Perspective

When you're deathly ill, particularly for a lengthy period, you detach from "reality" -- the world others live in. You realize how foolish people are to treat life with casual nonchalance. 

For you, being in that state means every moment is a struggle. Every day an ordeal. Crawling over hot coals you suffer searing pain and emotional horror, sometimes at unbearable intensity. You consider, of course, ways to end the ordeal. How can you not?

It's futile to describe this. It's like trying to explain war to civilians: they don't have concepts to grasp the experience. They imagine a cellar of sadness, not realizing beneath that room is a dreadful dungeon of despair. 

If you're lucky enough to survive serious illness and possible (or, as in my case, reversible) death, you find yourself changed. Your attitude shifts. Radically. You become grateful for every fuckin' day of sunshine life offers you. These are not just words, you've seen the alternative up close and personal. You know what can happen when a nightmare becomes real.

"Kung Fu"

When I was young, television content was homogenous. Networks sought to appeal to the widest audience and produced shows that were the same as others. If one genre worked (e.g., Westerns), it was copied and repeated over and over. Broadcast TV (the only option) was incredibly boring.

It was thus notably rare for a TV show to break the mold. To attempt something novel or artistic. One show did this and its very production was an improbable story. The show, which began in 1971 and ran for three seasons, was "Kung Fu."

At the time nobody in America had heard the phrase kung fu before. Martial arts were not well-known. The overnight success of "Kung Fu" caused immediate and strong interest in martial arts -- and in Eastern philosophy generally.

The show affected many viewers deeply, including me. I watched every episode raptly and, at age 14, was very impressionable. I loved the profound thoughts of Master Po and exotic setting of a Shaolin temple. The hero, Kwai Chang Caine, is a half-Chinese, half-white boy who's admitted to the Chinese temple and taught both Eastern philosophy and martial arts. Later, the boy grows up, leaves the temple and wanders the American West. He travels from town to town looking for his half-brother. He meets people, works and lives a spiritual life. Caine has experiences, often with bigotry and violence. He refrains from fighting unless absolutely necessary but, in each episode, that becomes apparent. Caine then defeats opponents with startling moves and consummate skill.

Two networks passed on the show and only because the third one was desperate, the show got a one-episode trial. The pilot was an instant hit. Further episodes attracted huge audiences who loved the unusual setting and plots. The show won multiple Prime-time Emmys. Master Po's affectionate term for Kwai Chang ("Grasshopper") became a cultural meme.

Thirty years later the entire series was collected in a box set (which I own) with two special features explaining how unlikely the show's creation was. The principals also demonstrate their quest for quality and authenticity. Consultants were hired and used to make the philosophical, historical and martial arts parts of the show as accurate as possible.

Have you ever seen it? If not, I'm happy to lend you my DVDs. That's something Kwai Chang Caine would do. :)

Favorite Movies

What are your favorite movies? Here's a list of my Top Ten. What are yours?

- "Casablanca" (1942 classic with Humphrey Bogart)

- "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" (1985, directed by Tim Burton)

- "Quiz Show" (1994 true story, directed by Robert Redford)

- "House of Games" (1987 mystery, directed by David Mamet)

- "Wall Street" (1987 business drama, directed by Oliver Stone)

- "Bright Lights, Big City" (1988 NYC tale with Michael J. Fox)

- "Harold and Maude" (1971 comedy with Ruth Gordon)

- "Rocky" (1976 sports drama, launched Sylvester Stallone)

- "Pulp Fiction" (1994 crime film by Quentin Tarantino)

- "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1973 cult classic musical)

(The picture above is my spoof on "Wall Street" villain Gordon Gekko.)

Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche, famous for his prescience about the 20th Century, was a deep thinker. And a little nuts. Few were surprised when Freddy had a mental breakdown at age 44 which ended his intellectual life.

I just read Nietzsche's book, "Beyond Good and Evil" (1886). It's mostly a tiresome slog but is leavened by a few personal observations. My favorites are quoted below. You probably recognize the first one whereas the others are more obscure.

- "He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee."

- "One loves ultimately one’s desires, not the thing desired."

- "The practice of judging and condemning morally, is the favorite revenge of the intellectually shallow on those who are less so."

- "In revenge and in love woman is more barbarous than man." 

Audemars Piguet X Swatch "Royal Pop"

Unless you're a student of horology -- and perhaps even if you are -- you may be perplexed by news reports this week that people are getting on a five-day line to buy a watch. Yes, a watch. The release date is Saturday and, for the inconvenience of sitting in that line, consumers will be granted the privilege to buy a single watch for $400. Just one, no more.

Even odder than that, the watch is a collaboration by two companies, Swatch and Audemars Piguet. If you know watches, this is akin to Ferrari teaming up with Taco Bell. An elite luxury manufacturer working with a pedestrian watch company. What?!

To understand this you need some context. True luxury watches cost around $50,000. Ordinary watches range from $50 to $10,000. The difference in price is due to craftsmanship. Luxury watches are made by hand, almost exclusively in Switzerland. Ordinary watches are made by machines everywhere.

The first question that comes to mind is why would someone pay $50,000 for a watch? The answer is three-fold. First, appreciation of real craftsmanship honed over centuries. The second is that luxury watches, unlike ordinary ones, appreciate in value. If you buy one today, it will likely be worth more in the future. No ordinary watch will ever recover its purchase price. Third, people are social animals and love to brag about what they own. Showing off a fancy watch is like wearing expensive jewelry. "Hey, look at this!"

Obviously for $400 you are not getting a handmade watch. The new model (Audemars Piguet X Swatch "Royal Pop") is fully machine-made. Further distinguishing it from luxury watches is its bright color. (There are 8 hues to choose from.) The watch's design references Pop Art of the 1950s (especially Andy Warhol's work). 

Why is Audemars Piguet doing this? It wants to lure new young buyers into the industry. Get them excited so, down the road, they'll graduate up to real watches. With all the media buzz this model is creating, that may be marketing genius.

Why is Swatch doing this? They had success a few years ago with their "MoonSwatch", a collaboration with another company (Omega). The difference here is that Swatch and Omega are owned by the same conglomerate whereas Audemars Piguet is an independent company.

A final point: the watch being sold is a pocket watch, not a wristwatch. The watch industry is pivoting back to pocket watches as homage to its origin. In the beginning for several centuries pocket watches were the only watches made. Then when wristwatches began, only women wore them. Men used pocket watches; women wore watches on their wrist. Only after the World War did men start wearing wristwatches. During the War pilots and soldiers found wristwatches more functional and carried that preference home.

Instead of hiding your new $400 watch in a pocket, many buyers will wear theirs around their neck or hang it from a handbag like a Labubu. Really. That's where we're heading. A trendy item, brightly colored, possessing social cachet. That's why people are waiting in line for five days...

Happy Mother's Day

"A mother’s hug lasts long after she lets go." 

I still feel mine.

Ode To Joy

On this day two centuries ago (May 7, 1824), Ludwig van Beethoven conducted a performance of "Ode to Joy", his musical masterpiece (Symphony No. 9). Beethoven was completely deaf at the time -- so he couldn't hear a volcanic burst of roaring applause following the performance. At that moment Beethoven was still facing the orchestra so a contralto stepped up, put her hands on his shoulders and turned Beethoven around so he could visually see the ecstatic response his composition had generated.

As a teenager Beethoven studied the poetry of Friedrich Schiller. A volume of it became Ludwig's most cherished book. He dreamt of setting Schiller's poem "Ode to Joy" to music. The poem is a tribute to freedom, peace and human happiness. Schiller described it as a “kiss for the whole world.” Beethoven carried that kiss to the rest of us where it's still felt today. "Ode to Joy" is regularly played at the Olympics and the United Nations.

Beyond

Five years ago I found a 1957 Kodak Brownie Starmite II. The camera is a mass-produced piece of crap containing a cheap plastic lens. Sold the year I was born, the camera cost $10 back then and was intended for casual snapshots.

I took the camera out on a bitterly cold day in December 2022. Pushing it beyond normal use I coaxed the hunk of plastic to create these interesting images.

Back In The Saddle

After my vision-loss I stopped taking photographs. Not completely: I tried a few times to use my digital camera but was so discouraged by awful results that I halted the effort. Those experiences hurtled me into profound despair. That was three years ago.

I'm feeling better now, physically and mentally. I want to resume photography. Even if the outcome isn't perfect. I always found the process -- looking at the world, considering visual possibilities and metaphors, seizing images -- to be creative and restorative.

My plan now is to work around my visual limitations. I want to re-capture both the enthusiasm I used to have for photography and the magic possible when using real film. There's alchemy involved in playing with silver crystals suspended in gelatin.

I'm gonna start by pulling out my favorite camera, a 1972 Kodak Instamatic 30. In my view the camera's technical deficiencies are creative strengths. They challenge you to think deeper, do more and explore the unknown.

Here are a couple of photos I made in the past with this kinky camera.

"Straight To Hell"

Netflix just released a drama from Japan. With no fanfare or publicity push.

Which is a shame because the show is THE BEST THING ON TELEVISION right now. An ensorcelling portrayal of a woman who grew up in extreme poverty after World War II, succeeded in business against big odds, got entangled with Yakuza (organized crime), endured hardships, became skilled at exploiting people, achieved celebrity as a fortune teller on TV, and sold millions of books. Multiple scandals in her life were revealed in 2006 but she overcame even them. She lived in comfort until 2021 when she died at 83 years old. This is a true story based on a real person who's famous in Japan.

The show could (and should) become a global hit. Dōitashimashite.

Spring!

I welcomed Spring this week at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay (NY). 

After frequent fluctuation between Winter/Summer, Spring finally made its appearance. Yay!

My "Outfit"

I've reached the age where, when I go out in the morning to retrieve empty garbage cans, I don't bother putting on clothes. I just wear a bathrobe over my pajamas.

My role-model for this is Tony Soprano. If it's okay for Tony -- a powerful mob-boss -- to walk down the driveway in a bathrobe, then it's good enough for me.

National Library Week

Today starts National Library Week. Sponsored by American Library Association, the week celebrates libraries for promoting literacy, education, and community. The theme this year is "Find Your Joy," encouraging patrons to explore resources and spaces offered by public libraries.

No place supports my growth as a person more than the local library. From childhood on, it has opened doors at no cost. I borrow books there, read dozens of magazines in their comfy lounges, bring home movies on DVD, and meet others sharing my interests (like a local photography group and a book club). Yay, libraries! 

Aldous Huxley

"When the student is ready, a teacher will appear." An adage containing truth.

Aldous Huxley was a famous British author whose name is familiar to many of us. His classic "Brave New World" is required reading in most schools. I read it in high school and was impressed by its prescient understanding of authoritarian regimes and their use of technology to numb a general populace.

What I didn't know until this week is the breadth of Huxley's oeuvre. He wrote dozens of books on a wide variety of topics. I discovered this during my reading of Michael Pollan's last two books which cite, quote and address Huxley's work. Toward the end of Huxley's life he migrated from political and social commentary to questions of human consciousness, reality and art. These are my chief obsessions right now and I find Huxley's insights, written 70 years ago, as current as today's dinner-bell.

I just read Huxley's other classic work "The Doors of Perception" (1954) and quasi-sequel "Heaven and Hell" (1956). Both blow me away. "The Doors of Perception" was inspiration for the name of Jim Morrison's rock-band in the Sixties (The Doors); its title comes from a 1793 book by poet William Blake.

Here are a few of my favorite lines from the books:

- "The urge to transcend self-conscious selfhood is...a principal appetite of the soul."

- "[T]he artist is congenitally equipped to see all the time. His perception is not limited to what is biologically or socially useful. A little of the knowledge belonging to Mind at Large oozes past the reducing valve of brain and ego, into his consciousness. It is a knowledge of the intrinsic significance of every existent. For the artist...draperies are living hieroglyphs that stand in some peculiarly expressive way for the unfathomable mystery of pure being."

- "...the power to see things with my eyes shut."

- "...return to the reassuring banality of everyday experience."

Curious Coda: When Huxley was a teenaged student at Eton, he contracted a disease that left him almost totally blind. His vision improved slightly after two years but was seriously impaired for the rest of his life. Huxley described the loss of his eyesight as "an event which prevented [him] from becoming a complete public school English-gentleman." (Brits call private school "public school"; Eton College is an elite private boarding school.)

Internet Slang

Sometimes Internet slang has actual use.

We face pressure to conform our whole lives. Late in life, however, our tolerance for it diminishes. 

We have individual preferences on subjects like art, entertainment, personal activity. Those preferences deserve respect.

I'm adopting the trendy expression: "Don't yuck my yum!"

First Contact Day

To all who celebrate, Happy First Contact Day [FCD].

FCD is, of course, the holiday honoring "first contact" between humans and an alien species (the Vulcans) on April 5, 2063. The day also memorializes the historic first warp-speed flight of the Phoenix spacecraft which, as all schoolchildren know, caught the attention of Vulcans flying nearby and led them to land and say hello. 

First Contact paved the way for later formation of the United Federation of Planets.

Live long and prosper. 🙂

Dark Side of the Moon

The Artemis II space-craft will circle the Moon and see its "dark side" -- including areas never seen before by humans. I'm curious what we might find there.

My guess is a restaurant so good that aliens have kept its existence a secret to prevent the place from becoming too popular. 

Failed Experiment

When we're young we experiment with alternate selves, looking for one that fits.

I once donned a carapace of bad-boy bravado (shown above). It felt ridiculous and I quickly abandoned it. But we don't learn without making mistakes.

Kurt Vonnegut

I've discovered it's fun to circle back to our youth and explore things we enjoyed then in greater depth. Like re-watching old TV shows or reading books by favorite authors.

When I was a teenager I read a few Kurt Vonnegut novels. He was very popular then. I liked "Cat's Cradle", "Slaughterhouse Five" and a few others. But Vonnegut was exceptionally prolific: he wrote fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays and five non-fiction books. There's a lot in his literary oeuvre I haven't touched. 

I'm heading over there now. Any suggestions? Did you like any of his books?

Cerebration

Words are like cars: they work better when you use them. And, like cars, they can transport us to new destinations. 

My fleet of words are driving me to noetic insights. And I'm learning which parkway exits to take for that knowledge.

Most of my life my equable demeanor concealed a roiling cauldron of fiery emotion. Now, however, as I approach a new town called Serenity, I'm surprised to find beatific smiles on my face that I didn't put there. Mind you, I'm not complaining, just surprised.

A basic problem, it seems, is that humans develop perceptual and conceptual ruts in our thinking as we grow into adulthood. Children don't have this problem: they still view the world with open eyes, unhindered by expectation. But the self we create growing up conquers our consciousness. It hides as much reality from us as it allows to pass through. Adult brains "see" what they expect, not what actually is. This is why most people find it urgent to quickly label and put things in known boxes. Reflexive "non-thinking" diminishes our understanding and our discourse.

I'm learning that it's possible to reduce mental blindness by removing ego from our consciousness. Ironic certainly to hear this from a literally-blind person but the point is true. We can open our minds with various techniques, the most salient of which is becoming aware of our limitations.

Remembering Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven died on this day (March 26th) almost two centuries ago. His funeral attracted 18,000 mourners who treated him like a king.

Beethoven endured a life of excruciating pain and yet persevered. He chose to live for the opportunity to create music of sublime beauty. A music expert says, "Beethoven is the composer of the human soul. He is our composer."

My Report

The original Star Trek series was broadcast 60 years ago (1966-69). William Shatner, who plays Capt. James T. Kirk, turned 95 years old this week and is still alive. On Monday Shatner tweeted (on X) about the show: 

"Star Trek exists in more than one world. It exists in the fantasy of science fiction - weird and wonderful things that play unimaginable possibilities of exploration and human endeavor.... [I]t also exists in...the exploration that human beings have made since the dawn of time...physically, mentally and morally. It’s that aspect of Star Trek that I’ve always loved, to look at something physically that doesn’t exist now...but...tackle[s] the eternal human questions: the agonies, the ecstasies. Star Trek should exist for a long time to come based on those truths."

During the past five weeks I re-watched all 79 episodes (spread over three seasons). I've completed my analysis, Captain, and here is the report. 

According to my calculations the most emotionally moving episode is "Amok Time" (S2, Ep.30). The funniest episode is "A Piece of the Action" (S2, Ep. 46). And the scariest episode is "Cat's Paw" (S2, Ep. 36). 

This report concludes there is intelligent life on the Starship Enterprise. I recommend beaming up for an enjoyable visit. Spock out.

Star Trek

Captain's Log, Star-Date 3018.2

After beaming down to the planet's surface with a landing party my crew and I embarked on my five-week mission to bravely explore new worlds. Specifically, we visited "Star Trek: The Original Series" [TOS]. 

Initially broadcast on Earth television in the 1960s, TOS was poorly handled by network executives (life-forms possessing inferior intelligence). Before VCRs, DVDs and other recording devices, CBS executives scheduled the show at late hours on weeknights where it was unlikely to attract an audience. This misjudgment resulted in low ratings, truncated growth and ultimately cancellation after only three seasons. Fortunately, the series was re-run a decade later (in syndication) at earlier hours (dinner-time) where enthusiastic young fans embraced the show. That fan-base grew into a powerful force and the show's reputation developed at accelerated pace.

My current report on the series is encouraging. The planet's inhabitants, while often engaged in flagrant over-acting, created intriguing characters with emotional depth. Ironically most in a Vulcan whose emotions are restrained. My sensor readings confirm sufficient data here to sustain life for numerous spin-offs including 13 television shows, 14 movies, innumerable conferences and avid fan-fiction. Kirk to Enterprise: there is enough here to build a cultural empire.

TOS writing broke new ground: its setting in a fantasy world (sci-fi) allowed it to explore themes forbidden on normal TV. Subjects like racism and oppression were probed. At the same time some retrograde views (especially on women) persisted.

Mr. Spock: "What we've just seen is not real."

Captain Kirk: "All the same, let's be prepared. Ready phasers and keep your eyes open."

April Fool's Day

One of our fondest family traditions is me playing April Fool's jokes on Robin. 

Every year I amazingly manage to succeed in fooling Robin even though she knows a prank is coming and looks for it with every fiber of her being. Robin hates being fooled -- hence, my pleasure -- but loves ingenuity and attention. In the span of a minute Robin's mind races from puzzlement to surprise to annoyance to appreciation, usually with profanity erupting.

If April 1st ever arrived without a joke, Robin would be very sad. She would interpret that as "the honeymoon is over."

In the past I've devised many methods for evading her anticipation: coming out of left field; misdirection; deception. Occasionally I enlist friends to act as accomplices to throw Robin off-track. This year I concocted a simple plan founded on none of these techniques; rather, it exploits one of Robin's daily habits.

Because she'll be on high alert for any action I personally take, the joke has to arrive from another direction. Right now Robin shops online and gets regular delivery of packages from Amazon, et al. In this habit lies my plan.

Instead of me "doing something," a box will simply appear on our front doorstep. Like hundreds of others preceding it. Nothing suspicious there. The box -- large in size -- will capture her attention and stimulate her interest. Robin loves guessing what's in her packages even when the purchases are as pedestrian as paper towels. She enjoys "unboxing" things. It's like Christmas for a Jewish kid.

To allay doubt I created a fake mailing label using an old vintage typewriter a friend gave me last year. The box and its label look utterly ordinary. Unremarkable.

The essence of this year's joke isn't the box or what's inside it; the joke centers on the unboxing process itself.

During the past two months I collected a dozen cardboard boxes of every size. I didn't have to buy any; I just quietly put aside boxes arriving with Robin's purchases and diverted them from being thrown out. Yesterday I selected six of these boxes that neatly nestle inside one another. Like iconic Russian stacking dolls. The outside box is large (3 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft.) and the smallest one inside is only 10 inches by 10 inches by 3 inches. 

Okay, so now you see where I'm going with this. On April 1st Robin will discover a big box on our front steps. She'll be delighted and wonder what's inside. She'll then open the box and see another box. Scratching her head she'll open that box and... what? Another box? She'll continue unboxing until she eventually realizes she's being pranked. I'm taking bets on how many boxes she has to open before a light bulb goes off. :)

To sweeten the joke, inside the last box is a pretty hand-made sign I created. The sign has a message on it and can later be displayed. It wishes Robin a Happy April Fool's Day with the year noted. This will hopefully melt the heart of an infuriated woman. Cooling off is required as the last part of an effective 4/1 joke.

Robin doesn't read my blog so -- shhh -- please keep this a secret. :)

Q&A

Questions I've Been Asked Lately:

- What subjects do I need to know to understand the nature of physical reality?

  - It's helpful if you have basic knowledge of philosophy, science (biology, neuroscience, cosmology), linguistics, mysticism and the history of psychedelic research (1950-1964; 1990-present). 

- Is that knowledge necessary?

  - No, I can explain salient concepts to you.

- What's helpful to understand this stuff?

  - Personal experience with animals (e.g., pets) and nature (e.g., time in the woods). An open mind and curious nature. Habits of observation and reflection.

- Are you founding a religion?

  - No.

- Do I have to submit to sex with you in exchange for enlightenment?

  - No.

- Do I have to donate all my worldly possessions to you?

  -No.

- Will learning this give me "rizz"?

  - Probably.

- Will there be a test afterward?

  - No, it's not school.

- What are the benefits of acquiring this knowledge?

  - It'll erase your fear of death and reduce your anxiety about living.

Devil Cat

Cosmic Update

Last week, after a lifetime of observation, study and contemplation, I had a major epiphany: I discovered the nature of physical reality. Cosmic enlightenment isn't unique to me: it's been achieved by others but I had to get there myself in order to believe it in my bones. 

The subject is way too complex to explain online so, if you want insight, it'll cost you a beer or cup of tea.

A separate issue, that of human behavior, is knottier. I'm still studying the subject and haven't reached the same level of comprehension. It seems illogical that one can solve the puzzle of the Universe and not grok the minds of human animals within it but that's the case. I have working hypotheses but no firm conviction on the answer.

There's good news but you may not want to hear it: limited consciousness in adult humans, which often produces noxious behavior, ultimately doesn't matter. The fates of nature, planet Earth and the rest of extraterrestrial existence don't depend on what humans do and will endure long after this flawed animal species goes extinct.

Natural Mystic

I -- is there an I? -- just had this this thought pop into my head:

We are many things simultaneously, the least interesting of which are ego-centered individuals. We are vastly complex assemblages of matter joined by multiple forces of energy. With unlocked consciousness we can peer at the horizon of knowledge and hope to grok the ineffable, that which lies beyond human perception.

By definition, the process is hard work. And you have to volunteer for the job.

Yours truly,

Ally, Undercover Shaman

Attuned To Noetic Knowledge

New Digs?

You may have heard: the rumor is true. musician Billy Joel finally unloaded his Centre Island compound. It consists of a main mansion (20,000 sq. ft.), two smaller buildings (guest house; beach house), helipad and six-car garage. The compound sits on 26 acres of waterfront property on exclusive Centre Island.

Billy's been trying to sell this compound for three years. Nobody nibbled. He bought the main property 25 years ago and added to it by purchasing adjoining properties. His total investment was around $35 Million. He tried selling it for $50 Million in 2022, dropped the price to $40 Million, then later desperately reduced the price to $30 Million. He finally found a buyer this month for $28 Million -- which is less than he paid for the property years ago. Billy Joel is the only person to lose money on New York real estate.

The buyer is anonymous. Rumors that I'm involved are unconfirmed. You'll have to come to my next party to learn what really happened. :)

"North of North"

I just discovered a new Canadian TV show that's both foreign and familiar at the same time. It's a fascinating combination.

The show, "North of North" (2025; Netflix), is about a small Inuit community in the northernmost part of Canada. That area, Nunavut, is the largest part of Canada (700,000 sq. miles: the size of Mexico) but least populated (around 35,000 people). It borders the Artic and is always cold. In Summer, the temperature may briefly reach 50 degrees but most of the year it averages around minus-10 to minus-30 degrees. There's always snow and people always wear heavy parkas.

What's interesting about the show is that despite the unfamiliar region, the people there (mostly Inuit [what we used to call Eskimos]) live contemporary lives. The main character is a 26 year old woman, an attractive single mom, with a narcissistic ex-husband, emotionally cold mother, odd co-workers and promising new romance. Its themes are universal: a young woman trying to find meaning in life, struggling with sexism, faced with limited options. She operates in a community that's close-knit but confining, like any small town. At the same time the show also includes references to distinctively Inuit culture, like a sea goddess and shamans. Critics praise the show as "warm and likeable;" they included it in last year's Top 30 Shows.

"North of North" is considered a comedy but it's more a drama with some humor. The soundtrack is well-chosen with popular songs you recognize. The first season was released last year; a second season was approved and being filmed. The show's characters are appealing and its plots are entertaining.

Give it a try!

Coffee House

We all need a "third place" -- somewhere other than home or work where we can relax, sip coffee and chat with friends. I found a new one today and am here to report on it.

One distinctive advantage to living in a metropolitan area is the presence of exotic options. Sure there are boring, pedestrian Starbucks around the world but wouldn't it be nice to try coffee from Yemen or Guatemala? To savor a Pistachio Latte? Or bite a tasty organic pastry?

On the way home from a bi-monthly drug-infusion today I coaxed my chauffeur into visiting a new specialty coffeehouse: Mokafé on Route 110 in Melville. (There are additional locations in NYC and NJ.) The Melville location is large and nicely-decorated. Perfect for a comfortable experience. Open until 2 a.m. most nights Mokafé is designed for fun. It is busiest between 9-10 o'clock at night.

Mokafé's owners are from Yemen, Palestine and Guatemala. Their culinary offerings celebrate the owners' cultural heritages. Mokafe’s coffee beans come from farmers in Yemen and Guatemala with whom the owners deal directly. The owners originally started as wholesale coffee distributors. When they opened a coffee-shop it was instantly successful and they've continued in that direction.

The variety of coffee drinks is diverse, as are the interesting pastries, cakes and sandwiches. Experiment with khaliat nahl, sabaya or a pistachio knafa croissant. And when you spot me and my chauffeur canoodling in the corner, come over and say hi. :)

Mardi Gras

Tuesday is Mardi Gras. (The phrase is French for "Fat Tuesday"). If you can't make it down to "Nawlins"/NOLA (New Orleans), celebrate locally. My friend Jaime and I are going to one of Long Island's last remaining restaurants serving Cajun food (Louisiana Joe's in Oceanside).

Mardi Gras is a celebration of life. People wear masks, costumes and beads. The holiday's primary colors are purple, green and gold. People sometimes dress as nature fairies, animals and mythological characters. Medieval costumes are also welcome.

Here's a picture of Jaime & me enjoying Mardi Gras around the turn of the century. Our tradition goes way back!

Heaven On Earth

When you face death, so close you can smell its breath, you realize profound truths. About the value of life. Small pleasures are actually bigger than small, rich opportunities abound, and life offers a platter of pleasures. 

In age we can cherish redolent memories of delightful experiences. I've been lucky to have many. Remembering them, the people I shared them with, and the joy I found balances the scale against decrepitude.

Some years ago my good friend Aimee took me on vacation to an idyllic spot: the Thousand Islands of St. Lawrence River (near the east end of Lake Ontario). The area, separating Canada from the U.S., contains 1,864 individual islands. A century ago it was the summer playground of wealthy New Yorkers, attracted to ineffable natural beauty.

Aimee and I took a ferry boat from Alexandria Bay to Singer Castle and Boldt Castle, locations now available to the hoi polloi. The June day was sunny, bright and dreamy. Cool zephyrs greeted us like friends on the boat-ride. The atmosphere -- and indeed entire day -- was sublime. 

I'll never forget the peace, calm and pleasure I felt that day. Health, eyesight and a caring friend were present, with not a hint of trauma waiting in the near future.

"Brockmire"

My favorite actor, Hank Azaria, has had a long career of amazing performances. All elevated by bright intelligence and startling accuracy. I first noticed Hank in "Quiz Show" (1994) where he transformed a tiny part into a pivotal part of the story.

Hank's greatest achievement, in my opinion, is "Brockmire" (2017+) based on a character Hank created. He plays a 50-year old baseball announcer who's flawed but brilliant, funny but destructive, and traditionally sexist. Most notable of all is how Hank nails the voice of the character.

In the show's four-season run, it was hilarious and deeply insightful. Plus, who doesn't love Amanda Peet? :)

Great art and artists are often underappreciated. Don't let that happen here. Go watch "Brockmire". Its messages are growing in importance, especially from the last season which imagines the dying future of baseball in the 2030s.

Happy Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney is a fun, quirky place.

First time I visited was by accident. I was riding home, alone, from North Dakota on my first motorcycle trip. This was back in the day when GPS didn't exist and I wasn't using a map (1999). I was just heading east toward New York. Passing through western PA on rural roads I spotted a large statue of a strange creature. Then another. Then a sign signaling my arrival in the Groundhog Capitol of the World. Surprise!

I returned ten years ago on my BMW touring motorcycle. Intentionally. I now had GPS. You can see the bike in one of these photos.

What will Phil say today? 

Johnny Cash

The music of Johnny Cash has soul. Authentic feeling. You sense the man has seen some shit. Life at its nadir and peak.

For my birthday last November I requested tickets to a "jukebox musical" of Johnny's songs. We attended the show last night at a theater in Northport. The musicians were talented, their performance was glorious. It was like sitting in front of a warm hearth to escape Winter's cold.

The occasion warranted breaking out one of my favorite shirts. I bought this beauty thirty years ago when visiting Boston. Returning to a city I'd spent three years in for law school (1979-1982) I enjoyed being there again. This time I had money in my pockets; as a student I was dirt-poor and frequently ate falafel from King David's food truck.

On this trip I walked down Boylston Street, Boston's upscale shopping Mecca. I spotted a boutique with a catchy name: "Rock 'n Roll Cowboy." I took a look inside. The store had chic clothes with motifs I'd never encountered before. I noticed this classic country-style shirt and fell in love. But... it was expensive. Obscenely so. 

After debating the voice of my immigrant-parents (in my head), I took a plunge and pulled out my wallet. In retrospect, that was the right choice. The shirt is made of high-quality material, is embroidered not printed, has real pearl buttons and appears brand-new after three decades of wear. When a thing can become your treasure for a lifetime, it deserves respect regardless of cost.

I hear the train a comin'

It's rolling round the bend

And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when

I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on

But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Antone.

When I was just a baby my mama told me "Son, 

Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns"

But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die

When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry.

I bet there's rich folks eating in a fancy dining car

They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars

Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free

But those people keep a movin'

And that's what tortures me.

Well if they freed me from this prison

If that railroad train was mine

I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line

Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay

And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.

You've Got Moxie!

I just finished a fascinating book about life in America a century ago. Back in the 1920s baseball was everyone's obsession, Babe Ruth became our first national celebrity, and mass communication (radio and print newspapers) spread news with astonishing speed. (The book, an award-winning best-seller, is "The Big Fella" by Jane Leavy [2018])

Primary sources quoted in the book illustrate how language evolves. Not just slang, like phrases I gleefully played with as a kid in the 1960s ("Right on, man!", "groovy"), but vocabulary spoken in ordinary conversation. Some words commonly deployed then have since been replaced by new ones.

Here's an example. Today we talk about "grit" -- that laudable quality some folks have to persevere through hardship. We admire the force of their character, their determination. Back in the 1920s, a popular word used for this was "moxie". A person who had moxie was strong, vigorous and capable of enduring anything. 

The word moxie itself is interesting: it originated in the 1870s as the (capitalized) commercial name of a "medicinal" elixir. (The beverage was actually just a carbonated energy drink with no medicinal value.) Widespread ads for "Moxie" later led "moxie" to evolve into a personal characteristic.

"Hey, it takes moxie to climb Coney Mountain!"

Word of the Day

Our language is full of marvelous words. I delight in obscure ones. We also frequently encounter common words whose meaning we don't know. For these, there's no excuse not to "look them up," especially when read on electronic devices.

One word I've seen dozens of times but didn't comprehend until yesterday is "winsome". What does it mean?

Winsome denotes something that is sweet, charming or attractive. Like a winsome smile or a winsome personality. Knowing this word super-charges your ability to bestow a flattering compliment. Don't you want to possess that power?

At The Reception

My friend Helen is exhibiting her artwork in Cold Spring Harbor. Tonight we attended an Artist Reception for the show.

The work (watercolors) is beautiful. Helen is patently talented and the subjects of her paintings are joyous. While at the reception we had several nice chats with Helen.

A bonus of the event was running into someone I knew 60 years ago and haven't seen since (Tom). Tom's father Tony worked with my father when they were both police officers in Lloyd Harbor. Our families socialized together at annual Police Department events, like summer beach parties and Christmas parties. I remember Tom and his brothers but haven't seen him in over a half-century. Catching up was fun. I learned he, too, used to ride motorcycles.

Here's a picture from one of those 1960s Christmas parties. Can you find me in it?