Truth is so often misrepresented without anyone telling an obvious lie. In the news, facts can be selected, framed, or left out to push a certain narrative. What people hear may be technically true, but still incomplete or misleading.Marketing sometimes works the same way. Brands we all know and love use careful wording, vague claims, and selective details to create a better impression than the full reality supports. A message can sound honest while still guiding people toward the wrong conclusion.

On Wednesday night I enjoyed Paul Simon perform in concert at the iconic Forest Hills tennis venue, along with fellow Gothamites Robert Intelisano and Corey Bearak.   The venue, situated in Forest Hills Gardens, provided the stellar backbone for the night.  As background, it is a venerable horseshoe shaped, 14,000 seat, former tennis stadium which was constructed over a 100 years ago and is still functional as a music venue, residing in the historic Forest Hills Gardens residential Tudor enclave.  All of which was a feast for my eyes!  

Leaving politics aside, my takeaway question from the World Cup - and the United States’ team’s exit - is whether the fever will last?Personally, I thought my interest would continue at full throttle, yet I didn’t follow Tuesday’s games closely. I certainly penciled in watching the finals, but an opportunity came up on that day and I didn’t find myself dismissing it to miss the final game.I wonder whether my attitude is a microcosm for our national reaction. Will the fever endure? 

Your body may fail, or betray you...but your family aand your true friends never do!Keep the faith, and carry on!

Your body may fail, or betray you...but your family and your true friends never do!Keep the faith, and carry on!

There is something about visiting my favorite beach at the very start of summer that instantly slows everything down. The season still feels fresh.  The sand is warm (okay, in this picture it is rocky too but let’s keep that one to ourselves) but not yet crowded, and the water has that quiet, sparkling calm that makes you want to stay all day. Beautiful sailboats are anchored just a bit offshore to add to the peaceful calm.Nice, right? OK, maybe next week when the heat wave burns off!

I am thinking a lot about aging today. People always say that age brings wisdom, but I'm still standing in the office supply room wondering why I came in there in the first place. Maybe wisdom isn't knowing all the answers—maybe it's finally realizing you don't have to pretend you do.  Of course, with age also comes the ability to misplace your glasses while they're sitting on top of your head (at least once a week), so it's a bit of a trade-off. Do you think getting older really makes us wiser, or just better at laughing at ourselves?

Concert going started in earnest last week.  Marisa and her dad took in The Doobie Brothers and (Carlos) Santana at Jones Beach last Thursday.  This great double -bill was my second concert of the week; Sunday Shelly and I enjoyed a special performance by The Bodega Tall Boys at Port Washington’s North Hempstead Town Beach; the boys feature Friday’s blogger’s son, Alex with grandson Shawn sitting in on lead guitar on two tunes.