I am compelled to admit that I have become an addict. I am addicted to Social Media. Although mostly a Luddite, I am constantly watching and working my amazingly fecund iPhone. It started years ago with email and a crude self constructed fredslist which became a more sophisticated and responsive list serve. Texting is my least favorite form …
Recently I met a young artist (photo above) at an Art Opening and while making conversation I bragged about a one mile open water swim I had just accomplished. Her response was that she had swum around the island. Taken aback, I asked her how long her swim was and she said 12 miles. Nearly speechless, I came back with "That's nearly as far as th …
All my life I've thought about being a schlepper. Schlepper? It is a Yiddish word meaning someone so stupid or ill educated that he or she can only be employed to carry (schlep) things. Really. To be precise, for my whole life I have wanted to be a schlepper for a famous artist and now my dream has come true as I schlepped my wife Joanne Klein' …
Make of it what you must, but my favorite news fonts are Mika Brzezinski and Rachel Maddow, MSNBC political pundits. Mika in the morning with her partner Morning Joe Scarborough and Rachel at 9:00 at night. Yes they are Liberal, but they make sense to me in these extraordinary times. Mika seems to speak directly to Trump through the camera and R …
Bob Dylan is a contemporary and, with all his deserved glory, I wonder, if he was asked whether he has enjoyed a good life, would he answer candidly and what would he say?I imagine it's not easy being an artist, with the relentless pressure to continue to create and live up to an earlier iconic image. Mick, Keith, Paul, and the others: surely they …
When I was in high school our telephone number was 516 621 3525. Before that there were operators and a party line (which I must admit I listened in on). When my parents moved I managed to have my boyhood number transferred to my home. Today in this iPhone era we still have 2 landlines. 3525 is for Tradition and our Fax. Before you pass judg …
One of the driving forces in my life was the lack of direct praise I received from my father. Yes, his friends told me how proud he was of me, but it was a hollow substitute. As a result I was determined to share my ample pride with my sons and I think I did a far better job than my dad. I am so proud of them! That gets me to Chris Wallace …
One of the best books I read when I was young was Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land (Biblical phrase) which has been referenced frequently in popular music. Well I am no longer young and I feel as if I am a stranger in a strange land when, for example, I get on the subway in Long Island City along with the throng transferring from the Brooklyn …
As I approach the 3/4 pole I must admit that I am now a/the Patriarch. A fancy word for "Old Fart". It snuck up on me as I kept on keeping on and my hair silvered. "Mr. Klein" was my dad and then, suddenly, it was me. All of a sudden, seats are offered to me on the subway. Don't get me wrong, I welcome Senior Citizen discounts and I do enjoy b …
As the final installment of my Juice Plus insert trilogy, today's subject is enhancing physical health and longevity. In order to do so, try to get more of these three good things. 1. Sleep. Get at least seven hours of shut eye a tonight. Research shows people who sleep that much weigh less, get sick less often, have lower blood pressure, remembe …
Last week my blog was inspired by a Juice Plus insert and I follow it with another: So didn't work out the first time. Here are three tips to get you back on your feet. 1. Don't give up. Failing doesn't mean you're a failure. Failing means you tried. Most things worth achieving involve failing somewhere along the way. 2. Get thoughtful. Ask your …
I take Juice Plus daily vitamins under the sponsorship of Shelley Simpson. In addition to the health benefits that come in the capsules, there are also mental benefits. Recently there was a written insert which I thought was quite instructive. The subject was being awesome and it stated "here are three ways to be more awesome. 1. Stop worrying …
Recently, Ben blogged re our most worthy Advocates initiative. Another of our great under the radar Gotham initiatives available to all members is our peer mentor program. Administered by Flo Feinberg, it matches Gotham peer members in a unique counter intuitive manner. We seek to hook up 2 people from 2 different worlds so that their shared exp …
For me 2016 was a very good year. Some highlights: Joanne and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. We visited Cuba. A once in a lifetime, never again experience. Gotham held its best event in it's, about to be, 20 year history; author Tom Rinaldi's Red Bandanna book celebration of Welles Remy Crowther at a Gotham Book Club lunch at the Fr …
Bob Dylan wrote and Rod Stewart cribbed the perfectly poignant ballad: Forever Young. This is for them:ElvisLennonBuddy HollyJanisOtisJimiJim MorrisonJFKBobbyMartinMarilynJames DeanBobby KaplanBasquiatKeith HaringSteve JobsTupacAmy Winehouse CobainThurman MunsonPrincess DiRoberto ClementeErnie DavisPeter SalamoneDavid WolfeKaren LangoneChrista Mca …
Fridays With Fred
A perfect way to send you into your weekend