Happy Birthday Dear House

I have been lax in my commitment to the blog.  I have been meaning to write but I was waylaid by other stuff.  Like obsessing over the paint scheme for the entry. Actually it wasn't so much the paint scheme as the thought of taping off all of the molding.  Now that it's done its schweeet and I am motivated to finish the living room.  I am done with the prep, always the hardest part. Priming is scheduled for this weekend. Now I just have to obsess over the color scheme for it.

The last time I wrote about the house I was waiting for my kitchen cabinet situation to be straightened out.  It has been fixed and my kitchen is gorgeous.  Sometimes I stand and stare at it in amazed wonder that it really looks as good as I had planned. Here is a picture. 

 

You may look at it and sneer because of the small size but it packs a lot of oomph into a very small space. I included many design features that I had lusted after for many years. Notice the under cabinet lighting in the photo.  It's actually pretty cool and useful. I also included one of those pull out spice cabinets.  Not as utilitarian as I had hoped but it is good for holding pasta and canned stuff. If I did it over I don't think I would go this route. I would have made the drawers wider instead,

 

My favorite appliance is the dishwasher.  I haven't had one in 8 years and it is a joy to have one again.  Not having a dishwasher limited what I would cook.  I didn't want to spend more time cleaning than cooking.  Now I don't have to.  It will also allow me to take advantage of my new gas range. I love it too but not quite as much as the dishwasher. I had a poker game a month back and it did a great job of heating the appetizers.  It also cooks a mean French toast with sausage. 

 

 

It struck me as I was preparing to obsess over the living room that I bought this place almost a year ago. A lot has happened since then and I am very pleased with the results.  Both with the house and with life in general.  Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.  But I can't dismiss the connection. My decisions have been paying dividends and my disposition is much better.  I have also been eating more fiber so that may have something to do with it too.

That's all for now about the house but there is so much that has happened I am going to be posting again soon.

I was in the house when the house burned down -- Warren Zevon

The Apocalypse is Here

I have talked about Marc in a previous blog or 2 and I have mentioned that whenever we go out Marc always drives.  Until now.  It was an act that defied belief. I still have trouble believing this really happened.

Marc and I made plans to go out for Korean BBQ (one of the many Asian cuisines we enjoy). We had recently decided that our current place, Kam Gang San, had lost its appeal and we were on the lookout for suitable replacement. I had gone to a newer place called Miss Korea with my cousin Reuben and his family and we decided to give it a try.

We decided on 7 and he would pick me up at THE HOUSE (a subject of previous blogs and it will be the subject of the next blog).

He showed up in one of his cars, the big BMW I think and he looked at me and said "You drive". I felt the Earth start to shift off its axis. My brain locked up.  I started to gasp for breath. I asked him to repeat himself just to be sure I heard right.  "You drive.  I can't handle it anymore". Just for the record Marc has always been very critical of my driving.  I can't blame him.  I don't speed excessively and I don't cut people off (on purpose anyway). So it was with some apprehension that I agreed.

It was uneventful.  He even let me listen to my music.  Real Rock n' Roll instead of that easy listening stuff he likes. There was little traffic and we made it in quickly. If there was nothing exciting to report then why bring it up?  A fair question..  During our drive we spoke about stuff that we only talk about with each other. I can't reveal what was said but Marc is seriously considering leaving New York because of it.  This was the second unbelievable thing he told me that night. Marc and I have lived in various places over our lives and New York was always home.  Its in our blood. Yet now that I have had some time to think about it I can understand his thinking.

Living in New York takes a lot of energy and compromise.  I really don't have the head for that anymore. In my travels I have been to places that are close to major urban areas but are in settings that would be unobtainable at almost any price in similar proximity to New York.  I know this is heresy but I have to give it consideration.

Will I be able to give up Wo Hop, Centro Vasco and all my other favorite places?  Can I live in a town without major league baseball?  I don't know but I may be willing to find out.

Stay tuned for future developments.

PS -- Marc wasn't critical of my driving but I took major abuse for my limp efforts at parking.  A terrible effort if I do say so myself.

Not Very Diplomatic

In past blogs I have discussed some of my friends.  Just by first name so as not to cause them undue celebrity.  Avoiding those nosy reporters can become very time consuming. However this time I have to reveal the complete identity of my friend, Dr. Michael Binder.  Why you ask? Because Mike is the current World Champion of a very interesting game called Diplomacy.  And that's what this is all about.

Mike and his wife Amy live in Florida and every summer they visit Amy's parents who have a beautiful home on the beach on the north shore of Long Island.  Not as ritzy as the Hamptons or Sag Harbor but still a most relaxing place to spend time.  I generally visit with them at this time but I was committed to work at the US Women's Open golf tournament (see previous blog) and I was so exhausted that I couldn't make it.  Mike understood but I was upset.  Then he said that he was going from Long Island to Philadelphia (by train no less) to play in a Diplomacy tournament.  I said I would meet him there and hang with him.  He said there wouldn't be enough time for serious hanging out but I was committed to see him.  I made a reservation and I was set.

Now I have never really been a big fan of Diplomacy but I figured the best way to learn to like it was to understand it and I figured the best way to understand it was to watch it. Now I understand it and it is fascinating.

The game takes place in 1901 Europe. Empires are being built and power is being brokered.  Your goal is to dominate the map.  How do you do this? With guns and bombs? No. Through negotiation and backstabbing. Basically you talk to the other players (in closed, secret meetings) on a 1 to 1 basis and create alliances.  Then when it suits your needs you turn on them. But what if they beat you to it?  That is the fascinating part of the game.

Anyway the game consists of 15 - 20 minute negotiating sessions followed by 5 minutes of moving the pieces (everybody moves at the same time). As fascinating as it is to watch I decided to go out and walk around Philly for a little bit.  I was staying on Broad St just south of City Hall and the area has a lot going on.  It is also very gay.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  It's actually one of the primary reason there's a lot going on.

I walked and window shopped, bought an ice cream cone and people watched. And I got hit on.  Twice.  I guess I still have it.  At least for middle aged gay guys. Very nice.  As I got back to the hotel I saw Amy talking to a really tall (6'6"), incredibly buff guy.  She introduced him to me as an old high school friend named Marcus. He was wearing a skin tight cycling outfit and he had a very expensive looking bike.

We made some small talk and I mentioned that I had walked around the area.  The first thing out of his mouth was that it was really gay. Now it wasn't hard to figure out that Marcus was probably gay and he may have been doing this to gauge my level of homophobia.  I just said that I didn't really notice the guys holding hands and making out.  This kind of threw him for a loop.  He looked at me a little funny and didn't really talk much more.  I said good night and went back to the Diplomacy tournament.

The next day Mike, Amy and I went for breakfast.  On the walk to the restaurant Amy mentioned that I was rude to Marcus.  Now let's get one thing straight.  I am capable of being extremely rude (and obnoxious) but this comment threw me big time.  How was I rude? "Well you made fun of him being gay" she said.  This floored me.  I am at a loss to understand it but  all I can say is I must not have been very diplomatic.

In the world of diplomacy, some things are better left unsaid.

Lincoln Chafee 

A Walk With the Parks

I have been involved with golf for a long time.  I have played it most of my life.  Maybe one day I will get good at it.  Truth be told I doubt it highly.  If anything I am on the downward side of having any hope. I am OK with it.  I have enjoyed my time on the track. In fact I can't really play any more because of a bad foot.  If I get in 2 or 3 rounds a year it's a lot.

I have also been a caddie on odd occasions.  It is much harder than it looks and it is a very tough way to earn a dollar.  I have known some great caddies, Admiral Eddie and Million Dollar Frankie come to mind, and I can say that I am not one. But it taught me quite a bit about dealing with people who were having a bad day.  It also pointed out to me that I looked like a jerk when I acted that way.

Over the years my company, Tape-Rite (www.taperite.com) has been a major supplier of the special double-coated tape that is used for putting grips on the club shaft.  We have expanded and we offer a complete line of tapes for the golf industry at www.golftape.com.

These days I get my golf fix by officiating at local tournaments and volunteering at USGA Championships.  So far I have worked at 6 US Opens, 1 US Amateur and at  the recently completed US Women's Open. I volunteered to act as a hole marshal.  This involved crowd control and finding lost balls. Usually I work with scoreboards so this was a new experience for me.  All I can say is that it was fabulous. I was as inside the ropes as you can get.

Being up close and personal with today's crop of women golfers is very exciting for an old fart like me. I mean who wouldn't want to be surrounded by groups of hot chicks with great bodies who can hit a high cut 3 iron.  My mind is flush with fantasies. All I can say is that whomever is getting these women interested in golf is doing a fabulous job.  More is better.

While I was working I noticed that there were several players named Park. This is directly due to golf becoming very popular among people of Korean background. If you haven't noticed, Korean women are starting to dominate the LPGA tour.

The eventual winner (and currently the world's best female golfer) was Inbee Park who had won the Open in 2008.  She was the youngest person to ever win it, a record she still holds. Inbee crushed the field with a score of 8 under.

The other Parks included Annie who is a) from Long Island and a local favorite and b) the current NCAA Women's Golf Champion, Jane and He Young. Of the 3 only Jane made the cut finishing at 12 over par.  That was good for a tie for 42 place. The way things are going I am sure there will be many more women named Park on the LPGA tour. Maybe one will be named Central Park. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

The course that the Open was held on is called Sebonack. It is located out in the Hamptons (Southampton to be exact) which is where the rich and famous people hang out every weekend with the same rich and famous people they hang out with in Manhattan the rest of the time.

Sebonack was opened in 2006 but it has neighbors that are the epitome of golf royalty.  It's immediate neighbor is National Golf Links. National is very private and exclusive and the course always ranks in the 100 Best Courses in America as determined by Golf  Digest magazine. Adjacent to National is Shinnecock, one of the truly great courses on the planet. Shinnecock has been the host of several US Opens and will be the host again in 2018. The course at Sebonack gives them both a run for their money.

Sebonack was developed by Michael Pascucci.  By an interesting twist of fate I went to high school  with his son Michael. I am a year older than he. They lived in a mansion that was once the home of Gil Hodges when he managed the NY Mets. Every summer they would have a big bash for all the kids from the area.  The summer of my graduation (1973) Mr. P asked me to run into town to pick up the pizza for the party. He snapped off a hundred dollar bill and handed it to me and told me to keep any change.  This may have been the first time I had actually held a hundred.

I was driving into town in my Mom's Mercedes and I was going a wee bit too fast.  The next thing you know I am getting a ticket for doing 70 in a 40. It wound up costing a lot more than the change I kept from the hundred. The reason I bring this up?  Maybe Michael will read this and offer me a round of golf.  I would probably turn it down because of my foot but you never know.

"Golf is a good walk spoiled." -- Mark Twain

It's The Same (Great) Old Song

Dr. Tape is lucky enough to have friends (yes, more than one) who have interesting perks attached to them.  Golf at fancy clubs is common but others have the ability to get reservations at very exclusive restaurants or great seats to the hottest Broadway show.  By far the best perk is the one that comes with Danny.  Danny is a good representative of the human race.  He is involved in many worthwhile pursuits and philanthropic in many ways.

Danny's family has business dealing with the Songwriters Hall of Fame which has offices in LA and NY.  They hold their annual induction ceremonies at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. It's quite the party. Danny's family always has two tables at the dinner and someone always drops out at the last minute.  Danny knows I keep my tuxedo ready to go and he can count on me to fill any voids.  This year was no exception.  He called on Tuesday for Thursday night.  I was in!! A major score.

This is the sixth or seventh one I have gone to and they are fabulous events.  You get to see great performances by famous people singing their own songs but also other peoples songs. Billy Joel, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, John Legend, John Mayer, Hall and Oates, Don McLean, Dionne Warwick and Chaka Kahn are just some of the performers I have gotten to see. I also saw Stevie Wonder but he didn't see me.

You also get to see some bizarre stuff like the time Mary J. Blige forgot the words to a song (they are on the freaking teleprompter for God's sake) and walked off the stage midway through her performance. What would this year bring? I couldn't wait to find out.

Danny sent me a photo of the ticket that listed the inductees. There were some GREAT names. They included Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Mick Jones and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Holly Knight, JD Souther and last but certainly not least Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. I was stoked.

Thursday arrived and the time had come.  The ballroom was packed with music industry types and hot chicks.  I found Danny and his family, we had some drinks and got ready.  Danny's sister Jackie was there along with several of her friends. They heard that Steven Tyler was taking pictures and they ran off to see if they would take some with them.  They came back shrieking like teenagers.  I asked them if they got their pictures and one of them said "Even better, he felt us up!". Ahh, to be a rock god.

The show was amazing with performances by Sting, Petula Clark, Patty Smyth, Holly Knight, Jordin Sparks, and the sublime Alison Krauss.  But by far the best were Mick Jones/Lou Gramm and Mr. Touchy Feely/Joe Perry.

The guys from Foreigner sang "Juke Box Hero" that had everyone singing along.  They accepted their award and sang "I Want To Know What Love Is".  Amazingly good with great audience participation.  The only thing missing were the cigarette lighters. I have seen Foreigner several times and this was as good as they have ever been.

Tyler and Perry were going to be inducted next and Nickleback came out and sang "Sweet Emotion".  A great rendition that had that haunting quality to the title verse.  Steven and Joe accepted their award with Steven admitting that they got into songwriting to meet chicks.  Steven brought the point home by asking the crowd how many people had gotten laid the night before.  He didn't ask if they had to pay for it but the point was well taken. Then they took the stage and sang the ultimate Aerosmith song "Walk This Way".  People were dancing on chairs as he explained that it started with a little kiss like this.

Berry Gordy of Motown was the last to be honored with a Pioneer of Music award.  Smokey Robinson introduced him.  The night was winding down but Smokey was just getting started.  He went on and on and on to the point that they were flashing on the teleprompter to wrap things up. He finally introduced Berry who was grateful and brief.  Then the finale came on.  The cast of the Broadway show Motown came out and performed a medley of songs from all the great Motown acts.  It was kind of like one of those Time-Life music collection commercials. I was ready to buy the boxed set but they didn't flash the 800 number. Then it was out the door until next year.

The piece de resistance occurred on the way out.  I was riding down the escalator and I happened to turn around.  One of the white hot chicks was several stairs above me.  She was wearing a dress that had less fabric than a man's handkerchief and she had gone commando. The view was stellar. A perfect end to a perfect evening.

Seeing Smokey Robinson reminded me of another music industry dinner that honored my cousin and music industry legend Charles Koppleman for raising a boatload of money for the TJ Martell Foundation.  For those of you poker buffs out there Charlie's son Brian (my second cousin) wrote Rounders. Anyway after all the speeches Smokey came out to entertain the crowd and a couple at the next table asked me who he was.  I was a little taken aback that people in the music industry wouldn't know who Smokey Robinson is but I guess it takes all types.

For all types of adhesive tapes make sure to call TAPE-RITE at 1-800-882-7348 or visit us at www.taperite.com.

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” -- Friedrich Nietzsche

“Play it fuckin' loud!” --  Bob Dylan

The House is Burning

It's getting close to Hexayurt season.  For the uninitiated the Hexayurt is a temporary structure that was designed to house the victims of war and natural disasters.  While it has been used extensively for this purpose, the Hexayurt has become the shelter of choice for those attending Burning Man.

What is Burning Man and why does Dr. Tape give a hoo-hah about Hexayurts?  Good questions. Burning Man is the culmination of a series of festivals where people go to celebrate whatever it is they celebrate.  The finale takes place in the Nevada desert at the end of the summer.  They burn a giant effigy and then everyone goes their merry way. My friend Lynne (who's opinion I value greatly) has declared that Burning Man is waaaaay past it's expiration date. It has become the lair of the painfully hip and therefore should be avoided at all costs.  I don't hold this opinion but in the interest of fairness I try to get all sides.

As far as the Hexayurts go, well they use a special kind of tape to construct them.  What kind of tape? Why Hexayurt tape of course.  You can check it out here:     http://www.taperite.com/Showcase/hexaturt-tape.html.  Last year Dr. Tape got bad advice from Adhesoman (my trusty sidekick) and we ran out of tape.  I assure all of you that will not happen this year. In addition we are holding the price from last year.

For those of you that actually read my posts you know that 1) I am in the process of renovating a house and 2) that I have threatened to try and build a Hexayurt.  Well along with the house I now have my own backyard, the perfect place to build a Hexayurt.  What will I do with it?  Hard to say, but I will find a good use for it. If I had a pool I would use it as a pool house.  In fact the house came with a disgusting aboveground creation that took up the entire back yard.  It's gone now and I feel much better for it.

That's all for now.  Remember that It's TAPE-RITE (www.taperite.com) for all of your tape needs.

"Art is the signature of civilization" -- Beverly Sills

The House Strikes Back

In an earlier post I spoke about renovating my house.  At the time I felt that the project was progressing nicely and would be finished soon. HA!! The house has other ideas.  It seems that it has been lying in wait, using my confidence against me. I realize that house are inanimate objects incapable of thought or action but this is different.  IT'S ALIVE!!!

What has it done you ask?  Leaks have sprouted and mysteriously disappeared when I go to fix them. Wallpaper refuses to come off even after the addition of copious amounts of chemicals that may have shortened my life by several years. Windows that were working perfectly are suddenly balking at my touch.

The real kicker is that half my cabinets came in damaged or badly assembled. And while the cabinet company is getting me replacement cabinets it is slowing everything down by another week. I can't order a counter top until the new cabinets are installed.  I can't do the finish electrical work either.  All I can do is look at the carcasses of my future kitchen, mocking my confidence that I would be done by now.

And then there is the painting.  In the last column I revealed that I was being defeated by bad painter's tape and that I was a moron for not hiring a professional painter to do the work.  Well here I can say that I have prevailed.  At least for now.  On a very small scale. The final outcome is still in doubt but I feel as though I have gained some traction. I will be facing a major test in the next few days when I try to paint over the lime green paint in the second bedroom. I am tempted to just leave it and blame it on a bad reaction to cold medicine.

Thanks for you compassion in all of this.  I can feel the love from here.  I will keep you posted.

Oh yeah, for all of your tape needs visit us at www.taperite.com or contact us at sales@taperite.com.

"A true friend stabs you in the front" -- Oscar Wilde

It's All Over Now

Well the Stationery /Supply Side Shows are over and I have finally recovered.  The stress and strain on my body is severe and it's a miracle that I survive every year. But the effort is well worth it.  I get to meet some of the most creative people who produce beautiful, elegant, humorous, poignant cards and invitations. The level of quality always amazes me. 

Even though we do lots of business during the 3-1/2 days of standing around the best part is meeting the incredibly interesting people that attend and exhibit.  Listening to their ideas, seeing their products, finding out about their goals is inspiring and exciting.  Unfortunately most of them have the lifespan of fruit flies and are never seen again.  Why?  Because it is very difficult to capture the imagination of the public. Just because you have a great idea doesn't mean people will give you money for it. Most consumers don't bother to seek out the new and unusual.  I say that they should and support the creative process. And you will wind up with unique and beautiful items that will impress you friends.

One of the unusual things I have noticed about the people at the show is that a preponderance of them have suitably quirky names that seem to exude creativity. I have met women named Isley, Dabney, Clothilda and Genevive. The men were up there as well but not to the same extent.  I guess a cute, artsy name goes better with a girl than a guy.  I guess your name does influence your future.

At the show we had a couple of special deals and we are running them until the end of June.  If you need a new ATG dispenser we are offering the ATG-50 dispenser ($27.50 list) for $20.00 if you buy a full case of any type of ATG tape. But wait, there' more!  If you buy 2 cases of any type of ATG tape (you can mix and match) you get a FRE ATG-50.

Our other deal is for the popular ZCM-1000 electric dispenser.  This dispenser is designed for non-ATG tapes.  It automatically feeds the tape out and cuts it to a pre-cut length. This is great for putting the tape on envelopes or other pieces of paper where you want the consumer to remove the backing paper.  Normally this beauty sell for $698.00.  But until the end of June it is only $598.00.  It sounds like a lot but if you are doing serious taping it will pay for itself very quickly.

You can check out all of our products for the stationery industry at www.taperite.com.  Just click on the Supply Side tab on the left side of the screen and you are there. Any questions you can always call us at 1-800-882-7348.

Only those who see the invisible can do the impossible.  -- Bernard Lown

It's Show Time!!

Welcome Tape-o-philes.  It's that time of year again.  Yes, time for the Supply Side Show at the Javits Center in the greatest of all cities, New York.  What is the Supply Side?  That's where you can find all of the supplies you need to create beautiful stationery, invitations or artwork using the latest in papers, foils, embellishments and TAPE!! Yes, tape.  And TAPE-RITE is the leading supplier of the specialty tapes used to create theses works of art.  Check them out at http://www.taperite.com/Supply-Side/supply-side-stationery-show.html. The Supply Side is located in the National Stationery Show.  We are stuck in the back, like a leper colony.

What amazes Doctor Tape is that most of these are created by small, independent operators, usually women, working at their dining room tables.  I speak with them every year and I have found that they all seem to have started as crafters making stuff for friends and family.  As their fame spread they all took the leap and moved into selling their wares to the general public.  This is harder than it sounds and the fact that so many have achieved success is a testament to their skill and persistence. Some of them have grown into large operations but they all know where they came from and they haven't lost their compass.

If you are in the market for fine stationery or fancy invitations I suggest seeking them out for personal service, creative design and high quality.  Especially if they are buying tape from me. 

If you are in the NYC area from 5/19 to 5/22 come on by and visit us at booth 3085.  We'd love to meet you.  And if you can't make it please check us out at www.taperite.com.

Minutus cantorum, minutus ballorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
(A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants) -- Funeral for Chuckles, Mary Tyler Moore Show

Been There, Done That

Doctor Tape is a creature of habit and one of his favorite habits is going to Wo Hop at 17 Mott St in Chinatown.  The one in New York. Down the stairs. I think there may be a Wo Hop in every Chinatown on Earth.  In fact there is a place called Wo Hop City at 15 Mott St.  I went there once because the line for the true Wo Hop was soooo long I didn't want to wait and it scarred me for life. .Just like skydiving, never again. Anthony Bourdain (Mr Uber cool) once filmed a segment at Hop Kee which is at 21 Mott Street.  I am convinced that Hop Kee exists solely to take the overflow from Wo Hop. Wo Hop is open 24/7 so if you want to make sure you avoid the lines go at 3AM.  Unless its New Year's.  Then it doesn't matter.

99% of the time I go with my best friend Marc. We have been going to Wo Hop for 39 years. I have known Marc since we were 12. We met at summer camp. We immediately became struck on each other as if we had used really strong double-coated tape  And remember for all of your tape needs visit us at www.taperite.com. Hey, it is a tape column.

Anyway we went tonight in Marc's new used car. Marc buys lots of used cars. Don't get the wrong idea, it's a 2002 AMG55 convertible. A worthy vehicle for transporting Doctor Tape to his favorite restaurant.The drive in was like all the stars aligned.  There was no traffic, Marc drove under control (Marc always drives) and we got a spot half a block from the place. We leapt out and ran into a group of guys also going to Wo Hop.  Three were from out of town and one was a native.  They were a little lost because 17 Mott is all the way south, almost to the Bowery and the New Yorka had only been there late at night.  When he was drunk. And he didn't remember how far down it was.

We got to the stairs and there was NO LINE.  At 7:45PM there was NO LINE.  I can't stress how rare an occurrence this is. Wo Hop only seats 46 people. We rushed in and there were open tables.  Another sign from above.  What a great night!! Our favorite waiters were working (Raymond and Feng) and we had a great meal. While we were eating we noticed that a line had formed and there were maybe 20 people waiting for a table.  Could it get any better?  Actually no.  Turns out we didn't read the parking signs correctly and we got a $65.00 ticket.  The worst part is its not the first time we did this.  Oh well, I guess that's a habit I have to kick.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

Tamper Tape Makes It Evident

With all of the unrest in the world today many companies and governmental agencies are turning to tamper evident tapes for help in preventing and identifying tampering with shipments, documents and equipment. There are many types of tape (and labels) that provide visible evidence of tampering.  They can't prevent it but you will be aware of it. TAPE-RITE offers a complete line of products to help you with compliance in this area.  Check it out here: http://www.taperite.com/Showcase/tamper-evident-tapes.html

The most basic type is printed tape either with a pattern or a logo.  Available as gummed tape or plastic tape these products provide a low cost solution to provide a minimal level of tamper evidence. They also serve as an easy way to identify shipments.

For small packages or retail items the package opening can be sealed with a self-destructing labels.  These labels can't be peeled off in one piece making them almost impossible to replace. Another type of tamper evident label will leave behind a pattern (dots, checkerboard, etc.) and then it can't be replaced because the adhesive loses it stick. These labels can be further customized with logos or other information. This provides a very high level of package security.

There are also case sealing tapes that have the same characteristics.  They are available in small rolls for hand held dispensers or long length rolls for automatic case sealers.  These tapes can be custom printed with logos and serial numbers.  The serial numbers change every 9 inches and allow you to record the numbers on each case giving you the highest level of evidence.

Recently we worked with a Fortune 500 company that builds large equipment in Mexico.  They were told by Homeland Security that they had to make these truck-sized thingies tamper-evident so that people or contraband couldn't be smuggled in them.  After shrink wrapping the units they used custom printed tape to create a seal between equipment, shrink wrap and pallet providing clear evidence if it was tampered with.

If tamper evidence is a concern of yours give us a call at 1-800-882-7348 or e-mail sales@taperite.com

Politics and Poker

Many of you know that Dr. Tape is a big fan of poker.  Playing it, watching it on TV and reading the latest books or magazines about it are among my favorite pastimes.  Back in December I actually came in 8th out of 858 entries at a World Series of Poker circuit event at Harrah's in Atlantic City. Here is the link showing the results; http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-tournaments/4017-2012-wsop-circuit-harah-s-resort-atlantic-city/1096979/results. So far it is the highlight of my poker career.

Recently the topic of legal, on-line poker has become very hot in this country.  Some states are moving towards legalization while others are "exploring" the possibility.  Is this a good thing? I am not quite sure.  The allure of being able to play poker from home in my underwear is very appealing.  Just boot up and join in.  No more 2 hour drives to Atlantic City or Foxwoods.  But the potential for malfeasance looms large. Can they prevent cheating on-line?  I am not an expert so I don't know what the story is but there are rumors abounding that the hands weren't actually random and that there is software that allows one player to see what cards the other players were dealt.  Can this be true?  And of course there are the politicians.

The thing that is currently holding up progress is the politicians.  With the economy in the tank and our municipalities in over their heads (like Stockton, CA) politicians are always looking for new sources of tax revenue. When they smell potential new taxes its like a group (herd?, flock?) of Great Whites attacking a wounded seal.  They all want a piece of the action and they will fight to protect this turf. After all that's what they live for. Right now if you win less than $5000.00 in a casino (at least the casinos that I go to) nobody (ie the taxman) knows about it.  The way things are shaping up with on-line play is that you will be taxed from the very first dollar. I think this is being lost on the people that are advocating on-line play.

What will the result be?  I fear that legalized on-line poker will become a vast wasteland similar to off-track betting on races.  It will become a patronage job given to some well connected political lackey that will mismanage it into oblivion while squeezing every penny out of it that they can. That's why its a casino for me. Or a good home game.

My Life Is My House

Back in 2001 when Dr. Tape was still married my wife and I saw a movie called My Life As A House. It told the story of a man who was diagnosed with some untreatable form of cancer and his quest to build a house before he died. It was actually quite good and featured lots of gratuitous sex.  I mean LOTS of it.

I am thinking of this because I have recently purchased a new house. Well, new for me anyway.  It was actually built about 60 years ago. I am currently in the process of renovating it. My goal is to finish it before I die.  Which is hopefully 20 or more years away.

My days have become filled with anticipation of that call from my contractor telling me of some newfound issue that needs to be addressed before anything else can be done.  Nothing major or house threatening but still a pain in the butt that eats into the day.  I just found out that the front of the house is leaking.  Badly.  It needs to be torn off and re-sided. With new windows and front door. Well, the door doesn't really count because I needed one anyway. Oh wow, I just got a call from my contractor saying the siding I want isn't in stock and it will be 2 weeks to get it.  Just another bump in the road.

The fact that all this is happening to me is quite a shock.  I mean I watch all those home improvement shows on TV.  I love Home Depot and Lowe's.  I built my own deck for Pete's sake. (Who is Pete anyway?). I shouldn't have these issues.  They are for people that don't do their homework.  I guess you never know what you will find behind door #2.

I an effort to help speed completion of this venture I said that I would do the painting.  Let's just say that it isn't going quite as smoothly as I had hoped. The big problem is the blue painter's tape.  It seems to be very finicky and it is giving me headaches out the wazoo. I find it difficult to believe that I, Dr. Tape, is having an issue with TAPE. The irony is immense. I think next time I will just keep my mouth shut and hire a painter.  Or leave the walls bare. The way things are going either way looks much more appealing than painting.

I will keep you posted on the progress we are making.  After it's all done there is a big BBQ at my place.

"There is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over" -- Frank Zappa