I have a date stamp on my desk in the office. The old- fashioned kind. You change the date, month and year with plastic wheels. Changing the date is part of my morning ritual. I’ve had such a stamp on my desk for many years. I use it to stamp mail. I don't use it as much now as I used to. Yesterday morning I checked to make sure that the stamp h …
It was to be expected. The other evening we were caught in one of the many protests in New York City after the non-indictment in the death of Eric Garner. We were in our car, leaving the City and traffic came to a halt. Protesters, accompanied by police, blocked the road, walked past our stopped car in the opposite direction and were gone. As t …
Let's congratulate Gotham's Networkers of the Year -- Liz Saldana and Larry Sprung and this year’s recipient of the Red Bandana Award -- Cindy Somma. When someone asks me what the Red Bandana Award is about, I respond that it is our Gotham family's way of recognizing the best fulfillment of our mantra -- “It is better to give than receive...” I …
I'm a traditionalist and one of the things I like most about Thanksgiving are the traditions. One of our traditions is a football game before dinner. Given the rain and wet field conditions, this tradition may be in jeopardy this year. And there are the food traditions. Except for the tradition of family, Thanksgiving is mostly about the food t …
It’s not every day that a new species of frog is discovered -- especially in New York City. And it’s not everyone who is related to the person who discovers a new species. So we’re proud of Jeremy and “Rana Kauffeldi”. (There’s some really great coverage -- and cute pictures -- on this discovery. Just google new NYC frog.) Jeremy discovered the …
It’s not every day that a new species of frog is discovered -- especially in New York City. And it’s not everyone who is related to the person who discovers a new species. So we’re proud of Jeremy and “Rana Kauffeldi”. (There’s some really great coverage -- and cute pictures -- on this discovery. Just google new NYC frog.) Jeremy discovered the …
I’m happy that the nurse from Maine was released from the isolation tent in New Jersey. I’m not happy that she is resisting the 21 day voluntary quarantine that seems to be the prudent suggested course of action. Not for a moment do I dismiss the inconvenience that goes with isolation but the “experts” can’t seem to agree that anyone is conclus …
I can't remember the last time we were in a Buy Buy Baby store. But we found ourselves in one last weekend. Shopping for a status symbol. They only had one starter Scooter to choose from. A take off on the Flexible Flyer sled of old. We passed on the scooter -- for now at least. We were in search of status. So many choices. Some more versatile t …
It was a large group -- about forty people -- invited to cocktails in the penthouse apartment on the sixteenth floor with a nice view of the city (not New York). The sole elevator came down to the lobby to carry a second group to the penthouse. We watched as the elevator loaded. It looked a little too crowded. We weren't going to make it on for …
A friend of mine was riding his bicycle, albeit in the “wrong” direction, in a bike lane in the City a few weeks ago. He was stopped by a policeman for riding the wrong way and was asked for identification. Unfortunately, my friend didn't have any identification on him or in his bike pack. One thing led to another -- although I have no reason t …
Well, they seem to be working. The cameras in school zones that generate tickets for exceeding the school zone speed limit. There is one such zone on a road that I travel very frequently. After the initial onslaught of tickets, and the publicity about the cameras, motorists being caught unaware and early flaws resulting in many, many unwarrante …
To all who celebrate the new year, best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year. Before holidays, and at other times as the spirit moves us, Flo and I make apple sauce. Natural, no artificial ingredients -- the perfect comfort food. I do the prep work. The coring, peeling and chopping. If they’re not prepped right, the apple sauce will not be …
It's been a long time coming, but, to echo Ella Fitzgerald, “Bye, Bye, Blackberry”. Until recently, I’ve been in denial of the imminent demise of my Blackberry. In the face of those around me -- mostly former Blackberry users -- who scoffed at the device in my hands, I held on (literally) to my trusted Blackberry 9000. But loyalty and the ease o …
I was on line in the bagel store and noticed the fixtures in the ceiling. Video cameras in the bagel store. I wondered why. I hadn't heard of any robberies. Was the owner keeping an eye on the employees? Cameras tracking (and ticketing) red lights and speed in school zones. A good idea for safety, although I am skeptical of the motivation, espec …
Like many others, we are back from an end-of-summer vacation. Last week, we were at one of our favorite places -- Martha’s Vineyard -- to which we have returned almost every summer for many, many years. When we go to MV, there’s a “Happy Ferry” which takes you to the Vineyard and a “Sad Ferry” which takes you back to the mainland. As we pa …
