Continue to Rest in Peace Detective Zadroga

I was ready to blog about ten different items this AM, but when I entered the date and it hit me, September 11th.  Today marks the anniversary of the most horrific attack on America.  I often think about those who so tragically lost their lives, most memorably for me was NYPD Detective James Zadroga.  Detective Zadroga didn't lose his life on 9/11; he lost it five years later from a related cancer when his lungs could no longer exchange air.  He was at the World Trade Center site for hundreds of hours investigating and simultaneously subjected to toxic dust.   In less than two years after 9/11, he couldn't breathe without oxygen support.

You see he lived around the block from me growing up.  He was a little kid, I was a big kid.  His dad was a cop and so was mine.  Although he didn't lose his life on that tragic day, he eventually lost his life as a result of that tragic day.  If there is any good that came from his death, it was the Zadroga Act.  It is estimated that over 400 people have since lost their lives as a result of those same toxins, many who were heroes involved in the rescue, the search and the subsequent clean up at the WTC site.  The Zadroga Act provides for compensation to those families whose loved ones died of cancer or respiratory disease as a result of 9/11.  Today, the federal government will announce 50 additional cancers being added to the list covered under the Zadroga Act.   Continue your peaceful rest, Jimmy.

Gambling Arrests

I read the craziest thing in the Baltimore Sun over the weekend.  One hundred and twenty people have willingly signed on to be arrested for trespassing if they enter a Maryland casino.  These are individuals with a gambling addiction who see this as the only way to keep from entering a casino.  Since implementation, seven of those who agreed to be arrested have been arrested for trespassing at a casino.  The State of Maryland needs to be of greater assistance to these folks as there is only one place that they can register for the gambling exclusion program that isn't a casino.  Really? 

Relationships

Just this week, I was asked by the principal in the architectural firm used by the health system and the same firm that designed our new hospital as to why we choose him and his firm.  The answer was an easy one.  Our previous architects were with a large firm.  They had all the right answers when they were first engaged, but as time went on, we became an afterthought.  We would be anticipating a worked product and when they arrived to present it to us, it was like they drew it up on a napkin in the car on their way to Cumberland.  After a few of those interactions, they were warned and subsequently fired.  Shortly thereafter, we began the search for a new firm.  We ended up with a smaller firm in Baltimore, Hord Coplan Macht (HCM), based on how we felt that they would work with us.   It was based on fit, trust and what the perceived relationship would be like.  They had all the necessary expertise, but these guys and gals were genuine; they were sincere, seemed trustworthy at the time and have proven that time after time.  

Large national firms can talk a great game, but have proven over time that they think that they are smarter and better than smaller boutique firms--and many times smarter than the client.  When we were preparing to move forward on the new hospital, we didn't hesitate for a minute to engage HCM.  They had never designed a new state-of-the-art hospital in its entirety, but they did for us.  They brought in experienced architects who had previous new hospital experience.  Adding our relationship with HCM and the new talent, it worked fabulously.  To this day, we have a great working relationship and I gladly serve as a reference for HCM repeatedly.  I can't say enough great things about the individuals as well as the firm in general.  It continues to be a pleasure to work with these folks.

Relationships

Just this week, I was asked by the principal in the architectural firm used by the health system--and the same firm that designed our new hospital--as to why we choose him and his firm.  The answer was an easy one.  Our previous architects were with a large firm.  They had all the right answers when they were first engaged, but as time went on, we became an afterthought.  We would be anticipating a worked product and when they arrived to present it to us, it was like they drew it up on a napkin in the car on their way to Cumberland.  After a few of those interactions, they were warned and subsequently fired.  Shortly thereafter, we began the search for a new firm.  We ended up with a smaller firm in Baltimore, Hord Coplan Macht (HCM), based on how we felt that they would work with us.   It was based on fit, trust and what the perceived relationship would be like.  They had all the necessary expertise, but these guys and gals were genuine; they were sincere, seemed trustworthy at the time and have proven that time after time.  

Large national firms can talk a great game, but have proven over time that they think that they are smarter and better than smaller boutique firms--and many times smarter than the client.  When we were preparing to move forward on the new hospital, we didn't hesitate for a minute to engage HCM.  They had never designed a new state-of-the-art hospital in its entirety, but they did for us.  They brought in experienced architects who had previous new hospital experience.  Adding our relationship with HCM and the new talent, it worked fabulously.  To this day, we have a great working relationship and I gladly serve as a reference for HCM repeatedly.  I can't say enough great things about the individuals as well as the firm in general.  It continues to be a pleasure to work with these folks.

This Shouldn't Be Happening

Last week, I blogged about the National Urban League's campaign against Nike over a sneaker and said that they should be focusing on more substantial issues such as black-on-black crime.  Over the weekend, while I was in Hilton Head, an 8-year-old boy was gunned down on Saturday morning while he was playing in a neighbor's front yard with other children.  It just so happens that the yard he was playing in was owned by the father of one of his playmates who had fired shots at two other guys the night before.  The Saturday morning attackers were a father (age 38) and son (age 19) who came to retaliate against the playmate's father.  The two decided on Saturday morning to drive by and spray the neighborhood with an automatic weapon hitting and killing the 8 year old.  Killing a little kid out playing in the yard.  A third grader who loved to read and was full of life and in Hilton Head where this stuff isn't supposed to happen.  If the Urban League wants an issue to tackle, here's one neatly packaged for them to champion.

Scaring Seniors

Today, I read a quote based on the Republican and Democratic National Conventions that says it all; "rarely have so many speeches been based on such shaky foundations."   Reading and listening to the rhetoric from both sides of the aisle would be amusing if it wasn't so irresponsible.  Both parties just love to scare, especially seniors as to what Medicare is and what it isn't.  To what lengths will these groups stoop to get elected; obviously when you think that they have reached a new low, one or the other will stoop even lower than before.  Why can't they simply tell the truth as to what is in their respective plans and what isn't, instead of allowing the other party to do it for them, all the while scaring the hell out of people?  I can't wait for this Presidential election to be over.

Un-friending

For the first time, I de-friended or un-friended someone on Facebook.  As most of you should know by now, I am just right of center, politically speaking.  More and more, I see myself identifying more with the independents as the gridlock in Washington DC worsens.   So, the friend that I un-friended is still a nice guy and I do like him, but I got sick to death of the incessant far left leaning postings on Facebook, sometimes ten a day.  One or two, no problem, but it got ridiculous.  Postings from MoveOn.org, the Progressives, MSNBC and the list goes on.  Finally, I responded to one posting as it was really over the top and in return I got a barrage of attacks from his way left leaning friends so it was time to un-friend him.  Again, a nice guy, but one with a waaaaaay different political ideology.