There has been a lot of conversation about the benefits, and drawbacks, of AI. But how about the pet peeves? As an attorney, it’s becoming increasingly frustrating to spend time crafting thoughtful, experience-based legal advice in an email to a client only to receive a generic, AI-generated response in return. 

As we approach the close of 2026, with no plans to attend any more concerts, I already posted on the commentary page of my website my traditional ranking of my top ten concerts.

Today, many people think being busy all the time means they are important. They brag about long hours and huge to-do lists, as if resting makes them weak or lazy. But being busy doesn’t always mean you’re doing something that matters. Sometimes it just means you’re scared of slowing down. When you stop moving, you might notice you don't know what you really want or why you work so hard.

Recently, I endured my wife Joanne's oft repeated complaint "Why do we always have to be so early to just sit here at the airport?"First of all, aren't we supposed to be there 2 hours before departure?Actually, though, it's much deeper and more complex.  Maybe this trait was born in boyhood when I arrived an hour late for my SATs.  

Yesterday was the third anniversary of my mother’s passing. We acknowledged the day with a traditional memorial candle and moments of thought and memories (not that we needed a special day for that). As many of you know, Esther was a Holocaust survivor and an Honorary Gotham member. She spoke frequently of her experiences, including many talks to Gotham. (The picture is of Esther and Fred after a speech to Gotham’s members at the Friars Club.) 

As many of you know, I became unemployed when Xerox decided to cut about 3,000 employees in mid-October. I waited patiently for my severance check to arrive and then did what many Americans do, file for unemployment.  What unfolded next was a tedious process of registering with the department. NYS requires you to call in and spend about 15 minutes filling out your personal info and answering a ton of questions relating to how you were unemployed, how long you worked at your previous job and others. No big deal, it is necessary to get you into the system.

We celebrate Hanukkah and it comes with strong traditions.  First, we light the menorah and say the prayers that go along with this holiday.  Every year, we first engage in a continuing reminder about which direction to light the candles. We follow the lighting of the candles by a particular song and dance.  I have been singing this song and dancing in this same circle since I can remember. I learned the tradition from my parents and it has certainly been passed on. 

It’s that time of the year. It's the holiday season and it's the end of the year. And we’re all busy. Whether it’s work, family, or preparation for the holidays or everything combined, there’s a lot to do. For me, being busy can sometimes bring on stress And I feel that stress every year during the holiday season. Do you feel it? How do you manage it?