NYC Journal

[Calzone]

We live in a time of “Un-inclusion” and history is being eraised. DEI is now dead, as we dishonor feats and facts that included women, people of color, and all people with differences.

I know what it is like “to pass for white.”

My friend Eddy-Jeff once said, “When I think of you, I don’t think of you as an Asian.”

When I inquired further to understand his point and what he meant, pretty much he saw me as a white boy like himself, and not an Asian.

What wasn’t said, was the projection of the profile of an Asian in America: poor, immigrant, poor English…

So am I so different than my father who fit the American profile of an Asian?

Then again it is no lie that “I am a white boy trapped in an Asian body.”

So my identity is mucho confused, part of me is entitled white boy, and the other is Ghetto Asian. I kinda consider myself bi-racial even though I have no Anglo-blood.

Here in New York I want to feel comfortable about diversity, but to some I will always considered an enemy. Race is a complicated thing, and civil rights are being removed and taken away.

There was no due process to the some recent deportees. Who knows if some were really Americans.

Like I said, “I feel like a man without a country.” There is a war going on right here, right now. Horrors are currently underway. Not only is there no rule of law, but our Constitution is being violated openly. My heritage, our heritage, is being eraised…

At what point do you say or draw the line that we lost our country? Like I said, I feel like a man without a country.”

Cal

 

[Calzone]

A recent report listed the income needed/required to be considered middle-class by state.

Separately each of both “Maggie’s” retirement and my retirement income fit well within the range, and of course this is in an expensive state with high taxes.

Anyways, the payoff for living below our means and not loading up on debt for decades has a pay-off for us.

Cal

 

[Retro-Grouch]

We live in a time of “Un-inclusion” and history is being eraised. DEI is now dead, as we dishonor feats and facts that included women, people of color, and all people with differences.

I know what it is like “to pass for white.”

My friend Eddy-Jeff once said, “When I think of you, I don’t think of you as an Asian.”

When I inquired further to understand his point and what he meant, pretty much he saw me as a white boy like himself, and not an Asian.

What wasn’t said, was the projection of the profile of an Asian in America: poor, immigrant, poor English…

So am I so different than my father who fit the American profile of an Asian?

Then again it is no lie that “I am a white boy trapped in an Asian body.”

So my identity is mucho confused, part of me is entitled white boy, and the other is Ghetto Asian. I kinda consider myself bi-racial even though I have no Anglo-blood.

Here in New York I want to feel comfortable about diversity, but to some I will always considered an enemy. Race is a complicated thing, and civil rights are being removed and taken away.

There was no due process to the some recent deportees. Who knows if some were really Americans.

Like I said, “I feel like a man without a country.” There is a war going on right here, right now. Horrors are currently underway. Not only is there no rule of law, but our Constitution is being violated openly. My heritage, our heritage, is being eraised…

At what point do you say or draw the line that we lost our country? Like I said, I feel like a man without a country.”

Cal

And what's most infuriating is when the people erasing your identity by pretending to ignore it expect you to be flattered! Just like your friend Eddy-Jeff wanting (and needing) not to see you as Asian, there are people I encounter who, when I bristle at their assumption that I'm straight, think I should be flattered when they say, "But you don't look gay!". Yeah, I don't swish when I walk and prefer Carhartts over drag, so I make them uncomfortable by challenging their profile.

 

[Calzone]

R-G,

My friend Eddie-Jeff spoke a truth though, I know he said this out of love, and not to hurt or damage me.

But being stripped of your identity is as damaging as being profiled.

My friend was just being honest, and that the fact is to many people I am just another “white” boy.

An interesting thought is how some of “Maggie’s” brothers who moved down south to North Carolina never took notice, and became aware of the possible safety issues for me down there.

A niece of Maggie’s just had a baby boy. Because of my Cancer we could not go to Austin for the baby shower. I’m on the fence whether to drive the over 2K miles to bypass the airlines with my long hair and New York plates. Is it worth the risk of being in a possible plane crash?

Anyways which is less fraught to go to Austin?

Calvin (The man without a country.)

 

[Retro-Grouch]

R-G,

My friend Eddie-Jeff spoke a truth though, I know he said this out of love, and not to hurt or damage me.

But being stripped of your identity is as damaging as being profiled.

My friend was just being honest, and that the fact is to many people I am just another “white” boy.

An interesting thought is how some of “Maggie’s” brothers who moved down south to North Carolina never took notice, and became aware of the possible safety issues for me down there.

A niece of Maggie’s just had a baby boy. Because of my Cancer we could not go to Austin for the baby shower. I’m on the fence whether to drive the over 2K miles to bypass the airlines with my long hair and New York plates. Is it worth the risk of being in a possible plane crash?

Anyways which is less fraught to go to Austin?

Calvin (The man without a country.)

I recently had this exact conversation with a Black couple who travel a great deal. Their take was that the interstate corridors and metro areas are fine, but they wouldn't take back roads anywhere in the South or Midwest. A pretty sad commentary on "Land of the Free", isn't it?

 

[Calzone]

Did you know that the U.S. Census is mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of our Constitution.

Our differences are/were recorded. Pretty much it could be argued that our forefathers had the wisdom to recognize and embrace differences.

In my book the elimination of DEI is against our constitution. I respect our judicial system enough not to say what is going on is unconstitutional. That’s for our courts to decide.

So do we eliminate questions about race, income, marriage status, sex, if we take DEI to the limit.

If the DOGE Bags want to save money and make everyone the same, with no representation, then they will outlaw or kill this part of our Constitution. In fact IMHO they already have…

Cal

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Sometimes it feels inappropriate to “like” a post where a person is sharing serious personal thoughts; many of which are not funny or likable. When I “like” some of these posts what I really mean is that “I hear and understand what you’re saying and I’m in agreement with you”

Mike

 

[Calzone]

There was a film I think was called “The Green Book.” It was about racism against Blacks in the South, and safe places. A black man had a white body guard.

When I drove to North Carolina I went the costal route through the rural low lands along Route 17. Not much there except lots of rural poverty.

BTW in the U.S. there is mucho rural poverty. Didn’t realize I was in harms way. Oh-well…

See what happens when you are an old hippy with an open mind.

Snarky Joe though was correct when he stated the further north you go the vibe is of the Deep South. I saw this in New Hampshire, although the rural poverty was not as bad as down south. Even in upstate New York you see it.

Plenty of times I have been in places where I was the only non-white person. Pretty much you feel like E.T. From another planet.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Mike,

Thanks for the clarity. Really appreciate it.

I’m just trying to deal with my sense of alienation. I am not kidding though when I express that I kinda feel like a man without a country.

On a positive note, not many of my friends in Peekskill know I have Cancer, but the word is leaking out, and I have a lot of love and support.

This is a confounding space.

Today I thanked a Vietnam Vet for his service. Because of my race of course this was rather loaded. My identity gets complicated.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I looked through a DIOR magazine that “Maggie” gets in the mail. This is not something you subscribe to, and pretty much is sent out to DIOR insiders. Not likely available to the general public.

Maggie has friends at DIOR and has been honored by them as an “insider.” One time she was put up in Paris and given a VIP treatment, and was given the Insider tour of their elite design studios which of course pursued perfection. She gets sent some really nice gifts occasionally.

So I looked through the magazine to admire the slick design, the graphic layout, and the promotion of status and elegance.

Some nice soft B&W photography was very romantic. Hmmm…

Then there were these head to toe shots of celebrities wearing DIOR, but it was obvious to see that these were composite compositions done using AI.

So kinda well done, but also unreal and fake. Hmmm…

So now looking at the soft B&W along with the slick AI composites, my POV is kinda tainted as being formulaic and overly processed. Kinda polished to death…

Anyways, I guess I admire the straight shot, and straight printing. Overly processed images perhaps is no longer photography.

Perhaps I am holding capturing a moment in time, and romanticizing just that.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I take great pride that I am a first generation immigrant, my father being an illegal immigrant who was illiterate and poor, and pretty much I am one of those “New York” stories about inclusion, ascending class, gaining education and eventually a terminal degree, all from the very humblest of beginnings.

This is/was a reason why people from all over the world came to NYC to meet people like me. I exaggerate that I am/was a walking tourist attraction.

I was a proud American, but now I feel shame.

Where are we going?

Cal

 

[ellisson]

We're going away from what you described above to a system of autocratic government. Think Putin and Russia. Just enough choices to keep the masses under control, but don't think of changing anything or thinking, protesting, or reporting outside the new system. The free press is under attack. The elimination of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from every program or communication the House of Orange can think or is concerning for crimes against the constitution and what the United States stood for despite some bad times in our history. Even the Kennedy Center will likely be re-named....hmmm, I wonder what it will be called? Only approved shows will be performed, approved by a no-nothing culture deficient, adolescent sociopath. So where are we going? It's up to the judiciary (but not the sycophantic Justice Department). And then, it's up to enforcement: how to ensure that judgements are actually implemented. I fear violent confrontation at some point. Sorry to repeat this, I'm just thinking or possible responses in a country with a large proportion of MAGA folk and law enforcement that will be tested. The response, I believe, will vary according to areas of the country where state governors are strongly opposing unlawful executive actions in conflict with state law.

 

[Calzone]

Pretty much this will lead to political violence, and assignations if things get really bad.

After learning about the history here in Peekskill and the Peekskill Riots, pretty much a lynch mob was sanctioned, supported, and condoned but local and state governments, as well as local and state police.

Pretty much anti-union, anti-Semitic, and racism against blacks.

I see and know the potential from history of how riots and civil disturbances get way violent.

The lack of rule of law certainly will scare away capitol and foreign investment. This flight of capitol would be devastating. Some of that is happening now. Inflows seem to be happening in Germany.

Any rally in the U.S. indexes involves selling. Today’s initial gains were mostly lost. Investors are selling into rallies.

How many people’s retirements are evaporating?

I can see some retiree living a marginal existence buying a gun and attempting to assassinating some Orange-House supporter in government. Perhaps their local congressman or senator. Pretty much an otherwise normal American, but now having nothing to loose, because they find themselves in a unsustainable death spiral.

I’ll repeat, “Arab Spring was caused by inflation and hungry children,” but here in the U.S. it will likely be some senior citizen who is experiencing hunger after working a long career.

Then there are some Americans who will try and defend the Constitution in a street justice like manner.

There are farmers that received subsidies in Trump’s first term that feel betrayed. Tariffs certainly will hurt farmers badly. A report about a farmer displaying a pro-Trump flag upside down.

So lack of rule of law fosters further lawlessness. With this kinda political instability flight of capitol will surely happen. “Look out below…”

Cal (The man without a country)

The country I knew and love is kinda gone…

 

[DownUnder]

Sometimes it feels inappropriate to “like” a post where a person is sharing serious personal thoughts; many of which are not funny or likable. When I “like” some of these posts what I really mean is that “I hear and understand what you’re saying and I’m in agreement with you”

Mike

Me too.

You say it so much better than I could in my own (at times too many) words.

 

[Calzone]

You know I support the right to bear arms.

It sickens me all the school shootings and all the mass shootings, but pretty much gun rights is kinda the last resort to allow citizens to vote with violence to defend their rights, pursuit of happiness, freedom, and our constitution.

I’m not thinking Blazing Saddles, but more of the Arakawa film “Seven Samurai” or the American adaptation of the same screenplay known as “The Magnificent Seven.”

Feudal time periods; one in Japan; the other in America’s time of the Wild West.

I hope my postings do not promote violence, killing, or assassinations. That is not my intent.

I do understand violence though, I have experienced a riot first hand, as well as police brutality and abuse of force.

I also am acquainted with destitution, and pure animal behavior.

I don’t believe my predictions are wrong. There will be some people who will hit their limit, flip the switch, and commit violence and probable killing because of dire needs or situation.

Lack of rule of law means other means will eventually be used, meaning violence…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Do a search on John Peterson AKA Rifle Jack.

Pretty much a black man, not clear if he was was a slave or a freed slave who kinda saved West Point and who’s skill and bravery likely changed the outcome of the Revolutionary War.

Read this before the anti-DEI erases history…

Cal

 

[robert blu]

Me too.

You say it so much better than I could in my own (at times too many) words

 

[Calzone]

A Case-Schiller Index for the S&P was displayed in a report that suggests a certainty of recession if Team-Orange has their way with cuts and tariffs.

Pretty much the valuation, meaning P/E price to equity ratios actually is more than the 1929 bubble and is in the range of the 2000 tech bubble. Currently it is about twice the average P/E of around 17.

A 10% reduction in government jobs amounts to about a million jobs. Remember the 400K new unemployment claims number I mentioned that denotes a recession.

I have been suggesting that we are in another bubble for a while. Remember after oil peaked at $147.XX a barrel in 2007 how that unwound over time to become the credit crisis, and then the housing crisis/bubble popping. Point here is insanity can persist longer than you can think or predict, and that also it takes mucho time for any trigger to unwind into the general public.

If we use the above as a timeline pretty much the mid-term elections will be upon us. Kinda crazy wanting or promoting a recession. If we are heading that way anyways, might as well go full blown gut demo to get the creative destruction behind us.

So using a Third World model, would/could the Executive Branch loose control of the military? Pretty much I’m framing the U.S. as being not so different than a developing country. Anyways that’s where we are heading.

We are kinda primed for the S&P loosing half its value in a crash. Better have already a diverse portfolio, or a very long timeline if what I think will eventually happen, happens…

Cal

 

[Nokton48]

Afternoon Devil Cal,
Found this thought you might enjoy this. Would use up 100 feet no prob.

My new Hasselblad A500 magazine by Nokton48, on Flickr

Had to send it back, dead on arrival. Oh Well. More down the road.

 

[Austintatious]

I am mucho glad for acquiring the Tele and Strat bodies recently before the light weight stock of swamp ask and alder dried up.

You may well be on your way to keeping up with Steve Vai !