Big Blue Huddle

This is not to be a political topic, rather an sad commentary on how politicians (both sides) have become a  legend in their own minds - From Trump tweets to this latest from Cuomo.

https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/politics/albany/2021/05/13/cuomo-sexual-harassment-scandal-uncomfortable/5078970001/

Cuomo criticized for saying, 'Harassment is not making someone feel uncomfortable.'

"ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo drew a new round of criticism Thursday for arguing that simply making comments that made someone feel uncomfortable should not be viewed as harassment.

The comments came after Cuomo was asked by a reporter about him seemingly shifting between being apologetic toward women who have claimed he sexually harassed them and being defiant that he did nothing wrong."

.....


"Harassment is not making someone feel uncomfortable," Cuomo said Thursday when asked if his initial apologies are at odds with his recent contention he did not act inappropriately.

"That is not harassment. If I just made you feel uncomfortable, that is not harassment. That

With my dad's deteriorating condition, it has brought me back many memories of my time with my parents.

I know there are many people on this board who have traveled a lot and live in many different parts of the country. I was very fortunate that in 1973, my parents took us on a 5 week vacation across the country.  We camped half of the time and hotels / friends the rest.  Left upstate NY drove through TX to LA to Seattle and back across the northern states ( no A/C in the car). Visited many National Parks during it. I have been to many more in my adult life.

I have been trying to figure out which is/was my favorite.  It is a close call between Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mesa Verde and Grand Canyon.  Carlsbad would have been in there - except a bird sh!t on me as we were walking in.

I finally decided on Grand Canyon, we did the half trip down the canyon on mules.  Nothing more terrifying or exhilarating than having you mule facing towards a couple of hundred feet drop to eat grass.  Not to mention my dad's mule right in front of me had bad gas.  Talk about gagging.

I was curious to what others thoughts or experiences were of our national treasures were.

Don't have to limit to National - can be State or local areas - NY - my favorite is Letchworth State Park

On the what are you watching thread, Ozzie had mentioned a show by Stanley Tucci about Italian cooking.  I replied, knowing where he lives there is really no good Italian food. Got me to thinking about starting this thread.

I grew up in the Triple cities of NY (Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott) I know SEM and JBG are from the area as well.

Some of the interesting things about this area are as follows.

1) A company called EJ (therefore the Endicott and Johnson City) was huge in the area in the beginning of the 1900's. They were a shoe manufacturing company - depending on what you read -they supplied 50 - 80% of the foot wear for the military in WW2.  Many immigrants coming through Ellis Island in the early years knew 2 English words and an abbreviation - "Which way EJ?".  Led to a large ethnic population in the early to mid 1900's - as SEM pointed out, to this day (minus COVID) there are still huge festivals for many of the ethnic groups.  1957 in Appalachian, the mafia gathering was busted up and J Edger Hoover was forced to admit there was an organized crime syndicate in the US.  The unique ethnic backgrounds and enclaves led to many great foods in the area.

2)  IBM started here, was only here for a long time, was headquartered here until the mid 80's when they moved their HQ

3) Dick's Sporting Goods started here in 1948,  Dick Stack had a 2 stall garage / gas station that he borrowed $300 from his grandmother to open his first bait and tackle shop.

4) On the sports side - there was the Binghamton Triplett's (Yankees top farm team) for over 50 years (1932-1968 minus 4 years in the 60's).  Many of the Yankee greats came through from Whitey Ford through Thurman Munson.  The major league Yankee team played an exhibition game every year here for many years.

Unique things about your home town?