Ramblin' with Roger

A Matter of Cents

You know, we don’t usually deal with IMPORTANT stuff on a regular basis. So why is it the most mundane day-to-day stuff that drives one (OK, me) a little nuts?

The sales tax law is fairly arcane in New York State. It reads, in only small part:

Tax Law § 1115. Exemptions from sales and use taxes.
(a) Receipts from the following shall be exempt from the tax on retail sales imposed under subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred five and the compensating use tax imposed under section eleven hundred ten:
(1) Food, food products, beverages, dietary foods and health supplements, sold for human consumption but not including (i) candy and confectionery, (ii) fruit drinks which contain less than seventy percent of natural fruit juice…
[Emphasis mine]

I go to the corner store to buy a bottle of juice. The proprietor carefully peruses the bottle, notes that it’s 100% juice and correctly rings up the sale on the non-taxable key. I mention how strange the sales tax law is, that if the beverage were less than 70% juice, it’d be taxable. The proprietor scowls, “No, if it were 99% juice, it’d be taxable.”

So this is is my issue: should I go print out the law (actually, I already have, and have highlighted it to boot) to show the proprietor, or should I let it go?
Certainly, I was mildly peeved with his dismissive tone, but it’s also the case that he’s charging tax on some products that just aren’t taxable. Then again, how many beverages ARE there out there that have between 70% and 99% juice, anyway?
The tax in the state between the state plus the local is about 8%, so on a $1.50 drink, it’s only 12 cents.
Is it the “principle of the thing” or is it just ego?

Another example of the same thing: I bought one donut from the Dunkin’ Donuts in the 20 Mall a couple weeks, generally 79 cents when I buy it elsewhere, but 85 cents there. I saw her ring in 79 cents, but it must have been on the taxable button, the button one would use for prepared foods to be consumed. Restaurant food is taxable, but a dozen donuts (which one would HOPE would not be downed in one sitting) is not. I seldom go to that mall, so I’m not likely to go complain over six cents, but still…

Veering off topic somewhat: I had this friend from Manhattan. For some reason, I mentioned that she lived in New York County. She became indignant. “No, I don’t, I live in Manhattan County.” I agreed that she lived in Manhattan borough. “And I live there,” she scolded. “I ought to know!” Yes, she should, but she didn’t. I let it go.

Oscar 2005/2006

Remember the year when Peter Fonda was nominated for Ulee’s Gold? I do. It was the 1997 Oscars that were presented in 1998. It was the ONLY performance that year that I did not see in all of the major categories.

I went out of my way to see the nominated films. On Presidents’ Day weekend 1998, I saw four of the selections, including “L.A. Confidential” and “Mrs. Brown” on the same day.

How times have changed.

There are big holes in my viewing this Oscar season. But that won’t stop me from suggesting who will win, who should win and who I want to win.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Capote”
Terrence Howard in “Hustle & Flow”
Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain”
Joaquin Phoenix in “Walk the Line”
David Strathairn in “Good Night, and Good Luck.”
Saw three out of five, not Howard and not (alas!) Phoenix.

Strathairn won’t win, because a lot of people don’t think it was much of a stretch; I do, but there it is.
Howard won’t win, because he was selected as much for “Crash” as for this.
Ledger has a very strong Aussie accent, so his vocal transformation was quite astonishing. But he mumbled a lot, and people behindd me in the theater kept asking each other, “What did he say?” I couldn’t help them, either.
I was listening to the “Walk the Line” soundtrack last week. Phoenix was very good, especially on the vocals of the early tunes such as “Get Rhythm” and the duets, not so much on “Ring of Fire”. Though he also sang, I doubt they’ll give it to an actor portraying a singer two years in a row.
Who will win: Hoffman
Who should win: Phoenix or Hoffman
Who I want to win: Hoffman, who I’ve enjoyed in other films and who shares the last name with two of my co-workers.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

George Clooney in “Syriana”
Matt Dillon in “Crash”
Paul Giamatti in “Cinderella Man”
Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain”
William Hurt in “A History of Violence”
Saw the middle three.

Hurt could win, though I’ve been told it’s essentially a cameo.
Giametti’s been jobbed before – should have been nominated for “Crumb” and certainly for “Sideways”. He’s good here, but there’s a Ron Howard backlash.
Clooney could get three Oscars…or none.
Gyllenhall will win if there’s a Brokeback sweep.
Dillon is a strong contender in a strong cast.
Who will win: I have no idea. Clooney, Dillon or Gyllenhall. If Clooney gets only one, it’ll likely be this one.
Who should win: Ditto
Who I’m rooting for: Dillon
BTW, who was the STAR of “Crash”? Don Cheadle was pivotal, but I doubt he (or anyone else) was on the screen for even 50% of the time. I’ll contend that EVERYONE was a supporting performer.

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Judi Dench in “Mrs. Henderson Presents”
Felicity Huffman in “Transamerica”
Keira Knightley in “Pride & Prejudice”
Charlize Theron in “North Country”
Reese Witherspoon in “Walk the Line”

When the nominations came out, I had seen NONE of these performances. Subsequently, I saw the first two.
Dench has the Meryl Streep problem – Oh, another good performance! (Yawn.)”
Huffman is in a film no one has seen.
Knightley’s probably too young, though with an impressive body of work. Pictured, she’s my wife’s choice also the only one she’s seen.
Theron got her Oscar a couple years ago.
Witherspoon has paid her dues in fluff.
Who will win: Witherspoon
Who should win: From what I hear, Witherspoon.
Who I’m rooting for: Huffman. I liked her in “Sports Night”. I also loved her response to Lesley Stahl of “60 Minutes” a few weeks ago, when asked if having children was the most rewarding thing she ever did. “No!” she bellowed. “And I’m insulted that you said that!”
However, I was totally perplexed by that commercial of hers for Dove that ran during Gilmore Girls (and, I understand, Desperate Housewives). I was watching the GGs on tape, but it stopped me dead in my tracks until I watched the thing.

I do like the idea of Hoffman and Huffman as Oscar winners.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams in “Junebug”
Catherine Keener in “Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Frances McDormand in “North Country”
Rachel Weisz in “The Constant Gardener”
Michelle Williams in “Brokeback Mountain”
Saw Keener and Williams.

It doesn’t matter how much Roger Ebert loved Adams’ performance; it still won’t win.
I love Keener, but her role in this movie didn’t move me.
McDormand, I heard, was good.
Weisz was the heart of her movie, I read.
Williams was quite good, a far cry from “Dawson’s Creek”. I also liked her in “Dick”.
Who will win: Weisz.
Who should win: Probably Weisz.
Who do I want to win: Weisz, for a most prosaic reason – wanna guess?
And the picture is of Thandie Newton, who won the British equivalent of the Oscar in this category, who I might have been rooting for if she were nominated here.

Adapted screenplay

“Brokeback Mountain” Screenplay by Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana
“Capote” Screenplay by Dan Futterman
“The Constant Gardener” Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine
“A History of Violence” Screenplay by Josh Olson
“Munich” Screenplay by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth
Saw the first two.
“Capote” was more a star turn, “gardener” never got mo. and “Violence” was underseen. The morality of “Munich” disturbed some.
Who should win: Munich or Brokeback
Who will win: Brokeback
Who I’m rooting for: Brokeback and Munich, because of my appreciation for McMurtry and Kushner

Original screenplay

“Crash” Screenplay by Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco; Story by Paul Haggis
“Good Night, and Good Luck.” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov
“Match Point” Written by Woody Allen
“The Squid and the Whale” Written by Noah Baumbach
“Syriana” Written by Stephen Gaghan
Saw “Crash”, “Good Night” and “Squid”
“Crash” could win, but there seems to be a backlash
Is “Good Night” where they’ll honor Clooney?
I love Woody, but he’s been accused of copping Dostoevsky, and he isn’t Hollywood.
“Squid” is too small a story.
Some people, even those who LIKED the movie, found “Syriana” incomprehensible.
What will win: Crash (?)
What should win: Crash
What I’m rooting for: Crash

Achievement in directing

“Brokeback Mountain” Ang Lee
“Capote” Bennett Miller
“Crash” Paul Haggis
“Good Night, and Good Luck” George Clooney
“Munich” Steven Spielberg
Lee is an eclectic director with an impressive body of work. Just don’t think it’ll be Miller, and I figure Haggis will get the screenplay. Hollywood has often been generous to actors who direct (Beatty, Costner, Eastwood). And of course, one cannot write off Spielberg.
Saw all all except “Munich”
Who will win: Lee
Who should win: Lee or Spielberg
Who I’m rooting for: Lee or Spielberg

Best motion picture of the year

“Brokeback Mountain” A River Road Entertainment Production, Diana Ossana and James Schamus, Producers
“Capote” An A-Line Pictures/Cooper’s Town/ Infinity Media Production, Caroline Baron, William Vince and Michael Ohoven, Producers
“Crash” A Bob Yari/DEJ/Blackfriar’s Bridge/ Harris Company/ApolloProscreen GmbH & Co./Bull’s Eye Entertainment Production, Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman, Producers
“Good Night, and Good Luck.” Good Night Good Luck LLC Production, Grant Heslov, Producer
“Munich” A Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg and Barry Mendel, Producers
Saw all except “Munich”
I guess it’s between “Brokeback” and “Crash”. One of the Washington Post movie critics believe that the older Oscar voters will get the “Brokeback” DVD and not get through it; he picks “Capote”.
What will win, what I think should win, and what I’m rooting for: Crash

In any case, I’ll watch the show Sunday, and then read Tom the Dog’s cogent, if not sober, analysis on Monday.

Have I Ever…

When I was a kid, my birthday was always during Lent. I was always bummed by that, because I thought I was always supposed to be giving up something at a point when I wanted to, well, GET stuff.
Now, I revisit the idea of Lent as more of a reflective time.
Incidentally, my birthday was on Shrove Tuesday in 2000, and it’ll be during the Mardi Gras period again in 2038.

Purloined from Tosy and Cosh.

1. Smoked cigarettes – Yes, about two dozen total in the late 1970s, usually while drinking.
2. Smoked a cigar – I tried once, couldn’t do it.
3. Broken a CD – Not “smashed”, but I spilled Coke on one, and it was irrevocably wrecked.
4. Crashed a friend’s car – Well, actually not wrecked, but I did once knock over a Dumpster while going in reverse when I wanted to be going forward.
5. Stolen a car – Well, technically, no.
6. Been in love – Oh, yeah….
7. Been dumped – A number of times, the last time by e-mail.
8. Shoplifted – When I was a kid, chewing gum. Got caught, had to bring it back and apologize. Mortifying.
9. Been fired – No, although I did quit one job because I feared being fired. Also, I HATED the job, so no great loss, except financially.
10. Been in a fist fight – Yes. Three times, when I was 7, 11, and 16, none initiated by me, and at least two of which will be blog fodder for the future.
11. Snuck out of your house – Oh, yeah, to see HS girlfriend.
12. Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back – sure.
13. Been arrested – Yes, intentionally. May 8, 1972. There’s a story there, too.
14. Made out with a stranger – Yes, at a Halloween party 20 years ago.
15. Gone on a blind date – No.
16. Lied to a friend – Undoubtedly, probably “for their own good”, or so I thought at the time.
17. Had a crush on a teacher – Yes, 12th grade English.
18. Skipped school – I had perfect attendance from 3rd to 11th grade. 12th grade? Not so perfect.
19. Slept with a co-worker – Yes, unfortunately. When you break up and you’re still working together, it’s tricky. Especially when our mutual boss abdicated, making me her boss.
20. Seen someone die – No, but I’ve been there within the hour a couple times – my great uncle Ed and my father.
21. Been on a plane – Yes., most recently a year ago. It’s like a flying bus; I don’t much like it.
22. Thrown up in a bar – No.
23. Taken painkillers – Yes, given to me by my father, for soexcrruciatinging pain some two decades ago.
24. Love someone or miss someone right now – Oh, my, yes.
25. Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by – Yes, and I will again.
26. Made a snow angel – Yes.
27. Played dress up – Yes.
28. Cheated while playing a game – Not to my recollection.
29. Been lonely – Yes.
30. Fallen asleep at work/school – Yes
31. Used a fake id – Don’t think so.
32. Felt an earthquake – Yes, and at least twice in upstate New York.
33. Touched a snake – I think so, but I’m honestly not sure.
34. Ran a red light – No.
35. Been suspended from school – No.
36. Had detention – Don’t think so.
37. Been in a car accident – At least three, one bad enough to put me in the hospital for a couple days. and physical therapy for six weeks.
38. Hated the way you look – Yes. there are these dreadful glasses I had when I was 13.
39. Witnessed a crime – I’d say so. I was walking with my mother and this loutish man was screaming at and shoving a woman. I wanted to intercede, but my mother was nervous, so I ran home and called the cops.
40. Pole danced – My, no.
41. Been lost – When I was three or four, I went exploring at Ross Park. I didn’t think I was lost, butparentstly my partents did.
42. Been to the opposite side of the country – Yes.
43. Felt like dying – Yes, but not lately.
44. Cried yourself to sleep – Yes, but not lately.
45. Played cops and robbers – Probably.
46. Sang karaoke – Strangely, no. Not adverse to it, just never happened. Did sing live, background vocals to “Disco Inferno” a couple years ago, which was interesting.
47. Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t – Sure, usually involving food.
48. Laughed till some kind of beverage came out of your nose – Probably.
49. Caught a snowflake on your tongue – Of course.
50. Kissed in the rain – Absolutely.
51. Sing in the shower – Yes, but only at home, not at the Y.
52. Made love in a park – Yes.
53. Had a dream that you married someone – Yes.
54. Glued your hand to something – Don’t think so.
55. Got your tongue stuck to a flag pole – No, but saw the movie.
56. Worn the opposite sex’s clothes – See my Halloween post
57. Had an orgasm – Oh, come on!
58. Sat on a roof top – Not nearly often enough.
59. Didn’t take a shower for a week – Yes, when I was living at my grandmother’s house in 1975.
60. Ever too scared to watch scary movies alone – No. I tend to avoid them alone or with companions.
61. Played chicken – By this, I assume he means the “Funky Chicken” – yes.
62. Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on – Not “pushed”, but I’ve gone in voluntarily a few times.
63. Been told you’re hot by a complete stranger- No. Dammit.
64. Broken a bone – No.
65. Been easily amused – I write a blog, don’t I?
66. Laugh so hard you cry – Yes, at the scene of “Young Frankenstein” with the blind man. There have been other times since.
67. Mooned/flashed someone – No.
68. Cheated on a test – Yes. 9th grade biology. Didn’t get caught either, but I regretted it greatly.
69. Forgotten someone’s name – I am absolutely awful with names. Horrible. Everyone should wear nametags.
70. Slept naked – In the summer.
71. Gone skinny dipping in a pool- Yes, and also in a pond.
72. Been kicked out of your house – No.
73. Blacked out from drinking – No.
74. Played a prank on someone – Probably, little things, nothing cruel.
75. Gone to a late night movie – The first was Rocky Horror.
76. Made love to anything not human – Nope.
77. Failed a class – a pre-law course in college.
78. Choked on something you’re not supposed to eat – Don’t think so.
79. Played an instrument for more than 10 hours – No.
80. Cheated on a gf/bf – Unfortunately. I’ve come to the conclusion that you don’t have to actually have physical intimacy to cheat.
81. Ate a whole package of Oreos – Maybe half, not lately.
82. Thrown strange objects – I don’t know what this means. Like cows?
83. Felt like killing someone – Metaphorically? Sure. Literally? Probably not.
84. Thought about running away – Yes.
85. Ran away – No.
86. Did drugs – Occasional MJ use over 20 years ago. And didn’t much enjoy it. Tended to make me sleepy.
87. Had detention and not attend it – No.
88. Yelled at parents – Don’t think so.
89. Made parent cry – Not that I can recall.
90. Cried over someone – Oh, heck, yeah.
91. Owned more than 5 puppies – Puppies? No. I’ve had one dog in my whole life. Once had three kittens at the same time.
92. Dated someone more than once – I assumed “dated” means, “had a dating relationship with”. Yes, and with more than one person.
93. Have a dog – No.
94. Have a cat – Not for a couple decades.
95. Own an instrument – Yes. A tambourine, some other percussion.
96. Been in a band – Folk trio- yes. Rock band? No.
97. Had more than 25 sodas in one day – My stars, no.
98. Made out with a member of the same sex – Nope. Mildly curious many years ago.
99. Shot a gun – My grandfather’s rifle when I was 7. Landed on my keister.
100. Been online for more than 5 hours straight – Possible, but unlikely.

The Ego Rises to the Top

My birthday is this week. Most every day this week, I’m going to write about me. Heck, it’s a blog – everything I write is about me at some level.

But this month, even more so. Not every day, though. Tomorrow? Probably.

For instance, this from the strange world of Greg Burgas:

Roger Green —

[adjective]:

Visually addictive

‘How will you be defined in the dictionary?’ at QuizGalaxy.com

I always wanted to be an adjective.

My sister Leslie sent this one:

MARCH – Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved.
Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and
serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered.
Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses
others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves
attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decor.
Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

I don’t think I’m “revengeful”, and I’m not much into decor, but the rest of it has some validity, either currently or in the past.

Then there’s this from Kelly Brown:

You Are Animal

A complete lunatic, you’re operating on 100% animal instincts.
You thrive on uncontrolled energy, and you’re downright scary.
But you sure can beat a good drum.
“Kill! Kill!”

The Muppet Personality Test

This is SO wrong on so many levels. If I were a Muppet, CLEARLY I would be Kermit “Bein’ Green” the Frog.

Anyway, this is what I want as my birthday present. No, you don’t have to send presents (though I would never turn down a music mix).

What I want is to get my name in lights, as it were. Specifically, I want to make it to the top seven in Google by my birthday. Presently, I’m at position 9. I have hit the front page a couple times, but then retreated on the roster. Two weeks ago I was #10, then was #14 the next day. Now, I don’t expect to overtake Fung Shui Seminars with Roger Green or Roger Green Sound and Vision or even discredited state Assemblyman Roger L. Green, but maybe I could supplant some of the others.

So, if you would: go to Google once a day, type in Roger Green, then click on the posting for Ramblin’ with Roger. Maybe by March 7, I can hit the big time, Google-wise. BTW, type in Roger Owen Green, and Ramblin’ IS #1 on the Googleplex.

As they used to say in those old Bartles and James commercials, “Thank you for your support.”
***

Here’s a labored coincidence: I got a bunch of people coming to this blog in the latter half of last month. Checking the source log, it came as a result of Fred Hembeck‘s kind weekly plug and from a mention of Olympic figure skater Tanith Belbin at Tom the Dog’s reply section. Meanwhile Tom the Dog opined about Gilmore Girls, one of the few shows Carol and I watch together. Mr. Hembeck also is a fan. So, in honor of that synchronicity in this Dog eat Dog world, here’s a pic of Lauren Graham from Thunderdog. Told you it was labored.
***
And lest I forget: the four librarians in my office at the NYS Small Business Development Center now have a blog as well, targeting the small business community and our SBDC advisors. We each contribute something once a week. My day is Tuesday. Actually, we’ve been doing it for several months, but it was an intranet site. Subsequently, we decided that there wasn’t anything that would be violating confidentiality. So the Research Network blog is here.

TV Cable a la carte

You probably saw the article earlier this month noting the Federal Communications Commission’s reversal about a la carte cable programming, or in the words of Ray Davies, “Give the people what they want.”

First off, I’m puzzled.

The story is clear that Congressional legislation is likely needed to effect the change, so it wasn’t as though the change came with the report, only the Commission’s position on cable programming. So the play it got confounded me.

Also, I’m suspicious.

I certainly don’t know if it would be cheaper or not to configure individual homes, this one with channels 1-25 and that one with channels 11-35, although it is counterintuitive to think that if they charge $50 for 100 channels, the companies will now start charging $25 for 50 channels. There are some fixed costs, I would imagine.

What I’m suspicious of is promises. The 1996 Telecommunications Act was supposed to create greater competition, and therefore lower prices for cable television. This simply has not happened.

Some analysts suggest that there will be fewer new cable cable stations, because without being bundled, people will be less likely to choose a not yet aired network.
Finally, I’m concerned.

I’m hoping that whatever is ultimately worked out makes some sort of provision for “must-carry” stations. It is local programming, generally news, that distinguishes watching TV in Detroit from Denver or Dallas. The homogenization of TV (and OK, malls and lots of aspects of American life) worries me. Maybe it’s windmill-tilting, but I like being able to turn on a TV in a hotel and actually have some idea where the heck I am, besides seeing the “On the 8s” graphic on The Weather Channel.