NEW YORK, NY: Poll Results: Name This Drink (2/16/2010)

After a cutthroat battle of the booze, you have named this drink! From a plethora of options (or maybe just 5), you made the decision of what to call the daytime express cold remedy of gin, cointreau, Orangina, and OJ. From your options: Beauty of the Boyne, Seamus a chaca, The Williamite, Orange Bill, and a free choice (Orange Revolution was submitted), a whopping 40% of you have named this wonder of wonders:

Beauty of the Boyne

Congratulations and BOTTOMS UP!

NEW YORK, NY: Dog: Part 2: Picking a Pup (2/9/10)

Today, I continue with Part 2 of the Dog series. I am writing in an effort to absorb what I am reading, and share some Darcy experiences. I did a lot of things wrong, and some things right. I'm not a dog expert, and if you're a dog's human, i recommend reading your books, going to obedience class, etc. Get better at being you. As I continue on my journey of Doggydom with the dog gurus of our age (Cesar Millan, Monks of New Skeete), I continue to learn, and to become a better human for my dog.

Perhaps the most important first step of Doggydom is choosing the right dog. When I was considering getting a dog, I was immediately drawn to the German Shepherd breed for its intelligence, loyalty, protection, and ability to adapt to my particular lifestyle of daily running, walking, and rest. I had no preferences for male or female, though I did consider that a female might be easier for my current dog, Sandy (male), to avoid dominance issues.

I decided to adopt, rather than buy, almost immediately. Sandy was adopted and he is the most perfect (boy) dog on the planet. I was happy to continue this with my new addition. I stumbled upon Darcy on PetFinder.com. I searched for dogs within 100 miles of where I lived, and found one with a cute little face and a description that says "rough and tumble outside, but a perfect lady in the house." Felicia said this sounded like my soul-mate so I inquired, and mere weeks later took her home.

Due to the restrictions of the rescue network (Lab and All Breed Rescue Network) I was not able to meet her prior to taking her home. The handover was a disaster. It's lucky Darcy is such a wonderful dog, or this would not have worked out. I will never adopt sight-unseen again- it was irresponsible and, more importantly, it did not give me enough to work with vis a vis choosing the right dog. I depended too much on luck and description from people I did not know. Everything from her age to her breed was misrepresented (she is not a German Shepherd, but rather, a French Beauceron mix).

What I will do in the future, and what I recommend for prospective dog adopters, is to meet your dog. Do not touch, talk to, or make eye contact with, the animals. Wait until they come to you calmly and are comfortable around you. Assert calm- assertive energy. Do not adopt the first dog that runs up to you- this just means the dog is assertive- not in love with you. Talk to your breeder, or the people at the shelter about the dog you like. Explain your needs, and your situation honestly and openly. Anyone who cares about dogs will not place one in a home where he or she will not be a good fit. Nobody benefits when a dog returns to a shelter. A dog that ends up in, and especially one that returns to, a shelter has a lower likelihood of finding a good home. Take the dog for a spin around the block. This will ascertain a) if the dog is leash trained (Darcy was decidedly not), and b) your chemistry together.

Remember, a dog is part of the family. Treat it as such. Nobody adopts a kid without seeing how it will interact with the family. Do the same for your doggy.

Stay tuned tomorrow for part 3!

NEW YORK, NY: Dog: Part 1 (2/8/10)

I'm currently reading "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skeete. The book (second edition) shares a lovely quote I'd like to share with you.

I love inseeing. Can you imagine with me how glorious it is to insee, for example, a dog as one passes by. Insee (I don't mean in-spect, which is only a kind of human gymnastic, by means of which one immediately comes out again on the other side of the dog, regarding it merely, so to speak, as a window upon the humanity lying behind it, not that,) - but to let oneself precisely into the dog's very center, the point from which it becomes a dog, the place in it where God, as it were, would have sat down for a moment when the dog was finished, in order to watch it under the influence of its first embarrassments and inspirations and to know that it was good, that nothing was lacking, that it could not have been better made... Laugh though you may, dear confidant, if I am to tell you where my all-greatest feeling, my world-feeling, my earthly bliss was to be found, I must confess to you: it was to be found time and again, here and there, in such timeless moments of this divine inseeing.

- Rainer Maria Rilke, New Poems,

Translated by J.B. Leishman

For everyone out there training a dog... or being trained by one.

NEW YORK, NY: Don't Leave Home Without It (2/5/10)

Don't leave home without it. Although usually "it" is a flask, I'm talking about my American Express card. American Express is a charge card with an annual fee. This sounds like it could be a bone, but my AmEx is the best thing to have happened in my role as a financially responsible individual. Let me start by illuminating the perks of this little mean green machine.

Customer service. I've called AmEx several times to question charges, enroll in programs, pay my bills, etc- and their customer service is absolutely outstanding.

1) First of all SOMEONE ALWAYS PICKS UP THE PHONE! Beyond providing my card number, I have never spoken to an automatron.

2) Second, they're professional. Nobody kisses my ass, they just treat me like a normal human being.

3) Third, I know AmEx has my back. When I've called to dispute a charge, I've never been treated like I was the wrongdoer. Everything has always been resolved respectfully, professionally, quickly, and cleanly.

Their programs are awesome.

1) First- they have a credit watch center! I'm twenty-four, and I know nothing about credit except that I need to pay my bills on time if I eventually want to buy a house. But how do I monitor my own credit? How do I know who to hire to monitor my credit without worrying about them pulling a report that would have an effect my score? Well, American Express monitors my credit regularly- without pulling a credit report. They let me know if something fishy is up and they fix it right away.

2) Travel insurance. Through a responsible insurance carrier, AmEx provides travel insurance. I know if I end up in Paris, France and my bags go to Paris, Texas- AmEx has my back. They'll pay for me to wear new duds until my bag arrives.

3) I have my own personal accountant at AmEx. The Money Manager tracks my monthly budget and tells me how to keep on track. Money Manager also tells me when I've spent more on my dog than on human food this month... which it actually told me yesterday...

4) I get concert tickets, dinner reservations, flight deals, car rental offers, etc- for discount prices, and in advance.

They're hardcore about their customers.

Aside from general customer service wonderment and sweet perks, American Express is hardcore about their card-members.

1) Each time I call I am reminded of how valued I am, and how long I have been with AmEx.

2) They alert me when there is a fishy charge.

3) They offer me new services I never knew existed. If the service has a cost, they are upfront about it right away.

4) AmEx takes their responsibility to their customers seriously. They even donate to worthy causes they know are close to their clients' hearts.

With AmEx, I feel taken care of. The Roman dude with the broom hat is the perfect image for this company (even though they're American), because they are the gold (or in this case, green) standard of protection, service, and fighting on behalf of their card-members. It may seem like a spontaneous love fest- but after having called AmEx in a panic this morning, and being told "don't worry- this is why we're here," I am just so grateful. I am a lifelong AmEx customer. If you haven't opened an account yet, do it. Even if you don't use it that much- keep it. The longer you're with AmEx, the more you are valued. Man, I love these guys.

NEW YORK, NY: Something Wonderful: Name This Drink (2/4/10)

This past Saturday called on mixological medicine to cure a cold (again). The goal was to find the daytime equivalent of the Hot Trotty- something that peps up the patient while still easing the cold symptoms. Well, my friend and I threw some things together and created this marvelous concoction, using the working title: Delicious

1. Ice a high ball (glass)

2. Add two fingers of gin (I find Bombay Sapphire nice and gentle for a cold remedy)

3. Fill with orangina

4. Add orange juice

5. Top with a nice swirl of cointreau until happy

Given the quantity (and quality) of English gin, French ingredients, and orange juice, the drink had to be named after William of Orange and the Battle of the Boyne. But nothing seemed catchy enough, so we decided on Bonnie Prince Charlie. As it turns out, Bonnie Prince Charlie had nothing to do with the Battle of the Boyne! In fact, Bonnie Prince Charlie was a bit of a sissy in life, so he has no place in such an awesome drink.

So I put the contest to you. Name this drink!

Here are the new options:

1) The Beauty of the Boyne

2) Seamus a chaca (after the Irish King James that was deposed)

3) The Williamite

4) Orange Bill

5) Other (Please submit!)

May the best name win!

Photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.org

NEW YORK, NY: In Defense of The Fountainhead, and Other Pleas to the Tea Party Movement (01/27/10)

The current issue of the New Yorker has an article on the Tea Party Movement. The Tea Party's views on politics don't interest me- I think they're reactionary and not proactive. But they dragged art into the debate, and now I'm a little miffed.

My favorite book is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. It's absolutely everything a book should be. If you haven't read it, buckle down for the 800 pages and just do it. (It is preferable if you know nothing about it beforehand). The hero is Howard Roark. He has bright orange hair and is wonderful. He is an architect, who only creates to satisfy his own inner need. The theory of the book is selfish objectivism. A human's first duty is to him/herself. Why? Because we can not create things of any use if we are not first self-satisfied. For this reason, the fountainhead (hence, the title of the book) of the best things in our civilization (helicopters, penicillin, etc) is the ego, vision, and execution of one talented, selfish person.

It should be said that Rand was anti-political. She hated liberals and conservatives equally.

So why is the Tea Party Movement claiming The Fountainhead as the book symbolizing their struggle? From what I know of the Tea Parties, they organize in frequent protests of masses upon masses of people. They attract people who brandish petitions, and people who take pride in being "Ordinary Americans." (I will leave this alone- as anyone who relishes being merely ordinary is probably deserving of the title.)

But... The Fountainhead claims that nothing productive may be accomplished with masses of people- it's all down to one person. Also, if you need other people to back up your opinions, or if you want to influence someone who needs to see you can influence others, this is tyranny. And, finally, anyone who is "ordinary" has sold his/her soul.

The Fountainhead is not about ordinary people. Rand continually wrote against the flock-centric vulgarity of these "ordinary" masses. In fact, The Fountainhead explicitly states that masses of people, especially these collective "ordinary people" corrupt everything that is wholly good.

So really- my plea is this. Tea Party, I don't care what you do, but please read books before you tout them.

NEW YORK, NY: My Humble Opinion: A Uniform We Should All Wear (2/3/10)

It's widely known that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" exists to the detriment of the military, and to civil rights in general. A talented and professionally indispensable person is chucked when his or her homosexuality is called into question. The nature of this process implies there is a correct answer. It's startling that this exists in the military by federal law, when federal law prohibits this type of discharge in any other profession. With one hand they make the landscape safe for civilians, and with the other, make it uninhabitable for soldiers.

In this country, one earns one's place through honest work, nepotism, and bribery. The same process is the standard of military advancement, unless you're gay. I am disappointed that the civilian population thinks itself entitled to have a say in whether a soldier can acknowledge who he or she is. I am disappointed with Congress for still enacting unequal rights, and for considering the propagation of this policy of closet bigotry. I am proud that Defense Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and Gen. Colin Powell have stepped up and said a soldier's identity is in his/her accomplishments, not sexual orientation.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be repealed- it doesn't make sense; EVERYONE LOOKS GOOD IN A UNIFORM, PEOPLE! And civil rights is a uniform that looks good on us all.