Yiddish is an old language. Some say it is a dying - if not already dead - language. No room for technology and Yiddish? Not so fast...  

I don't mean this to be argumentative (not that I ever would, lol) but I hear continuously about the "Core Curriculum" controversy that is exploding throughout the social media world.  I have to admit that I don't have an opinion on it and I really don't understnad it.  My son is in 6th grade, his first year in Middle School, and I don't notice any significant differences.  I hear many blaming this on Barack Obama and I feel like I am missing out (just kidding).  

I was expecting a “proud mama” moment on Saturday as we headed into the city for Gotham’s First High School Oratorical Competition. My daughter was about to lead an event that had her “mark” all over it and which fuels her passion.

Thank you to my friend Marlene Fischer for suggesting this blog topic.

There are three movies out now that have some common themes.  They are Gravity, Captain Phillips, and All is Lost starring Robert Redford.   They each in their own very different settings deal with danger, life and death, and courage.   

I'm excited. Today is the first ever Gotham Oratorical contest and I'm one of the judges. Fred wrote about it in his blog on 10.18.13 If you're not familiar with the term, it's the art and skill of public speaking. Something I love to do :)   This contest is for High School students only and even more impressive is that Nancy's daughter Jackee created and is adminstrating it.  

Last week My wife Joanne went away for a long weekend to a Woman's Film Festival and I was left home alone with our puppy Charcoal and my thoughts.   Being a social animal I do not fare well in solitude. Thank goodness for the puppy and her walks where we could interact with other dogs and their owners. You might call this Old School Social Networking.   Thank goodness also for my cell phone calls with Jo and my emailing, texting, fredslisting, Facebooking and the like. By doing so I benefitted from the concept of virtual reality.

That was the reaction of my wife and I in response to the diagnosis finally given to our daughter, 16 months of age at the time. That was also the reaction of all but 1 of the 50+ NYC and Long Island physicians of various disciplines that met our daughter.