Staten Island. Not only do I live on Staten Island, I live a block and a half from the spot where Eric Garner died. The park in which he sold "loosies" is catty-corner from my building. This neighborhood, where I purchased a condo, is undergoing a sort of revival, and I have to admit, that not only I, but other condo owners in my building and folks in the surrounding area have in the past called the local precinct complaining about the sale of narcotics in said park. And I will agree that Mr. Garner was involved in illegal behavior, but certainly behavior that could have been handled in a much better way that would not have resulted in his untimely death. I also agree that Mr. Garner had health issues, and who does not? I am sure his were more serious than even he knew.
I am also no fool. I have lived in this city my entire life, the last forty years on Staten Island where I taught in private, parochial and public schools for twenty eight years. And it was in the public schools on this island where I saw institutional racism up close. How could a school that was almost 35% African American only have four or five students of color in honors programs? How could the overwhelming majority of students who were suspended be African American and Hispanic? How could the vast majority of students in our Special Education unit, which was at one time by choice 25% of the school population, overwhelmingly be made up of young men of color? Now, by the time students reach the secondary level, most of the educational decisions in their lives have been either made or put into motion. Many of our students did very well and succeeded with the support of a wonderfully caring staff, but others struggled to get by due to circumstances beyond their control, and beyond the control of the concerned adults who strove each day to do the best they could with limited resources in a system bogged down by bureaucracy. And just in case you did not know it, the New York City public schools are the most segregated in the country according to recent reports, and Staten Island is the "whitest" district in the city.
There is good reason for this. This is the borough in which an overwhelming number of civil servants reside. New York City has a residency rule for members of the uniformed services, so many firefighters, police officers and sanitation workers live here. Ask any Staten Islander if he or she knows a city worker, and the odds are they themselves are, or they are related to an employee of the City of New York. At this moment, I am currently employed part time by the city and my three children work for the city full time in three different municipal agencies.
Real estate prices here are a bit more reasonable than in the rest of the city. Coop apartments, condos, town houses and single and multiple family homes are spread out across the island and offer a plethora of housing alternatives not found in the congested grid that is Manhattan. In addition, we are just a mere 25 minute ferry ride from the hustle and bustle of "the city" where so many of us work.
And so, I have to admit that I am very much dismayed and upset at the reaction others have to us and their perceived perceptions of who and what we are.
First, let me note that I was more than shocked when the Grand Jury's decision was announced. I thought that at the very least, there would be an indictment so further investigation would go forward. I also know that our current District Attorney is a man of professional integrity, and intellectually understood that there was a process that was followed very deliberately. Since the D.A. petitioned to have the Grand Jury's evidence made public, I thought I would reserve my final decision until I read what the jury had as evidence as well as what we had all seen in the media.
I am upset when I hear or read on social media outlets of how reactionary, racist and conservative Staten Islander are. I am upset when I see demonstrators from elsewhere making rash statements about the place I call home. I am upset with people from other boroughs who make unfeeling and uninformed remarks about the borough in which I have chosen to live. If I hear one more so-called "friend" asking if I have my passport to get to Manhattan or how NYC sends its garbage to Staten Island, I may just have to slap them silly. By the way, I travel freely back and forth to Manhattan on a weekly basis, and NYC's solid waste goes to a landfill in Pennsylvania, not here.
Just to set the record straight: Eric Garner's death was a tragedy; the Grand Jury reached its conclusion with the evidence it was given; a civil suit can follow, and it should; all lives are important; no young man should be stopped because of his color, his clothes or the length of his hair; all of New York's citizens have a right to use public spaces without fear. And Staten Islanders should not all be painted with one brush; we are as diverse as most American villages, towns or cities. We want a better life for our children and all children on this piece of New York City...and we deserve the respect and help of the rest of this great city.
I am also no fool. I have lived in this city my entire life, the last forty years on Staten Island where I taught in private, parochial and public schools for twenty eight years. And it was in the public schools on this island where I saw institutional racism up close. How could a school that was almost 35% African American only have four or five students of color in honors programs? How could the overwhelming majority of students who were suspended be African American and Hispanic? How could the vast majority of students in our Special Education unit, which was at one time by choice 25% of the school population, overwhelmingly be made up of young men of color? Now, by the time students reach the secondary level, most of the educational decisions in their lives have been either made or put into motion. Many of our students did very well and succeeded with the support of a wonderfully caring staff, but others struggled to get by due to circumstances beyond their control, and beyond the control of the concerned adults who strove each day to do the best they could with limited resources in a system bogged down by bureaucracy. And just in case you did not know it, the New York City public schools are the most segregated in the country according to recent reports, and Staten Island is the "whitest" district in the city.
There is good reason for this. This is the borough in which an overwhelming number of civil servants reside. New York City has a residency rule for members of the uniformed services, so many firefighters, police officers and sanitation workers live here. Ask any Staten Islander if he or she knows a city worker, and the odds are they themselves are, or they are related to an employee of the City of New York. At this moment, I am currently employed part time by the city and my three children work for the city full time in three different municipal agencies.
Real estate prices here are a bit more reasonable than in the rest of the city. Coop apartments, condos, town houses and single and multiple family homes are spread out across the island and offer a plethora of housing alternatives not found in the congested grid that is Manhattan. In addition, we are just a mere 25 minute ferry ride from the hustle and bustle of "the city" where so many of us work.
And so, I have to admit that I am very much dismayed and upset at the reaction others have to us and their perceived perceptions of who and what we are.
First, let me note that I was more than shocked when the Grand Jury's decision was announced. I thought that at the very least, there would be an indictment so further investigation would go forward. I also know that our current District Attorney is a man of professional integrity, and intellectually understood that there was a process that was followed very deliberately. Since the D.A. petitioned to have the Grand Jury's evidence made public, I thought I would reserve my final decision until I read what the jury had as evidence as well as what we had all seen in the media.
I am upset when I hear or read on social media outlets of how reactionary, racist and conservative Staten Islander are. I am upset when I see demonstrators from elsewhere making rash statements about the place I call home. I am upset with people from other boroughs who make unfeeling and uninformed remarks about the borough in which I have chosen to live. If I hear one more so-called "friend" asking if I have my passport to get to Manhattan or how NYC sends its garbage to Staten Island, I may just have to slap them silly. By the way, I travel freely back and forth to Manhattan on a weekly basis, and NYC's solid waste goes to a landfill in Pennsylvania, not here.
Just to set the record straight: Eric Garner's death was a tragedy; the Grand Jury reached its conclusion with the evidence it was given; a civil suit can follow, and it should; all lives are important; no young man should be stopped because of his color, his clothes or the length of his hair; all of New York's citizens have a right to use public spaces without fear. And Staten Islanders should not all be painted with one brush; we are as diverse as most American villages, towns or cities. We want a better life for our children and all children on this piece of New York City...and we deserve the respect and help of the rest of this great city.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Bumbling Criminals
Methinks the latest generation of thieves, thugs, swindlers, and overall bad guys are not cut from as sturdy a cloth as in the past; nor do they appear to be the sharpest knives in the drawer, nor are they the brightest lights in the chandelier. Or perhaps my local newspaper, the beloved Staten Island Advance, is just having too much fun reporting on the crazy shenanigans of various nefarious yokels between its pages.
In this past Monday's paper, a man left the scene of an auto accident because he claimed he did not want to listen to his girlfriend yelling at him...Oh, if that would only be the most important thing he has to worry about! Perhaps he could ask her to call him an attorney. I think he is gong to need one....rather quickly.
And how about the shoplifting duo from Oregon who, after crossing state lines to commit petty larceny in Idaho, jumped into their car and drove around and around the parking lot. The cops simply put down some spiked strip tape which the intrepid crooks ran over multiple times resulting in several flat tires, and an easy collar for the local police force. Perhaps next time they will choose a shopping center closer to home; one whose parking lot they might have been in a few times before they attempt another heist.
In today's paper, there was the story of a local boy who in attempting to steal $23 from an outdoor poor box at a local church, was spotted by a cop on patrol who arrested him for possession of burglary tools: in particular, a couple of sticks he taped together to shove into the box to pry it open, and false personation because he gave them someone else's name as his. Once they looked at his driver's license photo, which was in his wallet, they figured out who he was; and now this bright light is on his way to the pokey.
In Texas a drunk broke into a meat packing plant, stole and ate some sausage, grabbed someone's coat, went into the back office and fell asleep. The cops woke him up the next morning to arrest him for criminal trespassing. His excuse? He drank too much last night...ya think?
And finally, a registered sex offender, who was a student at my old Intermediate School, hit a cop in the face with a credit card scanner and then attempted to grab the gun of said police officer's partner in order to escape an attempted shoplifting arrest. Now, I do know that one thing a thinking criminal should NOT do is go for a police officer's gun. That is one way to insure that you wind up in a very unhappy place. Said suspect's explanation for his bad behavior had to do with the fact that he was on probation and didn't want to get in any more trouble. I think he now has more trouble than he bargained for. After attempting to take a gun from an officer of the court, he is facing several felony and misdemeanor counts and is being held on bond...seems none of his "peeps" stepped up to put up his $5,000 bail.
Perhaps the level of incompetence in the criminal class is yet another societal ill to lay at the feet of the educational community? I think not. Bumbling criminals, whose attempts at various forms of illegal activity make us shake our heads, are the result of their own actions and their own stupidity.
In this past Monday's paper, a man left the scene of an auto accident because he claimed he did not want to listen to his girlfriend yelling at him...Oh, if that would only be the most important thing he has to worry about! Perhaps he could ask her to call him an attorney. I think he is gong to need one....rather quickly.
And how about the shoplifting duo from Oregon who, after crossing state lines to commit petty larceny in Idaho, jumped into their car and drove around and around the parking lot. The cops simply put down some spiked strip tape which the intrepid crooks ran over multiple times resulting in several flat tires, and an easy collar for the local police force. Perhaps next time they will choose a shopping center closer to home; one whose parking lot they might have been in a few times before they attempt another heist.
In today's paper, there was the story of a local boy who in attempting to steal $23 from an outdoor poor box at a local church, was spotted by a cop on patrol who arrested him for possession of burglary tools: in particular, a couple of sticks he taped together to shove into the box to pry it open, and false personation because he gave them someone else's name as his. Once they looked at his driver's license photo, which was in his wallet, they figured out who he was; and now this bright light is on his way to the pokey.
In Texas a drunk broke into a meat packing plant, stole and ate some sausage, grabbed someone's coat, went into the back office and fell asleep. The cops woke him up the next morning to arrest him for criminal trespassing. His excuse? He drank too much last night...ya think?
And finally, a registered sex offender, who was a student at my old Intermediate School, hit a cop in the face with a credit card scanner and then attempted to grab the gun of said police officer's partner in order to escape an attempted shoplifting arrest. Now, I do know that one thing a thinking criminal should NOT do is go for a police officer's gun. That is one way to insure that you wind up in a very unhappy place. Said suspect's explanation for his bad behavior had to do with the fact that he was on probation and didn't want to get in any more trouble. I think he now has more trouble than he bargained for. After attempting to take a gun from an officer of the court, he is facing several felony and misdemeanor counts and is being held on bond...seems none of his "peeps" stepped up to put up his $5,000 bail.
Perhaps the level of incompetence in the criminal class is yet another societal ill to lay at the feet of the educational community? I think not. Bumbling criminals, whose attempts at various forms of illegal activity make us shake our heads, are the result of their own actions and their own stupidity.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Seasonal Philanthropy
This afternoon we served 152 people at he TLC Soup Kitchen. The experienced
crew made this task easy; the increased numbers of new guests, however, caused
both major and minor "hiccups" to occur...and I let myself be unnecessarily
drawn into one of them. At the root of the problematic behaviors, is , I
believe, the issue of seasonal philanthropy.
"Seasonal Philanthropy", as defined my me since I coined the phrase, is an
annual ennui that overcomes some well-meaning, but socially clueless individuals
who feel the urgent need to "give back" to the "less fortunate" thus making
themselves feel superior and beneficent at the same time.
During the holiday season that runs from early November through the New Year, I
get many calls and emails from complete strangers who want to bring their
children, nieces and nephews and grandparents to serve at the Soup Kitchen on a
holiday to "give back" or to "share with others"', or "feel good about our
family's own situation" or finally, even to " be present with the poor", (I don't
make these phrases up; real people say them to me). I am, of course, appalled
because I know that people are in need all year round, yet even those in these
unpleasant circumstances get caught up in this holiday "rush" to be provided with numerous frozen turkeys, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce and apple pie for the
Thanksgiving holiday, and later to make sure every homeless or poverty level
child receives new toys and mittens.
Now, I agree that we are called to serve our fellow humans, and making sure
children and adults are feed and warm in this colder northern climate is an
important obligation we have as caring people. But this seasonal philanthropy
puts our most needy clients in the position of scamming the system for all they
can get...and I am NOT condemning this. I understand why a mother with hungry
mouths to feed will happily take a turkey from three different organizations or
food pantries. This means she can provide meals high in protein through out the
winter months. A 12 pound turkey can provide at least three meals for a family
of five...even more if turkey soup is made from the carcass and giblets.
In the past week, I have solid knowledge of over 4,000 turkeys being distributed
on Staten Island alone.
Today at the Food Pantry we had over 135 families show up. Some were there to
pick up a reserved turkey; some were there for their regular appointment;
still others were there because they heard that extra turkeys would be given
out. It was utter chaos. Our regular registration crew was overwhelmed. The
clerks behind the counters were run ragged. The line manager was cursed at and
maltreated by new clients who just "showed up" to get their turkey...the one they
were entitled to.
Those of us in the Soup Kitchen agreed to stay open an extra 15 minutes...which
quickly turned into half an hour, to feed more folks. When we finally had to
close since the cooking crew had been on their feet for a full five hours, we
were sharply criticized and chastised by a new client for not doing what he
perceived to be our job...that is to feed the rest of the folks on the pantry
line. Rationalizing with him was just not to be, and I nearly lost it...okay, I
did lose it, when accused by said stranger that I did not care about hungry
people. I pointed out that we feed hungry people 52 weeks a year, not just on
the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but he was having none of it. We were not
living up to his expectations of how a church should operate, and there was no
convincing him. In my frustrated state I just walked away.
Could we have done more? Perhaps, but we also do this work all year long....not
just for the holidays, and maybe that causes us to become more cynical. And we
don't turn anyone away during the time we serve. I guess we are just not on the
same schedule as seasonal philanthropists who might be appalled at our
behavior...but we toil in this vineyard all year long. We do not pick and choose
when we want to come. We answer the Gospel call each week: rain or shine, snow
or sleet, oppressing heat or bitter cold....how about you cut us some slack over
the holidays?
Monday, November 17, 2014
Convention Thoughts...just sayin'
The past weekend I attended our annual Diocesan Convention at a Hotel/Conference Center in Tarrytown, NY. There were over 200 lay and clerical delegates gathered together to review expenditures, set policy, vote for alternates to our national church's General Convention next summer, and review and pass resolutions that will guide our work in the coming years. It is also a time of renewed fellowship and checking in with old friends and just generally "catching up". Who has moved since last we met? What are the kids up to? Who is transferring to another parish? What will the hot-button topics be this time around? And, I would be lying if I did not include the fact that lots of schmoozing and glad-handling goes on as well.
As in any convention, many participants were reading their convention material and filling in their vote tally pages in the serious manner appropriate to good conventioneers. There were others who spent a great deal of time reading novels, knitting, (I admit, I brought my knitting with me; a good way to assure you will be warm during the speeches and presentations) and many others having side-bar conversations that had nothing to do with the reasons we were gathered together.
But the one thing I found fascinating was the difference between how people behave at a Eucharist celebrated in a traditional setting, i.e. church or chapel, and a decidedly non-traditional setting, specifically a hotel ballroom/conference room.
Just a few random observations in no order of importance:
1. Unless you are a hungry toddler, snacking during Mass is not a good idea. Clergy chewing granola bars during the celebration of the mass just seems a bit off.
2. I will admit that the room was a bit chilly, but drinking hot coffee during the service might not be a good choice. Next thing you know we'll be finding empty juice bottles in the choir stalls.3. Making change from the collection plate is a little tacky....just sayin'.
4. Doing needlepoint, crocheting or knitting during the Eucharist keeps one from focusing in on what is important.
5. Either turn off or don't answer your cell phone during services....that is just good manners.
A final thought, if folks who are perceived as being leaders of their church communities have become so lax in their demeanor during solemn time, how can we expect others in our home congregations to behave better?
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Pride in Product
Pride in Product
Recently I had to replace the detachable key board that I had been using with my I-Pad mini for the past year. Several over-used keys went kaput: "SLTNR-E" in particular...the "Wheel of Fortune" letter suite that they always include with the final puzzle. At first they would merely stick and appear on the screen after a few agonizing seconds. They just completely disappeared from the screen all together. Time to get a new keyboard.
So I returned to the AT&T store in the Staten Island Mall when I purchased it in the first place. Well, to my dismay I fell three weeks outside the one year guarantee time, so I did not qualify for a cost-free replacement. However, the young salesman did get me a copy of my receipt and the phone number of the manufacturer of the keyboard. I would have to contact them and see if I could get a suitable replacement. The salesman was a bit confused when I mentioned in passing that I was reluctant to purchase another keyboard at $89 from the same company whose product conked out a little over a year after I purchased it.
So I went home and made the call. A very sweet salesgirl on the other end was more than happy to sell me the same model at the hugely(?) discounted rate of $85 plus tax and shipping. She did not seemed concerned when I mentioned that I would not be buying the same model since it died a premature death after a year's use. She then offered me one of what she claimed was a "better quality"
for twenty dollars more. I said, "No thanks"' and decided to return to the mall to check out alternatives.
My first stop was at one of those middle-mall kiosks that was run by the same company, just to check out what this newer model looked like. I explained my dilemma to the young man, a sales representative for this company who asked me why I just didn't say I did not remember exactly when I bought said keyboard....in essence he told me to lie to his employer in order to get a free keyboard...a faulty one in my opinion. When I said, "So, you are telling me to lie?" He replied, "I am telling you to bend the truth." I may be getting older, but I think "bending the truth" is still lying. He also admitted that the keyboard I bought had "issues", but was willing to sell me another one for $99. I said, "No thanks". He shrugged and turned away.
Next stop was the Apple Store. I was directed to a nice enough young salesman who told me that Apple no longer sells the model I had purchased a year ago. "Too many problems.", he said. Ya think!? He showed me another one they were recommending this year that cost $100. I indicated that I would not pay that much, and I left the store...a bit frustrated.
I went back to AT&T, only to be chastised by their young sales manager: " If you want the best keyboard for your mini, you need to get a stand alone"' he admonished me. "I am very fussy about my technology; it has to be fast and the key board has to be portable so I can carry it around.
I told this guy that I wanted one that could be folded with the screen. He also implied that the one I had purchased from his store the year before was, well...crap. He recommended the same one the Apple guy wanted to sell me for $100. I was getting a headache.
I went to another mid-mall kiosk where the young salesman told me that he did not have an appropriate one3, but another store in the mall was having a sale on the keyboard I was looking for. I went there and discovered a very nice Bluetooth keyboard reduced from $89.00 to $9.80 including tax!!!
He said they were changing models, and the new ones would be in by the first of December...and at this price, I should think about buying two in case one stops working. I bought one. At least this sales guy did not try to convince me to buy a "superior" model. He only had one.
But one thing that has caused me concern is the overwhelming opinion that shoddy workmanship is a built-in factor in all pieces of the consumer economy and the deliberate early obsolesce of all technological devices is an expected part of that part of the economy. I remember a time when manufacturers were actually proud of the durability of their products. I remember when "Made in
America" meant that the tool or dress or television or car you were buying was made with quality materials by skilled craftspersons. I understand that we live in a world economy. I understand the Wal-Marts of the world have made this globalization of shoddily made products too cheap for many to pass up, and they pay their workers third world wages to boot.
Sigh, I wonder if this is the "Brave New World" our elders dreamed about....I doubt it.
Recently I had to replace the detachable key board that I had been using with my I-Pad mini for the past year. Several over-used keys went kaput: "SLTNR-E" in particular...the "Wheel of Fortune" letter suite that they always include with the final puzzle. At first they would merely stick and appear on the screen after a few agonizing seconds. They just completely disappeared from the screen all together. Time to get a new keyboard.
So I returned to the AT&T store in the Staten Island Mall when I purchased it in the first place. Well, to my dismay I fell three weeks outside the one year guarantee time, so I did not qualify for a cost-free replacement. However, the young salesman did get me a copy of my receipt and the phone number of the manufacturer of the keyboard. I would have to contact them and see if I could get a suitable replacement. The salesman was a bit confused when I mentioned in passing that I was reluctant to purchase another keyboard at $89 from the same company whose product conked out a little over a year after I purchased it.
So I went home and made the call. A very sweet salesgirl on the other end was more than happy to sell me the same model at the hugely(?) discounted rate of $85 plus tax and shipping. She did not seemed concerned when I mentioned that I would not be buying the same model since it died a premature death after a year's use. She then offered me one of what she claimed was a "better quality"
for twenty dollars more. I said, "No thanks"' and decided to return to the mall to check out alternatives.
My first stop was at one of those middle-mall kiosks that was run by the same company, just to check out what this newer model looked like. I explained my dilemma to the young man, a sales representative for this company who asked me why I just didn't say I did not remember exactly when I bought said keyboard....in essence he told me to lie to his employer in order to get a free keyboard...a faulty one in my opinion. When I said, "So, you are telling me to lie?" He replied, "I am telling you to bend the truth." I may be getting older, but I think "bending the truth" is still lying. He also admitted that the keyboard I bought had "issues", but was willing to sell me another one for $99. I said, "No thanks". He shrugged and turned away.
Next stop was the Apple Store. I was directed to a nice enough young salesman who told me that Apple no longer sells the model I had purchased a year ago. "Too many problems.", he said. Ya think!? He showed me another one they were recommending this year that cost $100. I indicated that I would not pay that much, and I left the store...a bit frustrated.
I went back to AT&T, only to be chastised by their young sales manager: " If you want the best keyboard for your mini, you need to get a stand alone"' he admonished me. "I am very fussy about my technology; it has to be fast and the key board has to be portable so I can carry it around.
I told this guy that I wanted one that could be folded with the screen. He also implied that the one I had purchased from his store the year before was, well...crap. He recommended the same one the Apple guy wanted to sell me for $100. I was getting a headache.
I went to another mid-mall kiosk where the young salesman told me that he did not have an appropriate one3, but another store in the mall was having a sale on the keyboard I was looking for. I went there and discovered a very nice Bluetooth keyboard reduced from $89.00 to $9.80 including tax!!!
He said they were changing models, and the new ones would be in by the first of December...and at this price, I should think about buying two in case one stops working. I bought one. At least this sales guy did not try to convince me to buy a "superior" model. He only had one.
But one thing that has caused me concern is the overwhelming opinion that shoddy workmanship is a built-in factor in all pieces of the consumer economy and the deliberate early obsolesce of all technological devices is an expected part of that part of the economy. I remember a time when manufacturers were actually proud of the durability of their products. I remember when "Made in
America" meant that the tool or dress or television or car you were buying was made with quality materials by skilled craftspersons. I understand that we live in a world economy. I understand the Wal-Marts of the world have made this globalization of shoddily made products too cheap for many to pass up, and they pay their workers third world wages to boot.
Sigh, I wonder if this is the "Brave New World" our elders dreamed about....I doubt it.
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