Thursday, May 19, 2016

A job interview at Goldman Sachs

I’m sure lots of people have had strange experiences while searching for and interviewing for jobs. People who do the recruiting and interviewing of job candidates often have funny stories to tell. Sometimes I wonder though, if other people looking for a job have had anything similar to mine.

Once I went on an interview for a job as a college recruiter, with Goldman Sachs. This particular office was in lower Manhattan. The director of college recruiting was a guy named Mike Lowenthal. At the start of the interview he mused, “There’s mostly women working in college recruiting.” Hmm, maybe this gives me an edge, I thought. He didn’t ask me any questions though. He just rambled on for a couple of minutes about Goldman Sachs. Suddenly, he looked past me (his office was surrounded by windows).  He stood up, grabbed a stack of what look to be like tickets to a game or concert wrapped with elastic bands, and raced out the door. I turned around, but he had already fled down one of the hallways, disappearing from sight.

So I sat there for a few minutes, wondering what I should do. Wait until he comes back? Leave now? It started to dawn on me that I wasn’t going to get this job even if I stayed, so I was about to go when a girl named Kim walked in.

“Mike had to go, but I’ll finish the interview,” she said brightly. Then she proceeded to talk a little about the job. She didn’t ask me any questions, or ask if I had any questions about th position. She did talk at length about the bars in the area and how everyone in the department liked to go out for drinks after work.

After a few minutes she stood up and held out her hand. “It was nice to meet you,” she said.  For some reason I said thank you, nice to meet you too, instead of saying what I really felt, which was, why did you even bother to call me in….

I’ve thought that maybe they didn’t like the way I looked. If that’s the case, and I’m sure some interviewers consider that above all else (although they would never admit it), why not ask for a picture? A photograph with the resume on the back. It would save us all a lot of time and money. By looks, I mean beyond the blue suit/white shirt/red tie/polished shoes/clean shaven appearance.

Who knows. Maybe this isn’t as ridiculous as some others’ experiences. It feels like it was a waste of time and energy. On the other hand it’s given me something to write about, so maybe it wasn’t a total loss. Stay tuned for upcoming stories about job search…

Thursday, May 12, 2016

The best 20 victories in Minnesota Vikings history

The best 20 victories in Minnesota Vikings history:

20) November 9, 1969: A 51-3 pounding of the Cleveland Browns, a top team in the NFL that year.

19) October 18, 1970: A 54-13 pummeling of the Dallas Cowboys, who later went on to win the conference.

18) November 26, 1998: The 46-36 final makes this game seem closer than it was. The Vikings demolished the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving to establish themselves as one of the best teams of the 1998 season.

17)  September 27, 2009: A 27-24 win over the San Francisco 49’ers on the game’s final play, a pass from Brett Favre to Greg Lewis.

16)  September 18, 1985: The Vikes scored 14 points in the last 3 minutes to win 28-21 against the San Francisco 49’ers.

15) October 4, 1992: Down 20-0 in the 4th quarter, the Vikes rally to beat the Chicago Bears 21-20.

14) December 29, 1974: A close playoff victory, 14-10, against the Los Angeles Rams.

13) January 3, 1988: A 44-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs.

12) November 26, 1987: A 44-38 win in overtime, on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys.

11) January 17, 2010: Dismantling the Dallas Cowboys 34-3, the Vikings advance to the NFC championship game.

10) December 26, 1976: A 24-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game sends the Vikings to their fourth Super Bowl.

9) December 4, 1977: Losing 24-7 in the 4th quarter, the Vikes come back to win 28-27 against the San Francisco 49’ers.

8) January 11, 1988: A 36-24 win against the San Francisco 49’ers propels the Vikings to the NFC championship.

7) October 11, 1981: The Vikes recover an onside kick, then win 33-31 on a field goal in the game’s final minute against the San Diego Chargers.

6) December 22, 1973: A second half comeback gives the team a 27-20 victory over the Washington Redskins in the divisional playoffs.

5) October 5, 1998: With both teams undefeated at 4-0 entering this Monday night contest, the Vikings destroy the Green Bay Packers 37-24.

4) January 4, 1970: A 27-7 win over the Cleveland Browns in the last NFL championship game sends the Vikings to their first Super Bowl.

3) December 30, 1973: The Vikings dominate the Dallas Cowboys in a 27-10 victory in the NFC championship game.

2) December 14, 1980: Losing 23-9 in the 4th quarter, the Vikings rally and beat the Cleveland Browns 29-23 on the game’s final play, a pass from Tommy Kramer to Ahmad Rashad, that gives the team the NFC central division championship.

1)  December 27, 1969: A second half comeback results in a 23-20 Vikings playoff win over the Los Angeles Rams, sending the team to the NFL championship. The game featured big plays from QB Joe Kapp, DT Alan Page, and DE Carl Eller.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Baseball records that may never be broken


Baseball records that may never be broken:

 

10) Walter Johnson – pitched 110 shutouts in a career, 1907-1927

No pitcher since Johnson’s era has come close to this number of shutouts.  Since complete games are rare these days, this record may stand for a long time.

 

9) Hugh Duffy - .439 batting average in a season, 1894

While we can’t be sure that all the statistics from 1894 are totally accurate, if they are Duffy’s  batting average is unlikely to be topped, as long as pitching in baseball remains dominant.

 

8) Rickey Henderson1,496 stolen bases in a career, 1979-2003

Someone would have to average 70 stolen bases a year for over twenty years to top Henderson’s record. Seems unlikely, since most players’ careers aren’t nearly that long, and most teams don’t run as much as they did back in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, now preferring to wait for the long ball instead of playing small ball.

 

7) Billy Hamilton – scored 198 runs in a season, 1894

Since most players don’t have high on-base percentages, and don’t play in every game much anymore, not to mention that pitching is still good enough to keep run-scoring low, it’s tough to see Hamilton’s record being broken anytime soon.

 

6) Joe DiMaggio – hit in 56 consecutive games, 1941

No one has really come close to matching this record. Being that hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing to do in sports, it’s hard to see any players coming close to getting a hit in so many games in row. Unless they lay down a lot of really good bunts, which would be the cheap way to do it.

 

5) Cal Ripken Jr. - started 2,632 consecutive games, 1981-1998

Most players today are given a day off here and there even if they don't really need it. It's possible someone could play in as many games as Ripken but it's unlikely to be consecutively.

 

4) Chief Wilson – hit 36 triples in one season, 1912

Ballparks are a lot smaller than they were a hundred years ago, so hitting a triple isn't that easy anymore. Some fields didn't even have walls. Outfielders today can cover ground pretty well, so a player has to have a lot of speed to leg out a triple.

 

3) Sam Crawford – hit 309 triples in a career, 1899-1917

For the same reasons it's unlikely no one will hit more than 36 triples in a season - smaller ballparks, better outfielders. A player would have to average 15 triples each season, for over twenty years. Seems like a long shot.

 

2) Cy Young – 511 wins in a career for a pitcher, 1890-1911

There's a reason why it's called the "Cy Young Award." The next closest win total is 417, nearly one hundred less, by Walter Johnson. How Young managed to pitch effectively so often (sometimes over 50 games a year) and for so long (22 years) is almost beyond comprehension.

 

1) Old Hoss Radburn  - 59 wins in one season for a pitcher, 1884

No one even comes close to starting this many games in a season, let alone being the winning pitcher.  Old Hoss must have had a rubber arm.

The best 50 New York Yankees in history


The best 50 New York Yankees in history

 
Trying to rank the best Yankee players in franchise history isn't easy. The top four are pretty obvious, but placing the others is not. There are a number of variables to look at, including length of service, career statistics, single season records, individual awards, and contributions to championship teams.

Taking all those factors in account, below are the best fifty players to wear the pinstripes:

50) Allie Reynolds, P: "SuperChief" had a 131-60 record, a .686 winning percentage, with a 3.30 ERA and 27 shutouts during his eight years with the team, 1947-1954.

49) Frank Crosetti, SS: Crosetti played 1,516 games at shortstop in 17 years. A member of six World Championship teams in the 1930's and early 1940's, he led American League shortstops with .968 fielding percentage in 1939. His 792 walks rank tenth all-time on the Yankees.

48) Clete Boyer, 3B: An excellent fielder who led the American League's third basemen in range factor each season from 1961-66, Boyer appeared in 1,068 games during eight years with the Yankees.

47) Waite Hoyt, SP: A 157-98 record - a .616 winning percentage - and 15 shutouts as a starter from 1921-1930 lands Hoyt among the best Yankees of all time.

46) Bob Shawkey, P: A 168-131 record with a 3.12 ERA and 26 shutouts from 1915-1927 places Shawkey among the best Yankee starting pitchers in their history.

45) Herb Pennock, SP: From 1923-1933 Pennock posted a 162-90 record, a .643 winning percentage, along with 19 shutouts as a starting pitcher. He also had a 5-0 record with a 1.95 ERA in five World Series games.

44) Reggie Jackson, OF: In 653 games in his five years with the team Jackson batted .281 with 144 home runs and 461 RBI's, although his true value was in October when he batted .328 with 12 homers and 29 RBI's in 34 post season games, contributing to world championships in 1977 and 1978.

43) Robinson Cano, 2B: During nine years and 1,374 games in pinstripes Cano hit .309 with  204 homers and 822 RBI's. He was five time All Star and a Gold Glove winner in 2010.

42) Red Rolfe, 3B: Playing his entire ten years, 1,175 games, in the majors with the Yankees, Rolfe was a member of five world championship teams in the 1930's and batted .289 with an on-base percentage of .360 during his career. His fielding average of .956 was higher than the league average of .943.

41) Mel Stottlemyre, P: In eleven years Stottlemyre tossed 40 shutouts, good for second in team history. A five time All Star, he compiled a 164-139 record with an outstanding 2.97 ERA while pitching for some not so good teams.

40) Dave Righetti, P: The American League Rookie of the Year in 1981 and two time All Star during eleven seasons, Righetti tossed a no-hitter in 1983 but was then converted into a closer. He ended up second in team history in saves with 224.

39) Bobby Richardson, 2B: Winner of five Gold Gloves and named to seven All Star teams, Richardson played in 1,412 games during his 12 seasons, contributing to three world championships in the late '50's and early '60's.

38) Roger Maris, OF: A three time All Star and a Gold Glove winner in 1960, in 850 games during seven years with the Yanks Maris batted .265 with 203 home runs and 547 RBI's. He won two American League MVP awards and contributed to two World Championships.

37) Joe Gordon, 2B: Gordon played 1,000 games at second base from 1938-1946, contributing to four World Championships. Named an All Star for six consecutive years, Gordon won the MVP award in 1942. He averaged .271 and hit 153 home runs and drove in 617 runs during seven seasons with the Yanks.

36) Hank Bauer, OF: Appearing in 1,196 games in right field during his 12 years with the team, Bauer hit .277 with 158 home runs and 654 RBI's in his Yankee career. He was a three time All Star, and contributed to seven World Series titles in the 1950's.

35) Bill Skowron, 1B: A five time All Star, Skowron appeared in 1,087 games during nine years with the Yankees, contributing to four championship titles in the 1950's and 1960's. He batted .294 with 165 homers and 672 RBI's.

34) Bobby Murcer, OF: Playing in 1,256 games during 13 seasons with the team, Murcer won a Gold Glove as a centerfielder in 1972, and was named to four All Star teams. He batted .278 with 175 home runs and 687 RBI's in his Yankee career.

33) Alex Rodriguez, 3B: Rodriguez has put up big numbers even during what were considered down years for him. Winner of three MVP awards during ten seasons and 1,444 games with the Yankees, he has a .287 batting average, 342 home runs, and 1,065
RBI’s.

32) Tino Martinez, 1B: Playing in 1,054 games in seven years, Martinez drove in over 100 runs in five of those seasons. A key member of four World Championship teams, he averaged .276, hit 192 home runs, and drove in 739 runs in his Yankee career.

31) Dave Winfield, OF: Playing in 1,172 games during nine years in New York, Winfield was named to eight All Star games and won five Gold Gloves. He batted .290 with 205 home runs and 818 RBI's in his Yankee career.

30) Rich Gossage, P: In seven years with the Yanks Gossage had a 42-28 record with 151 saves and a 2.14 ERA. A four time All Star, he struck out 512 batters in 533 innings and held opponents to a .207 batting average.

29) Sparky Lyle, P: Winner of the 1977 Cy Young award, Lyle saved 141 games and had a 2.41 ERA in his seven years with the team. A three time All Star, he was an important contributor to the team's championship seasons in the 1970's.

28) Tommy Heinrich, OF: A five time All Star, contributing to four World Series championships in the late 1930's and 1940's, Heinrich batted .282 with 183 homers and 795 RBI's in 1,284 games during his eleven year Yankee career.

27) Charlie Keller, OF: A five time All Star, Keller played in 1,066 games during eleven seasons with the Yankees, from 1939-1949. Batted .286 with 184 homers and 723 RBI's. His on-base percentage of .410 ranks fourth in team history, and he is eighth with a .518 slugging percentage. Keller also drove in 18 runs in 19 World Series games, contributing to three titles.

26) Paul O'Neill, OF: Playing in 1,254 games during his nine years with the Yankees, O'Neill batted .303 with 185 home runs and 858 runs batted in. A four time All Star, he was a key member of four World Championship teams.

25) Lefty Gomez, P: A seven time All Star, Gomez had a 189-101 record in 13 years with the Yankees, for a winning percentage of .652. He is fourth among pitchers with 28 shutouts. Gomez shined in the World Series, with a 6-0 record and 2.86 ERA., contributing to five World Championships in the 1930's.

24) Elston Howard, C: A nine time All Star and winner of the 1963 American League MVP award, Howard played in 1,492 games in 13 years with the Yanks. He batted .279, hitting 161 home runs and driving in 733 runs while contributing to four World Championships in the 1950's and 1960's.

23) Bob Meusel, OF: Playing in a total of 1,294 games in ten years Meusel contributed to three World Series titles in the 1920's. He ranks eighth all time on the Yankees with a .311 batting average; is tenth with 338 doubles; and twelfth with 1,005 RBI.

22) Andy Pettitte, P: Ranking first in team history among pitchers with 2,020 strikeouts, Petitte's Yankee career record of 219-115 gives him a winning percentage of .633. A three time All Star in 15 seasons, he was a member of five world championship teams.

21) Ron Guidry, P: A four time All Star, winner of the 1978 Cy Young Award, and recipient of five Gold Gloves, Guidry is third among Yankee pitchers in strikeouts with 1,778 and sixth in shutouts with 26. In 14 seasons he compiled a 170-91 career record for a winning percentage of .651 and was a key member of two World Championship teams.

20) Willie Randolph, 2B: Appearing in 1,694 games during his 13 seasons with the team, Randolph's batting average was .275 and his on-base percentage was .374. He ranks fifth in team history with 1,005 walks and third in stolen bases with 251. Contributing to the team's championship years in the late 1970's and early 1980's and a five time All Star, Randolph was also a steady defender.

19) Roy White, OF: A two time All Star, during his fifteen years with the team White delivered a number of key hits and was an important contributor to the Yankees' championship teams of 1976, 1977, and 1978. On the all-time records' lists for the Yankees White ranks seventh in games played with 1,881, eighth in walks with 934, fifth in stolen bases with 233, second in sacrifice flies with 69, and fourth in the power-speed category with a number of 189.7, behind only Jeter, Mantle, and Williams.

18) Jorge Posada, C: A five time All Star, Posada played in 1,829 games while contributing to four Yankee World Championships. In a 16 year career he batted .273 with 275 homers and 1,065 RBI's, and is seventh in Yankee history with 379 doubles.

17) Graig Nettles, 3B: A five time All Star who drove in more than 90 runs for four consecutive seasons, Nettles played in 1,535 games with the Yankees. He won two Gold Gloves for his defensive excellence, and also hit for power, belting 250 home runs with 834 RBI's during his eleven year Yankee career.

16) Phil Rizzuto, SS: The 1950 American League MVP was selected to five All Star teams. Rizzuto played in 1,647 games in 13 seasons with the Yankees. The shortstop on seven World Championship teams, he has a career batting average of .273 with an on base percentage of .351 and 149 stolen bases.

15) Earle Combs, OF: Ranks third in Yankee history with a .325 batting average, and his outstanding .397 career on base percentage is eighth all time. Ranks second all time in team history with 154 triples as well as seventh in runs scored with 1,186. Combs led the American League in hits with 231 in 1927, which is second in team history for a single season. Batting .350 in 16 World Series games and a member of three world championship teams, he played in 1,455 games during his 12 year career.

14) Tony Lazzeri, 2B: Lazzeri appeared in 1,659 games during his 12 seasons with the Yanks, averaging .293 with an on base percentage of .379. He drove in more than 100 runs in seven seasons and his total of 1,154 RBI's place him ninth on the Yankees all time list in that category. Lazzeri was a key player on five World Championship teams from 1926-1937.

13) Red Ruffing, P: A six time All Star, Ruffing's career record with the Yanks was 231-124 for a winning percentage of .651. He is second in team history with 40 shutouts, second with 3,168 innings pitched. and fourth with 1,526 strikeouts. In ten World Series games he was 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA, contributing to six World Championships in the 1930's.

12) Don Mattingly, 1B:
A six time All Star, awarded nine Gold Gloves for defensive excellence, and winner of the 1985 American League MVP award, Mattingly played in 1,785 games in his 14 year career, all with the Yankees. His .307 batting average ranks ninth on the Yankees all time list. He holds the team record for sacrifice flies with 96, is fourth in doubles with 442, seventh in hits with 2,153, eighth in total bases with 3,301, tenth in runs scored with 1,007, and tenth in RBI's with 1,099.

11) Thurman Munson, C: Winner of the 1970 Rookie of the Year Award, and named the American League MVP in 1976, Munson led the Yankees to three pennants and two World Championships. A seven time All Star selection as a catcher and winner of three Gold Gloves, in his career Munson threw out 44% of baserunners attempting to steal (better than Johnny Bench's 43% and Carlton Fisk's 34%). He also hit .373 and drove in 12 runs in 16 World Series games. Munson had a .292 career batting average while playing in 1,423 games in eleven seasons, and was recognized by pitchers for his ability to call a great game.

10) Bill Dickey, C: An eleven time All Star, Dickey's .313 batting average places him seventh in Yankee history. His 1,209 RBI's rank eighth and 1,969 hits are good for ninth. In 17 years Dickey caught 1,708 games, the most in team history, while contributing to seven world championships in the 1930's and early 1940's.

9) Bernie Williams, OF: A five time All Star and winner of four Gold Gloves while playing 1,857 games in center field, Williams contributed to four World Championship titles. In Yankee history he ranks third in doubles with 449, fifth in hits with 2,336, sixth in runs scored with 1,366, sixth in RBI's with 1,257, and seventh in home runs with 287.

8) Mariano Rivera, P: The all time major league leader in saves with 652, Rivera was 82-60 with a 2.21 ERA during the regular season. A 13 time All Star and member of five World Championship teams, he pitched 141 innings in 96 post season games, with an 8-1 record, 42 saves and 0.70 ERA.

7) Yogi Berra, C: Selected to the All Star team 15 times in his 18 years with the Yankees, Berra contributed to 10 World Championships in the late 1940's, 1950's and early 1960's. He caught 1,699 games, and his 358 home runs and 1,430 RBI's each rank fifth in team history. Berra also won three American League MVP awards.

6) Derek Jeter, SS: A fourteen time All Star, winner of five Gold Gloves, and a member of five World Championship teams, Jeter is the only Yankee with at least 3,000 hits, totaling 3,465.  He also holds Yankee records in games played with 2,747 and stolen bases with 358. Jeter's 544 doubles rank second in team history; 1,923 runs scored are third; 1,082 walks are fourth; 1,311 RBI’s are sixth; and .310 career batting average places him eighth.

5) Whitey Ford, P: With a 236-106 record - a .690 winning percentage - Ford is not only the Yankees all time leader in wins, but also innings pitched with 3,170, games started with 438, and second in strikeouts with 1,956. An eight time All Star and winner of the 1961 Cy Young award, he had a 2.75 ERA in the regular season and 2.71 ERA in 22 World Series games, contributing to six World Championships.

4) Mickey Mantle, OF: A 16 time All Star selection, the American League Triple Crown winner in 1956, a three time league MVP, and winner of a Gold Glove in 1962, Mantle played 2,401 games. He led American League centerfielders in assists with 14 in 1952 and 20 in 1954, and his .995 fielding percentage led all centerfielders in 1955 and 1959. Mantle hit .298 with 536 home runs and 1,509 RBI's in 18 years with the Yankees, contributing to seven World Championships. The Hall of Famer holds a number of World Series batting records including the most home runs with 18, RBI's with 40, runs scored with 42, and walks with 43.

3) Joe DiMaggio, OF: Despite missing three seasons while serving in the military during World War II, DiMaggio still ranks in the Yankees' top ten in most batting categories. He is third with a .325 batting average, third in RBI's with 1,537, third in triples with 131, third in slugging percentage at .579, fourth in home runs with 361, fifth in runs scored with 1,390, and seventh in on base percentage at .398. Playing in 1,736 games, DiMaggio's .997 fielding percentage in 1947 led all American League centerfielders, and he also led in assists with 21 in 1937, 20 in 1938, and 15 in 1946. An All Star in each of his 13 seasons with the team, DiMaggio won three league MVP awards and contributed to nine Yankee World Championships.

2) Lou Gehrig, 1B: Named the American League MVP in 1927 and 1936, and winner of the Triple Crown in 1934, Gehrig played in 2,164 games during 17 years with the Yankees, leading the team to six World Championship titles in the 1920's and 1930's. In 34 World Series games he hit .361 with 10 homers and 35 RBI's. He is first in Yankee history with 534 doubles, first in triples with 163, first in RBI's with 1,995, and second in hits with 2,721. His .340 batting average, .447 on-base percentage, .632 slugging percentage, and 1,888 runs scored are second in team history.

1) Babe Ruth, OF: Playing in 2,084 games during 15 years with the Yankees (he played right field, left field, and pitcher) Ruth is first in Yankee history in a number of hitting categories, including: batting average, .349; on base percentage, .484; slugging percentage, .711; runs scored, 1,959; total bases, 5,131; home runs, 659; and walks, 1,852. He is second in RBI's with 1,971. In 36 World Series games with the team Ruth batted .348, hit 15 home runs, and had 30 RBI's. What else can you say about someone who may be the game's greatest player ever?

Friday, May 6, 2016

New baseball book available at Amazon.com


New baseball book available at Amazon.com

THE PERFECT GAME is a novel for middle grade readers. It is about a twelve year old boy’s roller coaster experience while playing one season of organized baseball.
It is available in Kindle at Amazon for 99 cents, as well as at Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.

Click here for details: http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Game-Christopher-J-ebook/dp/B007R8G6AG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416258192&sr=1-1&keywords=the+perfect+game+christopher+j

Joey Coltasanti, nicknamed “the professor” by his father, is ambivalent about playing his last year in summer league. A shortstop, he loves baseball and longs to realize his dream of making the town’s all-star team, and then winning enough games to advance to the state’s world series. However to reach this goal he must overcome his own anxiety that blocks his talent from shining through on the field.

Internal concerns are not the only obstacles in Joey’s path. He also has to deal with Mr. K, the coach of his team for the past two years. Mr. K uses sarcasm and intimidation with his players, as well as favoring his own son over Joey and his teammates. Added to the mix is Joey’s new neighbor and friend, twelve year old Mindi. A saxophone-playing member of Mensa, she is also a pitcher in the summer league who mows down opposing hitters with a blazing fastball and pinpoint control.

Joey decides to play, with events during early season contests testing his will to continue. Eventually a tumultuous game involving adults who can’t seem to grow up leads to changes in the league. A benevolent new coach arrives in town, and things begin to turn around for Joey and his underdog teammates. Eventually joining forces with Mindi on the all-star team, Joey moves closer to fulfilling his dream.

Advancing to the state’s world series means finding innovative ways to win pressure packed games, which leads to Joey confronting his fears on the field. Ultimately he learns more about winning, losing, and the exciting game that is baseball.
 

Belleville, NJ: How Our Tax Money Is Wasted in the Municipal Court System

Belleville, NJ:
How Our Tax Money Is Wasted in the Municipal Court System
An experience with the municipal court system in Belleville New Jersey shows how time and tax money is wasted, and how a town mistreats its senior citizens
 
My father had always kept his car parked on the street in front of his house in Belleville, NJ. Not in front of anyone else's house, mind you. His second car was kept in the garage. When I visited recently I noticed the old car in front of the house was gone. I asked him what happened to it, and being 82 years old, he said to me, “They towed it away, they said I donated it." Of course, this is not what happened. Among some papers on his desk I found a parking ticket that read "abandoned motor vehicle."

I called the chief of police who said neighbors had complained that the car was parked in front of the house (his house, not theirs, I remind you. I guess some people have nothing better to do than look out their windows and get into other people's business). Then he said, "Well, the town has an ordinance that says a car can't be parked in the same spot for 48 hours." So I guess the cops in Belleville have too much time on their hands, being that they spent their time writing parking tickets to senior citizens. No wonder property taxes are so high in New Jersey. Too many cops doing nothing.

The chief said he was sent written warnings, about not moving the car. Well that isn't true. They sent nothing, because I went through my father's mail every day, and they never sent any warnings. Then the chief said, just go to court, and they'll dismiss the ticket. (Okay...but then why did you write it in the first place?)

So I went to the impound lot and had the car hauled away for $300, which I had to give to the impound lot owners, for their towing fee. The car was still running, but since my mother wasn't driving anymore, there was no need for my father to keep and maintain two cars. Then I scheduled a court date to contest the $260 abandoned motor vehicle ticket.

So I go to the municipal court in Belleville and meet with the prosecutor, who gives me a silly song and dance about how he can't recommend dismissing the ticket, blah, blah, blah. Nevermind that my father lived in Belleville, his entire life as a law abiding citizen, and paid thousands of dollars in property taxes during the past 50 years. Nevermind that there was no written warnings about the car, and nevermind that he's 82 and probably didn't comprehend that there was some obscure ordinance about not leaving a car in the same spot for longer than 48 hours. (By the way, there were no marks on the tires when I found it at the impound lot, so the cops had no proof that the car was parked there for a certain amount of time).

Finally I stood up and said to the wormy prosecutor, "Forget it, I'm just going to pay the ticket and go to the media with my story, about how Belleville treats their senior citizens." Of course, now the prosecutor says, "Don't do that, we'll call the cop and try to reach a settlement."

So we go in front of the municipal court judge, a guy named Zinna, to ask for a new date, and this judge rambles on about nonsense...where's your father, I don't know if we can do this, blah, blah, blah. This from a guy, like all municipal court judges in New Jersey, has his own private law practice but moonlights on the side as a judge in order to get into the state pension system and milk the taxpayers for money. Finally he relents and we have a new court date, three weeks later.

So I go to court on the new date - and there's a new prosecutor! I start to explain the situation, and after fifteen seconds he cuts me off with "I'm just going to ask the judge to dismiss this." He hustles into the courtroom, I follow him, and he asks the judge to dismiss the ticket. I see that it's the same judge, Zinna, from three weeks prior, the one who grumbled and groaned about setting a new date for a conference. Zinna says, "This is a minor issue. Case dismissed."

Wouldn't it have made more sense just to dismiss the ticket the first time? Wouldn't have made more sense for the cops to ask my father if there was anyone helping with things, and could you give them this warning letter about the car parked in front of the house? No. Instead these fools waste my time and tax money with their silly shenanigans. Political nonsense. Right wingers rage about too much government at the federal level, when the reality is there's too much government at the local level. Anyone who writes a parking ticket to senior citizen for a car parked in front of his own house ought to be ashamed of himself. All the problems in the world, and this is what cops, prosecutors, and judges are spending their time and our tax money on? It's a disgrace.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

New Jersey car emission tests are a waste of time - and pollute the air

New Jersey requires drivers to have their cars tested for meeting emission standards every two years. What is the point of this?  When right-wingers complain about too much government, this is what they should be talking about.

Drivers have to wait in line for the testing, meaning the idling cars are polluting the air. Everybody knows air quality is worse when there's lots of traffic, so having cars tested so often is defeating the purpose of having clean air.

Why not have all cars, new and old, tested once every eight years?  This would be enough. The old tests on cars that were required once year were proven to be useless in preventing car crashes. The government made the right decision in doing away with them. Now it's time to change the emission requirements. The government should be focusing on other, more important environmental issues.

Watch Your Wallet When Driving Through New Jersey

Watch Your Wallet When Driving Through These 10 States

 
With the first major driving holiday of the summer season approaching, we have analyzed the laws across the country to determine the best and the worst states when it comes to exploiting the motoring public.

These state rankings were calculated using seventeen criteria related to specific traffic laws, enforcement practices, and the treatment of traffic ticket defendants. The rankings are designed to provide guidance to travelers who do not want their vacation ruined by speed traps, arcane laws or “kangaroo” traffic courts.

The state most likely to find its way into your wallet is New Jersey. With its toll roads, roadblocks, and speed traps, New Jersey has left almost no stone unturned when it comes to extracting cash from motorists. The state has also recently pushed through a red-light camera pilot project at a time when many states are banning the ticket cameras because they’ve proven to have a negative effect on traffic safety. Add in “driver responsibility” fees, which are ineffective and have a disproportionate effect on the poor, and you have the worst state in our rankings.

Here are the worst ten states:
1) New Jersey
2) Ohio
3) Maryland
4) Louisiana
5) New York
6) Illinois
7) Delaware
8) Virginia
9) Washington
10) Massachusetts

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the five states that treated motorists most fairly are Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Kentucky. The complete list of rankings and the criteria we have used can be found at the bottom of this article.

Jim Baxter, President of the National Motorists Association, said “It is not exactly a well kept secret that many traffic laws, enforcement practices, and traffic courts are more about generating revenue and political posturing, than they are about traffic safety. During holidays, like the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, we’re bombarded with messages about intensified enforcement, “click it or ticket,” and horrendous fines when in fact most vacation-related traffic accidents are caused by inattention, distraction and fatigue. However, these are accident causes that don’t generate much in the way of government revenue, so instead our highways are overrun with unmarked police cars and ticket cameras.”

Baxter went on to say “The long term solution to aligning legitimate public interests with government policies is to remove the money from traffic regulation, enforcement, and adjudication. Until that happens, the focus on revenue generation will continue to trump effective traffic regulation and ethical enforcement practices.”

With this in mind, motorists who will be traveling to unfamiliar areas during the holiday may want to check out the NMA’s National Speed Trap Exchange — a listing of speed traps across the country — at www.speedtrap.org.

Full List Of State Rankings From Worst To Best
1) New Jersey
2) Ohio
3) Maryland
4) Louisiana
5) New York
6) Illinois
7) Delaware
8) Virginia
9) Washington
10) Massachusetts
11) Colorado
12) Oregon
13) Tennessee
14) California
15) Michigan
16) Vermont
17) Maine
18) Florida
19) Pennsylvania
20) North Carolina
21) Alabama
22) Rhode Island
23) West Virginia
24) New Hampshire
25) Arizona
26) New Mexico
27) Missouri
28) Texas
29) Oklahoma
30) Nevada
31) Georgia
32) Connecticut
33) South Carolina
34) Iowa
35) Hawaii
36) Arkansas
37) Alaska
38) Kansas
39) Mississippi
40) Wisconsin
41) Utah
42) South Dakota
43) Indiana
44) Minnesota
45) North Dakota
46) Kentucky
47) Nebraska
48) Montana
49) Idaho
50) Wyoming

List of Criteria Used To Generate Rankings (no particular order)
1) Speed Traps Per Capita (# of speed traps listed on www.speedtrap.org indexed to population)
2) Does the state have “driver responsibility” fees?
3) Does the state have mayor’s courts?
4) Does the state authorize the use of roadblocks?
5) What are the freeway speed limits?
6) Does the state have red-light cameras?
7) Does the state have speed cameras?
8) Are there toll roads in the state?
9) Is a jury trial available for traffic violations?
10) Is trial by declaration (asserting a defense in writing without appearing in court) available?
11) Is the state a member of the Non-Resident Violator Compact?
12) Is the state a member of the Driver’s License Compact?
13) Are radar detectors banned in the state?
14) Does the state have a primary seat belt law?
15) Are there adult helmet laws in the state?
16) Are there move-over laws in the state?
17) Is cell phone use banned?

Monday, April 18, 2016

Lazy Ellsbury owes Yankee fans a refund

New York Yankee centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, earning $21,142,857 this season, should give some of that dough back to Yankee fans who spent their hard earned money to buy tickets to Saturday's game against the Mariners.

Seattle's Ketel Marte was on first base when Robinson Cano hit a routine ground ball single into center field. Ellsbury lazily trotted in to field the ball, allowing Marte to score from first base. He never slowed, meaning that the scouting report on Ellsbury pointed out that he is a lackadaisical outfielder with a weak throwing arm. This meant an opportunity for a fast runner like Marte to score a run against the Yankees - a run that they should not have had, and a run that cost the Yankees the game.

Ellsbury, who has missed a ton of games in his career due to minor injuries, could at least hustle on routine plays. For $21,142,857 a year he owes at least that much to the fans.  I shudder to think what would have happened to Ellsbury if Billy Martin had been the Yankees' manager on Saturday.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

The best Minnesota Vikings of all time

Five years ago in honor of the Minnesota Vikings 50th season, fans voted for the best 50 Vikings of all time. Longtime head coach Bud Grant was included on that list, but this one ranks only players. Being that 2015 is the 55th season in the franchise's history, the top 55 are included here. Selection and ranking were based on longevity (seasons with the team), individual statistics and honors, the player's contribution to the team's wins, and overall team success during the player's tenure.
 

Honorable Mention:

Joe Kapp, QB:
Kapp played for the team for only three years, yet was instrumental in their 1969 Super Bowl season, so he deserves a mention. He was named the Vikes' MVP that year but refused the award, saying "there is no most valuable Viking" and noting the team's motto of "40 for 60" - 40 men playing together for every 60 minutes in a game.

Jim Kleinsasser, TE: Doing the dirty work as a blocker at tight end and fullback, Kleinsasser played in 180 games, starting 130, during 13 seasons with the team.

Steve Hutchinson, G: Started 89 games in six years with the team from 2006-2011, and was selected to four Pro Bowls.

David Dixon, G: Dixon played in 152 games during 11 seasons for the Vikings. He started 134 of those games at right guard, clearing the way for runners such as Robert Smith, Leroy Hoard, and Michael Bennett.

Milt Sunde, G: a former 20th round pick, Sunde started 106 games at left guard and right guard, including the team's dominant season in 1969.

 Jake Reed, WR: Reed played in 134 games and started 83 during his 10 years with the team. His 413 catches rank fourth in team history, and his 33 touchdown receptions are good for sixth.

Doug Martin, DE: A former first round pick, Martin started and ended his career with the team on controversial notes, but was a pretty good player on the field during the early and mid-1980's. He played in 126 games, starting 94, and his 60.5 sacks rank seventh in team history.

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55) Steve Riley, OT: A first round pick in 1974, Riley started 121 games at left tackle during his 11 year career, protecting the blind side of quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer.

54) Lonnie Warwick, MLB: Warwick played in 92 games and started 75. The middle linebacker in a defense that dominated opponents' offenses in 1968, 1969, and 1970, he intercepted 12 passes, recorded 7.5 sacks and recovered 6 fumbles in his eight year career with the Vikes.

53) Ted Brown, RB: Brown played in 106 games during his eight year career with Minnesota, ranking fifth on the team's rushing list with 4,546 yards and seventh in scoring with 53 touchdowns.


52) Greg Coleman, P: Coleman was steady during his ten years with the team from 1977-1987, punting in 138 games, still the team record.

51) Gene Washington, WR: Playing in 81 games in his six seasons with the Vikings, Washington was named to the Pro Bowl in 1969 and 1970 and was the team's top receiver during those dominant years.

50) Stu Voigt, TE: Voigt was a steady tight end during his 11 years and 131 games with the team, contributing during the team's Super Bowl seasons in the mid-'70's.

49) Fred Cox, K: The Vikings placekicker from 1963 through 1977 appeared in 210 games and is the team's all-time scoring leader with 1,365 points.

48) Dave Osborn, RB: A tough runner and reliable receiver out of the backfield, Osborn's 4,320 rushing yards rank sixth in team history. He was named to one Pro Bowl during his 11 years and 137 games with the team.

47) Robert Smith, RB: A two time Pro Bowl selection, Smith played in 98 games during his eight seasons with the team, rushing for 6,818 yards, second in team history.

46) Doug Sutherland, DT: Sutherland played in 138 games during his 10 years with the Vikings, starting 90. He plugged the middle of the defensive line at left tackle during the mid-1970's when the team had highly rated defenses.

45) Nate Wright, CB: A steady cornerback during the mid-1970's when the team led the league each year in many defensive categories, Wright played in 129 games, starting 89, in his ten years with the team. He ranks 5th with 31 interceptions and knocked down 55 passes.

44) John Gilliam, WR: Named to the Pro Bowl after each of his four seasons with the team, Gilliam's 20 yard average-per-reception is by far highest among Viking players with at least 100 catches.

43) Ed Sharockman, CB: A consistent defensive back on Minnesota's great defenses of the late '60's and early '70's, Sharockman played in 142 games, starting 121, during his 12 years with the team. He ranks third with 40 interceptions, returning four for touchdowns, and also recovered 9 fumbles.
 
42) Keith Millard, DT: Selected All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl twice, Millard was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1989 when he recorded 18 sacks. Millard was a key piece of the team's outstanding defenses in the late '80's, appearing in 75 games during his six years with the Vikes.

41) Fred McNeil, LB: Playing in 167 games and starting 122 at outside linebacker during his 12 years with the team, McNeil recovered 16 fumbles, intercepted 7 passes, and recorded 13 quarterback sacks.

40) Ed McDaniel, LB: The team leader in tackles for loss with 90.5, he ranks second among Viking linebackers with 20.5 sacks. McDaniel is also sixth on the team with 17 forced fumbles. He has 5 fumble recoveries, intercepted 4 passes and was named to the Pro Bowl once during his nine seasons and 125 games, 109 starts, with the Vikings.

 39) Karl Kassulke, S: Another key player on the team's outstanding defenses in the late 60's and early '70's, Kassulke played in 131 games at safety, starting 121, intercepting 19 passes. Selected to one Pro Bowl, he had 9 fumble recoveries and his 8 sacks are second among defensive backs.

 38) Wally Hilgenberg, LB: A tough outside linebacker on the Vikings' great defenses of the late 60's and throughout the 70's, Hilgenberg played in 158 games, starting 118, in 12 seasons. He recovered 13 fumbles, recorded 8 sacks, picked off 8 passes and scored two touchdowns.

37) Jared Allen, DE: Named to the Pro Bowl four times in his six years with the team, Allen's 88.5 sacks place him sixth in team history. He also intercepted 4 passes, forced 16 fumbles, recovered 9, and registered 4 safeties while starting all 96 games he appeared in at right end.

36) Antoine Winfield, CB: Selected to three Pro Bowls during his nine years with the Vikings, he played in 119 games, starting 115. Of Winfield's 21 interceptions two were returned for touchdowns. He defensed 73 passes, which is fourth in team history, recorded 6.5 QB sacks, forced 11 fumbles and recovered 9, returning two of those for touchdowns as well.

35) Tommy Kramer, QB: While injured often during his 13 years with the Vikes, Kramer did start 110 games at quarterback and ranks second in most passing categories, including yards and touchdowns.

34) Ed White, OG: Selected to three Pro Bowls in his eight years with the team, White played in 122 games and started 94 at guard during the team's dominant run in the early and mid-1970's.

33) Gary Zimmerman, OT: Named to three Pro Bowls in his seven years with the Vikings Zimmerman held down left tackle for 108 consecutive games during the late '80's and early 90's.

32) Matt Birk, C: Birk played in 146 games and started 123 from 1998-2008, earning six Pro Bowl nods while snapping the ball at center.

31) Tim Irwin, OT: During his 13 years with the team he played in 188 games, starting 181 at right tackle. Standing at 6-7, he also blocked a few extra points and field goals while on the special teams unit.

30) Henry Thomas, DT: Selected to two Pro Bowls while appearing in 118 games and starting 117, Thomas ranks sixth in tackles-for-loss with 62. He is ninth with 56 sacks, forced 12 fumbles, and recovered 8, returning two for touchdowns. He also had two interceptions and notched a safety.

29) Kevin Williams, DT: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Williams started all 171 games he  appeared in. He ranks eighth with 60 QB sacks, knocked down 66 passes, forced 8 fumbles, and recovered 13, returning two for touchdowns. Williams also intercepted 5 passes, bring back two for scores.

28) Grady Alderman, OT: Holding down left tackle on offense for 14 years, Alderman played in 193 games, starting 174, and was selected to the Pro Bowl six times.

27) Gary Larsen, DT: A member of one of the best front fours in NFL history, defensive tackle Larsen played in 135 games, starting 107, in 10 seasons for the Vikings. He recorded 37 sacks, recovered 10 fumbles, and was named to two Pro Bowls.

26) Ahmad Rashad, WR: Selected to four Pro Bowls in his seven years with the team, Rashad had 400 receptions and scored 34 touchdowns in 98 games. He was part of one of the most memorable plays in NFL history, catching a touchdown pass on the game's last play against the Browns in 1980.

25) Sammy White, WR: A two time Pro Bowler, White played in 128 games, starting 118, and was the team's top receiver in the late '70's, averaging 16.3 yards per catch. His 50 touchdown receptions are fourth in team history.

 24) Randy Moss, WR: A five time Pro Bowl selection during his seven seasons and 113 games with Minnesota, Moss is second in team history in a number of receiving categories, including 587 receptions, 9,316 yards, and 92 touchdowns.

 23) Steve Jordan, TE: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Jordan was a consistent and durable tight end, appearing in 176 games and starting 149 in 13 seasons. He had 498 receptions and scored 28 touchdowns.

22) Carl Lee, CB: Selected three times to the Pro Bowl, Lee played in 169 games, starting 144, during 11 seasons with the team. A key player at cornerback on the team's great defenses in the late 1980's, he is the all-time leader in passes defensed with 128, recovered 6 fumbles, and is sixth with 29 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

21) Roy Winston, LB: In 15 seasons Winston played in 191 games, starting 158 at outside linebacker on dominant Viking defenses in the late '60's and early '70's. A playmaker, he had 16 sacks and 14 fumble recoveries, both third among linebackers, and 12 interceptions, second among linebackers, and scored 3 touchdowns. He also is fifth all-time with 68 tackles-for-loss.

20) Bill Brown, RB: A tough runner, he is in fourth place in rushing yards with 5,757 and second with 52 touchdowns. He added 286 receptions and another 23 TD's as a receiver out of the backfield. Brown played in 180 games during 13 seasons and was selected four times to the Pro Bowl.

19) Bobby Bryant, CB:  A playmaker at cornerback, Bryant was selected to two Pro Bowls in 13 seasons, playing in 161 games and starting 127. He is second in team history with 51 interceptions and second in passes defensed with 77. He also recovered 14 fumbles and scored four touchdowns, in addition to coming up with a number of big plays in playoff games.

18) Scott Studwell, MLB: Fifth in team history with 201 games played, Studwell started 161 at middle linebacker and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice. He forced 12 fumbles, recovered 16, intercepted 11 passes, and had 9 QB sacks. He ranks ninth with 46 tackles-for-loss.

17) Jeff Siemon, MLB: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls. He forced 14 fumbles, recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions.

16) Anthony Carter, WR:
A dynamic game-changing receiver, Carter averaged 16 yards per catch and is third in team history with 478 receptions, 7,636 yards and 52 touchdowns. Selected to the Pro Bowl three times, he played in 133 games and started 125 in his nine years with the team.

15) Joey Browner, S: Selected to the Pro Bowl as a safety six times in his nine seasons, Browner played in 145 games, starting 117. He is fourth in interceptions with 37, third in passes defensed with 76, fifth in forced fumbles with 18, and fifth in fumble recoveries in 17. He also recorded 9.5 QB sacks, first among Viking defensive backs, and scored 4 touchdowns.


14) Adrian Peterson, RB: After nine seasons and 120 games, Peterson holds the Viking record in rushing yards with 11,675 and is first in rushing touchdowns with 97. A seven time Pro Bowl selection.

13) Chuck Foreman, RB: An exceptional runner and receiver who could turn around a game, Foreman was selected to the Pro Bowl five times in his seven seasons in Minnesota. He rushed for 5,887 yards and 52 touchdowns, and caught 336 passes for another 23 scores.

12) Chris Doleman, DE: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Doleman played in 154 games, starting 142, in 10 seasons with the Vikings. He leads the team with 33 forced fumbles, is sixth in fumble recoveries with 16, seventh in tackles-for-loss with 60, and fifth in sacks with 96.5. He also intercepted five passes, scored two touchdowns, and recorded two safeties.

11) Matt Blair, LB: Selected to six Pro Bowls in his 12 seasons, Blair played in 160 games, starting 130. He is fourth in forced fumbles with 19, third in fumble recoveries with 20, and tenth in tackles-for-loss with 44. His 23 sacks and 16 interceptions are first among Vikings linebackers. He also blocked 20 kicks in his career.

10) Mick Tingelhoff, C: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Tingelhoff started every Viking game at center from 1962 through 1977, 240 consecutive games in all. He anchored the Vikings offensive line and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015.

9) John Randle, DT: A standout defensive tackle who played in 176 games and started 150, Randle was named to six Pro Bowls in his 11 seasons with the Vikings. He recovered 9 fumbles, ranks third in forced fumbles with 25, and is third in QB sacks with 114. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

8) Ron Yary, OT: Selected to the Pro Bowl seven times in his 14 years with the Vikings, Yary played in 199 games and started 180 at right offensive tackle. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

7) Randall McDaniel, OG: Selected to the Pro Bowl a record 12 times in his 12 years with the Vikings, he played in 190 games, starting 188 at left guard. McDaniel was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

6) Paul Krause, S: The NFL's record holder for interceptions with 81, Krause is the Vikings leader in that category with 53 picks, returning two of those for touchdowns. He also recovered 11 fumbles, bringing back two for scores, and knocked down 54 passes. In 12 years with the team he played in 172 games, starting 146, and was selected to six Pro Bowls. Krause was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

5) Jim Marshall, DE: Starting all 270 games in which he played as a Viking at right defensive end, Marshall is second in team history with 127 sacks, first with 29 fumble recoveries, and fourth in tackle-for-loss with 74. A two time Pro Bowl selection, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

4) Carl Eller, DE: The team's all-time leader in QB sacks with 130, Eller was selected to six Pro Bowls. He ranks second in tackles-for-loss with 87, second in fumble recoveries with 23, and seventh in forced fumbles with 15. He also blocked 15 kicks. Eller played in 209 games, fourth in team history, and started 201. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, an honor that was long overdue.

3) Cris Carter, WR: Selected to 8 consecutive Pro Bowls in his 12 years with the team, Carter played in 188 games, starting 177. He holds most Viking receiving records, including 1,004 receptions, 12,383 yards, and 110 touchdowns. He ranks fourth all-time in NFL history in receptions and touchdown catches, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2013.

2) Fran Tarkenton, QB: The Vikings record holder in most passing categories, Tarkenton played in 177 games, starting 170, and was selected to five Pro Bowls in his 13 seasons with the team. Named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1975, he is also among the leaders in league history for records among quarterbacks. Tarkenton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

1) Alan Page, DT: A defensive tackle who changed the game in the late 1960's and early 1970's, Page was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1971. Selected to the Pro Bowl nine times in his 12 years with the Vikings, he played in 160 games and started 157. He is fourth in team history with 108.5 sacks, fourth with 18 fumble recoveries, third with 77 tackles-for-loss, and second with 28 forced fumbles. Page was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. He is the greatest Minnesota Viking of all time.



sources for statistics: