tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46685677336104276492024-02-20T02:51:40.113-08:00Truth HurtsTony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-51949321291668308962013-10-13T10:36:00.002-07:002013-10-13T10:36:29.842-07:00Sunday Funday: 10/13/13 News<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3,"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent">Five days before the debt ceiling is reached and the Government remains
shuttered. The House has adjourned until Monday, spinning their WH
discussions as they left. The Senate has the ball. They couldn't garner
60 votes to invoke cloture and pass a motion to extend the debt ceiling
until the end of 2014 and reopen Government. Sen. Reid has rejected Sen.
Collins bipartisan proposal, although the sides are still talking. It's
time to move the obstructionists out of the way and find a path to a
deal.<br /> <br /> The debate has shifted from the Affordable Care Act to
spending cuts and those who closed the Government look to save face.
With a Federal Holiday Monday, we'll have to wait and see how the
markets react if there is no deal by Tuesday. Hint: After the shut down
the markets were down most of the first seven trading sessions. When
word leaked that the sides were talking and a deal might be had, key
indices were up 2% on Thursday and close t<span class="text_exposed_show">o 1% on Friday.<br /> <br /> For Wojo: Marine layer giving way to sunny skies, light breeze, high in the low 70s.<br /> <br /> What I'm reading today:<br /> <br /> Nurses: Five most deathbed regrets: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fcrfu4d3&h=KAQGfYFAYAQGtBS3PePxlOKpMLSDyvH01N_MjAEp5PqMAOA&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/crfu4d3</a><br /> <br /> On the lack of compassion: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fm82a76h&h=pAQHqJwL3AQHMFH4_xRUhCU-acor7doI8tnaqJwfXUYvZYA&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/m82a76h</a><br /> <br /> Cook Partisan Voter Index: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcookpolitical.com%2Fstory%2F5604&h=lAQGl5i1bAQHruRyd6cRZBpLHjDiH0I3jAd9cS0zEmgnssg&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://cookpolitical.com/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>story/5604</a><br /> <br />
Upset Saturday: Mizzu over GA, Utes over Stanford, PSU over Mich (4
OTs!), Texas over OU, WI over Northwestern. Tide, Ducks roll, Clemson,
A&M, Texas Tech, among others survive.<br /> <br /> MLB: For the first
time in history, two 1-0 playoff games in the same day. Cards take a 2-0
lead as the series shifts to LA on Monday. Tigers Annibel Sanchez has
12Ks and 6BBs in six no-hit innings leading five pitchers to a 1-0, one
hit shutout of the Red Sox. Game 2 today.<br /> <br /> Lots of interesting
games today. Buffalo just scored on a Thaddeus Lewis QB draw - the first
time the Bengals have given up a TD on their first drive in 22 games!
10-7 Bengals early. I had tickets to the game. <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" data-pub="{"type":"hashtag","id":148784208618306,"source":null}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/shutdown">#shutdown</a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" data-pub="{"type":"hashtag","id":139513502889302,"source":null}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/dearcongress">#dearcongress</a> <br /> <br /> Sunday Funday!</span></span></span></h5>
Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-38809696160893634002013-10-12T09:41:00.002-07:002013-10-12T09:41:51.972-07:00On the myths I've been reading lately regarding the Affordable Care Act<span class="userContent">I personally went to the website - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcare.gov&h=zAQFpp4Pq&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.healthcare.gov</a> - and was able to navigate it with no issue. If your state has set up their own marketplace (i.e.: CA, OR, WA, N<span class="text_exposed_show">Y,
KY, ID, MN, CO, NM, NY, MD, MA, RI, CT) it's different and perhaps a
bit easier than the states that refused and are using the federal
marketplace. It's still not that difficult and the website is working
just fine.<br /> <br /> The individual mandate was the brainchild of The
Heritage Foundation - a right-wing think-tank, and was embraced by
Governor Romney as a centerpiece of health care reform in MA.<br /> <br />
The ACA is not socialized medicine. The Government does not provide
health care nor control the costs. Insurance is purchased from
marketplaces where private companies compete for your business.<br /> <br />
As of January 1st, preexisting conditions will no longer prevent you
from obtaining health care. This is huge for millions of Americans. The
Government rolled out a pilot program earlier this year where 100,000
people with preexisting conditions obtained coverage.<br /> <br /> Congress
is not trying to protect you from a bad law, from Socialism or from
something bad for you. They are trying to protect corporate interests.
Period. You and I are pawns in this. They couldn't care less about us.
It's all about their sugar-daddies that keep them in office. <br /> <br />
If you liken the ACA to slavery in ANY way - that is to say, if you
think it's like slavery, as bad as slavery or that the law can be
changed because slavery used to be the law as well, take a seat at the
kiddie table while the adults talk. You also may want to start cutting
the pills in half.</span></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-88864130233678156032013-10-12T09:40:00.001-07:002013-10-12T09:40:27.359-07:00In the news today (10/12/13)<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Five days until we reach the debt ceiling. The House R's are now racing
to come up with a solution before the Senate R's and moderate D's swoop
in an steal their so-called "thunder". Vegas odds have the Senate
leading us out of this mess with a token win for the R's, a debt ceiling
increase to take us past the 1st of the year, changes to the sequester
to allow Gov't agencies mo<span class="text_exposed_show">re flexibility, a repeal of the medical device tax and some changes to so-called entitlement programs.<br /> <br />
Michelle Bachmann believes President Obama is leading us towards the
end of days. His Presidency is apparently the biblical sign of the
apocalypse.<br /> <br /> Senator Cruz tried to argue for repeal of the
Affordable Care Act to the President at the White House. That went over
like a fart in church.<br /> <br /> The St. Louis Cardinals took a 1-0 lead
in the best of 7 NLCS with a 3-2 win in 13 innings on Carlos Beltran's
RBI single. Beltran drove in all three runs for the Cards. Game 2 is
this afternoon. Game 1 of the ALCS between the Tigers and Red Sox is
tonight.<br /> <br /> For college football fans, OU at Texas, Georgia at Mizzu, Florida at LSU, Oregon at Washington. Happy Saturday!</span></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-69676122025766330212013-10-11T10:28:00.001-07:002013-10-11T10:28:13.346-07:00Today's public service. Here's a summary of the news:<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Government is still shut-down. We hit the debt ceiling in six days. <br /> <br /> 2M Government workers just got their pay statements, a little over half of what they actually earned. <br /> <br /> Aviation safety professionals held a rally on Capitol Hill calling for an end to the <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" data-pub="{"type":"hashtag","id":148784208618306,"source":null}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/shutdown">#shutdown</a>. The motorcade of Congressional leaders leaving their White House meeting pa<span class="text_exposed_show">ssed right by the rally.<br /> <br />
The air traffic control system is reaching a state of "yellow", meaning
that in the 11th day of the furlough of those workers who maintain the
equipment necessary to do my job, we're approaching a state where the
system is stretched beyond its limitations.<br /> <br /> House R's want to
take away Treasury Dept ability to reinvest the Gov't money when we're
bumping up against the ceiling - an idea that benefits those who love to
take our Gov't hostage and no one else, quite frankly.<br /> <br /> The
markets responded positively to news that talks over a budget deal *may*
be thawing. Anyone who thinks the #shutdown isn't having an impact,
have you checked your 401K recently?<br /> <br /> Elisabeth Hasslebeck thinks cell phones and air conditioning are the "ugly side of welfare".<br /> <br /> Glenn Beck thinks we should physically abuse our children until they believe in God.<br /> <br /> Ted Cruz called birth control "abortifacients".<br /> <br /> Happy Friday everyone!</span></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-25718211297583574032013-10-04T10:37:00.003-07:002013-10-04T10:39:09.173-07:00Day 4: America Held HostageIn case anyone feels as if the Gov't shutdown isn't having an impact:
One Congressman said it's a "few million". It's actually estimated at $12.5 million per hour.<br />
<br />
1 million essential Government workers are on the job and will not get paid for work performed after October 1st until the shutdown ends. My personal experience: the talk at work is how people are going to manage without one or two paychecks, whether the bank will take an IOU for the mortgage or car note. Just what I want - air traffic controllers separating airplanes with concern over paying their bills in the forefront of their minds.<br />
<br />
Yes, we're professionals and we go to work and do our best work regardless of the circumstances. We still kick ass for the flying public, just like the other 985 thousand that are working for an IOU. Sure, I will eventually get paid - unlike the 800 thousand furloughed Government workers who may or may not. It's just not a very good feeling to have this dangling over our collective heads.
I'm not angry at the hatred and vitriol towards us who work for the Gov't. They're blinded by their ideology and hatred of the POTUS. They'll lie about anything to further their agenda, which is, was and always will be to make sure this President is not successful. We're just the middle man.<br />
<br />
I am greatly disappointed in my Agency, and they have forever lost my trust. They had an opportunity to work with my Union and show us what true collaboration is all about. Instead, they did just the opposite, harkening back to the days where we lived under imposed work rules rather than an agreement that was collectively bargained. We don't need a "partner of convenience".Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0North Park32.7398671 -117.1205924999999932.6864406 -117.20127349999999 32.7932936 -117.03991149999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-10179278684031553672012-01-11T18:37:00.000-08:002012-01-11T18:44:49.376-08:00Made in China<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRJfClhmqMI/Tw5HvorxeeI/AAAAAAAAAy8/fYyWGD5IFwI/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRJfClhmqMI/Tw5HvorxeeI/AAAAAAAAAy8/fYyWGD5IFwI/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696569462370695650" /></a><br /><br />Well, that's my take on the glue that held the box together that used to hold this 28 pounds of cat litter that now sits in the Target parking lot. The glue was Made in China!Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-68447880301659324652012-01-10T15:41:00.000-08:002012-01-10T15:55:24.576-08:00Accepting (1/10/12)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AKH_mULeDI/TwzMpg27yYI/AAAAAAAAAyw/eJv3vVP3UXc/s1600/SAM_0017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AKH_mULeDI/TwzMpg27yYI/AAAAAAAAAyw/eJv3vVP3UXc/s400/SAM_0017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696152642283882882" /></a><br /><br />Today I returned to the real world. Sure, there was the quick visit to the Rite-Aid last night but it's not the same. I was annoyed last night, leaving the cocoon of the hospital room for the hustle and bustle that is San Diego. I thought maybe I had just gotten used to having everything taken care of for me - I didn't have to think about a thing! But what I found was it was more about being away from the noise, the traffic, everyone in their one mindset on their personal mission to get somewhere or do something. The hospital strips all of that away. It really de-stresses life like you can't do otherwise.<br /><br />We only went out for a short trip to Trader Joes and Sprouts, and didn't drive by the actual <a href="http://mysandiegolife.com/hillcrest/homephotos/sign-1_lightbox.jpg">Hillcrest sign</a> so I snapped the picture of the Trader Joes' rendition of the sign. <br /><br />I love where we live. Getting out and about always makes me realize why we moved here - not just to San Diego, but to Hillcrest. It's about acceptance. Hillcrest welcomes all kinds. It's called "the gayborhood" but it's really more than that. Perhaps it's evolved in the 10 years since we first moved here. But Hillcrest was, is and likely always will be accepting and welcoming. That's why we call it home. It doesn't matter where you're from, what color your skin is, what your sexual orientation is. There's room for you here, and that's why we live here.<br /><br />We've looked at other neighborhoods and there are a LOT of great neighborhoods in San Diego which we would live in. The problem is, none of them are Hillcrest!Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-88835498316221390172012-01-10T15:15:00.000-08:002012-01-10T18:38:41.594-08:00For Granted (1/9/12)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fa4XKazXEus/TwzGvP_XGoI/AAAAAAAAAyk/Ws_U0O7KQM0/s1600/SAM_0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fa4XKazXEus/TwzGvP_XGoI/AAAAAAAAAyk/Ws_U0O7KQM0/s400/SAM_0016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696146143765273218" /></a><br /><br />I'm back to the Blogger website. I was relegated to posting from my iPad while in the hospital, and Blogger wouldn't let me upload pictures, so I cheated and used Facebook to keep up with my "pic a day" blog. I know, there probably is a better blogging site or an app for that. It's ok. I'm out, I'm back with the Macbook Pro and it's all good. :)<br /><br />I've spent 43 pretty healthy years on this earth. No broken bones, no surgeries, no extended hospital stays. In fact, since I was discharged from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Marys-Hospital/140613205994867">St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, NY</a> on or about September 17, 1968, I had not been in the hospital overnight -- until last Wednesday.<br /><br />I got quite sick last Sunday which led to the hospitalization on Wednesday. I have been living with intestinal issues for a few years now, and from time to time the pain was unbearable. Maria took me to the ER on three different occasions with stomach pain. The juice fast and weight loss was initially so I could have the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/laparoscopic-gallbladder-surgery-for-gallstones">laparoscopic cholecystectomy</a> (or, removal of the gallbladder through a tiny hole). Since I wasn't in pain for three months following the fast, I didn't have the surgery, on advice from my doctor.<br /><br />Then Sunday came. Oh the familiar pain. It eased in Sunday afternoon, then hit full-blown around 1am Monday, backed off on Tuesday before returning on Wednesday. By the time Maria came home to take me to the ER, my pee was dark orange and I was very yellow -- like a Simpsons character. Come to find out, not only did I have a stone lodged in the main bile duct, I also had what doctors called a "smoldering infection" in my gall bladder. It was close to sepsis, which could be fatal.<br /><br />After an ultrasound and MRI confirmed the blockage, they rushed me to the GI department for an <a href="http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ercp/">ERCP</a> or Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography. They knocked me out, stuck a camera down my throat with a wire which they used to dislodge the stone from my bile duct. On Sunday, they removed my gallbladder. Since the procedure was done laparoscopically, I only have four small holes and I was able to be discharged less than 24 hours later. If not for the infection, they would have given me the boot that afternoon.<br /><br />I left my hospital room for urgent care, where Maria was being treated for an upper respiratory ailment - something viral, which must just run its course. She got some good codeine cough syrup for her troubles and we were home by 4pm yesterday. <br /><br />I must say, it's been a great run! She and I have been blessed with incredible health that we certainly took for granted. I know I did! I also took people in the health care profession for granted too. After watching them work their 12 hour shifts, moving from one room to the other, providing meds, changing beds, cleaning up "spills", handling all sorts of unseemly things, I will never take them for granted again. Thank you Rod, Mateo, Sarah and Monica! You are truly the best, and a credit to your profession!Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-78513927722527588912012-01-03T20:49:00.000-08:002012-01-03T21:02:21.844-08:00Health<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CM8Htii_l2k/TwPac9einbI/AAAAAAAAAyY/aGj2AdYbo54/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CM8Htii_l2k/TwPac9einbI/AAAAAAAAAyY/aGj2AdYbo54/s400/IMG_0110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693634545000291762" /></a><br /><br />What a way to start the New Year! Apparently, we both caught something in LA or on the train, because we both felt like crap today. Initially I thought it was the crappy food I ate, but after a second day of feeling like this, I knew it was something else. <br /><br />One of the best things about my job is I have the ability to take paid sick time, no questions asked - so long as I don't take advantage of it, if you know what I mean. It's also a benefit that I totally take for granted. I don't think about the millions of people who don't have this benefit. If I get sicker, I don't have to think twice about going to the doctor because I have very good health benefits. <br /><br />I am so fortunate, yet it angers me that we have to fight so that everyone has the same coverage that I have - that somehow it's a privilege, or that by giving everyone access to affordable health care it will diminish the benefits and care for those who already have care. How selfish are we?<br /><br />On New Years Eve, we had dinner and drinks at a vegan restaurant in Burbank. We had the pleasure of talking with the owner and his wife for an extended period of time. The one thing that stuck with me was that he pays for health insurance for his employees. His rationale? It's the right thing to do! He also believes that long term it will give him the opportunity to retain employees, saving him the money of training new workers. Of course, it also keeps his employees healthier, saving the added cost of lost work hours.<br /><br />So I'll do my best to be back in the game tomorrow -- no promises though!Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-8969247518418118732012-01-02T19:54:00.000-08:002012-01-02T20:19:35.345-08:00Vegan (1/2/12)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-npC6Ovb4xd8/TwJ8CQR0fzI/AAAAAAAAAyM/evkiiPKBF7o/s1600/korma%2Bveg.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-npC6Ovb4xd8/TwJ8CQR0fzI/AAAAAAAAAyM/evkiiPKBF7o/s400/korma%2Bveg.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693249257121021746" /></a><br /><br />Many of you know that I spent some time in 2011 fighting issues with my gallbladder. After completing an 8-week juice fast and dropping 55 pounds, it seemed as if my health issues were behind me. Unfortunately, that doesn't quite seem to be the case.<br /><br />Since completing her juice fast, Maria has been eating 100% vegan. I, on the other hand haven't been quite as committed. Traveling makes it easier to excuse away bad behavior. We spent the long weekend over New Years in Camarillo, Los Angeles and Burbank. I did buy a salad and fruit on the train, but they gave us chips, trail-mix, cookies and wine. Add in a few beers for good measure, and I was on my way to a serious shock back to reality. We had a great vegan meal in Burbank on New Year's Eve - complemented with a massive assortment of California craft beers. You get the picture.<br /><br />I started feeling the effects early this morning - the sugar, the dairy, the processed foods - all of the things I've been so good to avoid for three months. So today it was back to plant-based eating and water. Still not nearly back to 100%, but this too shall pass.Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-58558720291353701282012-01-01T20:12:00.007-08:002012-01-01T22:59:39.249-08:00Irony (1/1/12)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1M2uG0vNFqg/TwEu7wK_zxI/AAAAAAAAAyA/sX8n9kmpr_Q/s1600/LA%2BPark.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1M2uG0vNFqg/TwEu7wK_zxI/AAAAAAAAAyA/sX8n9kmpr_Q/s400/LA%2BPark.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692883008051203858" /></a><br /><br />Today begins a new year. I loved the idea of a "photo blog", a pic-a-day. Since the thought crossed my mind this afternoon, I'll make every effort to follow through this time. I chose today's picture as our taxi cab was taking us from our hotel to Union Station in LA. When I got home I learned some of the backstory of the monument.<br /><br />The picture above is of Father Serra Park, across from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. The memorial on the right of the photo is The Eugene A. Obregon Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, which was built to honor those who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of honor, with special emphasis on people of Hispanic descent.<br /><br />The site of the memorial is in old Chinatown, where the Chinese massacre of 1871 occurred which is why <a href="http://witnessla.com/environment/2009/admin/battling-la-histories-at-father-serra-park-who-screwed-up/" target="_blank">some questioned</a> the location of this memorial.<br /><br />I found irony for a different reason: The homeless people in the park. We continuously ignore the growing homeless population in our country. Many people don't know this but there are more homeless veterans in San Diego than anywhere else in the country, followed closely by Los Angeles. There are <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/27/eveningnews/main20074834.shtml" target="_blank">over 8000 homeless veterans</a> on the streets of Los Angeles. <br /><br />The ruling class in this country wraps themselves in the flag, exhibits faux patriotism telling us to support the troops. It apparently ends the moment they return from battle. <br /><br />Until the day comes when our "leadership" finally wakes up, thankfully there are organizations such as <a href="http://www.vvsd.net/" target="_blank">Veterans Village of San Diego</a> to take care of what our Government refuses to acknowledge.Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-45395808837055513592008-10-29T09:08:00.000-07:002008-10-29T09:09:53.987-07:00It's Raining<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oV-_Xm24v3g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oV-_Xm24v3g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-10690305982555171612008-10-25T09:15:00.001-07:002008-10-25T09:15:36.429-07:00Wasssssuuuuppppp!!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qq8Uc5BFogE&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qq8Uc5BFogE&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-68701498582414773752008-10-25T05:27:00.000-07:002008-10-25T05:29:37.683-07:00Ron Howard's Call For Change<object width="464" height="388" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://www2.funnyordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="key=cc65ed650d" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed width="464" height="388" flashvars="key=cc65ed650d" allowfullscreen="true" quality="high" src="http://www2.funnyordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><div style="text-align:center;width: 464px;">See more <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/ron_howard">Ron Howard</a> videos at Funny or Die</div>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-21208796149219201212008-10-23T05:39:00.001-07:002008-10-23T05:39:20.946-07:00Did John McCain just say the "C" word?<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/qX1ImnGQYcE' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/qX1ImnGQYcE'/></object></p><p>Yes, it's late in the campaign. Yes, people slip up. When I'm 72, I hope I can criss-cross the country like McCain has. Maybe I'd drop the "C" bomb accidentally too.<br /><br />Having said that, I just can't stop laughing. Yes, I am 12. </p></div>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-11435019731247123002008-04-07T17:43:00.001-07:002008-04-07T17:43:42.209-07:00Obstruction and contrariness<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Ok, so I went to the thesaurus to get the antonym to collaboration and cooperation. I changed the first word when I read an e-mail from my good friend and former NATCA Vice-President Tom Cavanaugh. Today I was reminded that we have a very long road back to collaboration and cooperation, including at Albany.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>There are a lot of things the manager at Albany Tower does not comprehend. Within the past two, we have called him out publicly for:<br /></span></p><ul><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Informing his staff in person of an employee infected with MRSA, then posting the same information in the "non-mandatory" or "C" binder, which is rarely read.<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Twice scheduling controllers for nine consecutive shifts without a day off.<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li><li><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Telling an employee that she had to secure a shift swap or he would deny her jury duty, then accusing the employee of "playing games" when she wasn't needed for jury service one day.<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>It would be laughable if it weren't so sad. Today, I found out that Albany was getting two new controllers. Unfortunately, I found out from my VP who found out from a non-union member who found out from a management official. I decided to ask the manager for an explanation before I approached his bosses once again. This manager proceeded to tell me of one new employee while acting like it was no big deal. When I explained (again) why it's important for the agency to comply with the law and not deal directly with the controllers, he responded by:<br /></span></p><ul><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Explaining that they were trying to do right by this individual and now I was making a big deal out of nothing.<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Blaming me for never being in the building (well, when he is – gee boss, I'll take more official time if that's what it takes – otherwise, feel free to drop in on the mid)<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Stating that they only found out Friday.<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Stating that he wasn't talking to the controllers (even though someone in management was).<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Accusing me of trying to "make hay" out of every little issue on behalf of some issue outside of the building.<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li><li><div><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Finally, accusing me of being the problem in the building and stating that I "don't care about the employees at Albany.<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li></ul><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>To recap: I ask him why he did not inform me, the exclusive representative of the NATCA Albany Tower bargaining unit, that we were getting a new employee and suddenly I don't care about the employees at Albany. He even made light of the e-mails I had sent him, describing them in a whiny, baby like tone. Excellent interpersonal skills, boss!<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>Of course, I informed my RVP of all of this and he informed my manager's boss <strong>again.</strong> Folks, this is the antithesis to partnership. This is truly a relationship with no foundation of trust to build upon. From day one when I became the facility representative, I have approached this man with the olive branch. Day one he decided to go on and on about how bad the previous NATCA rep was (great way to forge a relationship – rail on my friend and union brother). Apparently, this man didn't have a problem with the former NATCA rep. This man has a problem with <strong>unions and with union people.</strong><br /> </span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>I have seen him put on a good face when his boss is in the building. Nevertheless, it seems that each time I brought an issue to him in a good faith effort to resolve it at the lowest possible level, I was met with charges that the air traffic controllers at Albany do things just as bad as their supervisors (seemingly to deflect criticism or to convince me to simply look the other way) and that I am just trying to make a name for myself or "make hay" for issues of national scope. My previous Vice-President, one of the more reasonable people you ever will meet, has hit the same brick wall. This manager will not even speak to my current Vice-President.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>It is apparent that we are a long ways away from the days of QTP – from the days where labor and management worked together in earnest to solve problems. We are even beyond traditional labor-management relations, while uncomfortable at times, there is still dialogue in an effort to problem solve and negotiate. Today's environment is heavy-handed management with no regard for the union and the excuse factory when they get caught playing with their food.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:13pt'>One day we might have a labor-friendly President and a labor-friendly Congress. One day a President may actually reinstate partnership, much like President Clinton did in October of 1993 with <a href='http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_12871'>Executive Order 12871</a>. At that time, we are going to have to find that foundation of trust again, begin to assume the other party is properly motivated and get down to working in the best interests of the bargaining unit. Until then, we are left to sort through the lies, deceit and end-runs of this crowd who carries the anti-labor water for the Bush Administration. I'm sure Albany is moving up the speed dial at the regional office!</span></p></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-52376246925990469182008-04-06T09:47:00.001-07:002008-04-06T09:47:15.850-07:00Collaborate and Cooperate<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>I make no secret about how I became a union activist. A very large man and staunch union supporter convinced me that belonging to NATCA would be the right thing to do and a smart career move on my part. I believe it would also keep my health care costs down, but I cannot be sure of that. It really didn't take that much convincing and the story is more colorful that way. I have heard stories of people who signed their membership forms on pool tables and pinball machines in smoke-filled bar rooms. I signed up in the NATCA office at Syracuse Tower. 18 months later, I was the President of my local – two weeks before I became a full performance level controller. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>I became active in NATCA at a time when collaboration and cooperation were the new buzzwords. NATCA and FAA had just signed an agreement on a new project called Quality Through Partnership, also called QTP or QTiP. The idea was that the union and management would solve problems by consensus building rather than traditional negotiations. It was to akin to interest based bargaining. Union members and first line supervisors worked issues for individual facilities, only involving the local President and facility manager when consensus could not be reached.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>When two parties enter into negotiations, there has to be a level of trust. Each party has their own interests, so the assumption going in is that the opposition is not to be trusted – or, at best, trust but verify. This is a very difficult place to start from. Alternative dispute resolution or interest based bargaining is, in my opinion, much more difficult but much more rewarding. Each side must set aside their preconceived notions, have a greater level of trust going in and try and understand the interests of the opposition. These were some of the basic tenants of QTP and I would argue that the program would fail without them. The mantra was "assume positive intent", meaning that each side had to assume that the other side was properly motivated when they came to the bargaining table. <br/><br/>The outgoing local President, Blair Tucker told me he was skeptical that the FAA would ever fully collaborate with NATCA. Blair argued that the union had to give up too many of its own rights and would have to trust an agency that had proved, in his mind, to be untrustworthy. Blair discussed the issue with then-NATCA Executive Vice-President Joe Bellino (<em>on a side note, Joe retired from the FAA this week and should be congratulated on an illustrious career of service to NATCA and the FAA).</em> Joe asked Blair to embrace the project, reasoning that by being involved early in the process, he would have the ability to give the thumbs up or down as someone who tried QTP. He could speak as an informed participant. Furthermore, the FAA would have to give as well. The thought was they would bargain the substance of issues where by law, they only were required to bargain the impact of the change to the NATCA bargaining unit and how the change would be implemented. Blair agreed to support the project.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>I was fortunate to have the experience of participating in QTP from the beginning. I watched the transformation of labor-management relations throughout Upstate New York and throughout the Eastern Region. Much of our success can be attributed to having strong QTP coordinators who sincerely believed in the project as well as a manager, Russ Shedd, who was a reasonable man and recognized the benefits of collaboration. I remember by first QTP Hub meeting, where the ten local Presidents and ten facility managers from Upstate New York met to discuss issues facing our hub. The ten NATCA reps sat on one side of the table and the ten FAA managers sat on the other side. The meeting was cordial at best, but it was clear that some of the old school dinosaur managers and union reps would have to be dragged kicking into this process. As time wore on, issues were resolved and relationships developed. By the time I left Syracuse, the managers and reps were sitting with one another rather than across the table. The union reps and managers were even dressed in a fashion that a stranger entering the room couldn't tell who was who without a program.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>I watched the regional transformation as well. NATCA invited the Eastern Region Division manager to speak at a regional conference. The room was filled with smoke and the podium was dressed with two overflowing ashtrays where Regional Vice-President Tim Haines had been speaking and smoking. Gary Tucker took the podium to address the union representatives. He gave a standard "company-line" speech and then took a few questions. One of the union reps asked about regional mandates of spending X hours per shift plugged in and how morale was down and errors were up. He asked when the region was going to provide relief. Gary's answer? "When are you going to stop having errors?" With that, three quarters of the reps got up and stormed out of the room. Gary left shortly thereafter, in a huff, claiming that he had been set up and would never return.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>As collaboration took hold and relationships grew, so did the relationship at the regional level. Gary did return to address the NATCA reps and spent two days talking to reps and getting a feel for what was happening in the field. He participated in some team building exercises and left the meeting in a much better place than the previous time he had visited. I remember the NATCA reps having a sense that something big was happening and that perhaps this change could be beneficial for the long-term health of labor-management relations between NATCA and FAA.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>I decided to recount this today because NATCA was in a pretty dark place prior to QTP. The PATCO strike occurred on August 3, 1981 and 11,000 air traffic controllers were fired, certainly a low point for labor-management relations. I was not a controller during the strike or in the years when there was not a controllers union, but I have been told that those times were similar to today. On May 2, 1987, NATCA was certified to represent the controllers. The first collective bargaining agreement was signed and ratified in 1989. QTP began around 1991. Ten short years removed from a strike, air traffic controllers and FAA management agreed to work in collaboration to solve problems. I can speak from experience – and many people will disagree – but this process (or some type of interest based bargaining) works and is essential to the long term health of the nation's air traffic control system. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>QTP did not fail because of a lack of trust or an unwillingness of the parties to collaborate and cooperate. It failed because the cube dwellers in Washington and the middle-management types felt slighted and cut out of the process. They undercut the process at every turn and concocted lies and half-truths to convince the Republican controlled Congress to cease funding for QTP or any similar program based on collaboration between NATCA and FAA. How short sighted of them! Oddly enough, these are the same people who planted the seeds of destruction during the most recent negotiations that ended in the tragic imposition of work rules in 2006 and the continued obliteration of the morale of the work force and the aviation system as we knew it.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>The time will come for collaboration, I sincerely believe that. At some point, union leaders and management leaders will recognize that it is a much better process. Either that, or the lawmakers will force the parties into some type of partnership. Until NATCA members have a ratified collective bargaining agreement, the trust will never be there to support this. NATCA recently signed an agreement for self-reporting of errors by air traffic controllers. There is much debate today internally between NATCA members as to whether this is a good agreement or whether this is the right time. While I commend the NATCA activists for hammering out an agreement in this environment, I do not trust the FAA to adhere to their end of the bargain. Until NATCA members are working under a ratified agreement or until we raise the white flag and accept their work rules, we should not be negotiating side agreements on ideas, concepts or projects that are built upon a foundation of trust for our employer.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>As a union activist and labor-relations scholar, I know deep down inside that partnership, alternative dispute resolution and interest based bargaining are in the best interests of the union. The FAA must do something to regain my trust before I am willing to take that leap with them.</span></p></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-38855375481658272612008-04-04T20:17:00.000-07:002008-04-04T21:16:51.119-07:00Take My Hand, Precious Lord<div>40 years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed in while standing on a balcony at the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Lorraine Motel" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorraine_Motel">Lorraine Motel</a> in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. King had returned to Memphis to conduct a second march in support of the sanitation workers of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">AFSCME</span></span> Local 1733 who were on strike. We must never forget the roots of the labor movement are deeply entwined with the civil rights movement. It's as much about human rights as it is labor and civil rights.<br /></div><br /><div></div><div>Dr. King delivered many moving speeches in his short lifetime. One of the most famous titled "I Have Been to the Mountaintop" (<a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=BI_tQ5DdFAk&feature=related">Part I </a>and <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=n53GuVt0tlY">Part II) </a>was delivered the day before. If you have never heard it - or even if you have - it is worth a listen. I was fortunate to study the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sanitation</span> workers strike last year in a labor studies class and I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">embarrassed</span> to admit, listened to Reverend King's speeches for the first time. His words ring every bit as true 40 years later.<br /></div><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185610164842704274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V6I-C9OMEKo/R_b8-GsarZI/AAAAAAAAAIs/gLX3XJ2S7Hw/s400/sanitation_workers.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><br /><div><br />In class, we watched the documentary, "I Am a Man", which told the story of the sanitation workers. These workers walked off the job - stood tall against a defiant mayor - for better wages and better working conditions. Men were killed by faulty equipment that the workers had informed the city of Memphis about. Workers who were sent home because of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">inclimate</span> weather were not paid. They took a stand and Dr. King stood with them. They walked peacefully, carrying signs with the simple slogan, "I Am a Man". It was only after Dr. King's death that the mayor finally settled the strike with the sanitation workers.<br /><br />One year before his assassination, April 4, 1967, Dr. King delivered another speech at the <a title="New York City" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City">New York City</a> <a title="Riverside Church" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_Church">Riverside Church</a> denouncing the war in Vietnam. His words ring as true today, five years into our current war, as we rapidly approach five years since the declaration of mission accomplished. For your listening pleasure, <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=b80Bsw0UG-U">Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence</a>.</div>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-25839386732835806372008-04-03T16:03:00.001-07:002008-04-03T16:06:33.382-07:00I Am NATCA<span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;">I thought I would use the following excerpt from a recent e-mail to re-launch my writing career. (Yeah, right!) I went through a period recently where I didn't feel much like writing or doing much of anything. I took some time to reflect finish my school work and decided now is the right time to once again start sharing some of my thoughts. The following is plagiarized from my own work. It comes from an e-mail sent to a select few people in NATCA and I wanted to share it with you all. I edited it down, because I believe in the message and did not want it to get lost in the issue that the e-mail was sent in response to.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><br />I am a union member, a union advocate and a union activist. I do what I do and what I have done for seventeen years without fanfare or award and without the expectation of any. I do so because I believe in what I do and I believe I can make a difference. For my service to this union, you (and the membership at large) owe me nothing, except the opportunity to continue to serve this union as I see fit, on MY terms – no one else's. That includes my choice to steer clear of union politics. That includes my choice to remain out of divisive situations, where the only reason people seek to involve me is because I have a name and I have credibility that they seek to use for whatever reason.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Discounting the time I spent in training (two years, four months at Syracuse; eight months at Tucson; four months at Tucson TRACON; six months at SoCal TRACON Departure Area; three months at Albany) – I have been either President of my Local or Representative of my area for sixteen out of seventeen years. I got tossed for six months when I opted to move to Tucson. I got tossed for three months at Tucson over the national seniority issue. I spent the first three months as an FPL at Albany swearing to Mitch Herrick I would never be the facrep. I tell you this only as a reminder as to why you owe it to me to remain as involved or not (in this discussion).<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">The man who signed me up to NATCA is an operations manager at ZDC. He also involved me in the candidacy of Tim Haines for NEA RVP (God rest his soul) and put me forward as his successor as facrep. My OJTI and NATCA VP is a supervisor at SYR.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">The man I supported for NWP RVP is in some management position at PCT or the command center – who the fuck knows.<br /></span></li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">The man I ran against in the NWP is a manager of some sort.<br /></span></li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">The man who beat him is dead (God rest his soul as well).<br /></span></li></ul><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;">The fact is, I do not apologize for supporting any of them. I do not apologize for running for RVP, even if I wasn't qualified or at a "big house". I never apologized for supporting Bob in 2003 or John in 2003 and 2006. I still never have. That doesn't change the fact that I refuse to take up residence in a corner of NATCA until someone who I support gets elected to office. I also refuse to allow anyone – ANYONE – to question my motivation for supporting one candidate over another or for doing the work of my union.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;">The two men who gave their all – gave their lives for NATCA – are two men who I admire greatly. Tim Haines and Kevin McGrath were both very intelligent and union to their very core. No one could EVER question their motivation as representatives of this union. They truly gave their lives for NATCA – for US. Each of them battled their demons (some of the same demons, actually) and often times were ostracized for it. Tim was run out of office by the very people who put them there – the OM at ZDC and Joe Fruscella, et. al. in the NY metro area. Kevin resigned, never able to manage the battle between his union obligations, his family and his demons. Regardless, I still hold them in the highest esteem for who they were and what they stood for. You owe it to their memory and to what they gave to NATCA to fix this divisiveness and set all of the other bullshit aside.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Air traffic controllers and NATCA members – at least the good air traffic controllers and the activists in NATCA – all have a lot in common. The one thing we probably all have in common is we're all type-A's, we don't take shit off from anyone and we all think we have all of the answers. We have a bitch of a time "just getting over it". There are not enough hours in the day to juggle family, union and work – not to mention our personal grudges and baggage we have accumulated. It's time to get a porter for the baggage and to build a bridge and get over it (no offense intended to the bridge-builders of our union intended).<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;">I know it's easier said than done and it's easy for me to say that, sitting here on the sidelines in my lawn-chair and Speedo sipping Mai-Tai's on the beach (would you believe in my EZ chair, looking out at the snow, sipping diet Coke?). I am not an RVP or LR specialist, faced with an angry mob each and every day. What I am is NATCA – and for that, and for my service, you owe it to ME to find a way to move forward from today and to join the battle for tomorrow.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><br />In Solidarity,<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Tony Yushinsky<br /></span><span style="font-family:Garamond;">President<br /></span><span style="font-family:Garamond;">NATCA ALB Local<br /></span><a href="mailto:tony@natca.org"><span style="font-family:Garamond;">tony@natca.org</span></a><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><br /></span></p></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-67718432065765547142008-03-14T01:48:00.001-07:002008-03-14T01:48:12.756-07:00Across the Bow<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>I know it's difficult to have a following when you take a month hiatus oh – every two months. I think I said it before, I write about things I am passionate about and typically only write when the mood strikes me – as a bit of therapy to get me through the weeks. Unfortunately, the past few weeks have been more about me getting my head on straight for the stretch run to a diploma, while I redirected my efforts to running my union's local branch.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Garamond; font-size:12pt'>Rachel Maddow of Air America and MSNBC fame unearthed <a href='http://www.politico.com/static/PPM43_080312_clinton-obamapr.html'>this letter from Congressman Peter DeFazio</a> (D-OR). Congressman DeFazio is a great friend to air traffic controllers and our union and is never one to shy away from speaking his mind. Thanks to Ms. Maddow for shedding some light on this. I want to thank the Congressman for once again standing up and saying what at least half of the country is thinking (perhaps more). Enjoy!<br /></span></p></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-79860171048522678322008-03-07T16:27:00.001-08:002008-03-07T16:49:52.148-08:00Web Based Office Applications (for my Instructional Tech Class)<iframe src="http://docs.google.com/EmbedSlideshow?docid=dff7zxvr_4cc3vb3f2" frameborder="0" width="410" height="342"></iframe></span> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:Garamond;font-size:130%;">Online office applications are very useful educational tools, as they allow educators to share information with students without having the students purchase expensive software. It also keeps the instructor from having to upload documents in multiple formats and allows students and instructors alike the ability to retrieve and edit office files from any computer with internet access.<br /></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:Garamond;font-size:130%;">Web based office applications also allow students to collaborate on a paper or project from their homes, libraries or a computer lab. This saves valuable classroom time for instruction while still giving students an opportunity to work together on a project.<br /></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I recently created the embedded presentation, The History of NATCA, for my Union Administration class. I intend to utilize it for the basic representation class that I am designing. It can also be found at this </span><a href="http://show.zoho.com/public/yazoo68/The%20History%20of%20NATCA"><span style="font-size:130%;">link</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">:<br /></span></span></p></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-39295874981695120402008-03-06T10:29:00.001-08:002008-03-06T10:34:34.179-08:00The Search for the Perfect Martini<div align="justify">I am lending my blog space to my dear friend Kendall “Scott” Mann from Greensboro. Please take the time to e-mail him at kmann@natca.org or skyymann@triad.rr.com with your ideas for his project. Again, this is Scott's project. Please respond to Scott. I will return shortly with my own continued saga of life in this here FAA.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">"I finally got around to starting a book project I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Why am I telling you this? Because I would like your help. The book is called “The Search for the Perfect Martini”.<br /><br />I’m sending this email to folks all over the world to find out just what constitutes a “Perfect Martini” to different people. The term “Perfect Martini” would be a metaphor for “What do you really want?” this is a tough question that most people never give a second thought to, but really should.<br /><br />Here is what I am asking for. I would like for you to write me back at kmann@NATCA.org or skyymann@triad.rr.com with as few or as many sentences as you want, describing your “Perfect Martini”. This could be anything. One of the responses I’ve already gotten is “A boat, alone, beer and fish”. That was a bit brief, but that is what this person wanted to say! I intend to put these together in a book similar to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. One other thing, I will NOT use your name unless you give me specific permission to do so. I will use your location, such as Greensboro, NC.<br /><br />I’m hoping to get thousands of responses and would appreciate you sending this to as many people as you can. The only way this project can really work is to get a very diverse, worldwide response. Any input you can provide is appreciated!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Kendall S. Mann<br />Greensboro ATCT"</span></div>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-62081681279668271652008-02-23T09:07:00.001-08:002008-02-23T09:07:47.882-08:00Grassroots: Power in Numbers<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/xvDAiWWuvRg' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/xvDAiWWuvRg'/></object></p><p>This is an absolutely amazing video! Over 1000 college students from Prairie View College in Texas wanted to vote during the early voting period in the primary, which ends on February 29th. Most colleges have a polling location on site. Prairie View does not.<br /><br />Instead of being deterred, these students conducted a march to the nearest polling location - over SEVEN MILES AWAY - where they waited for tweleve hours to vote.<br /><br />This is the power of the people. It gives me a renewed sense of home in this country and the upcoming generation.</p></div>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-5552710239266235322008-02-22T03:31:00.001-08:002008-02-22T03:31:43.230-08:00Don’t Let The Door Hit You . . .<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Those of you who are intimately familiar with the FAA's game of the past several years realizes that this agency has become a broken record of accusations and empty rhetoric. Never have I seen an entire workforce publically devalued and demoralized as this FAA has done to the nation's air traffic controllers.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Their game is simple: win the public relations war and they can ignore the controllers all together. Their latest tactic is to claim that the controllers union is trying to scare the American flying public into believing the FAA has created a mess even FEMA would shudder at. Apparently, the United States Congress has seen ample evidence from those pesky air traffic controllers to convince them that we are on the absolute wrong track. When we are staffing the air traffic control system to budget rather than needs, it is very obvious that something is awry. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>I've got news for you sunshine, any labor organization worth its salt doesn't cry wolf just because they got a raw deal in contract negotiations. NATCA is no different. I have been a leader in this union for nearly 20 years and we have credibility because we don't haul out the safety card unless something is gravely askew. Make no mistake, this agency ignored hundreds of years of labor history when they rammed what they call a contract down the throats of this nation's air traffic controllers. History has shown and will continue to show that their reckless strong arm tactics at the negotiating table began the dismantling of the nation's aviation system and drove air traffic controllers for the exits. The dispute relates to the safety issues in that the former <strong>created</strong> the latter. FAA imposes work rules, controllers leave in droves, FAA fiddles a little, more controllers leave, FAA decides to ramp up hiring, controllers work six-day weeks, more controllers leave – you get the picture. Furthermore, the FAA continues to ignore their obligation to negotiate and involve the union in matter impacting working conditions to the detriment of the flying public.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>It is well documented that the FAA has been trying to stick a piece of gum in the breach of this dyke of congestion by redesigning the airspace on the Eastern seaboard. Travel delays that begin in the Northeast dovetail throughout the system and can create an absolute mess. Weather delays are largely unavoidable, so we'll set that aside. What we're talking about is capacity delays. No redesign of airspace is going to fix an issue of capacity. Controllers, concrete and scheduling fix capacity issues. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>The fewer eyes we have on the sky, the less airplanes we can handle. It's that simple. You're at the Piggly Wiggly and there are twenty people ahead of you in line. If they open another checkout lane, ten people move over there and they get out twice as fast. You have one controller working a sector that covers a radius of 50 miles around an airport, where 20 airplanes are trying to land. If another controller plugs in and takes half of the airspace and airplanes, the job gets done more efficiently – to a point. You still need to build the additional check-out lane. You can have 20 controllers, each with one airplane and still not increase capacity. The constant in this equation is how long it takes each airplane to touch down, slow down and exit the runway. It cannot be changed. Without pouring more concrete, the only immediate fix is smarter scheduling. The airlines argue that they fly when the people want to fly. If you ask the flying public if they'd rather get from DC to New York in three hours or leave a half-hour earlier and get there in one, the most certainly would opt for the shorter flight.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>I won't argue that the airspace in the Northeast isn't congested – it most certainly is. We recognize the need to alter the airspace to increase efficiency – just do it the right way, with the subject matter experts at the table. The FAA has opted to go it alone and the controllers are speaking up. We are the ones who work the airplanes through the system day in and day out. We are the subject matter experts and we have been cut out of the process of redesigning the airspace in the Northeast. How does the FAA answer to these charges? (<em>The full article can be found <a href='http://www.delcotimes.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FDCT%2FNews&r21.content=%2FDCT%2FNews%2FContentTab_Feature_1618013'>here</a>). <br /></em></span></p><p style='margin-left: 36pt'><span style='font-size:12pt'>"The union is dissatisfied with its contract that the FAA implemented in September 2006. They're playing the safety card, which is outrageous," said Peters. "<strong>If any controller at the Philadelphia Airport believes that these procedures are unsafe, they should look for work elsewhere</strong>. <br /></span></p><p style='margin-left: 36pt'><span style='font-size:12pt'>"These procedures are put in place to ensure that the crews and passengers will arrive safely at the Philadelphia Airport. The controllers are there to ensure the planes get down safe. <strong>If they don't like working for FAA, they should reconsider their line of work</strong>."<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>Oh, ok. If you don't like it, leave. This is a wonderful way to treat those who are charged with keeping you safe day in and day out. Rather than do the right thing and involved the experts who work the system every single day, we'll ram this down your throat, ignore your concerns and tell you "if you don't like it, get the hell out". This is how they want to treat whistleblowers. We all know what happens when you try and quell dissent against an unsafe plan or procedure, and this is no exception. This is quickly becoming the FAA's "<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster'>O-ring</a>". The FAA is treating the controller's union just like NASA and the bosses at Morton Thiokol treated the engineers. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12pt'>One final note: If NATCA were powerful enough that every representative at every facility walked lock-step with the leadership and made the same accusations in the media that you are accustomed to seeing day in and day out, we never would have been in this predicament because the FAA would never have been able to dismantle the system in the manner that they have. We all wish NATCA were that strong and unified. The fact is each individual representative from Seattle to Philadelphia and everywhere in between is taking their turn telling their story to the American people – not an empty suit in a cubicle reading from cue cards – these are working men and women telling you their story, not out of fear of their union, rather for fear of what might happen if they don't speak up.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p></span>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668567733610427649.post-27393272697191216892008-02-21T01:05:00.001-08:002008-02-21T10:11:26.694-08:00Inevitable?<embed name="flashObj" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=" src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/353515028" width="300" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=1424713788&playerId=353515028&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://services.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" seamlesstabbing="false" swliveconnect="true"></embed> <p>Benjamin Franklin once said, in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes. Sure, the absence of my musings here could have been attributed to the former. Actually, it was mostly due to the latter, and I am happy to report that my taxes are done. There doesn't seem to be any certainty in the Democratic nomination process, although one candidate has built some incredible momentum.</p><p>Tuesday's resounding victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii appeared to have given Senator Obama unstoppable momentum heading into the March 4th primaries in Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island. He has now won 10 contests in a row, winning Wisconsin by 17-points, his smallest margin of victory yet. I certainly would never count Senator Clinton out until one candidate reaches the magic number or until she says she's out, but it will be an uphill climb for her. </p><p>The Clinton campaign has <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23257275/">acknowledged </a>that Texas and/or Ohio are must wins. The pundits believe that she must win big in both places to continue on, and the numbers show that the Senator from New York nees to win 55% of all remaining delegates to be the nominee.</p><p>Wisconsin was another state that Senator Obama won where traditionally, the demographics favored Senator Clinton. Exit polling showed every age group, except those over 65, voting for Obama. All women split 50/50 between the candidates, a huge shift. Poll data shows Latino voters shifting with the momentum as well, which could spell trouble in Texas for Clinton. The other "x-factor" in Texas is Republicans. With Senator McCain the presumptive nominee, will Republicans show up at the open Democratic primary to vote for Senator Obama? In Wisconsin, Republicans made up 10% of the voters and 75% of them voted for Senator Obama.</p><p>In the mean time, look for more negative advertising from the Clinton campaign, as desperate times call for desperate measures. Let's hope this process ends in the near term so we can unify behind the labor friendly candidate and get on with the process of healing this great country of ours.</p><p>In case you're still on the fence or concerned about the Senator's experience, here is Barack Obama's <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf">Blueprint for Change</a>.</p>Tony Yhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669673399679656745noreply@blogger.com0