During rush hour, the commuters’ protocol is simple: head down, find your spot and hold on. Standing on a crowded subway platform, the goal is to make sure you are situated to get on the train and plant your spot. That protocol makes it almost impossible to absorb your surroundings until after the doors on the subway have closed. Last night, I wigg …
If I’m running a bit slow this morning it’s because I stayed up last night to watch the Oscars. And while I love the show itself, it’s really the walking of the red carpet that I love the most. I am not sure why I enjoy watching the celebrities but it is an annual tradition for me. I pour myself a glass of wine, sit in front of our high defin …
The big financial news of the week was the collapse of the Bitcoin trading giant, Mt. Gox. This should not come as a real surprise, if you know anything about Bitcoins. I also don't know why anyone would even trade with a company that sounds like Dr. Suess invented it. The company lost millions of make believe coins that really don't exist oth …
Or does it? Earlier this month US Attorney General Holder called for an end to felon disenfranchisement...the ability of a convicted felon to vote. Not the people who are already in jail...only those that have been released. Most states have this restriction as law. There are over 5.8 million people who are convicted felons. They have already p …
I admit it, I take off Fridays. Said another way, Fridays are for Fred. Having experienced free Fridays for a while, I must say that there are pluses and minuses to having a three day weekend. The minuses are that a "full" 4 day work week compresses five days toil into four days of availability. On the other hand, having Friday off is the closest …
As I write this, I am on vacation; albeit “turning the corner” on this vacation. As much behind as lies ahead. 13.1 miles into the marathon. It occurs to me that there is always a “turning the corner”. In everything we do, there’s a point at which we’re half-way through. Midway. Something behind us and something ahead. Sometimes turning the corn …
This is not just a gushy tribute to Harold Ramis and his work. This is a commentary on an article I read in the wake of Ramis' passing at the young age of 69. http://movies.yahoo.com/news/harold-ramis-bill-murray-inside-groundhog-day-duo-154846006.html The article speaks about the rift that developed between Ramis and his longtime comedy part …
One thing really nice about our tribe involves what I like to call proximity to action. One often sees things on the news and might ponder how might one effect change or make an impact. Many of us can seize such an opportunity courtesy of our tribe – Gotham affords just that. Many examples exist but let me share one available when Gotham GREE …
Many say that the internet has made the world smaller by allowing us to easily communicate with people who are far away. For me, the internet has also made it possible to recreate foreign experiences in my home. For instance, while in New Orleans I fell in love with the coffee, mixed with chicory, served at The Café Du Monde and bought …
Eve is spotting an irritation on her shoulder, close to her neck. She asked me to look at it. I am not a doctor, and there is not much I can say, but I am checking carefully to make sure it does not morph into a Manster. Do you remember that 1959 horror movie? It is about an American journalist who travels to Japan to inteview Dr. Suzuki who …
Something has been bugging me for awhile and I'm wondering which side you fall on. In 1972 our government (I think it's still ours) decided marijuana was a controlled substance which made it illegal. Since then 20 of the 50 states have legalized it for medical use. People who are for it say that its great for treating the symptoms of cancer, AIDS …
The Gotham Book Club, founded by Julie Klein and Co-Chaired with her by John Buscarello, next meets (on line) on February 26th at 1:00 pm. For those of you who are not familiar with our Book Club, Julie manages to find world-class authors who are willing to discuss their books with us in real time on the Gotham website. Past Book Club discussions …
It seemed that everyone was doing it, so we gave it a try. Netflix that is. First “Breaking Bad”, then “House of Cards.” As late comers, we're still catching up with the old seasons. I can get as addicted as the next person. I was completely in to “24” and Monday nights were off-base for anything except watching the show. We were in Seattle for …
In the "pre-monologue" of his first night as host of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon told of how he used to beg his parents to stay up late to watch Johnny Carson. I'm sure I'm not alone in being able to directly relate to such a story. He also spoke quite humbly of how he grew up in upstate New York, Saugerties to be exact. He seems to be one …
Remember the days when handwritten notes were just what you did? You didn’t really think about it. When there was a personal message to convey, it was sent through pen and paper. Think about how often you receive a handwritten note today. Can you count on one hand the number you have received in the last year? I can. I miss the personal touch …
