Summer Camp Authorization To Leave Ymca Property: Fill & Download for Free

Best things about StatesFor over fifty years, I have traveled to most states during my careers with IBM, Control Data and Digital Equipment Corp. I found the US to be a great nation minus the regional politics that are quite different.Like everywhere on the planet there are places more inherently dangerous than others. I've traveled all over the U.S. and have never felt threatened. The simple rules are crime happens at night for the most part, get to your Hotel at a decent hour, don’t wander around unknown/unfamiliar areas unless it's a public function, don’t get too drunk you lose your awareness, stay out of bad areas, there’s nothing to see there anyway, don’t project yourself by being flashy with cash or jewelry.Republicans live in the rural areas which are less than 1% non white and I'd dare say that these areas are as safe as your living room. Democrats live in the cities in racially and ethnically diverse, multi cultural, more educated open minded environments. Liberal Democrats, live in nice predominantly white neighborhoods” like San Jose CA. Beverly Hills CA. Upper West and East Side of Manhattan, the Hampton’s Long Island NY, Martha's Vineyard MA. These are the whitest, whitey, white neighborhoods in all America. They got great schools. The only minorities are the domestics. Rural people feel that they’re losing the culture war to diversity, ways of life and basically the 21st century’s progressive social and scientific dynamics.In major metropolitan areas like New York, the split is likely to be 50/50 with people having very firm opinions on their beliefs (however wrong they may be). You know what though? We typically are mature rational adults who can have discussions with people we disagree with without hating them, spitting on them, or disparaging them (except in good nature), and even be friends with them. Because that’s what grown ups and the MAJORITY of people do. I realize this differs in other areas of the country. I have a friend who is VERY loudly left wing in his work, on social media, etc. And it’s all fake. He’s a pure conservative . . . more so than me. But his workplace is very clear that they don’t hire people of a certain political tilt. So he’s “not.” This might hold true for other economic demographics and go the other way in other regions. My general experience throughout the areas I lived in is that people LIKE talking about politics, love the debate, and ultimately judge you based on your politics as much as they might your hair color. (Of course you get single issue people, but by and large that holds true).From what I've observed, big cities tend to have lots of Universities, high tech, industry and immigrants. States that have big immigrant populations include: Hawaii, California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, and New York, Florida. So where are good places to live in the United Stares if you don’t want the hustle of places like New York but not want to live in the middle of nowhere? Places with good schools, decent job prospects, low crime rate and not stupidly expensive? I would suggest the middle south, like Tennessee, Kentucky or Georgia. There are great towns with lots of diversity, low cost of living, good jobs, not too crazy at all, plenty of outlying neighborhoods and small towns to live in that are low crime, traffic isn't horrible except on maybe 3 roads but there are ways around it, everyone gets along for the most part, we don't have all the craziness of the big cities, nobody gets too worked up about anything. The downside is the weather; hot and humid for about 6 months out of the year, chilly and rainy for 4 months. The birth of the Rust Belt was created by the loss of industries to automation and the flight of low-skill high-pay manufacturing abroad; the flight of the middle class to the suburbs; and government neglect. Many Black communities were stuck on the sinking urban ship, and (to keep the metaphor going) were already in the bottom holds of the ship to begin with.Each state has pretty and ugly parts. For example, I went on an 1100 mile road trip from Wisconsin to Florida, passing through Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. Each state is pretty and ugly. As the song says, West Virginia has pretty mountains, but a lot of the state is run down and in poor repair. There’s not much zoning with the housing, so anything goes from property to property. Lots of tin roofs, rusted. There is a good deal of poverty. It’s not quite South enough to be warm in the winter. Unlike other states, there really isn’t a major city there (with what can be described as attractive buildings, pro sports stadiums, etc.); though maybe the college town is better. I haven’t been through the whole state. One can say states like Montana, the Dakotas, Alaska and Wyoming also don’t have major cities, but they generally seem to have more money per capita so conditions are better. The area is an utterly empty, desolate, under populated, pancake flat, wasteland with nothing to catch the eye and where you’ll see an elk or two coming closer for seven miles. I live there and it’s the only state I’ve driven in where you’ll get lost on its straight, flat highways.Easily one of the most depressing places on Earth, I drove through Iowa and I thought it was so boring, farmland all around. Nevada is a desert wasteland. When you drive deeper into it, especially the northern area, everything is roped off. Yes, everything. Nothing lives, no plants, animals, or anything; only miles of salt off the highway. It's all roped off, which makes me believe the government does some weird stuff there; miles of nothingness, just beige rolling hills. I felt claustrophobic; absolutely nothing redeeming out there. Las Vegas has its vague charms, but it really is a mess. Northern Nevada is an entirely different world. The Lake Tahoe area is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. New Jersey has both the ugliest sights and some of the prettier sights. The ugly side includes vast refineries. They also smell terrible but it does have the best part, the Jersey Shore.Pretty much the worst drive one might take in the US would be like starting out from San Angelo (a dreadful town) and going north, up to Amarillo and into the panhandle of Oklahoma and across the border into southwest Kansas and southeast Colorado. It’s this sort of flat and dry scrub land. It looks like shit, basically. And it sucks to find yourself anywhere within this red zone. It’s Satan’s Vacation Land! In terms of being unappealing to the eye and sheer uninspiring views, Kansas takes top place for me. It’s a boring rectangle in shape, its highways are arrow-straight and it’s under populated. Oh, and it’s anvil-flat. If your wife leaves you, you can spend three days watching her walk away. Ohio usually has an overcast sky. When the sun comes out people get excited. It’s part of the rust belt. Industry has left and so have the young people. What’s left are retired union workers who are getting their pensions cut and people who don’t work. The infrastructure is crumbling. All of the roads need repaved but the cities don’t have money because no one pays income tax because no one has income. You have a few places like Columbus and Dayton that are booming, but much of Ohio isn’t a place you’d want to visit, unless you’re a historical photographer. Some of the country areas are beautiful though.The deep southern states have a despicable history of racism which is something I can never forget. You will see the Confederate3 Flag flying though out the south, it’s not illegal as long as it’s on private property, or on a car,, etc... but there are moral and ethical reasons why you should not as many people take offence to a Confederate flag because it stood (in part) for slavery. To many it’s just like flying a Nazi flag or one with a swastika, again not definitely illegal, but not appreciated either. They all have the worst national education systems, highest crime, out of wed lock births, drug addiction and religiosity of any other states. They want someone who will fight for their “American way” no matter if it’s intolerant of immigrants and people of color. Even if that person is indecent, all that matters is that he stick it to the liberals and all the better (and more fun) if it’s a blatant lie or breach of norm/protocol.I am a fairly average Joe; middle class income, believe religion is a private thing that needs to stay out of the public sphere, politically moderate and consider myself a libertarian. I am a New Yorker which means I am comfortable in a competitive, highly educated, diverse multi cultural society. For the most part people com e to me and I have always been a manger where ever I go. It’s in the look of intelligence in the eyes. People who are intelligent have a shine to their eyes others don't have. Then once people see that you are outgoing they feel like they should get to know you better or sit closer. People often want advice or to tell their tale of distress.They want both sympathy and advice. How about this?Benevolent racism and reverse racism are both just plain old racism. Hindering people of other races is no different than giving preferential treatment to them because both actions make race the focal point. It's rather irritating that conservatism, these days, is synonymous with racism and white supremacy when it's the liberal left who treat non-whites like they are all oppressed victims.White privilege isn't the only racial privilege. Each race is privileged in ways that others are not.Gays and trans folks need to tone down their overt sexual expressions. We get it, you're here, you're queer, and most people are used to it. But do you really need to march down the street in assless chaps? Do you really have to make out with, and dry hump, each other in front of little children? How do you expect the straight community to believe you're not just mentally ill sexual deviants when you go on prancing around in booty shorts and a leash on a workday? I love my gays, and I'm bisexual myself, but c'mon, dial it back some.Israel's holy claim to the territory they occupy is ridiculous. So, you say you have a claim because an old, dusty scroll said your ancestors lived here? Seems legit. Maybe I'll write a book saying my ancestors always lived in Hollywood mansions and stake a claim to George Clooney’s pad. However, I will concede that they have managed to defend themselves against all comers and by the rules of conquest and occupation; they technically do have a fairly legit claim. I just think it was unfair to the Palestinians for the UN to just give away land that didn't belong to them.The term glory days is coined by and referred to the commonly accepted and large social and economic advantage white men have (had) relative to “minorities”. The term seems to have come to popularity since non whites were getting enough help to succeed and be valued enough to threaten white men’s ego.Here are a few observations by state:New York - Best thing – The food, pizza and the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches one can get (oftentimes from a gas station that happens to have a grille); worst thing – crazy people, trashy streets and subways.New Jersey - Best thing – the cheap gas that someone else actually pumps for you (major perk in the winter months).Connecticut - Best thing – the really good cheeseburgers. Worst thing - They let the Whalers leave Hartford.North Carolina - Best thing – Research Triangle Park. It’s a little commercial New York in the south.Tennessee - Best thing - 3 amazing and distinctly different cities; Nashville, Memphis, and xxxxxxxxxxx.Florida - Best thing - Disney, the Gold and Gulf Coast; worst thing - the rest of it.Washington - Best thing - Another tie between Cascades NP and Neah Bay. Both are amazingly beautiful. For those of you searching for Sasquatch, start near Neah Bay; even as a skeptic, I couldn’t help but think “yeah, I could see that as a possibility” while I was there. Worst part - Traffic (I’m looking at you, Microsoft).Oregon - Best thing - The town of Astoria. Worst thing - The small towns along the coast don’t feel as small as they did when I first visited. It may have something to do with me telling everyone how cool it is there, but that’s my own cross to bear.Nevada - Best thing - The Mountains are not as popular as mountains in other states, which makes for peaceful climbing and hiking. Worst thing - pronounce it wrong and find out.New Mexico - Best thing - Green chiles on EVERYTHING!! New Mexican food is truly amazing and hard to imitate.Arizona - Best thing - cheap gas; worst thing road quality. I suppose the heat contributes to buckling, but we have people living in outer space. How can we not get a few scientists to study the effects of heat on different road surfaces (or more accurately - how can we get politicians in Arizona to read those studies?)Kansas - Best thing - You’re almost to Colorado. Kidding (I’m getting tired). Despite people calling it a flyover state, driving through the amber waves of grain is something everyone should do at least twice; after the boredom comes serenity; worst thing - toll roads. Really, bro? Tolls?Colorado - Best thing - The Flying W Ranch (a real working ranch part of the King Ranch in Texas) and the Sons of the Pioneers singers, the Garden of the Gods and Cog Railway to Pikes Peak.North Dakota - Best thing - the town of Medora. Drive there and see why. Worst thing - sleeping in the rest area just east of Medora may lead to an unfriendly and unnerving close encounter with a bison.South Dakota - Best thing - Crazy Horse and Badlands NP. I chose two best things because by now you’ve already chosen which way you will be voting on my post; worst thing - paying for parking at Mount Rushmore. Your National Parks Pass won’t help you in this situation.Idaho - Best thing - It’s hard not to see a bald eagle flying around in the northern part of the state during the summer months. Worst thing - There is a never-ending construction project happening on Interstate 90; this slows traffic considerably.Maine - One of the last states I visited, Maine — and more specifically, the town of Lubec — has a special place in my heart. The town is small, welcoming and friendly. I would later realize that this feeling is common throughout the parts of the state I’ve visited.Montana - Best thing - out of all the things I immediately think of when I think of Montana, the fact that drivers wave at each other is my favorite; it adds a true sense of community to the entire state. It’s something I miss everyday of my life. Worst thing - getting stuck behind a heavy vehicle (or nervous driver) going over the pass on US-2 in the middle of tourist season.Wyoming - Best part - The Tetons/ Jackson area. The views are amazing. The air is fresh. Just don’t try to go over Teton Pass in bad weather (or if you are a nervous driver). Worst part - the idiots in Yellowstone who get too close to extremely dangerous wildlife. These animals will kill you, and people will be videotaping your death. Don’t be that person.Pennsylvania - Best thing – Pittsburg is second city with most water and pleasure boats, Ft Lauderdale is first, has best bars, is a great American city, the Pocono’s, amazing sports fans.Ohio - Best thing - friendly and prideful people. Worst thing - Ohio State University (not really, but Lendale White thinks so).Utah - Best thing(s) - Outdoor activities. Zion and Moab are both in my Top 10 list of favorite places in the country. Worst thing - the bugs that stick to your windshield near Salt Lake.Massachusetts - As a New Yorker, we are taught not to like Massachusetts (namely Boston) for silly reasons like there base ball team. With that said, it is difficult to narrow down my favorite part of Massachusetts, but I will go with Fenway Park. If you have never been (even if you don’t like baseball), it is a thrill. Sporting arenas with that much history are a dying breed. Worst part - Parking near Fenway. Pro tip - drive into a neighborhood that doesn’t have permit parking. Park there, and walk to the stadium. Honorable mention - taxes.Illinois - Best part – My nemesis Great Lake Naval Training Center where I did Boot Camp. Again, NY pride shouldn’t allow me to say this, but the pizza in Chicago is amazing. Wrigley Field is amazing. The buildings in Chicago are amazing. The people are awesome. Worst part - the people in the rest of the state are forgotten about (much like NYers not living in NYC), so to them I show sympathy.Indiana - Best part - What little woodland they have is beautiful. People don’t often associate Indiana with outdoor activity, but they have it. Worst Part - Gary can be a scary place if you find yourself there without a quick way back to the Interstate.Michigan - Best part - Flint. I have a friend with whom I worked from Flint who gave me a pretty cool over-the-phone tour of the town back in the early 2000’s. If you find yourself there, appreciate what it once was, and that the people are what will make it better again. Do yourself a favor and go to Halo Burger. They seem to only hire very personable people. Worst part - extreme poverty. Be it the cereal manufacturing towns or the once-thriving auto manufacturing towns, there is a feeling of helplessness. If you don’t see it firsthand, you can never truly understand the plight of Michiganders.Vermont - Best part - As an ice cream fiend, visiting Ben & Jerry’s flavor cemetery is really cool. A close second would be the hiking in the Green Mountains.New Hampshire - Best part - the beach. Yes, New Hampshire has a beach (about 18 miles worth, if I remember correctly). This little known fact makes it a really cool place to be.Rhode Island - Disclaimer - I’ve only spent a few days out of my entire life in Rhode Island, so I can’t give a good “worst” about it, and my “best” is from a rather limited list. Best part - The police department of Providence. They had an old school vibe. They were friendly, but stern, and never gave the impression that they would abuse authority, while at the same time, never giving the impression that they were pushovers. It was a good balance of what I think police should be.West Virginia - Best part - Harley road trip to Charlotte and the West Virginia State Fair. Aside from the Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA, this is probably my favorite fair. The grounds are beautifully maintained, the fair board brings in a great mix of vendors, and the people are really fun to be around.Virginia - Best part – I will never forget the most ‘infamous” street in the 1950s world, East Main Street. I served on a Destroyer out of Norfolk and then became an IBM Main Frame Engineer at the Naval Base. There were also memorable times, getting involved in Civil Rights, working for Jack Kennedy and the March on Washington, hunting in Dismal Swamp and fishing on Chesapeake Bay for six years. The area that borders Tennessee and Kentucky. It is amazingly beautiful and out of the way. Skip Skyline Drive and go here instead. Worst part - if you’ve been following along closely, you know I hate traffic. Any road in Northern Virginia (especially during rush hours, and increasing exponentially with respect to proximity of I-495) can become a nightmare.Georgia - Best part - The Georgia National Fair. The grounds are beautiful, the board is amazing, and since it happens toward the end of the carnival season on the East Coast, most of the vendors and workers have a rare happiness to them (almost like high school senioritis). They also have a great lineup of free concerts. This last year I saw Boys II Men; the year before I got to see Charlie Daniels perform The Devil Went Down to Georgia in front of actual Georgians, while in Georgia. In case you are wondering, that is going to be a deathbed memory upon which I will smile widely; worst part - not being able to buy roadside peaches at certain times of the year.Alabama - Best part - The town of Gulf Shores. Visit in the off season and enjoy some of the coolest people you’ve ever met. Worst part - Not enough Auburn fans outside of the actual town of Auburn, which in turn actually leads to my second favorite thing about the state — Hearing Bama fans reply with “Roll Tide” after I shout “War Eagle.” I really like Alabama as a place and as a culture.Louisiana - Best part - I love New Orleans, very friendly people and good service. If you pronounce the word “boudin” incorrectly, they will happily correct you while laughing and announcing your silly pronunciation; it’s all in good fun and made me feel very welcome.Arkansas - Best part - You can pay a small fee at a state park and actually dig for diamonds. This is not just some novelty; there are actual diamonds here, and you can keep what you find. Worst part - If you travel to the area where former President Bill Clinton lived, you will see examples of extreme poverty in a forgotten community.Kentucky - Best part – The Kentucky Derby every year for IBM and the never-ending country roads flanked by rolling grassy areas used for horse stables. The lawns are manicured beyond meticulous, the horses all look like they came out of a painting; worst part - the poverty in the neighboring areas of Churchill Downs.Missouri - Best part - Meats. Plain and simple. There is an abundance of fantastic meat in Missouri. A close second is the fresh-made ice cream. If you can make it out of a cow, go to Missouri to get it. Worst part - The Cardinals (I’m a Dodger fan; the Cards ruin my happiness).Oklahoma - Best part - The Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial is one of the most powerful memorials I’ve experienced. With that said, I’d rather there not be a need for the memorial in the first place.Wisconsin - Best part – The Boy Scouts camping and canoeing, YMCA horse back riding instructor, Washington HS, Harley Davidson tours and tailgating at a baseball game! I love the Packers! The smells in the parking lot will make any carnivore salivate uncontrollably. As if that’s not enough, the people want to show off their cooking skills and often offer samples to passers-by. Wisconsin people are among the most genuine and pleasant people I’ve experienced in the United States.Minnesota - Best part - Juicy Lucy cheeseburgers. Someone in Milwaukee actually told me about them, and suggested I go to a place called The Nook to get one. I’m glad I did. There is much debate over who invented this amazing feat of mankind’s ability to satisfy hunger, and I do not wish to be part of that debate. I can recommend eating at The Nook. Eat downstairs and watch people bowl while you eat for added enjoyment.South Carolina - Best part - CHUCK TOWN! To be honest, I really only like the name. The city is cool and all, but I enjoy Mt. Pleasant a bit more thanks to its even more relaxed feel. Worst part - While most of I-95 is extremely boring, the stretch through South Carolina sucks a little more for some reason. Maybe it’s the way the sun beats down on the concrete. Maybe it’s the never-ending signs for South of the Border (sorry, Pedro, you just don’t have the appeal you once did). Honorable mention for worst part - Sand fleas on Parris Island. Semper fi.Texas - Best thing - obviously difficult to come up with one favorite thing in Texas. I loved Gilly’s in Pasadena, the North Fork Ranch in Dallas and Houston wasn’t bad either! The Marfa Prada store is pretty cool, but far from the best thing. Texas is a flat New York state. After thinking for a minute, I’ll go ahead and say the work being done on the infrastructure of the Dallas/ Fort Worth area is the best thing.Mississippi - Best part - Coastal driving. I love beaches, I love driving, and the Gulf Coast is my favorite coast. But the worst place for me would be Mississippi; very racist, poor and religious; worst median income in nation, worst home values, high unemployment, and terrible public education.I think I’ve missed Delaware, Nebraska and Iowa. I’ll have to consult my journals to give my points about those. Aside from Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, nothing really jumps into my mind for any of those states.