Make a new plan Stan...cause O says you gotta go...

This is a tough one for me...on the one hand I agree with a lot McChrystal had to say & his frustration with this administrations handling of Afghanistan.  Of course I don't know what anybody was thinking about letting a Rolling Stone reporter on a bus with him & his team for days in the first place. I'm guessing they knew what they were saying & the possible repercussions. Of course you do have to give credit where it's due...Mr Big O No Drama Obama lost it...finally. Now on the other hand I can't fault O for firing McChrystal either. He is the Commander in Chief & McChrystal should have saved like comments for private meetings. Keep in mind McChrystal is a life long career Military Officer. When it comes to discipline he most likely operates at a level we cannot even imagine. So I'm guessing that he just had it & knew this would happen. Now here's where my beef is...O is the Commander in Chief...I just really wonder if he gets that. He has at his command the best trained, best equipped, most technically advanced in transportation, communication, weaponry, medical capabilities etc fighting force of ALL time. Like it or not O we are at war. It is not vs another country for resources like most but an asymmetrical war against an ideology. It doesn't matter if he doesn't think we are or if you dear reader do not. Why you ask? Answer: because THEY do! That is why the Trade Center was hit twice, African embassies, The US Cole, the attempt by the show bomber, the attempt by the panties-bomber, the attempt by the idiot in Times Sq etc... THEY believe they are at war & are launching attacks. So now that we got that out of the way...as much as O wants to redistribute wealth, give everyone healthcare, cap & trade to save Gaia (Mother Earth) from fat stupid Americans trying to roast her...he is the President & thus the Commander in Chief of the US Military. Either step up & accept it or don't run in 2012. In the meantime step up & do the job you were voted in for. Stepping down as much as I would like it would be a disaster & leave us with Bite Me & we really don't want him. In the end I wish McChrystal could stay on & I think he should...but I cannot fault O for what he did. The problem is that McChrystal was right in what he said...just should not have said it where he said it. . Let's "hope" that something good comes out of this. That this administration wakes up & O starts showing that he gets it & gets in touch with the American people & the realities on the ground vs the fantasy world in-between his ears. If not...then change is coming...that you can believe!

Bagel Wars...

Recently a new bagel joint opened up in my neighborhood...across the street from my usual place in my hood & one of my favorite places in the city...Daniels on 3rd Ave in Murray Hill. Daniels has some of the best bagels in the city & great old school appetising....white fish salad, belly lox, etc...The only place I think better for the appetising is Russ & Daughters (love the horseradish cream cheese)in the LES.....though I'm guessing those of you on the UWS may argue that it's Barney Greengrass. Fine with me...that's what makes NYC go round...who has the best Pizza, Chinese take-out, Dim Sum, Sushi, Steak, Red Sauce, etc...but I digress for once. How was Vic's Bagel Bar going to survive you ask..? Quite simply by following the old ice cream mix'in formula but with fresh flavored cream cheese spreads! Yes, they have scallions, & chopped tomatoes, chopped lox, blueberries etc...but they must have about 50 different choices that range from $.50(most) to $2.50(lox). Now the key here is to mix up something different to get your $$$$ worth. While they charge a fair $1.10 a bagel & the mix'ins are mostly $.50...the cream cheese plain is $2.50...so a bagel w/cream cheese here with sliced tomato ($1.00) is going to cost close to $5 bucks with tax...which is ridiculous. However if you go for a mix in that's different then you are still paying a premium but at least getting something different. I had a bagel the other day where I combined jalapenos & fresh mango ($1)...it was pricey...at $5 but different & awesome. While I will go back I will stick with my standby Daniels for the most part...I think the crowd shortly out of college & frequently hangover & stoned will be Vic's mainstays(I don't mean this as a dig...just as my belief as to their ideal market)...for instance the other day I heard this combo...avocado, lox, kosher bacon(yes you read that right) a couple of other things on....a whole wheat bagel...way to stay healthy. I would love to know what he was smoking. Since crushed potato chips & edamame are among your other choices one can get rather creative just plain hungry even without the induced munchies by natural chemical means....