Any pool sharks?

[cousinlucky]

Fingal, I have only lived in New York City since 1997. I am very glad that I did not grow up here. I was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts. A different culture than New York. The public school teachers back then were almost fanatical in their desire to develop the minds of their students. From the seventh grade to graduation in 1962 I attended all male " city schools ". One of the realities of the human species is that you can not teach a thing to a classroom full of young boys and girls whose egos and hormones are raging. When the sexes are separated teaching is possible. Unfortunately this nations public schools have been destroyed by a lack of common sense and an illusional concept that children can be kept under control without corporal punishment. The quality of the mothers of city born American children has also nosedived as there is not any prison time given to women who do not bother to raise their children properly. What a wasteland America has become.

[fingal]

Ah, so you're from New England? I haven't been there but I'm very familiar with the original Boston in England where the Pilgrim Fathers sailed from; I grew up around there. They did well to get away! It's a lovely little town but very dangerous if you're a stranger ... Even if you're from the next town. Fist fights are common on a Saturday night: or any night. Lovely architecture though.

I can't comment on how to bring up kids, as I don't have any myself and I would hesitate to become a dad in my current circumstances. As for education, I have strong views as I think that it's highly important. You would probably find my opinions liberal and idealistic and pragmatic at the same time ... Very European and 'foreign'.

This country has also changed in my short lifetime. Not as forgiving, more suspicion and envy. It's a shame I can do nothing to change it except be good to the people I know ... and to some of those I don't know.

[cousinlucky]

I always ask my sons and young cousins " How would you know just how many children you have? ". There are many, many men who have fathered children and were never told. Such is the power of women.

Human beings base their opinions on their knowledge, experiences, and reasoning. Very few humans are able to rationalize a course of action without being biased by their own lives. That is why there are so very few " true leaders ". As human beings we can leave our homes any way that we choose. On normal days I try to leave home with an attitude of being as dignified as possible. Everyone knows I am not a native New Yorker because I do not walk around with a scowl on my face. You would probably be very suprised to find out how much our opinions match. Our dates of birth are suited for easy communication.

A teacher of mine instilled in us that we can only control ourselves and the way we act is entirely our own decision. I am glad ( and the world too ) that I have absolutely no power or influence over the course of the human race. If I did there are a lot of very evil people I would just get rid of.

[fingal]

Hi cousinlucky: you actually made me go pale at the thought of being a dad without knowing. I believe you when you say that people can't see beyond their own reasoning and opinions because that's something I've thought about quite a lot ... 'We don't know what we don't know' ... It would be great to try being someone else for a day; or to transcend thought altogether. Imagine what the world would look like if we 'just saw it' without first filtering it through our mental apparatus. I think it's possible to do this, but I'm uncertain.

It certainly takes a lot of maturity and wisdom to take responsibility for your own actions. I must admit, I'm still learning how to do that, and I sometimes struggle with it. Yes ... We have a lot in common: I can tell. I think you have more self discipline than me at this point in my life.

Do New Yorkers really scowl a lot? Even in Greenwich Village?

[cousinlucky]

Scowl, sneer, hey what's that smell? Native new Yorkers are extremely caste orientated; but most of them will refuse to ever admit that. The Most Difficult Opponent you will ever face in life; looks right at you in the mirror every day. Human beings are prone to lie to themselves every chance that they get. In order to get to know who you really are you have to stop feeding off of your own lies to yourself.

Once you are able to clearly see yourself; you can decide if you want to go through the trouble of controlling yourself all day every day.

Like all human beings I have weaknesses that I know would drain away too much energy. Therefor I gamble every day by buying a lottery ticket. I,( as well as all #2 soil people ) also have a weakness for sweets. Allowing myself to " slip " to do these things allows me to be completely rigid about other things that are much more serious in nature. For instance my list of " musts " to get involved with a woman is extremely long and at the first " she does not have "- Intimate contact is entirely ruled out. You would be amazed at how everything changes when a woman realizes that there is nothing she can do to sexual interest you.