Saturday, I had my son in the car. He is 6 and really likes superheroes, particularly, at this moment, Spiderman. We were talking about a birthday party to which he was invited and he emphatically announced that he was not going. When I asked why, he explained that his “Spider Sense” told him that he was not going to like the place, that the equipment was too “jumpy” and that he had to... More >>

As October comes to a close, so too does the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Maybe you have noticed the ubiquitous pink lapel pins and pink plastic bracelets a la Lance Armstrong.

I hope you have noticed, maybe even thought about it, and possibly even taken a step to support a breast cancer foundation or organization dedicated to eradicating the disease. I know there are many other ... More >>

I walked into a bakery by my office the other day and noticed a tip jar. All I ordered was a cup of coffee. I didn't feel the need to put my change in the jar and was even bothered that I was asked to.

Everyone seems to want a tip these days. I am not sure how it all got started. Why for instance do we tip cabbies? It seems to me they are the last bunch who deserve a gratuity. I am usuall... More >>

My son is 16 and my daughter is 20. The experience of being a father has taught me many things. One in particular is being able to let go. When they were babies we controlled everything, as they became kids we tried to control everything, as teens we came to realize we don't control a thing and as they become adults I realize that we were really just tour guides.

I'm trying to learn to trust t... More >>

In the legal profession they say (I read it in The Firm) that there are Finders, Minders and Grinders. Obviously, the great majority of us start as Grinders right out of law school researching (to learn the law) and do all the other unglamorous things one must do when starting out. After a while, some progress or graduate to becoming Minders who supervise, mentor and ride herd on... More >>

It reminds me of the observation that "he can't walk and chew gum at the same time". Has anyone else noticed that many people can't walk and talk on their cell phones at the same time? On a recent walk in mid-town Manhattan, I observed that one out of four people were on cell phones. Pedestrians on cell phones are dangerous to themselves and others -- sudden stops, abrupt turns and ine... More >>

I wonder if anyone else has noticed the effect of staring at another person who isn’t looking at you. This phenomenon is most noticeable when you are looking through glass at a person you don't know. Walk down the street and look into a store or restaurant window, or, if you are on a long car trip, sitting in the passenger seat and bored, look into other cars as they drive by. The driver may ... More >>

Friday night, my friend Michele called. Believe me, she is fully aware of Gotham, having heard me talk and talk and talk about our groups for years. But I suppose that I had not mentioned to her that we started blogging. It just hadn't come up.

I was discovered. Michele called to recount her finding of, and subsequent tour through, our blog. By the time she called, Michele had already read... More >>

Today is my husband David’s 39th birthday. I doubt he’ll care that I am disclosing his age. And I don’t think of him as 39, but rather 22, the age he was when I first met him.

Subconsciously, I consider people the age they were when they had the biggest impact on my life. My mother and father, 63 and 69, respectively, are both in their 40s when they took me fishing, skiing and taught m... More >>

Cool, crisp, fresh, sunny...and guess what? I'm not in Starbucks! No half caff double latte two shot extra mocha frappa nappa. My son is at Brown University running in a meet, my wife is working and me, I'm just enjoying the rest and relaxation. Maybe I'll lounge on the couch and watch some college ball. How about sitting on the porch and reading a book. Even take a nice walk and enjoy the fall fo... More >>

When I was young a popular cocktail party conversation starter was "If you could have one of the following which one would you choose: Fame, Money or Power?" At the time it did not enter my mind that the question might be some sort of litmus test. For me there was no question. I unequivocally wanted to be famous. And at the time Fame did not have as many of the obvious drawback... More >>

I’m back in New York City, returning to take up residence in my firm’s Manhattan office after almost four years in the Long Island office. A good move – except the commute will take getting used to.

I’ve traded my view of a parking lot for a panorama of the southern end of Manhattan from 39th Street. The East River bridges can be seen to the left, the Hudson is visible b... More >>

I hope there are some waiters or waitresses reading this. Please stop referring to me and my companions as “you guys” when you take an order or bring food or do whatever you do. When did it all start and why do you do it? And worse, if I am by myself, don’t call me ma’am. To my knowledge, there is not a woman alive who likes to be called ma’am. In fact, it is somewhat insulting, as ... More >>

From my earlier blog about cell phone use on the train, you know that I am a supporter of multi tasking and making the most of your commute. A few months ago, I treated myself to an Ipod. Noticing that more and more people commute with buds and cords hanging from their ears, I decided to join the crowd and see what the buzz was all about.

My conclusion is that the buzz has merit. Listening t... More >>

Over the last several months I have been conducting interviews for the Gotham book, "Tribal Networking." Some synonyms for tribal are ethnic, family, ancestral, and clannish. Maybe Gotham isn’t ethnic or ancestral, but it is certainly family and clannish. Gotham is akin to a fraternity, according to Judy Mines.

I think she is right. There is a reason the Gotham lunches are so comfortably ... More >>

According to what I read last week, Katie Couric's CBS Evening News has fallen into third place behind NBC and ABC. If someone predicted that four months ago, I would have been surprised. But not now.

I made sure I was home by 6:30 for her first broadcast. I am a big fan of the 6:30 evening news even though it is rare for me to be home in time to watch it. I thought though I would g... More >>

It's amazing that one little character could have so much effect on our electronic conduit for networking. Yes I"m talking about Fredslist.

Last Tuesday someone (it doesn't matter who) entered an email with a capital in the address. Now I know you're saying so what...and so did I however that one little character stopped fredslist in its tracks. Normally the software we have running on our ser... More >>

As a keen student of the game and Baseball lore I consider the single most significant play on the field to have occurred in 1947 when Brooklyn Dodger Captain and Shortstop Harold "Peewee" Reese extended his arm around the embattled Jackie Robinson amidst the intolerable catcalls and epithets of the Philadelphia players and fans. I believe there is even a statue in Brooklyn to commemorate this si... More >>

It’s Wednesday morning (this blog will be posted tomorrow) and the Mets open tonight at Shea in the NLCS against the Cardinals (weather permitting).

I’m a Mets fan and I’m tired of the second-class treatment that the Mets get from the general media in this town. I’ve gotten used to it during the regular season. I can probably count on my fingers the number of ti... More >>

In 1989, when my children were six and four years old and had just started school, someone took an AK 47 and shot up a schoolyard in Stockton, California. It was the end of an era of innocence. By 1999, things were out of control. Twelve students and teachers were shot and twenty four others were wounded at Columbine when two boys carried sawed off shotguns, a 9mm carbine and a semi automa... More >>

10 o’clock is my hour. By that point, the kids are in bed, homework folders checked, lunches are made for the next day . . . and (hopefully) the hour is mine. My oblivion is whatever I can find on television from 10 until 11. Over the last few years, the hour has been mostly slim pickings. While Thursday nights have always been my favorite, with the loss of Six Feet Under and Third Watch, th... More >>

Did I happen to slip SCHOOL into the title? Where does it fit in? My son’s sporting schedule is enough to raise your blood pressure. Monday: tennis, Tuesday: basketball, Thursday: ice hockey, Saturday: baseball, Sunday: ice hockey. He recovers on Wednesdays and Fridays. Barely. And then it starts all over again.

I am his taxi, his fan club and his scheduler. Before we leave for any act... More >>

At a bar mitzvah this weekend I noticed in particular a father, probably in his mid or late 60's, his son, and the son's three little boys. The son and his family live in Florida, the father in New York, and here they were all together. The father was handsome with a full head of thick silver hair and dressed in a beautiful grey suit.
His young grandsons bounced back and forth, giving their gra... More >>

Apart form friends Barmitzvahs and funerals, I had never been to temple. For some reason I felt a calling to go last Monday (Yom Kippor). Through the internet, I located a reform temple near me but when I followed the directions...I couldn't find it. However, in my quest I did find a conservative one. So...why not. I sat next to a woman who had never been to this temple but was a religious Jew. Sh... More >>

As you are no doubt aware Gotham is in the process of soliciting response to its second member survey. And what we are seeking is constructive criticism from our members with the aim of improving Gotham. To date over 170 of our roughly 500 members have responded.

Criticism is defined as "the art of evaluating or analyzing with knowledge and propriety". Criticize is defined as "to consider ... More >>

State Beach on Martha’s Vineyard runs in a northerly-southerly direction from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown along Nantucket Sound. Parking is allowed on the beach-side of the road only and cars driving south routinely park facing traffic, that is, on the wrong side of the road.

Recently a county engineer was deputized to augment the sheriff’s department and allow him to enforce parking restricti... More >>

During the last month, I have visited my internist for a check up and the veterinarian to inoculate the cats. Both visits had something in common, although the cats were not covered by insurance and cost many hundreds of dollars more. The internist had joined the veterinarian in choosing to install a TV playing nonstop in the waiting room. Maybe it is a reflection of their charges that th... More >>

My husband and I had a disagreement this morning. According to recent news reports, it has been conclusively established through technology that when Neil Armstrong took his famous steps on the moon in 1969, he said "one small step for A man, one giant step for mankind. Frankly, this isn’t really news. There has been talk over the course of years that he intended to say “a man” but instead... More >>

Today is Yom Kippur. I don’t believe that people who observe the holiday are permitted to even turn on the computer, let alone read this blog. I am allowed to write this today because I am not Jewish -- but people think I am all of the time. I have been wished all good things on every Jewish holiday since I was married and changed my last name. I usually just say thank you. If I expect to b... More >>

The ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are very important. They are the days of Teshuva, or "return," when we are supposed to examine our ways, make amends, and return to our spiritual purity. The texts tell us that on Rosh Hashana God records our deeds and fate, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed. So if you weren't particularly happy with your performance this past year, you have ten day... More >>