I had a text message “conversation” with one of my college roommates last week that went something like this: Stacy: Ro, Merrimack’s daughter grad [law school] in May. Would you talk to her? Thinking this was a favor just for my roommate my response was, “Sure.” Stacy: Thanks so much, Merrill [a friend of hers whom I have k …
Every so often I will see a post on Facebook of a picture of an object, such as a feather, or a living thing such as a robin and lady bug. Accompanying the picture will generally be a short thank you to a deceased relative for giving the person who posted the picture a sign that the deceased relative was still with them. After seeing such …
I recently read an interesting article about facial recognition software. The article defined facial recognition software as “a computer application which automatically identifies or verifies a person’s identity.” When reading the article I realized that I, unlike many computers, have no internal facial recognition software. I can be introduced to …
Many in our society have glamorized female celebrities who have been able to quickly lose weight after giving birth. Pictures of Heidi Klum in 2009 and Adriana Lima in 2012 both walking the Victoria Secret runway less than eight weeks after each gave birth flooded the internet. Similarly, pictures of Victoria Beckham in skintight dresses were omnip …
Last week I was fortunate to be a guest at a dinner sponsored by the Long Island Chapter of the Jewish National Fund. After dinner the film, “Beneath the Helmet” was shown. This documentary chronicled the lives of four Israeli young adults for a period of eight months; the period after they graduate high school, enter the army, and complete their i …
Fred’s blog this past Friday made me anxious. Like Fred, I generally write my blog a few days before it’s posted or, if I’m going away, I use a prewritten blog from my blog bank. Normally, by Friday, I have a blog topic selected. On Saturday morning, I sit at my kitchen table with my cup of coffee and write and post my blog. As I read Fred’s …
I have written a few blogs about the different ways men and women are treated in the workplace. My last blog on this topic discussed a study which found that women are much more likely to receive workplace reviews which contain some kind of personality criticism, such as comments that the woman was “abrasive,” “judgmental” or “strident.” Therefore, …
I am the victim of a cyber-attack. It began almost three years ago when I was forced to make a motion to be relieved as counsel for a client because he owed my firm a significant fee (five figures). Not only did the judge grant my motion but he awarded me every penny of the outstanding fee and stated that the record indicated that my entire represe …
As I have written in previous blogs, according to my kids, I am old fashioned about a lot of things. Lately, their perception of my old fashioned propensities has extended to my habit of hailing cabs. I do not mind, at all, standing on a city block and raising my hand to hail a cab. In fact, in the real old days when I first began working, a certa …
It used to be just an annoyance on the train and at restaurants. But now, they seem to be everywhere. They’re at the check-out line in almost every store you go into. My local bagel store has a sign that requests that people not do this while in the check-out line and they are still doing it. They’re also clogging up the aisles at grocery stores a …
After reading my recent blog concerning what book you would want to read again for the first time, a friend emailed me with an intriguing follow-up question, “What was your favorite childhood book?” I immediately wrote back my answer, “Charlotte’s Web.” I can recall many late nights, way past my bedtime, reading “Charlotte’s Web” under my …
I realize that many things I do tend to embarrass my children, such as kiss them in public or comment on their Facebook posts (a sin I have never repeated). Lately I have noticed, however, that even my use of certain words can cause them embarrassment or, alternatively, have them in hysterics. Recently, I used the word, “dungarees,” a word I free …
You cannot turn on the television, radio, or even your computer without hearing that another woman has come forward to claim that she was assaulted by Bill Cosby. When I see the photographs of a seventy-seven year old Mr. Cosby, I almost feel sorry for him. Then, however, I listen to the story of the alleged victims and my sympathy for him dissipat …
As the holiday season begins, I have tried to think of some creative gifts for my children. My daughter will be graduating with her Masters in Social Work in May, which requires a special gift. I approached her with the idea of purchasing an expensive watch as a combined gift for both Hannukah and her graduate school graduation. Her response, “That …
Do you kiss colleagues as a form of saying hello in professional situations? I have encountered this question more frequently. In certain informal professional situations, such as networking meetings, I have no issue with a small peck on the cheek as a friendly hello. Recently, I have noticed however, that this custom seems to have expanded beyond …
It's Monday, Monday. Let me know what you think about. . .
