January 5, 1996. My oldest child was born and now she has turned 19.

Throughout history there have been periods when facial hair was in, and times when it was out. More recently, in the late 19th century, long beards were the thing. Then the beards were shaved and during the turn of the century a mustache was the fad. Now it seems that a one week growth is popular among some. I have my own cycles. Typically come November the beard starts. By March or April it is gone. I like looking at a new face in the mirror every so often. For a long ski trip, such as the one I just returned from, a beard is essential.

  As my yearly tradition continues, it's time for my predictions for 2015. Let's look at my sterling track record.     2007 - 1 for 7. (my rookie year:)2008 - 1 for 1 (gutsy picking one but it was spot on)2009 - 3 for 5 2010 - 2 for 32011 - 3 for 3!!! 2012 - 3 for 3!!!2013 I took a break, the launch of the new website took all my attention2014 - 2 for 3 (Gotham came close to breaking the 1,000 member mark at 973)   Now for 2015...(drum roll please)  

  College Basketball Hall of Fame coach John Wooden said "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while reputation is merely what others think of you."Food for thought in this time of New Year's resolution.  We often hear one is reputed to be thus and such, but what lies at the core?  Character and that shines through over time. Did someone say "Tried and True"?

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.

At the risk of attacking anyone or breaking the no partisan politics rule here at the Gotham blog, how on Earth could this have happened.   After a couple of weeks of built up anti-North Korean sentiment pusling through the veins of the American people, we now find out that there is a possibility than they were not responsibe for the data hack into Sony that caused the hacked e-mail and movie scandal.  

  This is not an original blog idea, with credit going to my law partner, Jane Jacobs. But, it got me thinking – well, really singing. Jane was in the process recently of creating a dance playlist and asked for recommendations from her friends.   Let’s help Jane fill out that playlist.  I’ll start.