March Madness

March Madness has crossed the line. It was bad enough when we had to suffer the interminable basketball tournaments but now March Madness can't handle a gentle welcome to Spring. Spring is here but we will fall back to below normal temperatures and possibly snow. The Ukraine will see no Spring. The Cold War is back and Russia will spring forward. Add to the list Malaysian Flight 370 which is a MIA and you must conclude that indeed March events are meant for a loony society. Further proof? Baseball season will open this weekend but not in the USA. Opening day in MLB has been outsourced - the Dodgers will play Arizona in AUSTRALIA. How mad can March get? How about Obama and Congress kissing and making up. It will not happen. Making out is more likely but have no fear, April is near. God is merciful. Allah is great. If ever the twain meet, it sure would be neat. Oops, I've crossed the line into March Madness.

Clothes Make The Man

As I put on a ratty pair of jeans and a well worn sweatshirt recently, I couldn't help but think of the cliche, "clothes make the man". Considering the outfit I'd be wearing, you can bet your bottom dollar that no one would mistake me for some sort of a professional unless it was a "professional slob".

 "Clothes make the man" implies that people will judge you based on how well dressed you are. The manner in which one dresses also is a way of making a statement. Case in point, the Irish laborer in the streets of Dublin. During a business trip to Ireland many years ago, I could not help but notice that men working with a pick and shovel wore a suit,a shirt and tie. Mind you the clothes were hardly tailored and bore the grime of several days work. I couldn't help but ask my Irish host why these men weren't dressed in clothes more appropriate for the work they were doing. The reply was that they were making a statement. They were the equal of any fancy dressed professional!

And then there was my POP.  On his way to work he wore a tailored suit with a white shirt and tie. A soft hat topped things off and the shoes were well polished. The clothes made the man - a proud one, a family man. To see my father going to work , one would never guess that he was going to a men's clothing factory where he would work his ass off running a row of steam presses so that his children could dress and work as professionals.

Oh yes, today being St. Patrick's Day offers concrete proof that indeed the clothes make the man. Just a dab of green on ones choice of dress, no matter how formal or casual, will make everyone Irish for the day. Erin go bragh! 

Better late than never - Happy Pi Day

I'm ashamed that I failed to observe Pi Day on 3/14. My excuse? No pie sales in the paper. It's no use crying over spilt milk, so better late than never:

 Happy 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816406286 ... to everyone.

IDGAF

Old codgers never learn. They just play the age card. In the case of this old codger, he has been reading Facebook comments and text messages and just assumed that the attachment of "lol" was an expression of affection. The fact that "reading this and lol" did not properly translate into "reading this and lots of love" was perplexing but did not jar me into seeking a more proper interpretation of this twenty first century jargon. Just another example of slovenly "speak" among the younger generation. Trying to understand the Millennials (whoever came up with that moniker was definitely high at the time) is too formidable a task for a member of the greatest generation. Besides, if one watches enough videos, all mysteries are effortlessly cleared up. That was the case with "lol". An episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" made it clear that "lol" translated into "laughing out loud". Now that makes sense if you are reading this and laughing out loud. If not, perhaps, like me, you just "dgaf "