I just finished reading “Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates” by Brian Kilmeade and DanYaeger. A very good read about the war against the pirates of the Barbary Coast and the birth of the US navy and marines. Hence the words to the marine corps song. “..,to the shores of Tripoli." The authors also wrote “George Washington’s Secret Six” abou …
Sometimes you have to let go of old things to make room for the new. It can be good to shake things up, change the order of things, take a new path. I've been listening to Gary Vaynerchuk for at least 8 years, he's a business guy, makes a ton of video and runs a multi million dollar media company. He was inspring for the first 7 and a half, now h …
I didn't watch most of the Oscars Sunday night, although it was on in the background for a while. I happened to sit down for the very end, just as Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty were walking on stage to present the Best Picture award. I was really taken by Faye Dunaway's dress. But when Warren Beatty seemed confused as he was preparing to a …
The first placed I lived on my own was Brooklyn Heights. Since the law firm where I was working was also in the Heights many of us who worked together also lived close to one another. When those of us who lived in the Heights wanted a special place to go to dinner our “go-to” restaurant was Henry’s End. It was a small cozy restaurant with a won …
Today’s New York Times, included an insert, “Truth. It’s more important now than ever.” How true! All the discussion about “fake news” and attacks on the news media infuriates me. In law school I edited CONSCIENCE, an award winning publication. I regularly wrote a column, “The Public Ought to Know,” from ‘03 to ‘05 and resurrected it as “The Publ …
Here's a real life story...think about who's on what side when you read this. A couple has been married for more than 30 years. They've always had political differences - she leans one way while he leans the other - but that never prevented them from amicably discussing polictics. However, this all changed during the recent presidential campaig …
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 …
At first, I thought that the photograph on the front page of yesterday's Wall Street Journal was historical. As a child of Holocaust survivors, I have seen many pictures of gravestones toppled at Jewish cemeteries in Europe during the 1930's. I then realized that the photograph is not historical. It is current. It is today's news. A cemetery near …
"Our situation is not comparable to anything in the past. It is impossible, therefore, to apply methods and measures which at an earlier age might have been sufficient. We must revolutionize our thinking, revolutionize our actions, and must have the courage to revolutionize relations among nations of the world. Cliches of yesterday will no longer d …
My son turned 17 last week. Yes, that was momentous on its own -- but what was really game changing was Eric's first unaccompanied drive. Having passed his road test a little while back, turning 17 meant taking the car to school for the first time. Since then, he has very happily run errands, filled the car with gas, and this morning made a trip …
In the spirit of the open discussion that Mitch began last week, I share the following thoughts. Most people who know me know that I enjoy pop culture as a diversion from the day to day. I read People magazine weekly, I watch the Real Housewives while on the treadmill, and thanks to a certain Gothamite who shall remain nameless I read a certain …
Recent blogs on this website – not mine – focused on political discourse and the need to embrace civility. I concur with the concept of heroism to face your friends (and others) who hold different positions and share with each other what brings you to your point of view. I want to stress the difference between discourse and partisanship. M …
My blog last week mentioned heroic conversations. Did you know that there is actually an heroic converstaions model? Adam Vane apparently created it or at least said he did. He describes it as "... a technique designed to reduce friction and increase productivity within an organization." I think all of us can benefit from less friction and confli …
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 …
Pitchers and catchers reporting early. Spring training. My nephew, Jared - who covers baseball for the Wall Street Journal - on his way to warmer climates. This is a good time of year for optimists. How are the teams shaping up? Who is healthy? Who's reporting in good shape? Can we finish better than last season? We need an outlet. We need hope. …
