Ice Pops for the People

A new stand called People's Pops opened recently at Chelsea Market providing fresh fruit & herb ice pops & shave ice. I had the Rhubarb & Jasmine & it was delicious & loaded with fruit. They have some pretty cool flavor combinations & I'm looking forward to trying some more. Some of their flavors include...

• Spiced Rhubarb
• Blackberry & Lemon Verbena
• 2-tone Blackberry & Sour Cherry
• Plum, Organic Yogurt and Tarragon (this one's the JAM!! Go Joel!)
  
• Raspberry & cream

I asked if they are going to do the Latin thing & add hot peppers to the mix. They said they have not yet but have been thinking about it...fingers are crossed. They are also available at the Brooklyn Flea market on the weekends for you hipsters. They are $3.50 a pop...& well worth it.

What has Eric so Spooked Out?

Originally I was going to write a piece titled "The Lone-BombMan" based on the current administrations fascination with thinking that every attack on US interests is either the work of a "lone wolf" or better yet a lone wolf who is a middle-aged white guy. The liberal media practically jumped for glee when a middle aged white guy showed up on tape in regards to the van in Times Square. Then it turned out to be a man in his 30's of Pakistani origin & Muslim. Again the "lone wolf". However like the underwear bomber & the "Doctor" who went on a rampage in Ft Hood none of these men were on there own but affiliated with some terrorist organization. How shocking.

Now no one culture, religion, or country as a monopoly on killing in cold blood or in the name of some God. To think all Muslims are terrorists is beyond totally moronic. To not acknowledge that there is currently a serious problem in the Muslim community where a small % is twisting their religion to create atrocities in the name of Allah is being blind, deaf, & dumb. Now what I'm wondering about is why did an administration that wants to treat terrorists like common criminals & give non-Americans the full rights of an American citizen suddenly changing tack? The same guys who were seriously considering holding a terrorist circus in downtown Manhattan are now looking to make changes on Miranda rights for said "terrorists". So what info came out from the latest failed (we got lucky again...we are not going to get lucky all the time) terrorist attack in Times Sq that spooked this administration so...that they are using words like terrorism? What spooked Holder so that a guy that wants to read enemy combatants captured on foreign soil Miranda Rights...to know make changes to that...

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Sunday it would seek a law allowing investigators to interrogate terrorism suspects without informing them of their rights, as Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. flatly asserted that the defendant in the Times Square bombing attempt was trained by the Taliban in Pakistan.

The above is from the Grey Lady herself if you can believe it (see link above for full article). Can you even imagine if Dubya & Darth Chaney would have announced this?!? The new NY Times building would have burned to the ground due to all the NY Times Editors spontaneously combusting all at once out of enraged indignation over this. So again, what intelligence has come out that has spooked this administration so? For the record I'm not asking for the info. I don"t want some shining White Knight(read left wing liberal arts lunatic) NY Times reporter to break a story that can harm US interests & Us Citizens. I'm happy to see that this administration is possibly starting to get it. But...what has come to light that has spooked them so?!?

The O-Pad

Citizens, as of immediate notice the following devices have been banned...The I-Phone, I-Touch, I-Pad, X-Box & PS3. Please check www.governmentapproveddevicesforabetteromerica.com for a complete comprehensive list & future updates. Theses devices must be turned in to your local ACORN immediately or face charges of immediate arrest & treason. To replace said devices the Governments new Technology Enhancement & Wellness division will be delivering the new O-Pad. The O-Pad has all necessary capabilities that Citizens need & none of the applications that are frivolous & not necessary to live a fruitful life as a Citizen. With usual Government efficiency the O-Pad will be ready for pre-order immediately at www.O-Pad.com . It will be ready for delivery in September, 2075.

For those of you that do not understand the above joke because you do not have access to certain devices or news sources please see the link above for a link to the actual commencement speech that Obama made recently. Below are the key quotes...

"And meanwhile, you're coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don't always rank that high on the truth meter. And with iPods and iPads and X-boxes and PlayStations — none of which I know how to work — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation. So all of this is not only putting pressure on you; it's putting new pressure on our country and on our democracy."

Was this said by the same guy who is supposed to be tech savvy & used social networking to get elected & push his agenda now in office? The same President that is the first President to have a CTO? Which for the record is a good idea. Why did he name the products by name? Did he not understand the ramifications? Couldn't he have said that you need to better yourselves & not spend all day on social networking sites & playing games on-line. Go out & socialize with people. Play football & basketball with a ball & friends & not on a coach w/a controller?!?

For the record while I agree we are over-fed non-stop news & opinion without back-up or facts. However, these devices are not to blame & like most things they are double-edged swords. You can easily waste your time on them or us them as a valuable tool both professionally & socially. One can also waste their time hitting a little white ball on an over-watered field that is privatized (Barry, tell me...how would you like being banned from the golf course while President & have your Blackberry taken away?)or one can hike through a National Park & help clean it up.

What info is OK to view & when? Who is to say? Our President? I think it's covered in the 1st Amendment if I'm correct. These devices are tools & like any other tool can be used for good or bad. A hammer can build a home to provide one's family with shelter. It can be used to drive a nail into a wall to hang a painting & add beauty to ones home. It can also be used as a weapon & cause grievous harm. The I-devices are not going away. They will become more & more an integral part of our lives. The key with all tools is to use them properly. To be properly educated both at home & in school. To use some common sense. Something that seems to be missing in our society lately & lacking among our intelligentsia. Who knows...maybe they will come up someday with an app for that...

In the meantime...if anyone decides to come after my I-Touch, X-Box or my soon to be purchased I-Pad...please make sure you are familiar with the 2nd Amendment...