December 2008 - Page 6 of 7 - Ramblin' with Roger

The PANHANDLE Question

One of those perennially unresolved questions in my life: what should I do when someone, not of my acquaintance, asks me for money, for food or bus fare?

I claim no insight into this except that to walk past someone as though I didn’t hear the question, as though the person were not there, is not an acceptable solution. For me. I make no judgment about what others do, in part because I’m so inconsistent in my own thinking.

I used to give, then I used not to give. I’ve walked into a pizza joint and given money to the proprietor, telling him to get the fellow a couple slices.

One time a friend and I were in Washington Park in Albany and a guy came up to us and asked for some specific amount of money – $2.87 or something like that. He said he was a VietNam vet and that he was going to use the money to buy liquor. And we GAVE it to him. Either it was so honest that we could not resist or a most excellent con.

And that’s what the real issue is, isn’t it? You give money to someone who says he needs food and you’re afraid that he’ll use it on booze and drugs.

While I understand the logistical reason for doing so, I miss the bus tokens that the bus company, the CDTA, used to sell. I used to buy 10 of them for $9.50 and when someone hit me up for bus fare, I’d just give her a token. They put the kibosh on tokens, BTW, because other items – foreign coins, casino slugs, etc. – could replicate the tokens in the machinery.

I figured out that some folks would then sell the token I gave them to someone for cash, and then buy something else.

This has particularly come to mind, not just because it’s the Advent season but because of the Gospel lesson in the liturgy a couple weeks ago, Matthew 25:31-46, which reads in part:
Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father…For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
This article also came to mind.

So, to be crude about it, aren’t we directed to help that smelly, crazy-looking guy on the street? The fact that I give to registered charities doesn’t take me off the hook when face to face with a human in need. Does it?

I had this conversation with my sister who was musing on the very same issue. She noted that her own safety and security is an issue. I can understand that, which is why I give change and even a crumpled single dollar bill from my pocket, but am resistant to show my wallet. On the other hand, her pastor suggested that if you give money based on one piece of information and the user does something else, that’s on them, not on you. Or are you suppose to “discern” their motivation?

In the words of the Beatles’ second movie title, “HELP!”

ROG

The 1950 Philadelphia Phillies, Levon Helm and Roger Trafford

One of my racquetball buddies, possibly inspired by the success of the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies, was interested to find out who played first base for the World Series winning 1950 Phillies. That would be Eddie Waitkus who played 154 games for the team.

But then I noticed that the left side of the infield, 3B Willie Jones and SS Granny Hamner, each played 157 games. In a 154-game season, how could that be? So I asked Baseball Almanac, because, you know, a librarian just NEEDS to know.

They played three tie games: April 21 at Boston, July 2 (2nd game) at Brooklyn, and August 24 (2nd game) at Chicago.

Ties?

So when they play a tie game, they have to play another one? And the ties didn’t show in the standings, but the individual achievements did?

The ties are supposed to show and it is more complex in respect to the achievements. Prior to 2007 tie games were replayed from the start. Since 2007 they are continued where they left off. If it was a tie before it became official, the stats do not count. If it was official then the stats do count.

So this apparently happened often, but I had just never came across it. Thanks!

Someone asked: “I was looking for information on Levon Helm’s song “I Want To Know”. When I googled the song with the singer’s name, I found your blog. How would I find the information I was looking for? I LOVE your Bush countdown!”

As is often the case for a librarian, I get asked questions I’m not entirely sure of the meaning, yet I feel compelled to answer.

This is what I know:
“I Want to Know” is available as a single, part of the album FestivaLink presents Levon Helm Band: MerleFest Ramble at MerleFest 4/26/08. But it’s not the first appearance of the song on a Helm album. It also shows up on Midnight Ramble Music Sessions, Vol. 2, released February 21, 2006

I Need to Know was a 1958 hit by Ray Charles and sounds like this.
***
Next up:
I found a reference to Roger Trafford (Actor, Larry the Lamb (1947) (TV) in your Ramblin’ with Roger, when I was trying to piece together some background of this man. I understood he was the voice over in the film Larry the Lamb. His name actually was Edward Arthur Johnson, born 1918, and he changed his name by deed poll to Roger Trafford. I am following up a very intriguing story, and would love to know what you have on this actor. Was he also on TV? Do you know where he lived, after leaving Nottingham? I believe he had a son. As he heads your piece about all the Rogers, I hope you can help.

Unfortunately, I found little more about Trafford or Larry the Lamb, which, BTW, is a UK program (or programme), so I’m hoping the wisdom of the Internet will come pouring down on me. Help!
ROG

Seven Random Facts, then Seven More

I have been tagged by Rose from World Outside My Window who wants to know seven random facts about me.

First, the rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know they have been tagged and comment on their blog.

Seven random facts about Roger Green.

1. I’m never used to be a morning person, but my wife is. I adapted.
2. When I was about 10 or 11, my sisters and I all got kittens. Mine was Tiger, Leslie’s was Taffy and Marcia’s was Tony. Tiger got hit by a car and was killed. Marcia, who was 5 or 6, thought this was terribly funny. So not only was I sad because of the loss, but I had suppressed anger toward my baby sister; I mean, I knew she was just a kid, so what could I do? Why, rat her out to my parents, who did talk to her.
3. I never return things to a store unless the items don’t work; I’m loath to shop in the first place and returning something just adds to that. The last thing I returned was a lawn mower to Sears because it costs $200 and had stopped running after two or three uses. The salesperson was very good at trying to make ME feel crummy about bringing it back.
4. I have more stuffed animals than my daughter does. Though she has appropriated some of them, I still consider them mine.
5. If I were wealthy, I would hire a masseuse.
6. I’m very good at packing our car trunk. But my spatial strength does not extend to whole rooms, where my wife asks me to visualize what a room would look like with X furniture here and Y furniture there; I have no idea.
7. I can make a kazoo noise without a kazoo, unless I’m dehydrated.

Then I was tagged with SAME meme by Wayne John. So, in both cases, all of my answers were inspired by THEIR answers, however tenuously.

But before I get to those, Neil Patrick Harris solves the problem with the economy, also featuring other people you might have heard of:

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Now, back to my regularly scheduled blog.

1. At some basic level, I’m a computerphobe. Not so much, though, that people who know even less about he things than I do don’t ask me for help, and usually I can.
2. When I was single, I enjoy being buried in work and having (too many) things to do. Now, not so much.
3. I tend to be very shy in social situations, so I often am doing busywork (setting the table, watch the child, or whatnot) to avoid actually dealing with people.
4. My college major was political science. Not only does it help me be a better citizen, but it’s been useful as a librarian.
5. As a bicyclist and pedestrian, I’ve spent a lot of time sussing out bad driving behavior. Often, while my wife is driving, I’ll say, “that guy is going to pull out ahead of you, and about 95% of the time, I’m right.>
6. I hate cell phones. I don’t need to be that connected, nor do I really want to be. I do own one, but NO ONE knows the number; I use it to call 911 or my wife or work if I’m going to be late, not to be called. I also forget to charge it.
7. I have no tattoos. My wife has an antipathy for them. I don’t, but I’ve not been particularly motivated in that direction even before I was married.

I don’t have seven people to tag, let alone 14, so I guess I’ll pick foure I’ve never picked and one I often pick: Demeur, Rebecca at 40 Forever, Chris Black, Earthly Explorations and the perennial, Kelly Brown.
ROG

T is for Thank You

I’ve said more than once before in this blog that the writing (or whatever it is I do) on this site and elsewhere helps me keep my equilibrium.

So, thank you for coming by.

And it does have its specific unexpected benefits. Just in the last week:
One blogger sent me this and wrote, This Made Me Think of You!
Another blogger has promised me secret swag.
And most incredibly, I commented about a musical group another blogger mentioned on Friday, and yesterday, an album from said same group arrived at my door! Thanks! I liked it on first hearing, especially Mission.

So, as my post-Thanksgiving (US) gesture, I have a few things I would like to send to you all, free of charge, just for the asking. Some of these I have offered before, but since there are new people that come by, I thought I’d make them available again.

Item 1: an annotated version of the United States Constitution. Quantity remaining: about two dozen. I’m an old political science major, and I think it’s important for folks to be aware of its content, instead of what they THINK it says.

Item 2: the book And don’t call me a racist! Quantity available: about six dozen. this was the sourcer of part of our church’s Black history month discussion last year. I’m fascinated by the story of the elderly woman who self-published this book.
I was reading an old ESPN the magazine this week. Someone commented that if people stopped talking about race, then racism would go away; I respectfully disagree.

Item 3: a button that reads Choose Peace. Quantity available: about ten dozen. It’s about 2 inches in diameter and is green with white lettering.

You can request as many as you want. I’m going to wait until Friday, December 12 and send them out. I’ll fulfill the ones with single requests of items (and by that, asking for one of each would be considered a “single” request) first, then parse out the multiple requests after that. So if, e.g. someone asks for all 24 Constitutions, I’ll give out the ones with the single request first, and the one asking for all of them last.

Your charge for postage – zero. Is this offer available outside the United States? Yes.

Know that I may throw in something extra, probably music related.

Send requests to rogerogreen (at) gmail (dot) com

Oh, and feel free to tell others.

Thank You (the Led Zeppelin song) – Lizz Wright
or here

I Thank You – Sam and Dave
or here

Thank You – Sly and the Family Stone
or here.

ROG

Christmas meme

From Johnny B.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I admit it; I have issues with wrapping paper. Specifically, when I was a child, I thought it would be a good idea, instead of wasting money on wrapping paper, to wrap my presents in the comic section of my local newspaper. Now I’d be seen as environmentally sensitive, but then I was mocked. I’ll get over it. Eventually. Maybe.

2. Real tree or artificial?

We’ve actually gone without; we feared a toddler would pull it down on herself. Last year and this, a real one.

3. When do you put up the tree?

It varies widely. It’s been two weeks before, Christmas Eve and everything in between.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Often on New Year’s Day, or a day or two after, though, when it went up on Christmas Eve, it stayed up until Epiphany.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Especially with amaretto. Pour it correctly and it gets all swirly.

6. Favorite gifts received as a child?

My Johnny Seven OMA – one-man army. It was so cool, it’s a surprise I became a pacifist. I was watching the Tonight show and Tom Hanks was talking about having one when HE was a kid.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Johnny’s answer:
My mother. She has no hobbies, has everything she needs, and if she doesn’t have something, she can go out and buy it for herself. It’s an ordeal every year to come up with something…but hey, it’s my Ma! I try hard every year.
That’s about right.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

My daughter. She’s not that greedy, either.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

A couple of them. They don’t always actually get displayed, more out of time crunch than anything.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Last year, probably neither. We HOPE to mail this year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Some work exchange present of a redneck daily calendar.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

I resisted it for SO long, I’ll have to give props to It’s a Wonderful Life. Much darker than I would have imagined.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

I buy when the spirit strikes. I’ve bought in July and after Christmas for distant relatives who don’t care as long as the present arrives by Epiphany.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Probably, but I don’t have a specific recollection.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Candy canes.

16. Lights on the tree?

White.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Coventry Carol, though I have a great fondness for a song by Julie Andrews called The Bells of Christmas.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Usually visit the in-laws in Oneonta, an hour away, but this year, it’s at our house.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

All nine.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Listening to boring debates about how “they” have taken the Christ out of Christmas. My Jehovah’s Witness acquaintance notes that they don’t celebrate Christmas at all because it’s rooted in pagan winter solstice traditions. He wouldn’t put it this way, but one could make the case, by his definition, that most people have taken the Christ, who probably wasn’t a Capricorn, out of Christmas.
Oh, yeah, and the lower headline:

My friend Lynne recommends that people go to visit the Rev Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

I like red things.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Traditional turkey/mashed potatoes.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I don’t know. I mean besides the traditional Hess truck and World Almanac. Oh and the new Macca album.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?

I’m guessing the near-twin Gordon.
***
For those of you not in the Albany-Schenectady area, you can only imagine how utterly furious I am about this story: Ex-Schenectady Police Chief Gregory T. Kaczmarek and his wife, Lisa, are expected to admit their roles in a drug ring that supplied Schenectady streets with cocaine and heroin. I lived in Schenectady only a year and a half, but the idea of the top cop undermining his own law enforcement for personal gain turned me a Christmas shade of crimson.

ROG