General Hospital, Havre de Grace, and What's for Dinner?

 

It’s the eternal unanswerable question.  At one time I paid a website to furnish me with weekly menus and shopping lists.  It was designed for moms with little kids.  I had three grownups and a teen but  I didn’t tell them.

JLens- Big Brother Comes to D.C., Md. & Eastern U.S.

It's the "Big Brother" Pentagon project you haven't heard that much about except for short articles in the Baltimore Sun & The Boston Globe.This is a joint project from defense contractor Raytheon (hello, Portsmouth, RI, although this is worked on in Mass, et al and the Pentagon.

While we've been distracted with surveillance problems with the FBI, CIA, and Congress, this very expensive and ongoing project has been ignored by most of the mainstream press. JLENS is the "Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System" (go ahead, I dare you to say that quickly five times). In plain English this is a highly sophisticated radar system consisting of two blimp-like devices (each about as large as a football field) which are tethered to a mooring and a processing center. They can track vehicles (include any kind of boat or airplane) above/below water) along most of the eastern U.S. (N.C. to Can. & W. Va. to R.I.) One devices "sees" and the other translates in real time. They remain airborne for about one month before they need to be hauled down and refilled with helium. These aerostats (aka "blimps") float no higher than 10,000- 15,000 feet- migrating birds fly at this height.

Originally this was to be a much larger project but sequestration and tough times seem to have slowed things down. Right now the Army at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (15 min. from where I live) is getting ready to test this system to see if they wish to purchase it outright from Raytheon. I would know Aberdeen was nearby even if I did not know the distance involved because I hear the booms and feel the vibrations frequently.

This is all part of a missile defense system first proposed in 1983 by Pres. Ronald Reagaon and dubbed "Star Wars." It died in 1984 when the "Cold War" ended. Its current phase it's being touted as providing protection to Wash., D.C. I'm approximating two billion dollars has already been spent by us for development of this project, but there are conflicting numbers due to its secretive nature & current budget boondoggle. It's to begin a three year evaluation here this Spring.  The next step is actual standardized use.

What does all this blah-blah mean? Raytheon touts it as cost-efficient and effective. The military also loves it for the same reasons. Heads-up criticism or shortcomings are mighty hard to find, but this may be due to the very quiet publicity this project has received. Wildlife, privacy and safety concerns all come to mind, not to mention costs. The project at Aberdeen has been budgeted, but will it hold?

Maryland's Rep. Bartlett Against Student Loans

Or is he?

Representative Roscoe Bartlett from Maryland said on Sept. 5 in a town hall meeting, "Not that it's not a good idea to give students loans, it certainly is a good idea to give them loans... But if you can ignore the Constitution to do something good today, tomorrow you will be ignoring the Constitution to do something bad. You could... The Holocaust that occurred in Germany -- how in the heck could that happen? And when you start down the wrong road, it can be a very slippery slope." 1 The next day he issued an apology regarding the Holocaust comparison.  This dude is the second oldest Republican in the House (1926), so he lived through WWII and well knows what the Holocaust is. A slippery slope?  Student loans?   Perhaps this remark is related to the fact that the largest ethnic background of his constituents is German?  Or perhaps his mouth was engaged while his brain was still in neutral? He's served since 1993, and is also a member of the Tea Party Caucus.  His district was redrawn this year from the Western Maryland Appalachian hinterlands (e.g., Republican and 60% white) to include pieces of Baltimore, Harford, Montgomery, etc., where they actually have Democrats and minorities more representative of the State as a whole. The national Democratic Party also decided to tackle this re-election campaign with monies believing they might actually defeat this man. Bartlet won re-election despite admitting to property tax cheating (by over a million $) & lying on his federal disclosure form ($5,000 fine). He calls himself a "bit player" in real estate while he is the wealthiest member of Maryland's federal delegation.  What a guy! Perhaps he needs to like, actually reread the Constiutution which says the the power to decide legislative legalities belongs to the umm, you know, Supreme Court. I'm just sayin'... Maybe it's time to give HIM the boot!  Student loans - WORK!!!!  I had them.  How about you? John Delaney

Happy Labor Day, Siemens, North East, Maryland!

*** The results of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election at Siemens in North East Maryland, USA: 15 workers voted Yes and 24 voted No. 2 workers did not vote.

 

Hello, Cecil Whig- where the heck are you?  You covered sucessful unionizing efforts at the IKEA warehouse recently here in Perryville.  WHASSUP?  That one was peaceful (thumbs up to Ikea) & this one is not.  Could that be the difference?  You got me!


The conflict at Siemens (a German electronics & engineeringineering company)  has made national & international news.  The problem is being discussed on Facebook- with photos no less!  It's in North East, Md. and has 42 production employees.

In a nutshell: "It [Siemens] even just signed an agreement with labour organizations committing to respect workers’ rights around the globe. So what does Siemens do within days after signing this agreement? It launches a vicious union busting campaign. In Maryland, USA, Siemens has hired a top-dollar anti-union consultant and waged a campaign that’s included intimidation, surveillance, threats involving termination, and prohibiting Siemens employees from even talking about the union." source

Exactly what do the union busting tactics involve?  Well... you'll get fired!

Final vote to join the United Steelworkers is Sept. 6.  The Union has filed unfair labor charges against Siemens with the NLRB.

Oh, BTW: HAPPY LABOR DAY!

 

Dear Kevin Spacey,

Dear Kev,

You used to be my most favorite actor.  Note the operative "used to be."  I'm upset and I think that I have a right to be so.  Most of it is your own fault.  I still love you, just not as much.  And my "love" will now always be tempered with a caveat. 

So "poag mahone"- and I know that you know what that means.  But I say it kindly.

I became inordinately fond of you when we first met- in the t.v. series, "The Wise Guy."  You were the PERFECT villain.  Really detestable!!!  But with excellent writing AND acting, you were sometimes human- in other words- not all bad with some redeeming qualities.  What fun that role must have been!

You were a not so nice guy to loveable actor Jack Lemmon in "Glengarry Glen Ross." BTW, Nice tribute to him on my all-time fav channel- Turner Classics.  And what a magnificent piece of work in "The Usual Suspects."  The last minute of that film is quite remarkable in a rather confusing plot, to say the least.  The only comparable I can come up with is some of those exquisite actors in the old silents.  Not a word & we "get it." Such a piece of acting!  You were once again truly EVIL.  

While it's true we've never had a face-to-face, we almost have & that works for me.  A few years ago when I was a Newporter (RI., of course), you were honored & rec'd an award there. My exercise pal, Mrs. Nuala Pell was presenting it (spouse of the famous R.I. Senator Claiborne Pell, father of Pell Grants). I could have gone to the reception & met you, but I demurred because of the $- son beginning college & all that.

But I digress- when they started advertising a need for extras for the Balto. based production of Netflix's "House of Cards," I pondered, then thought, why the heck not?  My uncle was an extra in "Mystic Pizza" filmed in New London and kept telling us the set talk was about this new young actress- Julia Roberts (He could have been in more films if he'd owned a tuxedo). So I applied- one more item off the bucket list.  He had said it was a lot of sitting around.  Hey, I could do that. After all- I have northern European white girl flat ass syndrome- perfect for lounging.  Hah!!!

So I excitedly said YES when the casting call came.  I was to play a military wife in a party scene.  Dress appropriately (booooring). Be there by 7 pm.

By 9:30 after being fed & watered and shuffled about, I had spent a lot of time sitting.  And that's where the good news ends.  About ?120 of were shuffled up to the set for the party scene- standing only, of course.  So there I was with Robin Wright (co-star from "The Princess Bride" & "Forrest Bump") & two ? other major actors not 12 feet from me.  Of course, it was mostly your back I saw, but it's a FINE back.

Take 1, take 1, take 3, take 500.  I lost count.  A few lousy lines. We ALL had them memorized.  Maybe 60 sec. of usable film.  We were there until 6 a.m.  SIX AM!!!!  Hello!!!!  On our feet!  We had no stand-in's- unlike yourself.  I'm 60 (well, that's what I told casting & I'm sticking with it).  My body is not made for this!!

With a bunch of young kids (assistants, aides, interns, who knows?) hollering at us- look lively!  Stop talking!  Mime!  Don't drink what's in your glasses!  Freeze!  Places!  Blah, blah, blah, yacketty, smacketty.  I could easily have taken any one of them on.  Quiet!  Then there was the ass't who spent a lot of his time scratching his balls (really, why do guys do that?  Checking to see if they're still there? jock itch? twisted underwear?).

We women were in heels and sitting whenever, wherever we could.  We learned not to believe anyone when they said they were filming immediately if your stand-in was there.  Duh.  Why so many takes?  Only a few involved camera/lighting changes.  Are we not human?  Do we not bleed?  Yeah, our pay is lousy, but...

I finally figured out who the main director was- older dude (like unlike many of the PAID others- an ADULT).  I could have slapped him silly. Kill the director!  I did see you having a few words with him.  I know what I would have told him- what the fuck?  how many times do you have to film the SAME thing?  are you an idiot?  We're TIRED!  You were likely more... diplomatic.  After that talk the end was near. 

And where is my pay?  I still haven't gotten it.  Evidently there were a few Union members there, but not we lowly extras.  Your union wants no more members.  Mine- NEA is a LOT friendlier.  No special meals, seats, etc. for us.  And btw, I THINK  the pay for an extra and a substitue teacher in this state is about the same- LOUSY. You'd think they'd pay subs a tad more, but...No-o-o-o-.

Then a half hour waiting to fill out my pay voucher (Union first) which I still have NOT yet rec'd (did I mention that?).

Another hour to get home- rush hour & all- lucky me going the opposite way most of the time.  I dragged myself to bed leaving a trail behind me- a shoe, another shoe, watch, etc.- still wearing my dress & with hair & make-up done (that was fun- I looked extremely elegant, if I do say so myself- and I do!)  My curly hair was pulled back so tightly in a French twist that it was instant face lift (this is NOT a complaint). 

Then- three days- Advil and PAIN.  Chiropractor.

When the casting company called later to hire me to continue the scene- NO!!! I'm now a SIT DOWN extra only!!! Thank you for calling.

So, Kevin, baby.  Get me on that other list.  Better yet, I'll be your stand-in.  Or your go-fer.  Yes, you & Robin had one.  Sigh.  

You owe me big time!  I'm waitin'.  Call me, hon.

I'll still strongly dislike you, but I'll take out some of the stuff I said.  Like the part that I think you were wearing a rug.  Maybe.  I don't know.  It depends on my mood.  If you ever think of killing the director, though, I'll testify as to justifiable homicide. 

BTW, did I mention I have NOT yet been paid for work 3-4 weeks ago.  So, dahhh-ling, you know where to find me.  The phone book for Cecil County will do it.  Under pissed off, where's my beef, or cross that one off the bucket list.  Too bad you are no longer a shoe salesman- revenge could be very sweet.  

Good actor, though.  Heck, I don't even have Netflix.

Hugs & kisses,

Eileen

YES, I meant to close my eyes.  

PS. Just rec'd my huge salary of $85.  Whooppee! Substitute teaching pays slightly less for a day. Still waiting to hear from Kevin

I

New Blog

You haven't been hearing from me for awhile- and there's a reason for that!  I have relocated and am now using my born name of Rice- major life changes, indeed .
I am now living, at least for awhile, in a beautiful condo on the Susquehanna on the upper Eastern Shore in Maryland.  As I write on my deck on an absolutely gorgeous day with a warm temp & low humidity, I am looking down on the boat docks, watching and listening to the Acela train pass by nosily on the r.r. trestle, and gazing on the town of Harve de Grace.  Oops, another train is coming announced by two quick whistle blasts.
Noisey, yup.  But since my dad, granddad, etc. were r.r. for a few generations (N.Y., N.H., & H and B&O), I am comfortable.  Although, in the evening in bed when suddenly that very small bright light hits me and then the loud, low, slow rumble of the freight train shuffles by- less so.
I lived in Balto. County for many years as a kid & young adult.  I then grew up and lived and worked on the Eastern Shore during and after college.  As I like to tell people here, I did live here more than a few years ago.  I understand the language, but the lingo sometimes trips me up.  LOL!
So please feel to visit me on my new blog.  If u are ever in the area, u have a friend here with a BIG condo and an extra bed!  However, my connections to the Newport area are NOT completely gone.  My house, my dog, my sons, my house are still there!  At least for now.
No, u can't go home again.  But visiting is certainly interesting!!!