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Saturday, January 29, 2005 |
The NYT had this article marveling that the last "old school" mafia boss was cooperating with prosecutors:
As the news spread yesterday among law enforcement officials and lawyers who represent organized crime figures, and in the world of the gangsters themselves, most people responded with disbelief. One former Mafia member who himself turned informant in recent years summed up the reaction, shouting "What?" when he learned of the development. "I'm shocked," the onetime mob figure continued in a phone interview. "He seemed like an old-time guy. I never would have thought."
As I was reading the article, I thought "Great, if it's true. but is it really true?" Further on in the article:
The defense lawyer who represented Mr. Massino in his trial that ended in July, David Breitbart, was skeptical that his former client was cooperating with the government. "I can't believe Joe Massino is an informant - I just don't buy it," he said.
But, even if it weren't true, it seems like a very smart tactic by the prosecution, as a way of sowing, fear, uncertainty and doubt amongst the mafia. So, either way, bravo to prosecutor Greg D. Andres.
7:41:47 PM 
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As someone who has a fairly poor sense of direction, and is also not a Myers-Briggs "Senser" (as in, for example, ISTJ), I am prone to forget where I parked, if I am not careful. I have friends, OTOH, who have never forgotten where they parked (at least not since college, while sober).
The same factors seem to be at work in finding one's way. These friends go somewhere once, as passenger, and they know they way. Heck, they probalby will even try a shortcut. Not me; I need to look at a map and work hard to commit it to memory.
I have found an analogy to explain this deficiency, to my directionally-gifted friends. I happen to be a very good speller, and I have noticed an inverse correlation between being a strong speller and a strong Senser. I'm not saying these friends are terrible spellers, but I think they would mostly agree, they are mediocre at best.
For me, it is very difficult to imagine what it would be like to be a poor speller. I somehow, almost magically, know how to spell almost every word I know. And it has always been that way. Spelling tests were a cakewalk requiring no real study--at most, I might note a word I didn't know on the list, would absorb its spelling, and be ready to spell it as if I had known it for years. Furthermore, I know what I don't know--for the occasional word whose spelling I am shaky about, I am fully, reflexively aware of my lack of knowledge.
I am attempting to make this comparison with all possible modesty. The key point is that I can't possibly tell you why I am a good speller, it comes effortlessly. And likewise, I think, for my friends and there sense of direction.
6:37:53 PM
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I wanted to take the kids to a movie tonight, but didn't have a film in mind, so I cast about for possibilities:
Are We There Yet?
The kids were pushing for this one. We had seen prereviews, and it did seem really funny. But a little research confirmed my suspicions--not horrible, by today's standards, but enough to object to, and not much to redeem it.
Incredibles
I wanted to see it, but they all have (Seth twice).
Racing Stripes
Fine for the kids, but I don't think I would have wanted to sit through it.
National Treasure
Very so-so reviews.
Then I saw that Finding Neverland was still playing. I knew it had gotten good reviews--though I hadn't actually read them--and it was straight PG-13, so I decided we would see that. We got there just before it began, and as we were setlling into the theater, the kids asked me why they were the only children there. I thought that was a little odd, but we didn't have time to talk about it.
Well, 15 minutes into the movie, the light went off in my head--this isn't a kids movie at all! It was PG, so it wasn't at all inappropriate, but it was very clearly a grown-up movie. I thought "oh boy, how is this going to play?". I thought the girls might do okay, but Seth for sure would be restless. Well, what do you know?! 45 minutes into the movie, Seth whispered in my ear "This is really good".
They all sat through it quite intently. As we got up to leave, Anna-Claire said "I think that is the best movie I've ever seen". I started chuckling as we walked out to the car. The kids asked me why, and I explained to them how silly I had been (assuming anything to do with Peter Pan or his creator must be for kids), thinking I was taking them to a kids movie. Then I told them how very proud I was that they had the maturity to not merely tolerate, but truly enjoy, such a grown-up movie.
6:31:14 PM
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© Copyright 2005 Erik Neu.
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