BARRY'S APHORISMS AND, OSTENSIBLY, PITHY THOUGHTS

After 86 years (01/18/1938) it seems to me that there are three important concerns in life:

            Your roof, your tires and your health.

 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Measure twice, cut once.

Never assume anything. It makes as ASS of U and ME.

Before you leave the house, make sure you can get back in.

Nothing happens unless one person decides it should. A camel is  a horse made by a committee.

The Fifth Commandment is the most important: 

       The Fifth Commandment, as stated in Exodus 20:12, is "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you". This commandment emphasizes the importance of respect, obedience, and care for one's parents. It's also understood as a foundation for healthy family relationships and a reflection of respect for authority in general.

If you want live like a Republican, vote Democratic.

Death Of An Icon - The Coconut Grove Playhouse as publishe May 2, 2025 in the Coconut Grove Spotlight

Death Of An Icon

      A cultural tragedy of epic proportions has been playing out in the halls of Miami-Dade County government since 2006 and is about to end with the death of a once world renowned theatrical and cultural icon. The County will destroy most of the Coconut Grove Playhouse leaving a 300 theater in place of one which had 1100 seats in the main theater and 200 seats in a cabaret theater. According to records submitted to the County in 2006 the Playhouse drew about 125,000 patrons generating 40% of the economic activity in the Grove, about $25 million in 2000. Since its closing the 

Grove has lost about $250-$350 million in income generated by the Playhouse. The County plan is for a self contained campus with its own shops and restaurants instead of filling those in the area. The County Plan to demolish all but the facade will cause the Playhouse to lose its listing on the Historical Register. In addition to the prestige for the County and the Playhouse which that brings, the Playhouse will lose any related funding or benefits. On April 7, 2021 the 11th District Court ruled the entire Playhouse building was historically designated, not just the facade.     

      The County restoration plan is not a plan for a regional theater as described by Mayor Carlos Gimenez in his letter of October 1, 2013 to the Board Of County Commissioners included by reference in its Resolution No. R-797-13 of the same date. On Page 2 the Resolution states:” Fiscal Impact/Funding Source:  Funding for the eventual capital project to re-establish a regional theater “.   A regional theater is a specific type of theater with clearly defined parameters as described in Wikipedia: “Regional theaters often produce new plays and challenging works that do not necessarily have the commercial appeal required of a Broadway production. Many regional theaters operate at least two stages: a main stage for shows requiring larger sets or cast, and one or more other stages (often studio theaters or black box theaters) for smaller, more experimental or avant-garde productions”  The County plan does none of this.

  

     The 2019 State Audit of Lease Agreement 4721  states, at 2, “The  BusinessPlan outlines an Operation Forecast and plan for Property Management and Development. This includes a preliminary operating forecast for a regional theater…”

       The Wikipedia description of a regional theater mentions musicals and Broadway bound shows; the current plan could not accommodate either, The County plan does not allow for a fully functional theater having no orchestra pit, and no wing or fly space and the stage is too small for a full performing theatrical and/or dance company. Also, it would be too small to financially support the presentation of a Broadway national touring company for which 1,000 seats would be the minimum. The County plan will not fulfill the BCC resolution requirement to  re-establish a regional theater and will not restore the historic and iconic Coconut Grove Playhouse which reopened a renovated theater on January 3, 1956 with the world premier of Samuel Becket’s Waiting For Godot. staring Bert Lahr and Tom Ewell. 

    Sadly, a fine and conforming plan for the Playhouse restoration prepared pro bono by Miami theatrical architect Richard Heisenbottle will never be built.

    For decades my wife and I were season subscribers to the Playhouse with the excellent casting and direction of Jose Ferrer and enjoying world class theater and dining on Commodore Plaza. So, come on County wrecking ball; leave us with just our memories. 

 TRUMP

Any person of color, any person who is a member of any social, ethnic, sexual or racial minority who believe that Donald J. Trump is their best choice for president cannot be watching or informed. They are not stupid, just uninformed or misinformed. One value of an education is to learn to seek and evaluate information. Education does that. So, those who, unfortunately, have not had sufficient or poor education are really in the dark and are subject false or misleading statements in general and in politics in particular.

This frequently leads to distrust of those who are educated or intellectual trapping them into their life situation. This becomes a tribal motif with peer pressure against accepting doubted sorces of information even if it could or does lead to life threatening situations such as rejecting vaccines or avoiding deceptive financial offers. The net effect for such individuals is entrapment in substandard economic and social situations. And politicians take advantage of them telling them anything to get their vote with little or no concern for their welfare. This distortion of the use of the  vote has and is leading to the failure of our democracy. 

So, Donald Trump's success could lead to end of our 248 year old democracy, which is just about how long civilizations last. I'm glad I had the benefit and pleasure of living in one for at least 86 years. Let's see how much more of my run it persists.

TRUMP PLEA DEAL - AS PUBLISHED 8/20/2023 MIAMI HEARLD

 AS PUBLISHED:

PLEA DEAL

Besieged by myriad legal charges Mr. Donald J. Trump, and his legal team must be overwhelmed. How to defend the onslaught of criminal accusations?  Could there be one "cures all" solution to this judicial quagmire?  Of course. Just plead insanity.  The evidence and the scientific support are irrefutable. At least 150 million fellow Amerian  citizens would concur, and it is only position for which his defense team could win support from them.  And Mr. Trump could be required to stay at Mar-A-Lago  until a team of mental health professionals determines it would be safe for society for him to leave; don't hold your breath, though.

AS SUBMITTED:

TRUMP’S BEST OPTION

Besieged by myriad legal charges Mr. Donald J. Trump, citizen of the United States Of America, and his legal team must be overwhelmed. How to defend the onslaught of accusations of crimes? Could there be one "cures all" solution to this judicial quagmire? You heard it here first:

Plead insanity.  The evidence and the scientific support are irrefutable. At least 150 million fellow U.S. citizens would concur. It would be the only position for which his defense team could win support from many. And Mr. Trump could be required to stay at Mar-A-LaLa until a team of mental health professionals determines it would be safe for society for him to leave; don't hold your breath.  So, from one who has absolutely no legal training, unless you count a year of business law,  but does have mental health credentials, plead insanity Mr. Trump, and save the legal expense, for which you have no budget line anyway. 

Subject: Shooting down objects just because they are there?

 LETTER TO THE EDITOR. MIAMI HERALD, PUBLISHED FEB 19, 2023

Subject: Shooting down objects just because they are there?

How can we shoot down objects about which we have no intel? Has anyone come forward and asked,

"Why did you shoot down our research object? When will you pay us to replace it plus the cost to us of the interruption of our research and communications? "How can any one be so brash and ignorant to destroy something just because a similar object was a probably a spy vehicle. There was no indication that the other two objects were a threat. And it cost us at least $500K to shoot them down, and we missed once, even more expense. Oye! Again we do things that make us the laughing stock of the world.

When will we grow up?

Barry J. White

Kendall

LIFE AFTER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? READ AS PUBLISHED IN THE MIAMI HERALD JULY 4, 2023

AS PUBLISHED IN THE MIAMI HERALD JULY 4, 2023

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LIFE AFTER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? READ

I grew up in a one-bed-room apartment with my parents and two brothers until I was 16. My parents had basic jobs; we never went without. My brothers and I all graduated college, all with masters and/or professional degrees. 

Why did we do so well academically?

Early reading. Of course I do not remember how it started but at age six one of my uncles brought me his Time magazines. I do remember my mom having to take reading material away from me so I would go to sleep.

Now that affirmative action is gone we will live in a world of academic meritocracy. The largest commodity we sell is knowledge. Those who want all people to do well in life  must make sure that improved educational resources and opportunities are available at all ages and to encourage parents and those who care for young children to see that they develop reading skills early.  There is no shortcut or magic to it. Read and speak to your children (constantly). Regardless of the tone of your skin you can and must do that. 

Forget the idea that you have to know someone to get somewhere. The truth is you have to prepare yourself and your children to function in world of meritocracy. It is you against yourself.  Start reading and talking to your children as soon as you can; even in the crib. The average high income  child hears about four million more words than the low income child by age four.

If you care for a child read and talk to them early. If you are someone who wants everyone to succeed work to improve day care, pre-school, library resources and early education. We are all on our own but we are never alone as long as someone cares.

Barry J. White

President

Mental Health Association

of Miami-Dade County

mhamdc.org

National Catastrophic Property Insurance Fund - Proposa

 It is time to end the expectation that, on its own, the insurance industry will solve the problem of covering catastrophic losses.  It won’t. If the basic tenant of insurance coverage is to actuarily spread risk then let’s really do it. Establish a national fund to cover such losses with a premium to be paid by every property owner as percentage of their insurance policy rate. The rate could be adjusted up or down from the norm based on historic climate or specific events in that area or industry.