Birthday Cards of 2023
This is a compilation of my monthly Birthday Cards in 2023. Various boxed designs have been deleted and all verbiage has been made flush left for consistency. Each was originally signed, “Peace, Bob.” JANUARY: In an uncertain world where personal control is elusive, staying with well-intentioned New Year’s Eve resolutions is a challenge. I do […]
Juxtapositions
Traditional: gambling, alcohol, smoking – all aggressively promoted. With warnings language attached. Work zones are semi-chaotic. The expenditure sign for government funds is to the penny. Academic scores at a record low. The ability to click to get information is at an all-time high. Smoke Shops are popping up everywhere. Urgent Care buildings are on […]
Andrea becomes a Judge
(My comments at Andrea’s swearing-in ceremony) It’s hard to believe, but I have known Andrea Mazzula for over 30 years. Since this is a courtroom, I am obligated to provide evidence to support my statement. I will now pass the evidence around for your examination: A photo from 1994 that indicates Andrea is skilled at […]
Random thoughts from a hot and humid week in Texas
*In visiting multiple people who formerly lived in New Jersey, I cannot begin to say how proud I am to see WKBJ alumni with families, houses, children, education, careers, functioning in diverse surroundings. *My laptop was never touched; instead I read “The Attic Child.” Physical newspapers (my addiction continues) awaited my return to New Jersey […]
Demographics and the Big Agreement
(Premise: nobody is up for dialogue, so the affluent simply leave a tip on the table for all the social service/education providers and their clients, and then call it a day.) Years back, when I got hooked on demographics, I began assuring anxious Hispanic students with whom I was interacting that the diversity trend was […]
The Green and Gold Society
Everyone will agree that people should be treated equally, regardless of their circumstances. Hence each of these color-blind policy dictates and requirements is to be applied across the board, no exceptions. *In order to help save the planet, all people shall either own an electric vehicle or use public transportation. Approximately 80% of Green […]
Non-communication
Most people I know are either good communicators or at least have an understandable pattern in their response to an inquiry. Occasionally, an exemplary individual lapses into a mode of non-communication. In trying to figure out the reason for this non-communication, below I have listed a baker’s dozen of possibilities in alphabetical order: Embarrassment Family […]
Personality and Process Profile
On Wall Street, I was a partner in a relatively small, but highly regarded, money management and institutional research firm. In December of 2022, the founder and managing partner passed away at the age of 96. My last lunch with him was shortly before the onset of the pandemic. We ate in his office; he […]
Immigration Compilation
For more than a quarter-century, I have assisted young people on their higher education journey. Around 85% have been Hispanic. It quite naturally follows that the subject of immigration is not foreign to me, quite the contrary. At times (many years back), I have written essays on the subject, often underlining the demographic changes which […]
Kalvin Salinas
For a quarter-century, I have been baffled by the quixotic communication pattern of people in all walks of life, representatives of every income and ethnic and religious category. What is with them, not having the time or courtesy for a simple e-mail requiring at most sixty seconds to answer a question? And what is there […]