In 1957, the LIRR created the image of “Dashing Dan” intended to personify its slogan, “The Route of the Dashing Commuter.” Dan was well dressed holding his hat with one hand as he ran to catch his train. Dan lasted on his own until around 1963 when Dashing Dottie was introduced, complete with high heels, skirt and handbag. The introduction …
Corey Bearak is one of the true gems of Gotham. He is a gifted political strategist and always willing to help in that arena. In addition, however, he is always willing to help any Gotham member with any issue they may have whether it is in his area of expertise or not. He has often given me wonderful advice with respect to issues that appear to …
Friday evening I received a text from my daughter. She advising taking a DNA report. It involved nothing about confirmation of me as her biological dad. No need to go any further on that thread. The DNA report she shared advised my daughter’s “genetic muscle composition is common in elite power athletes." I muse back, “It makes me want to get …
Several of my friends often plan Uber nights. It's essentially a plan to drink and let Uber drive you around. Everyone can drink and not worry about driving home. Well here's an interesting result of an Uber night as reported by SkyNews. A drunk Uber user was hit with a $1,635 bill after falling asleep and embarking on a 300-mile journey across t …
We saw "Black Panther" last week in 3-D and to be honest I think it would've been a better choice to see it in 2-D. Passing on the quality of the movie which is breaking box office records, the experience was not a pleasant one. The picture was dark and blurry through the glasses and at times when there was no action I took off the glasses and wa …
Some time ago, Nancy blogged about old friends. About two weeks ago, I received an email from Gothamite William Skody giving me regards from his neighbor, Sal. Sal and I worked together over twenty years ago. I liked Sal then and I like him now. We’ve kept in touch. I’ve always liked Sal. He’s a real mensch (as Fred would say, that’s a legal term) …
From Wiki and other reputable sources: On this day in 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes. Though DNA–short for deoxyribonucleic acid–was discovered in 1869, its crucial role in determining genetic inher …
I admit that periodically, I enjoy a good binge watch. My first ever binge was Mad Men. I couldn’t get enough. I almost missed my train stop more than once, absorbed in a particular story line as the E train pulled into the Fifth Avenue station. Later, I ran through Orange is the New Black at an even quicker pace. My current binge t …
My stepdaughter, Danielle Gura, teaches first grade in an inclusion class (the class is populated with both mainstream and special education children) in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Fifty-five percent of the children live in transitional housing (shelters). Approximately eighty percent of the school’s students qualify for free breakfast and lunch. …
Traffic recorded a song, Sometimes I Feel So Uninspired, that applies to so much when one looks around these days for leadership in the usual places. Yet the courageous response of young people after the tragic and violent shooting murders in Parkland provides Inspiration to this correspondent. A bit more than a year ago, I shared the playlist …
Imagine walking into a restaurant, bar or public place and no one is on their phone. Lot's of interaction...people talking smiling, arguing and sharing. It's unusual these days. However, The Fat Boar, a pub in Wrexham, north Wales, is offering people 25 per cent off their food if they lock their phones away in a box on the table. They then have t …
One of my favorite songs is Dylan's Forever Young and my oft stated quest is to live to 100 and beyond. With this as background, I was very pleased to receive a link (http://bit.ly/2HFR65V) to a TED talk from Judy Mauer on the subject of "The Strongest Predictor On How Long You'll Live". According to the TED Talk, there was a Brigham Young Unive …
I was distressed in reading the reports yesterday that the top trending video on YouTube was a conspiracy theory that Florida school shooting survivor, and one of the organizers of the "March for Our Lives", David Hogg, is an actor; more precisely, a "crisis actor" -- someone who is "paid to pretend to have been affected by a tragedy for political …
From 2016: You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one. - John Lennon
Over the past few days, amidst funeral plans, vigils and protests, we have seen the children, really young adults, of Parkland, Florida raise their voices. They accuse the adults of having blood on their hands. With passion and strong articulate words, they speak of change they want to, better said demand to, see. They ask, can our politicians …
