It slices, it dices, and it’s older than me

Every once in a while, there will be a commercial for some kitchen gadget that promises to make your cooking chores easier.  You can make delicious meals with this gizmo, you can wow your family with specially-prepared meals from this whatizit, and you can make cooking great again. Make cooking great again.  Someone should stitch…

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The Results of BUILT 2018

For the eighth consecutive year, my artworks are on display, along with hundreds of other amazing paintings, sculptures and craftspieces from dozens of Capital Region artists, as part of Historic Albany Foundation’s “BUILT: Architecture Through Artists’ Eyes” event. I’m all set.  I’ve got my suit on, my six stickpins from my first six BUILT appearances…

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It’s as clear as black and white

I wasn’t planning on entering any more photography contests this year. My good friend and fellow photographer Melissa Simser-Iovino changed that for me. Melissa – who has a thriving photography business and who also took my head shot that adorns this blog – entered some photos in the upcoming LensCulture Black and White Photography Awards…

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A sonic and historic achievement for Solid Rock

Background.  In the winter of 1982-83, I received a cassette tape filled with Australian rock and pop songs, songs by artist I had never heard before – groups like InXs and Midnight Oil and Rose Tattoo and Dragon.  Yeah, got hooked on that stuff pretty quickly. One track on that home-recorded cassette tape, however, stood…

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Please buy a “Chemo Comfort Package” for someone in need today

This is one of the days when I feel it’s appropriate to use this blog for a charitable fundraiser.  And if you’re able to donate … if you’re able to help today … I ask that you do. Cancer affects all of us – those who battle this horrible disease, and the family and friends…

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I watched an Evolution last night…

Yes, yes, I understand.  I like to watch professional wrestling now and again.  It’s something I enjoy doing. And over the past few years, I’ve seen a marked change in the way women’s wrestling has appeared – on television and on pay-per-view. Last night’s WWE megacard, WWE Evolution, was the company’s first-ever all-female show.  With…

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For the innocent souls of Squirrel Hill

אבל: יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [קהל: אמן] בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן] קהל ואבל: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא: אבל: יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [קהל: בריך הוא:] לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן…

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