Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: June 21, 2012

British Comedy

I have long been a fan of British humor. I eagerly awaited each Sunday for Channel 135 episodes of Monty Python. John Cleese always had me laughing with his crazy schtick. They were a purely English group with slapstick routines.

I also was an admirer of Benny Hill. His bawdy double-entendres and outright sexual themes were hilarious. Terry Thomas, with his gapped central incisors was another of my favorites. Carry On Nurse captured British humor in all of its subtle irony. Don’t forget Alec Guinness as the many-roled victim in Kind Hearts and Coronets, a masterpiece.

Not So Humble Opinion: June 20, 2012

Making Peace With Bad TV

There’s a show on the Food Network where pastry chefs compete for the title of “Sweet Genius.” Sweet Genius, hosted by cake maestro Ron Ben-Israel, challenges the chefs to make desserts with unusual ingredients like cactus, aloe vera, hot sauce and even baby formula. Nine times out of ten, the chefs try to hide the weird ingredients in some kind of batter or frosting, thinking they’ve beat the system, only to be devastated when Chef Ron says—with absolute, deadly seriousness—“I can’t taste the cactus in your cake….”

It’s incredibly silly and maybe even stupid, but I’m hooked: I love the show, and I even love watching Chef Ron stretch the concept of campiness to previously unheard of levels. It wasn’t always thus.

Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: June 14, 2012

The Blues

As your birthdays come at you with greater regularity, you (or at least I) become a little depressed. It is nothing serious or life threatening, but it leaves a mark on you.

I first noticed it while getting in and out of a car. I used to spring in and out like a jack-in-the-box and go about my business swimmingly. Now I feel like a salted pretzel that is being unwound.

Editorial: Thumbs Up On Audience To The Public, Syosset CSD

Just a few weeks ago, I wrote in this space that the Syosset School District should change its Audience To The Public policy so that residents can ask questions at meetings without being limited to the items on the evening’s agenda. At the Monday, June 4 meeting, they announced that they had done just that.

I actually found out about this rather late last week, hence I didn’t get to write an editorial about it for our June 8 edition. However, belated or not, I would like to thank the district for making this change for the better. This is a huge step in the right direction.

Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: June 7, 2012

The Reading Rifle

In sacred Ebbets Field many years ago, there was a sign in right field. It was about four feet tall and it stated “Hit Sign—Win Suit.” It was an advertisement for Abe Stark’s Men’s Clothing Store. Any batted ball that hit the sign would get the hitter an expensive suit from Brooklyn’s leading clothier.

The one impediment was a tenacious guard who played right field, Carl Furillo. Carl has been called the best defensive right fielder in the history of baseball by some. He was known as the “Reading Rifle” because of his powerful throwing accuracy and because he hailed from Reading, Pennsylvania, son of an Italian immigrant family.

A Bird’s Eye View: June 7, 2012

A Secluded Pond In Alley Pond Park

On a warm morning this spring I’m at Alley Pond Park hoping to see migrating songbirds. At a familiar cattail pond I’m taken aback because it is little more than half its usual size due to the lack of rain. On a stick in the shallow water there is a lone male red-winged blackbird negotiating it like a tightrope walker. At least one female mallard and two males are in the pond. The sides of the males’ heads’ have an iridescent purple hue. Some mourning doves stand at the water’s edge. I’ve not seen doves here before, and I wonder why?

On a stone bathroom there’s a male house sparrow with a rich chestnut-colored head. On its upper white breast is a cluster of black dots, which will become a solid mass and cover its throat during the breeding season. In its bill is what looks to be a discarded piece of clear cellophane that was once part of a snack wrapper. Is it to become part of a nest inside this small structure?

Over 60...And Getting Younger: May 31, 2012

After The Parades

After the pom-poms, the drums and the uniformed marchers have gone, we are left with our inner thoughts and memories.

Many years ago, my son Gregg and I went over to Pinelawn Cemetery on Wellwood Avenue in Farmingdale with a flat box of flowers. We placed these flowers on the graves of fallen servicemen. It was Gregg’s idea and I was more than happy to accompany him on his holy mission.

Letter: Fed Up With Syosset CSD Board And Administrators

Bravo! Your editorial titled “Transparency: You’re Doing It Wrong” accurately described the workings of the Syosset CSD and the board. I am one of many residents who is frustrated by the school district and the board.

I have resided in the district for over 28 years. My two children went through the system and graduated from the high school. Over the years, the administrators and the board have failed to respond to any questions I had and ignored me. I have many friends with similar experiences. We all feel helpless.

Over 60 ... And Getting Younger: May 24, 2012

Talent?

What is this elusive thing called talent?

Many Americans use the terms genius and talent interchangeably. Awards are constantly showered on these clever and skilled persons, and while some accolades are richly deserved, some recipients are over-praised.

Meryl Streep is a gifted actor who can assume the identities of many famous subjects. Her performance as Margaret Thatcher was ingenious. She also portrayed Julia Child and her acting was apt and on target. She has also spoken in various accents and dialects, including Italian (Bridges of Madison County), and Polish (Sophie’s Choice). Her singing in Mama Mia! was also quite good for someone who is not a known vocalist.

Editorial: High School Rankings: We Need Some New Metrics

A little less than two years ago, I wrote an article on the annual America’s Best High Schools List (“Jericho #32, Syosset #142 On Newsweek’s ‘America’s Best High Schools’ List”, June 18, 2010). At the time, longtime SHS principal Dr. Jorge E. Schneider had yet to retire, and I remember being a little shocked at how blunt he was in his criticism of the list. Schneider said the list is meaningless because the metric it uses—the amount of AP tests given in an academic year divided by the overall number of students, devised by Jay Mathews of the Washington Post—is completely arbitrary.

One could dismiss Schneider’s opinion as sour grapes, since Jericho routinely beats the stuffing out of Syosset in the rankings (and that was going on even back when I was an SHS student), but Schneider is a man of conviction, and I, for one, was convinced he was speaking from the heart. He didn’t care about his district’s placement because he saw the list as a cynically motivated attempt to draw media attention to education in general, not a legitimate tool to help districts evaluate their instructional programs.