I often wonder about the "personalities" of machines and other inanimate objects. We have a Keurig coffee maker at home. A few weeks after we bought it, it started acting funny. By "funny" I mean that it never gave you the amount of coffee that you asked for. Regardless of the button you pushed -- for a small, medium, or large cup of coffee, i …
The power of Gotham reveals itself on a regualar basis. This time, it presented me with an opportunity to do something nice for someone special. My Mom played the organ for years. I remember listening to her when I was growing up, even playing a little myself, stumbling through my book of Beatles songs when I was younger. Often, she would …
Marc Halpert sent me a great article the other day about the new New Haven. He started me thinking about all of the great places to visit that I haven’t seen. Which then started me thinking that with an anniversary approaching, it is time for Bill and I to plan a weekend away. Not too far from New York, maybe a few hours’ drive. If it was summer …
While away on vacation recently, my family and I had very limited access to the internet. The only free internet was in the huge resort lobby. To access the internet in your room, or anywhere else in the resort, there was an additional fee. My husband and I made the decision not to pay the fee so that, when together with our kids, either on the bea …
What if you could predict all future events? A 19th century French mathematician, Laplace, thought you could. If you can predict the position of billiard balls bouncing on a table applying rules of physics, so you can also predict the position of atoms in the universe. Of course you have to know the exact position of every atom in the universe. …
Of all the news that crossed my desk this week, this one was especially interesting and a bit scary at the same time. No it's not the new contact lens from Google that will automatically read your blood sugar levels from your tears and alert you...it's Amazon's new patented system called "anticipatory shipping." Yes...they will ship your stuff be …
On the morning after our December 3rd Holiday Party (where we named the recipient of our hallowed "Red Bandana" Award, named two new Networkers of the Year and our Foundation handed out four $5000 grants to worthy and appreciative recipients) it came to me that, more than anything else, the characteristic which distinguishes Gotham from other group …
I don't know whether he told them to do it or whether he knew. The answer to the popular question of the last few days -- "Do you think he knew?” -- largely depends on what you thought of him in the first place. What's ironic is that, by most accounts, he's been doing a pretty good job. And don't hold the fact that he has political ambitions ag …
A story today indicated that the NSA has surveillance over 100,000 computers world wide including some that aren't even connected to the internet. This comes on the heels of the Edward Snowden situation where Snowden (whistleblower or traitor?) revealed NSA secrets wreaking havoc on our geopolitical and diplomatic relationships. Other whislteb …
No, I am not suggesting a new Gotham group or outing. But, in New York this week, hundreds of people took the “No Pants Subway Ride”. Here is how it worked, I am told. Get on the subway with a group of people. When the moment is called, drop your pants, act as if nothing is happening – and then watch your fellow subway riders react. This phen …
I have recently “discovered” On Demand television. Through On Demand, my husband, stepson, and I have become huge fans of Homeland, having binge watched the entire first season during the recent blizzard weekend. We are about to begin season two. I have also discovered the television show, Episodes, and have found myself laughing out loud while wat …
Having nothing of any importance planned last night I offered babysitting services to my daughter and son in law in Brooklyn. They were happy to have an adult night to themselves. I was even happier to have a night with the little one year old. I had a lot of time with her this week. Last weekend was her one year birthday party. Tuesday n …
It's the new year and time for Magical Mitch's predictions for 2014. Since 2007 your trusty soothsayer has been making predictions with a pretty good track record. I'm 13 for 22. That's like batting .590...In the MLB I'd be earning at least 50 million a year. But first, let's review... In 2007 I was 1 for 7. (my rookie year:) For 2008 I was a per …
Inasmuch Wednesday would have been Elvis's 79th birthday. Following is a poem that I wrote in his memory. THE KING! I saw the Great Elvis today encapsulated on film written off and explained away and I tried to cry, cry for him or cry for me or was there something else? Or what is gone, or never happened, or will never be again and is lost …
It has become an all-too-frequent scene. I notice across the restaurant a couple enjoying a nice quiet dinner. Then I see the smart phones, either on the table or in the hands of one (or both) of the diners. “What could possibly be so important?” I wonder. And then the lyrics of Stephen Stills flow melodically through my mind. “...and if you ca …
