When I was a boy my only area of reading interest was sports books and the Encyclopedia of Baseball ( for memorization). Only with the advent of audio books did I slowly catch up on fine literature.  When my boys were growing up I indoctrinated them pretty well as to sports, bought them Baseball cards and coached them. Now I have 2 grandsons and the youngest, 8, has become consumed with Baseball in his first year of Little League. He lives nearby and whenever he visits he is always asking me to throw batting practice to him as he works on his game.

It’s not every day that a new species of frog is discovered -- especially in New York City. And it’s not everyone who is related to the person who discovers a new species. So we’re proud of Jeremy and “Rana Kauffeldi”. (There’s some really great coverage -- and cute pictures -- on this discovery. Just google new NYC frog.)

It’s not every day that a new species of frog is discovered -- especially in New York City. And it’s not everyone who is related to the person who discovers a new species. So we’re proud of Jeremy and “Rana Kauffeldi”. (There’s some really great coverage -- and cute pictures -- on this discovery. Just google new NYC frog.)

It's election night, so what the hell.  Here are two interesting questions that crossed my mind over the course of the day.  Please feel free to chime in, but please also do your best to respect the Gotham Blog rule against partisan politics.    

I am very excited, indeed grateful, that Election Day is here. I am a great supporter of every citizen’s right and obligation to vote. But that is not what prompts today’s reaction. I am looking forward to Election Day so that the robocalls will stop.

An article in the New York Times last week was about a study that showed that chocolate can improve memory.   There is something about flavenol, an antioxidant, especially epicatechin, that does something good to your brain.  The study did not mention, however, that it also does something bad to your stomach.  

Happy November 1st! Just to remind you we have an obligation to vote next week. As you consider who you're going to vote for this Tuesday, consider this: