Jay About Stowe

So back to my review job.  My special lady and I took off right after Thanksgiving and shot down to Stowe for a relaxing post family weekend.  There was no snow in town and very little on the mountain so we got a favorable rate for a room at the newish Stowe Mountain Lodge.  It was really quite nice.  The service was friendly and attentive.  We were upgraded upon arrival to a nice big suite complete w/ a kitchenette.  The upgrade was to a room w/ a view of the entrance (and mountain) but stil... The bed was clean and very comfortable.  The bathroom was nice especially the nice large tub.  There was a little gas fireplace that was nice.  The place was busier than I had ever seen it.  Other than the rooms it was pricey.  A Heady Topper was $12.  Ouch!  We also had a couple massages at the spa and oh my!  My massage was pretty good and the hot tub/locker room/steam room areas were very nice.  My one complaint was the quiet room.  It was not quiet.  There were two New Yorkers screaming to each other about Facebook.  There was a kid running around w/ another couple.  2 other women came in and were yelling.  No reason to yell, it is a quiet room.  Also why was everyone on Facebook on their phone?  Weird right?  Anyway... overall the MTN Lodge was expensive but quite comfortable and we had a pleasant stay.

Friday night my lady had a hankering for fondue so we cruised over to the Stowehoff.  That place could be considered old school and charming... or a shit hole.  I prefer the prior, I kind of like the place. We had a good burger, well cooked, perfect size, on an English muffin.  A-bird had a very plain green salad and then a bowl of cheese (cheddar and Gruyere).  Hey, it was melted cheese it was good.  The best part was the couple from Mass. that sat down next to us and proceeded to talk to us non stop.  Anytime there was a break in the action... my buddy started up again. He has a 15 year old daughter, lives in Dracut, works nearby at a semiconductor plant, likes long walks on the beach.  It was something.  They were very friendly.  I liked the place and would give it 1 thumb up if you like divey atmosphere pretty good simple food.

Saturday we rocked brunch at the Green Goddess.  It was excellent.  I had an egg sandwich w/ spinach and mushrooms that was really good.  The bacon was well cooked and delicious.  Coffee was good.  It was reasonable priced and very tasty. 1 1/2 thumbs up.

Saturday night we went to what was the Shed, now called Crop.  It was good.  The service was also very attentive and friendly.  The new dining room atmosphere and space is much better than what the Shed had going.  The pub needs some work... and was empty.  Anywho, they started me w/ a delicious Manhattan and my wife w/ a good and not too sweet non-alcoholic cranberry drink in a martini glass.  Solid work bartender.  We started w/ a well cooked and salty pretzel, some ok not great brussel sprouts, and deviled eggs which were creamy and quite good, especially the 2 that had bacon!  My wife had a fresh and tasty green salad that never stopped.  I had a BBQ pulled chicken sandwich.  Chicken was well cooked but could have used more mop sauce.  The side salad was good, nice dressing, and Portuguese roll was a nice touch.  We finished up w/ cookies to go.  They came w/ ice cream but the waiter was very nice and substituted a coffee to go for me.  Solid man, and the cookies were awesome. 1 1/2 thumbs up.  I'd go again.

So there you have it, nice relaxing weekend.  Oh yeah, we also saw Skyfall.  It was very long.  I liked it, though not quite as much as Casino Royale.  Lady was getting a little bored.  Still, if you like action movies and have a few hours to kill, check it out.  And there you have it.

Jay About Mayor Miro

I was going to do a review of our recent trip down to Stowe for a relaxing post Turkey Day weekend but there is a local news story that is just too interesting to ignore. First off here is the link to the original story http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20121126/NEWS02/311260023/Skinny-Pancake-gets-livable-wage-exemption-airport-contract?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

And here is a rebuttal of sorts... http://7d.blogs.com/offmessage/2012/11/battle-lines-drawn-in-skinny-pancake-livable-wage-controversy.html


Now to be fair, I know the Skinny Pancake guys and my issue is not necessarily with them.  When I first heard the news of their move into the airport I thought it was a remarkable coup.  There are no post security booze or food options in the BTV airport and for times when you get through security early (often) or are delayed (sometimes) or maybe are just arriving into town after a long trip and need a beer and crepe... this was huge.  I mean, I can't believe nobody at the airport ever green lit this idea before because it seems like a way to mint money.  It was interesting how a local company could outbid bigger competitors especially with their local produce driven model, but these guys are pretty savvy from what I can tell.

Well, if you believe the Free Press (which I usually do not) the playing field was not exactly level.  Hey, the livable wage is ridiculous and paying somebody $17.71/hr to serve coffee seems excessive and frankly not at all competitive in a global sense.  I appreciate the fact that sourcing local ingredients is more expensive and I think the argument that overall the good that this could do the community was well worth the exemption. 

Here is the problem... Mayor Miro Weinberger did not articulate that argument and frankly can't seem to avoid stepping in shit.  Maybe it seems sexy to act like a big time politician and always be grifting and doing business in shady ways but this community is too small for that crap.  First he tries to give his buddy the, new AG, a big raise.  Maybe the guy deserved it but given that they were friends, the way the story came out, and the fumbling response it was just a mess.  Well lesson learned.  Oh wait, the lesson was not learned?  The mayor did the exact same f*ing stupid thing again less than 1 yr later?!  You are friendly w/ a local businessman and then all of a sudden a related business seemingly gets very favorable treatment?  And on top of that the exemption you allow is to take away $$ from workers in a down economy when this is the most sensitive issue facing politicians across the country.  Are you an idiot?  I am very pro business and have been happy to hear you are trying to fire up what has become somewhat of a stagnant city in that respect.  I am a fan of the Adler's and think they are running a solid business.  Shit, I want a beer once I get through security!!!!  But, who is running PR for the mayor of Burlington?!  Fire that person... today!!! Between the daily coffee breaks and trips for lunch of whatever, the non-stop useless tweets, the wow I can't believe I get front row for Dalai Lama pics, and the political favoritism for friends... I half expect Marion Berry to be our next City Treasurer.

Pull it together.  Maybe pick your spots and think about the impact of decisions you make as they relate to the various thematic elements within the city/state/country.  In any instance where there might be a whiff of impropriety draft out a plan and a clear justification for the choices you have made that are clear, concise, and ready before (not after) you screw up. If you worked at a bank you would be in front of Congress and the SEC... and Bernie would be leading the charge. Seriously, could you imagine if a Republican pulled an exemption for livable wages here in Vermont?  You would have to be buying directly from only VT farmers and pay triple the wholesale food costs to justify that to Welch and Sanders.  Please let this city trust you and respect you.  Bob Kiss may have been a clown but I never saw him as a shyster which is the reputation you are gaining.

And another thing... why do they call it taking a dump when you are clearly leaving it?!?!?

**** here is a follow up letter from the Skinny Pancake.  Worth a read.  Again, my argument is not really with SP. http://skinnypancake.com/2012/11/28/the-truth-about-the-livable-wage-ordinance-exemption/

New emails from Patraeus!nope, all fictional**

General Patraeus: Hey hot stuff... I really want to (*^*&%&^%  ^*&^*&*%^ $^&#^%^& with you!
Paula Broadwell: Oh me too... let's ^*^*&(*% with a water canteen and then *%&^%$*^%$ ^%*%&^% ^%&$&!
GP: Oh yeah, the we can $*&$*$* on that tank while I ^%&^% &^*&^*)!
PB: I am getting so %*&^$&$&*($
Jill Kelley: Hey, I like parties... can I come?
PB:  F*** No!!!!  You ^%&*^%$&%$ ^%(&%&(^!!!!!
GP: Now, now... there is plenty of Dave Big D P to go around.
PB: Wait, David... are you sure this is ok?
GP: Sure, why?
PB: Well, you do work for the CIA right? Can't they find this stuff?
GP:  No way... I am using GMAIL silly, it's ANONYMOUS!  Plus I used a cell phone, hard to track those signals, no hard line you know.  Just to make sure, I wear a hat, sunglasses, and a trench coat when I am coming to meet you... and a fake mustache.  Jeez, good thing I know about the spy game!  Hey, you here any weird clicking just now?



Can't reveal my sources but pretty sure that is how it all went down **nope, all fictional**

So we watched Safe House last night on HBO.  It was described as a pulse pounding non stop action thriller.  Well, my pulse was just fine and the action stopped plenty of times.  You did have Denzel Washington doing Denzel Washington things.  Ryan Reynolds is a terrible action star.  He looks the part but is too goofy, he should stick to comedies.


Now, if you will excuse me... I need to put on my fake mustache, I have a hot date tonight!

Argo-F*** Yourself

Special lady and I got out to the movies this weekend.  Figuring James Bond would be a madhouse we went to another flick we had wanted to see, Argo.  It was pretty good.  Interesting story, good pace, solid soundtrack, fine acting.  I liked it.  Huge fan of Alan Arkin.  I realize I was only 5 or so when this thing went down in Iran but I don't remember any of the story about the 6 who escaped the embassy.  Most likely there was plenty of embellishment but this was pretty exciting. I also enjoyed how Ben Affleck got 70s shaggy hair and beard so he could pretend to be a most likely clean cut Hispanic dude. Also funny was that he smoke too much, drank too much, only ate take out... but had a ripped 6 pack.  He stole my secret!  If so are looking for a movie to check out, this was a good one.  Even though the Palace 9 in SoBu had to stop the movie twice to reset the speakers that were emitting a loud droning buzz. Queen Bee rules that Palace.  ZZZZing! 

BTW, I know that sloppy sling or whatever the f*** that skit on SNL was, is getting buzz but it sucked and was a stupid rip off of the Lonely Planet internet skits.  Drunk Uncle was good though.

Paul Ryan hoping Obama is ready to lead w/ the fiscal cliff approaching.  Probably also was hoping that he wouldn't be a loser VP candidate as well.  Good to want things Paul.  At least he can take solace in his ability to do sit ups.  If he smoked, drank, and ate junk food he would not need that P90X.... am I right Ben Affleck?  You know what I am saying!  So far the 2 sides are getting even more dug in on their positions for the fiscal cliff so get ready for a chapped ass.  I would like to personally thank my congressmen Bernie and Peter for their intractable positions.  Your ability to stick to the party line regardless of what is in the best interest of your constituency and the country at large is a shining example of leadership and a true measure of your stature as men of the people.  Wait, it is the exact opposite of that?  You don't actually listen at all you just act like that old guy who still doesn't believe we actually landed on the moon?  Oh, well then... I didn't vote for either of these clowns.  And if you are saying, well Jay... if you are so smart why don't you try your hand at government?  Well, I wrote myself in for Senate and I encourage you to do the same next election cycle.  I would gladly sacrifice the medium bucks for the good of the state and country.  That and the salary that is too high and term that is too long for public servants.  Just saying.

One last (maybe) voting thing

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Charlotte VT was a zoo.  But they did have baked goods for sale to benefit the elementary school?

sorry, that joke may be in bad taste.  Of course, people probably should be working rather than throwing fire bombs...

Shameful

The follow up to this election is shameful at best.  Minutes after the results were announced the conservatives and liberals began their sniping anew.  Obama will not have to worry about re-election and the right does not have to worry about Biden so there is not need for another 4 years of campaigning, just get to work you assholes.  The right claims Obama's win is no mandate from the people.  He won.  What more of a mandate do you need, when you are elected president that is the mandate from the people!  It was only by 2%?  That is 2 % more than Mitt Romney.  And Obama... you should learn from your last disaster.  You almost lost to a guy nobody likes because your record is terrible.  What really bothers me is the bullshit.  Romney ran on his ability to work across the aisle.  The minute Obama was elected the Republicans said they would not work with him.  He never had a chance.  Of course jamming a sweeping health care reform down their throats was not the way to make any friends. And now we are on the precipice of a fiscal cliff and we will go over it. 

Boehner just came out and said they would not raise taxes but would raise revenue with reforms such as the 1986 Tax Reform.  Oh, the one that cost 8.9 billion in revenue and actually helped lead to the eventual Bush I tax increase that cost him his job?  That worked well.  Meanwhile there is no way the left will work without some kind of tax increase, period.  Short sighted as well.  Plus the right will not cut defense for Medicaid and the left is the opposite.  No one will bend. They just send vague back handed shots at each other.  It is such a polarized government the 2 sides spend time taking each other down rather than build the country up.  I am just disgusted at our political system.  Believe me I know... I am in the home state of Bernie "Come to Vermont!" Sanders, Howard "hhhyyyyaaaa!!!!" Dean, and Peter "I hate business" Welch.  So there is that.

Election Day!

And it is all about Ohio!!!  Shit.

Hurricane Sandy

What a mess.  I thought it was a non event as we did not even get the high winds predicted here in VT but seeing the dedestation down in NYC it is a shame.  How can the city of NY put on the marathon?  The legistics alone will take away so much from the clean up effort.  I mean they still don't have power below 40th st. right?  And the outer burroughs are a shit show.  Meanwhile the marathon gets generators for the media tent?  WTF?!  At least the rock community is there to the rescue w/ a concert.  Oh wait, that takes up precious time and resources as well?  Oh crap!  I will give a bit of credit to ConEd who is getting crushed all over the place.  I bet it is hard to plan for a 100yr storm and further I bet there are some ConEd employees working their tails off to help those w/out power.  To those folks I say kudos. 

What is the best way to help other than flying in gas cans... anybody know?  Here is a link to the Red Cross, though to be fair I am not sure how much $$ they divert or take for admin. costs.  http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations

Good luck to those dealing w/ this messed up situation.  No jokes this week.