I like the Fall. I like the change of weather from summer to the cooler nights, and, ultimately, the cool days of Fall.   But the best thing about Fall is the color. There is nothing better than the natural beauty of the leaves changing. This looks like a good year for the colors of foliage. We were up in the Berkshires last weekend and the leaves are turning and the wonderful palette abounds.  

Here is a test for everyone.  The condemnation of the federal government right now is pretty universal throughout the country.  Nitwits, tools, terrorists, arsonists, cowards, bullies are only the types of names that are fit for print here in our family-friendly blog.  There are much worse being distributed in other venues.    

As I am writing this blog and readying for sleep, the news is reporting that when I wake up in the morning whole segments of the government will be shut down. One estimate I read placed potential layoffs at close to 800,000. All sorts of federal programs and agencies will need to curtail their operations, although it seems the major services, like mail, will continue. Don’t think about getting a federal loan though until the government is back up and operating. For context, the last time the government shutdown was in 1995 and it lasted for 21 days.

The blog Don posted yesterday truly intrigued me. If you haven’t read it, go back and read it. One of the themes in his blog was how the passage of time affects whom our heroes are.

I came across a very surprising fact in the book I am reading.  It was about a poll taken in 1937 and 1938 of freshman students at Princeton University.   One question they were asked was, who is the greatest living American?  Their first choice was FDR, followed by Charles Evans Hughs and Herbert Hoover in second that third position.  

I've recently became part of a guys book club and having never been part of one before, I didn't know what to expect. My initial perceptions were not what I experienced. Rather than a boring meeting talking about the finer points of sentence structure, it's filled with good laughs, stories, politics and sometimes talking about the book. Suffice it to say that our "discussions" are wide ranging. I can't divulge any more information otherwise...well you know.  

The title above is the pass word conceived by Gotham Videographer Cayce Crown ("I shoot your relatives so you don't need to") for the Gotham Film Festival (our 3rd annual is on 10/22) site.   When I first saw the password I was both surprised and complimented as she had captured my entire 16 year Gotham adventure in a short string.   Growing up I would never have dared to dream what has come true.  Of course, I did not have a magic wand or membership in a Tribe to help make dreams come true.  

On Tuesday, I eavesdropped on my Mother speaking to about 50 Gothamites and guests at the Friar's Club about her experiences as a Holocaust survivor. I say "eavesdrop" somewhat in jest, because I was in the audience and in plain sight.