I hope that I am not "THE LAST ANGRY MAN' . I have not forgotten that this blog is a potpourri of trivia, pictures, comments, and anything else that may strike my fancy.
It is trivia to post vignettes from my memoirs.
It is trivia to note that the new Courier News page's dimensions are 11.25 x 21.75 inches, and the column width is 2 inches; whereas the standard papers of today are 12.5 x 22 and 3inches respectfully. Or that the telephone book's print-a test for needing glasses- looks like a Doubleday Big Print book compared with the Courier's Bridge Column.
It is trivia that my slide scanner's drivers were for ME upgraded to XP. The problem is that I am running that abomination known as VISTA. Although the manufacture has send me down-loadable upgrades drivers for VISTA , the scanner is still not compatible and the new drivers cause the computer to crash. 900+ slides await digitization.
BUT it is NOT trivia to read in today's Courier that our politicians in the city's name are planning to let Solaris off the hook for a few immaterial short term gains that will not relieve our basic health care crisis.
It is true we know nothing about the discussions. Under what conditions must Solaris agree to sell the property if a suitable buyer is found? Has Solaris the right to reject the Buyer? How will an equitable purchase price be reached? Who will purchase the property, the city? Since we are looking at a long term solution, why not start eminent domain proceedings?
AS Jerry wrote, "Out with the NEW, in with the TRUE". Only this time the "NEW" is JG.s latest MRMC/SOLARIS salvation plan. The TRUE is facts and honesty.
It may not be trivia, but as I have written before, polls are not to be taken as a true reflection of conditions. The results are determined by the diversity of the individuals polled, how they are contacted, what time of the day they are called, how honest are the replies, and even the bias of the pollsters. Example, today's AP poll shows an almost dead heat in t he Presidential race. This is different from every other poll. What is the true figures, what is being used to influence the election? We have no way of ascertaining the truth about polls.Be forewarned.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A Doctor in the late 40s.
For most of 1946, I had no car; instead, I drove my mother’s pre-war Plymouth
It was post war and no cars had been avaiable to the public for several years. Production had not yet met demands. I had tried to buy one at the various dealerships but only the Ford dealer gave me any hope. I was too naive to understand that he wanted dollars under the table before he would deliver one at a premium. Fortunately, a Lion member owned the Studebaker dealership, and I bought one of the first postwar Studies, and many more after that from the same dealer.
The self-contained medical building or offices are a post war innovation. As was common in those days, the office occupied a portion of our house, on the corner of Fourth and Grant.
A porch had been enclosed and became the waiting room. A new entrance had been built on 4th street. There was a small entryway between the waiting room and the consultation room, which you entered from the upper left. A door at the far end of this room led to a hall, which was closed off, from the living quarters by two doors. You turned left down the short hall and entered the examination room, which had formerly been a kitchen. An old outside pantry and rear entry had beenconverted into a rest room and storage space.
Most of my practice consisted of blue-collar families. Many were of Italian, Polish, or Irish extraction. In those days, my practice was not specialized and included pediatrics, obstetrics, minor surgery as well as medicine. I also administered obstetrical anesthesia to supplement my income.
In the 40s and 50s, there were a large number of area residents who were commuting to New York from a station on Grant Avenue
Many were patients and all too frequently, someone would ring the office bell before 7 o'clock in the morning. They wanted to see the doctor before catching their train.It did not matter whether I was asleep or not, they were awake.
Before the war, it was not customary for doctors to have female help, but I soon felt I should have a nurse. This was not only for my "protection" as well as the reassurance of the woman patient.
I hired a delightful young RN from the Hospital for $48.00 a week!. I put her small desk and filing cabinet for the patient’s records in the entry hall by the door. She was the first of many of the most compassionate nurses that worked with me. Most stayed for many years and left only when they had children or their husbands were transferred out of the area. Most of my patients came to regard them as their friend and for years after the nurse left continued to ask about them.
One day a young girl and her mother came rushing into the office.The girl while using the slicing machine in the family deli had cut off the extreme tip of a finger. The mother stayed in the waiting room while I, assisted by the nurse, repaired the wound.
When I went to tell the mother that everything would be okay, I found her lying on the floor, out cold. She had fainted. She was a greater problem then her daughter.
I had treated one of my patients, a young black man, who had pneumonia with ambulatory antibiotics. After examining in the office, I had discharged him as cured.
There were no other patients in the waiting room when he left. I remained sitting at my desk with the door to the reception area ajar. The outside door opened and this young man reentered and, knowing that I could hear, said to my nurse."I forgot to ask the doctor if I could play the clarinet now.” I called out " Clem,of course you can". "That's funny", he said,”I never could before".
I had fallen for an old saw and started laughing.Fifty years later, Clem and I still laughed at this joke.
Once I told the patient, who was not following my advice or taking his medication, that unless he did as I recommended he was wasting his money and my time. He never came back. I had lost a patient I could ill afford.
Twenty years later when he reappeared in my office with a serious illness.He told me that he had been afraid to come back since he was not complying with his treatment, and had seen other doctors. Because he felt that I was a superior physician, he had swallowed his pride and sought my help. He continued under my care for several more years ultimately passing away from intractable heart failure.
Among my patients was a family with two young boys. The older one had developed ileitis. I had referred the family to a GI specialist at Mt Sinai in NYC; however, his case had not only been missed diagnosed by them as ulcerative colitis but the treatment had resulted in a demanding invalid. The younger boy was uncontrollable, probably because his brother was receiving so much attention.
One day he along with his brother and his mother were in my consultation room, when I looked up and noticed that he had not only opened the door to the entry area, but had tied the window drapes' pull cords to the to the door knob. He was getting ready to slam the door closed when I stopped him. I do not think mother even scolded him.
One Italian family had several daughters. The eldest had severe mitral regurgitation a complication of rheumatic fever, which ultimately proved fatal. One of the other daughters was very obnoxious and nosey. Her younger but naive sister was able to conceal her several months pregnancy when married. Helen and I were invited to the family catered wedding.
A little over five months after the wedding towards the end of her 7th month, she phoned me hysterically complaining of severe pains in her stomach. Suspecting what was the problem,I immediately made a house call and had her transported to the hospital in active labor. I was her obstetrician, almost all physicians, even those who professed themselves to be surgeons, in the 50s delivered babies.
The baby boy weighed about 3 pounds and ultimately suffered from a hearing loss. Her older sister questioned me whether I thought that the baby had come too soon after marriage, i.e.: questioning if her sister had been pregnant before the wedding. I pointed out that the baby’s size showed he was premature which satisfied her curiosity.
There was an Irish foundry worker who lived on West 4th Street near Monroe Ave and was employed at Hoe’s. He developed severe urinary retention at work as the result of an enlarged prostate. Although in severe pain he walked about six miles from Middlesex to my office. I had the Muhlenberg ambulance (in the 50s the Hospital still provided ambulance services) transport him to the hospital for the Urologist to treat. In those days that particular surgery was not only crude and brutal,but, there was a prolonged painful period of recovery most often complicated by urinary tract infection.
Unless there are too many objections, I will continue with these excerpts.
It was post war and no cars had been avaiable to the public for several years. Production had not yet met demands. I had tried to buy one at the various dealerships but only the Ford dealer gave me any hope. I was too naive to understand that he wanted dollars under the table before he would deliver one at a premium. Fortunately, a Lion member owned the Studebaker dealership, and I bought one of the first postwar Studies, and many more after that from the same dealer.
The self-contained medical building or offices are a post war innovation. As was common in those days, the office occupied a portion of our house, on the corner of Fourth and Grant.
A porch had been enclosed and became the waiting room. A new entrance had been built on 4th street. There was a small entryway between the waiting room and the consultation room, which you entered from the upper left. A door at the far end of this room led to a hall, which was closed off, from the living quarters by two doors. You turned left down the short hall and entered the examination room, which had formerly been a kitchen. An old outside pantry and rear entry had been
Most of my practice consisted of blue-collar families. Many were of Italian, Polish, or Irish extraction. In those days, my practice was not specialized and included pediatrics, obstetrics, minor surgery as well as medicine. I also administered obstetrical anesthesia to supplement my income.
In the 40s and 50s, there were a large number of area residents who were commuting to New York from a station on Grant Avenue
Many were patients and all too frequently, someone would ring the office bell before 7 o'clock in the morning. They wanted to see the doctor before catching their train.It did not matter whether I was asleep or not, they were awake.
Before the war, it was not customary for doctors to have female help, but I soon felt I should have a nurse. This was not only for my "protection" as well as the reassurance of the woman patient.
I hired a delightful young RN from the Hospital for $48.00 a week!. I put her small desk and filing cabinet for the patient’s records in the entry hall by the door. She was the first of many of the most compassionate nurses that worked with me. Most stayed for many years and left only when they had children or their husbands were transferred out of the area. Most of my patients came to regard them as their friend and for years after the nurse left continued to ask about them.
One day a young girl and her mother came rushing into the office.The girl while using the slicing machine in the family deli had cut off the extreme tip of a finger. The mother stayed in the waiting room while I, assisted by the nurse, repaired the wound.
When I went to tell the mother that everything would be okay, I found her lying on the floor, out cold. She had fainted. She was a greater problem then her daughter.
I had treated one of my patients, a young black man, who had pneumonia with ambulatory antibiotics. After examining in the office, I had discharged him as cured.
There were no other patients in the waiting room when he left. I remained sitting at my desk with the door to the reception area ajar. The outside door opened and this young man reentered and, knowing that I could hear, said to my nurse."I forgot to ask the doctor if I could play the clarinet now.” I called out " Clem,of course you can". "That's funny", he said,”I never could before".
I had fallen for an old saw and started laughing.Fifty years later, Clem and I still laughed at this joke.
Once I told the patient, who was not following my advice or taking his medication, that unless he did as I recommended he was wasting his money and my time. He never came back. I had lost a patient I could ill afford.
Twenty years later when he reappeared in my office with a serious illness.He told me that he had been afraid to come back since he was not complying with his treatment, and had seen other doctors. Because he felt that I was a superior physician, he had swallowed his pride and sought my help. He continued under my care for several more years ultimately passing away from intractable heart failure.
Among my patients was a family with two young boys. The older one had developed ileitis. I had referred the family to a GI specialist at Mt Sinai in NYC; however, his case had not only been missed diagnosed by them as ulcerative colitis but the treatment had resulted in a demanding invalid. The younger boy was uncontrollable, probably because his brother was receiving so much attention.
One day he along with his brother and his mother were in my consultation room, when I looked up and noticed that he had not only opened the door to the entry area, but had tied the window drapes' pull cords to the to the door knob. He was getting ready to slam the door closed when I stopped him. I do not think mother even scolded him.
One Italian family had several daughters. The eldest had severe mitral regurgitation a complication of rheumatic fever, which ultimately proved fatal. One of the other daughters was very obnoxious and nosey. Her younger but naive sister was able to conceal her several months pregnancy when married. Helen and I were invited to the family catered wedding.
A little over five months after the wedding towards the end of her 7th month, she phoned me hysterically complaining of severe pains in her stomach. Suspecting what was the problem,I immediately made a house call and had her transported to the hospital in active labor. I was her obstetrician, almost all physicians, even those who professed themselves to be surgeons, in the 50s delivered babies.
The baby boy weighed about 3 pounds and ultimately suffered from a hearing loss. Her older sister questioned me whether I thought that the baby had come too soon after marriage, i.e.: questioning if her sister had been pregnant before the wedding. I pointed out that the baby’s size showed he was premature which satisfied her curiosity.
There was an Irish foundry worker who lived on West 4th Street near Monroe Ave and was employed at Hoe’s. He developed severe urinary retention at work as the result of an enlarged prostate. Although in severe pain he walked about six miles from Middlesex to my office. I had the Muhlenberg ambulance (in the 50s the Hospital still provided ambulance services) transport him to the hospital for the Urologist to treat. In those days that particular surgery was not only crude and brutal,but, there was a prolonged painful period of recovery most often complicated by urinary tract infection.
Unless there are too many objections, I will continue with these excerpts.
To "semperfi"
In order to conserve space, rather than reprint semperfi's comment to my last "Next President" blog,I would ask you to read it there. I am printing my reply here.
Dear semperfi, Thank you for your comments. You are not being disrespectful. I have NO DOUBT about who will be the next President. I only hope that Obama will chose wisely for his key advisers and policy makers. The Pelosi group scares the devil out of me. Yet she will wield tremendous power the nest 2 years.
I do not completely fear a product of machine politics. Truman who came out of the Pendergast KC machine turned out to be one of our greatest Presidents.
It is youth and inexperience that I fear. Although Kennedy successfully practiced brinkmanship during the Cuban Missile Crisis that is no guarantee that the next adventurer will also weigh the consequences. There would not have been the situation for the Missile crisis if Kennedy had not botch the Bay of Pigs fiasco.
Biden's recent remarks about an immanent crisis after the election is probably 99% on the mark. I believe he was implying that his experience would save the day. I don't think that he meant that Obama would be incapable of reacting, but that he wanted to reassure us that he would be there for advice. Shades of Cheney!
If McCain were in that position, which he will not be, we would find out that he is NOT Bush.
Dear semperfi, Thank you for your comments. You are not being disrespectful. I have NO DOUBT about who will be the next President. I only hope that Obama will chose wisely for his key advisers and policy makers. The Pelosi group scares the devil out of me. Yet she will wield tremendous power the nest 2 years.
I do not completely fear a product of machine politics. Truman who came out of the Pendergast KC machine turned out to be one of our greatest Presidents.
It is youth and inexperience that I fear. Although Kennedy successfully practiced brinkmanship during the Cuban Missile Crisis that is no guarantee that the next adventurer will also weigh the consequences. There would not have been the situation for the Missile crisis if Kennedy had not botch the Bay of Pigs fiasco.
Biden's recent remarks about an immanent crisis after the election is probably 99% on the mark. I believe he was implying that his experience would save the day. I don't think that he meant that Obama would be incapable of reacting, but that he wanted to reassure us that he would be there for advice. Shades of Cheney!
If McCain were in that position, which he will not be, we would find out that he is NOT Bush.
Should I get personal?
There should be a time to stop being the last angry man and periodically write something light. Several years ago in a self egotistical mood I wrote a short remembrance of my WWII experiences for my children and grand children. It was at their request, honest, since this was the time that Brokaw was honoring the WWII generation. With ideas of grandeur I called it "Olddoc's War" and even obtained a copyright for it.
The Courier did print a portion of that document several years ago.
Subsequently I did about 60 pages of my sheltered life up to WWII which I titled "AGE OF NAIVETE". In many ways life in America and Plainfield before that war did reflect an universal innocence. The final 100+ pages are still in draft form. I had named what I called BookIII, "THE AGE of MATURITY". This dealt with my professional, social , and civic activities after the war. Either as part of this "book" as or a separate short booklet was a recounting of the trips that we took not only in America but also abroad. I titled this as 'Voyages of Discovery". When we started travelling in the late 50s we Americans were just beginning to find the world.
This leads up to the subject of today's blog; even though the contents of these writings were for personal purposes, would some be of interest to my readers?
A short excerpt follows. I would skip around to different subjects that I felt to be of interest. What is your opinion? I only need two yes comments.
Proffesional Life
When I returned from service, Helen and the two girls were living with my folks. We stayed there for several years. I first took a refresher course at Mt Sinai. I wanted to resume a Residency in Pediatrics, but due to the time of year for my separation from service, there were none available. All hospital internship and residency programs started in July after medical school graduations.
The GI Bill of Rights educational benefits had created preceptor ship programs financed by the government.Unfortunately, veterans returning earlier that fall had immediately filled all the worthwhile ones. There was still available a preceptor ship with a pediatric allergist in NYC associated with Beth-El hospital. I was offered the position, however it was apparent that he was only interested in someone to do all the “scut work”, while he benefited from the government GI education subsidy.
I was faced with a problem of supporting a wife and two children, so since my father wished to retire I assumed his practice. This is not always a good choice. When people have a choice of doctors, they choose the one with whom they feel comfortable. Father and son are never the same personalities, so it is a rule of thumb that between 1/3(33%) and 1/2 (50%) of the patients will be unhappy and drift elsewhere. After the first year as long as they stayed in the area, most became lifetime patients Some were still with me when I retired 45 years later.
This patient-physician relationship is the basis of good medicine. Unfortunately, since the advent of Medicare and the HMOs this type relationship has been destroyed in favor of which doctor your plan requires its subscribers to use. Dollars and cents now drive medical practice not patient welfare.
On the other hand, in those days when advertising in the media was unthinkable, there were periods when I was so inactive that I considered myself as a failure. I did become a member of the VFW and the Lions Club in an effort to become more widely known. I also began to pick up patients in my peer age group. I could not stand the VFW or the American Legion and soon left the veterans organizations.
I was only in practice for a little more than 6 months that first year, having taken a course at Mt.Sinai in NYC for six weeks while also looking for a residency program in Pediatrics.
I maintained strict records of every dollar I earned, and thought my books were good until after filing that year’s (1946) tax return the IRS audited me. The field auditor remarked that no doctor could make as little as I had reported, a little over $5000.00. When I protested, he said, “You mean you never forgot to enter a fee after a nighttime house call? I am going to penalize you $100.00 tax due. You can appeal this at the offices in Newark. He had a quota to make.
One of the senior surgeon boasted about the camera he had given an agent and had had no penalty imposed. Of course the one who had reviewed my taxes knew that I would not find it cost effective to be away from my practice long enough to appeal. The next year I had an accountant prepare my tax return, a policy that I still follow. I was only subject to an audit one more time, in1947 and since then the IRS has been satisfied with my records.
The Courier did print a portion of that document several years ago.
Subsequently I did about 60 pages of my sheltered life up to WWII which I titled "AGE OF NAIVETE". In many ways life in America and Plainfield before that war did reflect an universal innocence. The final 100+ pages are still in draft form. I had named what I called BookIII, "THE AGE of MATURITY". This dealt with my professional, social , and civic activities after the war. Either as part of this "book" as or a separate short booklet was a recounting of the trips that we took not only in America but also abroad. I titled this as 'Voyages of Discovery". When we started travelling in the late 50s we Americans were just beginning to find the world.
This leads up to the subject of today's blog; even though the contents of these writings were for personal purposes, would some be of interest to my readers?
A short excerpt follows. I would skip around to different subjects that I felt to be of interest. What is your opinion? I only need two yes comments.
Proffesional Life
When I returned from service, Helen and the two girls were living with my folks. We stayed there for several years. I first took a refresher course at Mt Sinai. I wanted to resume a Residency in Pediatrics, but due to the time of year for my separation from service, there were none available. All hospital internship and residency programs started in July after medical school graduations.
The GI Bill of Rights educational benefits had created preceptor ship programs financed by the government.Unfortunately, veterans returning earlier that fall had immediately filled all the worthwhile ones. There was still available a preceptor ship with a pediatric allergist in NYC associated with Beth-El hospital. I was offered the position, however it was apparent that he was only interested in someone to do all the “scut work”, while he benefited from the government GI education subsidy.
I was faced with a problem of supporting a wife and two children, so since my father wished to retire I assumed his practice. This is not always a good choice. When people have a choice of doctors, they choose the one with whom they feel comfortable. Father and son are never the same personalities, so it is a rule of thumb that between 1/3(33%) and 1/2 (50%) of the patients will be unhappy and drift elsewhere. After the first year as long as they stayed in the area, most became lifetime patients Some were still with me when I retired 45 years later.
This patient-physician relationship is the basis of good medicine. Unfortunately, since the advent of Medicare and the HMOs this type relationship has been destroyed in favor of which doctor your plan requires its subscribers to use. Dollars and cents now drive medical practice not patient welfare.
On the other hand, in those days when advertising in the media was unthinkable, there were periods when I was so inactive that I considered myself as a failure. I did become a member of the VFW and the Lions Club in an effort to become more widely known. I also began to pick up patients in my peer age group. I could not stand the VFW or the American Legion and soon left the veterans organizations.
I was only in practice for a little more than 6 months that first year, having taken a course at Mt.Sinai in NYC for six weeks while also looking for a residency program in Pediatrics.
I maintained strict records of every dollar I earned, and thought my books were good until after filing that year’s (1946) tax return the IRS audited me. The field auditor remarked that no doctor could make as little as I had reported, a little over $5000.00. When I protested, he said, “You mean you never forgot to enter a fee after a nighttime house call? I am going to penalize you $100.00 tax due. You can appeal this at the offices in Newark. He had a quota to make.
One of the senior surgeon boasted about the camera he had given an agent and had had no penalty imposed. Of course the one who had reviewed my taxes knew that I would not find it cost effective to be away from my practice long enough to appeal. The next year I had an accountant prepare my tax return, a policy that I still follow. I was only subject to an audit one more time, in1947 and since then the IRS has been satisfied with my records.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Next President
This was being in the process of being written for Wednesday when it appears that the infamous cyberworld terrorist or my cat hit a key and published it. I have done some proof reading and found some errors but also had no more to add. So if you didn't read it here it is again.
No I have not firmly committed myself for the next President. Note I did not say to vote for but the next President.
Diatribes such as Councilman Burney's in the Sunday Courier News have no impact. Repetitions of half truths and false accusations are obnoxious at best. When compounded by a media blitz made possible by an overwhelming financial advantage has a negative effect upon this voter.
Does Councilman Burney think that Obama as a product of the Chicago Machine political milieu is without taint? This is the machine that produced enough cemetery last minute votes to give JFK the needed Illinois electoral votes. The only difference is this is the next generation.
My gut feeling is that McCain would make a better President than Obama. I hate on job training in critical positions.
There is a problem, The president is not an "Island Unto Himself". His close advisers should be scrutinized as thoroughly as himself. As I* have said before McCain seems to have re embraced the dangerous ultra right that has seized control of sufficient portions of the Republican Party. His political obligations to that group will prevent him from initially being a complete "change". I think in time he will be able to disassociate himself from that wing.
Therefore I was happy to read about the reasoning that produced Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama. This comes from a man who not only should have been the Presidential Candidate, but has better credentials than Obama. Powell's concerns reflect mine and I am convinced that unlike others he is not influenced by race.
To go back to my "next President" remark. With two weeks left in the race, unless Obama's supporters commit a major gaffe, there is no way that McCain can overcome the economy curse. With a veto proof majority Congress, which had done nothing constructive this past two years, perhaps he will be given the opportunity for a constructive domestic policy. I hope he does not become captive to the Congressional Leaders.
Even with Biden to fall back upon I am worried about reactions to that infamous 3 AM phone call.
Once again we have a great opportunity to be both the actors in history and the viewers. Lets make the best of it.
No I have not firmly committed myself for the next President. Note I did not say to vote for but the next President.
Diatribes such as Councilman Burney's in the Sunday Courier News have no impact. Repetitions of half truths and false accusations are obnoxious at best. When compounded by a media blitz made possible by an overwhelming financial advantage has a negative effect upon this voter.
Does Councilman Burney think that Obama as a product of the Chicago Machine political milieu is without taint? This is the machine that produced enough cemetery last minute votes to give JFK the needed Illinois electoral votes. The only difference is this is the next generation.
My gut feeling is that McCain would make a better President than Obama. I hate on job training in critical positions.
There is a problem, The president is not an "Island Unto Himself". His close advisers should be scrutinized as thoroughly as himself. As I* have said before McCain seems to have re embraced the dangerous ultra right that has seized control of sufficient portions of the Republican Party. His political obligations to that group will prevent him from initially being a complete "change". I think in time he will be able to disassociate himself from that wing.
Therefore I was happy to read about the reasoning that produced Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama. This comes from a man who not only should have been the Presidential Candidate, but has better credentials than Obama. Powell's concerns reflect mine and I am convinced that unlike others he is not influenced by race.
To go back to my "next President" remark. With two weeks left in the race, unless Obama's supporters commit a major gaffe, there is no way that McCain can overcome the economy curse. With a veto proof majority Congress, which had done nothing constructive this past two years, perhaps he will be given the opportunity for a constructive domestic policy. I hope he does not become captive to the Congressional Leaders.
Even with Biden to fall back upon I am worried about reactions to that infamous 3 AM phone call.
Once again we have a great opportunity to be both the actors in history and the viewers. Lets make the best of it.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Our Money
The Council meeting as expected was short but was followed immoderately with a reconvened budget meeting. Unfortunately I was unable to stay for more than a few minutes.
There were 17 resolutions on the consent agenda, one to the reappointment of the Tax Collector, and one to confirm an inter-local agreement with Piscataway regarding Plainfield's share of the Rock Ave improvements. Councilman Candidate Mapp questioned where the financing would come from?
City Administrator Marc Dashield "clarified" the impact of the $1.6 typo revenue item in the proposed 2009 budget. On paper it will be made up by a $832,000.00 decrease in the " Expenditure Reserve Uncollected Taxes" plus a$831.000.00 increase(!) in Surplus Anticipated. Oh well numbers are numbers, but since the projected budget expenses were developed after arriving at a figure for income, there is going to have to be some real budgetary revisions.
I have previously suggest renegotiation's with the Unions, and trimming of some of the fat. A responder to Councilman Storch's blog added a suggestion that the employees contribute to part of their share cost for their comprehensive health insurance packages.
Some one will have to bite the bullet so that we will, have a workable , livable budget for 2009. There will be penny pinching.Bottles of water seems to be a luxury, rather than a necessity. A strict examining the line items marked consultants should produce positive results. If we have employees in job slots that they can not fill, either demote them or replace therm.
Perhaps our congressional leaders should be on the look out for a rebirth of the successful depression era program such as a WPA and for buildings the PWA. If they appear make a good lobby to rebuilt our streets. and Firehouse modifications to come up to code.
There were 17 resolutions on the consent agenda, one to the reappointment of the Tax Collector, and one to confirm an inter-local agreement with Piscataway regarding Plainfield's share of the Rock Ave improvements. Councilman Candidate Mapp questioned where the financing would come from?
City Administrator Marc Dashield "clarified" the impact of the $1.6 typo revenue item in the proposed 2009 budget. On paper it will be made up by a $832,000.00 decrease in the " Expenditure Reserve Uncollected Taxes" plus a$831.000.00 increase(!) in Surplus Anticipated. Oh well numbers are numbers, but since the projected budget expenses were developed after arriving at a figure for income, there is going to have to be some real budgetary revisions.
I have previously suggest renegotiation's with the Unions, and trimming of some of the fat. A responder to Councilman Storch's blog added a suggestion that the employees contribute to part of their share cost for their comprehensive health insurance packages.
Some one will have to bite the bullet so that we will, have a workable , livable budget for 2009. There will be penny pinching.Bottles of water seems to be a luxury, rather than a necessity. A strict examining the line items marked consultants should produce positive results. If we have employees in job slots that they can not fill, either demote them or replace therm.
Perhaps our congressional leaders should be on the look out for a rebirth of the successful depression era program such as a WPA and for buildings the PWA. If they appear make a good lobby to rebuilt our streets. and Firehouse modifications to come up to code.
DID YOU KNOW?
This was sent to me from one of the people who pass along to a circle of recipients every item they receive . I am reproducing it because I never knew what the back of the Dollar Bill meant. I will bet none of you do either.
On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States.
The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved. If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished.? Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin 's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.
IN GOD WE TRUST' is on this currency.
The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means,'God has favored our undertaking.
The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means,a new order has begun.
At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI)
If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully,
You will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States . It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery , and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments.? Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States , and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons:
Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away.
Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war,his gaze turns toward the arrows. They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number.
This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this:
13 original colonies
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence
13 stripes on our flag
13 steps on the Pyramid,
13 letters in, 'Annuit Coeptis
13 letters in ' E PluribusUnum
13 stars above the Eagle
13 bars on that shield
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits
and if you look closely,
13 arrows
And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know that it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions but died a pauper.
I always ask people, 'Why don't you know this?' Your children don't know this, and their history teachers don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all.
Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is on the back of theUNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL and what it stands for!
On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States.The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved. If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished.? Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin 's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.IN GOD WE TRUST' is on this currency.
The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means,'God has favored our undertaking.The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means,a new order has begun.
At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI)
If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully,
You will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States . It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery , and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments.? Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States , and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons:
- First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it.
- Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England .
Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away.
Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war,his gaze turns toward the arrows. They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number.
This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this:
13 original colonies
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence
13 stripes on our flag
13 steps on the Pyramid,
13 letters in, 'Annuit Coeptis
13 letters in ' E PluribusUnum
13 stars above the Eagle
13 bars on that shield
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits
and if you look closely,
13 arrows
And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know that it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions but died a pauper.
I always ask people, 'Why don't you know this?' Your children don't know this, and their history teachers don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all.
Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is on the back of theUNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL and what it stands for!
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