Year: 2014

Knucklehead

On By scottpetersenIn Knucklehead2 Comments

My brother-in-law’s favorite word to describe those of questionable intelligence is “knucklehead.”  He likes the word – and so do I.  According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term “knucklehead” was first used in 1942 by ventriloquist Paul Winchell for his dummy “Knucklehead Smiff.”  The word was adopted to describe a “stupid person.”  There are dozens of synonyms for the word.   And there are millions of people who fit the description.

The word “knucklehead” is the name of a Canadian punk rock band.   It is the title of a 2010 movie and a 1975 song by Grover Washington.  It is the name of an indoor amusement park in the Wisconsin Dells and a bar in Kansas City.    The word is not derogatory as to race, religion, gender, ethnicity, culture or sexual orientation.  It is an equal opportunity descriptor for a really stupid person. 

I frankly can see limitless application for using this word.  In fact it can probably best be used for anyone who disagrees with me on any given topic.      

Baggage

On By scottpetersenIn "Hotel California", Baggage, The EaglesLeave a comment

I like the Eagles.  I will sometimes put on their “Greatest” CD when I’m puttering around in my office at home.  I’ll sing along with “Hotel California” (if no one’s around).  The song is classic.   And it concludes with the cryptic line “Relax” said the night man. “We are programmed to receive. You can check out any time you want. But you can never leave.”   The song is an allegory on the self destruction, hedonism and greed in the music industry in the ’70’s. 

Yet that line is something of a reminder that we all carry emotional, physical and mental “baggage” around.  That we can “never leave.”  It’s baggage from our youth, from spoken words, from accidents, injury, relationships, pitfalls, violence, job issues and the day-to-day challenge of life.   I was thinking about this in talking with a friend whose boss is insecure, angry, demanding and – yet – quite successful.  One observation I made was “she is who she is – and she probably can’t help it.”   

She could.  But maybe she can’t.  We all have “triggers” that can set off smiles, tears or shudders.  Many of those triggers have origin in our own journey.  And we carry those triggers – and that baggage – for as long as we are around.  It is that baggage that – in the end – makes us who we are.  We may repress the negative stuff.  And yet – it’s there.  Waiting.  Just beneath the surface.  Yeah, I have baggage.  You do too.  Sometimes it’s not good to talk about it (though it can be therapeutic to do so).  We can just recognize that as to baggage, we’re not alone.     

Simple as ABC

On By scottpetersenIn Anything but chocolateLeave a comment

If I have chocolate at night – any kind of chocolate – I will fall asleep like a baby. And then wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. — ready for the day.  It’s very hard to get back to sleep.  

When we go out for dinner and they are clearing the plates, my mind always strays. In the direction of dessert. “Would you like to see the dessert menu?” says the server. “Oh gosh.  Sure. I’ll look at it.” Har har har. . . . “Look” at it.  Right.  I see the sorbet assortment or the crème brule or the peach cobbler.  It’s then that I start sweating.  My heart races.  Because right there under the pumpkin cheesecake is the brownie pot with chocolate sauce.  And then the chocolate profiteroles.  And below that it’s the chocolate gooey globs with chocolate sauce and M&M’s.  Donna looks at me with that don’t do it look.   I start mumbling “ch-ch-ch-choco . . . ”   And for a moment, I become strong and say “I’ll have the blackberry sorbet” knowing what’s going to happen.  The server scribbles, turns and starts to walk away.  It’s then I go “Wait – wait – I’ll have the chocolate gooey globs with chocolate sauce and M&M’s.”  The server nods.  Smiles.  In a knowing way.  And walks away.  The gooey globs arrive.  And they are delicious.

We go home.  I climb in bed and fall asleep.  At 3:00 a.m. I wake up.  Sharply.  And feel like Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day.”  Next time.  I resolve.  I will be strong.  A-B-C.  “Anything but chocolate.”  Har har har. . . . .   

Facial Recognition Software

On By scottpetersenIn Facial recognition softwareLeave a comment

I was at O’Hare Field last weekend – off to Florida for a Saturday wedding. At the airport, I walked by hundreds – perhaps thousands – of people. And I didn’t recognize a soul. One or two caused a second glance – is that . . . . no.   We arrived at the Miami Airport and again saw a veritable sea of people.  All shapes, sizes and attire.  And not one person did I recognize.  All had the same standard equipment.  Face.  Nose.  Eyes. Ears.  Hair.  But all were supremely different (some really different).    

Yet on our arrival at our Florida destination, even from a distance I could pick out friends.  There’s Bill.  There’s Jim.  There’s. . . .  I find it pretty awesome that we – as humans – all have this facial recognition software hardwired into our brains.  We can pick out someone we haven’t seen in ten years in a crowd of thousands.  We can detect an old friend from across the room (“well look who’s here!“).  And these faces – and what we perceive to be an evolution of them – is reposed with clarity and order in the gray matter between our ears.   As we know, some people change dramatically and become literally unrecognizable.  But most retain some of the remembered characteristics from years past.  I remember seeing Jon H. – an old friend from Boy Scout camp – at O’Hare.  I knew him in an instant.  It’s amazing how our brains work. 

Now where did I leave my keys. . . . .   

Streetwise

On By scottpetersenIn Henri Nouwen, StreetwiseLeave a comment

On March 18, 2013, I had a post titled “Streetwise.”  I spoke of Manuel who sells Streetwise – a weekly publication – in front of the Corner Bakery across from my building.  Manuel needs crutches to walk and he struggles mightily to sell his weekly journals.  Today, Streetwise has an article featuring Manuel.  And it mentioned my blog post about him.  I am really happy for Manuel and his moment of fame.  If you have a chance, stop by and see him.  Say “hello.”  Talk to him.  He’s a nice guy.  Maybe buy a copy of Streetwise.  Buy it from Manuel or from your local Streetwise vendor.  It’s two bucks.  I’m also pretty proud of Streetwise for giving people a chance to have a meaningful opportunity.  For dignity.  And for making a few dollars.        

In my original post, I quoted Henri Nouwen – the great religious writer.  His words from Out of Solitude bear repeating:  “The temptation is that we use our expertise to keep a safe distance from that which really matters and forget that, in the long run, cure without care is more harmful than helpful.”   Streetwise is on the right track — offering cure . . . . and the all-important care — and compassion.  We can all learn from this example.  And help make the world a better place.  Bravo.  Bravissimo.     

Wrongful Convictions

On By scottpetersenIn Wrongful convictions1 Comment

With the number of headlines about “wrongful convictions” sprouting up in the newspaper, you would think that police and prosecutors are conspiring to put anyone and everyone behind bars. Don’t believe it.

As a former prosecutor, I can say – with some authority – that I never prosecuted anyone I thought was “innocent” (or for whom the proofs were not established).  Never.  They were all guilty.  Everyone knew that.  Even defense attorneys.  On one occasion where there were doubts, my partner and I asked that the case be dropped.  And it was. Where there were mitigating circumstances, we had authority to reduce the charge.   The police for the most part were solid – upright – honorable men and women – whose job it was to put criminals where they belonged.   My colleagues — the prosecutors — were the same.  We read of some schools with projects designed to investigate those convicted – and “spring” them out of prison on the theory that they are “innocent.”  I am very suspect of motives. I tend to believe these projects are run by people with little motivation other than money and publicity. 

And remember — after a trial where one has been found “not guilty” that does not mean they are “innocent.”  It just means that a judge or jury did not accept the proofs presented for a conviction.  

Retail is Dying. . . .

On By scottpetersenIn Retail is dying

Does it seem to you like retail stores are dying? “For Sale” “For Lease” are signs that you see increasingly in commercial areas. On city streets. In shopping malls. And in retail areas. Stores empty. Parking lots depleted. Is this a good thing? I guess like many things, the answer may be yes and no.

I shop increasingly online. It’s easy and I don’t have to run between raindrops or skid on slippery streets. I need something? I log on. Make a selection. And push a button.

As you may have gathered from my numerous references to cooking, I love to prowl the aisles of food stores — seeking inspiration for culinary experiment.  Thus I doubt that food stores will go out of style since we all have to eat (though Peapod and other home delivery services are making their mark).  Maybe shoe stores will endure. Some clothing stores. Hardware stores (for a handyman like me). But frankly, I don’t see much of a future for run of the mill retail. It seems like it’s on the way out.  Am I wrong?  Is there anything we can do? 

Memory Gardens

On By scottpetersenIn Arlington Hts., Memory GardensLeave a comment

Donna and I were 24 years old when we were married. A few months after we moved into a small 3d floor walk up in Arlington Heights, we got a call.  The fellow said “I would like to welcome you to the neighborhood and stop by and bring you a present.”  I looked at Donna and briefly explained.  She shrugged – “maybe it’s the ‘welcome wagon’.”  I turned back to the phone.   “Sure” I said.  And we set up a time for him to visit.  A present.  Sounded nice. 

A week or so later there was a knock at the door and there stood this smiling chap holding a bag.  “May I come in?”  “Sure,” I said.  “May I sit down?”  “Sure.”  With that, he started telling us about how Donna and I needed to plan for the future.  The best thing that we could do for ourselves would be to plan for that day when we wouldn’t be around.  Donna and I looked at each other.  The fellow wanted to sell us plots — ideally a 6 pack — in Memory Gardens which was down the road.   “This is the best time to buy,” he said.  I guess they were having a sale. . . .

We did not buy plots that night – or any night.  But we did get the free – and to this day – incredibly memorable – gift.   Two tubes of Pringles potato chips.      

Empty Handed

On By scottpetersenIn Graham Green, The Power and the Glory, To go to God empty-handed

Graham Green’s wonderful classic The Power and the Glory is set in Mexico in the late 1930’s. Mexico has turned against the Church.  Priests, nuns and the faithful are executed.  Public prayer is forbidden.  Church bells are silent.  One lone priest – the “Whiskey Priest” – escapes and is on the run.  He is being pursued by a methodical – and merciless – police lieutenant who is tasked with his capture.  The Whiskey Priest – an alcoholic who has sinned in varied ways – tries to remain faithful – as he travels around – incognito – ministering to his flock sub rosa.   But he is doggedly pursued by the lieutenant and narrowly escapes capture.  The book tracks the ills of a society which attacks and tries to destroy the Church.  And faith.  Do we see this today?   

In the end, the Whiskey Priest is captured.  And condemned.  He regrets not his imminent death but rather his failings.  His sins.  Green concludes with: 

He felt only an immense disappointment because he had to go to God empty-handed, with nothing done at all . . . He felt like someone who has missed happiness by seconds at an appointment place. He knew now that at the end there was only one thing that counted—to be a saint.

There are abundant lessons in this work.  But for me, the book seems to distill into one phrase:  “to go to God empty-handed.”  I know that most of those who read these posts volunteer, contribute, help, do good deeds and empathize with the human condition.  But I sometimes wonder – am I doing enough?  Could I do more to make things better?  If every person – spurred by that simple query – did one extra act of kindness, charity or contribution daily, just think about how much better the world might be.     

Day Trading

On By scottpetersenIn Day trading, Jimmy Ling, LTVLeave a comment

When I was about 10 years old, I started charting stocks: Ling-Temco-Vought (later LTV) , Polaroid, Levitz Furniture, Fairchild Camera and others. I would lay on the living room floor with the business section and a notebook.  I noticed that these stocks would “channel” — go up and then down. Up and down. Somewhat predictably. I tried to get my father to give me a few hundred dollars to invest but he would pat me on the head and send me back to the newspaper.  Jimmy Ling (1922-2004) became an idol for me when in 1956 he turned his electronics business into Ling-Temco-Vought.  I still have articles about him which I cut out of magazines.  I still have his biography on my bookshelf.  I wanted to be Jimmy Ling.   

These days, I still enjoy checking out the stock market.  Morning.  During lunch.  And mid-afternoon. And there are new stocks that I watch: Pfizer, EMC, Xerox, Hillshire Brands, AES Corp., and so on. And you know what? These stocks “channel” as well.  Often predictably during the course of the day.  They are all “A” or “B” rated (with solid records or dividends) so risk is somewhat contained.  I may jump in and jump out in the space of a few hours. And make a few bucks.

I’m reminded of the old Wall Street saw “pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.” Thus I am never greedy about trying to maximize a profit (I have rarely had a loss). Selecting blue chip stocks which may be dipping to a 6 month or 6 week or 6 hour low sometimes provides interesting opportunity.