Uncategorized – Mitchell's thoughts, photos, etc.

Video Review

Marc and Alana reviewed the video. They paid careful attention to Christy A. They were ready for her. They saw how evil she was and wanted to put an end to her nastiness. They had no idea where she lived. Marc used a face ID app to learn more about her. She has a very low profile. But he found enough. He figured out she lived near Avenue J and Coney Island Avenue. That’s only a few stops on the Q to Coney Island.

Marc didn’t want to spend his time tracking her. But he wanted to know her general whereabouts. He did not know she was related to Jay. Not that makes a big difference. He did not want to fight a teen. But he didn’t want his kids fighting her. At least not yet. They were just a few months old and learning. They were still in diapers and being nursed by Alana. Marc figured they needed to learn more control. It amazed him how quickly they could snap in and out of their super characters. But he’s not surprised. Unlike the other offspring, both of Marc’s kids’ parents have superpowers. This made them particularly powerful.

They wanted to keep things peaceful for their kids’ first Passover. They enjoyed their matzah, wine, grape juice and some fresh fava beans. Alana knew if Christy came after her kids when they went to Coney Island or Brooklyn, it’d be four against one.

Christy Keeps Attacking

The weather was getting nicer. Denos Wonderland and Luna Park recently held a blessing ceremony for the Wonder Wheel and Cyclone. The Polar Bears were getting ready to be Solar Bears. The lines at Nathan’s were getting longer, and people were able to sit outside and munch on their hot dogs without freezing.

Christy was excited. More people on the boardwalk gave her more targets. She had no particular care about who she attacked. Anyone was a target. The NYPD had its hands full with her. She launched her moldy bread everywhere. She was just wild.

Turns out she’s Jay’s cousin. But the two of them haven’t spoken in years. Jay is still getting high and fighting with glass. He still wants Jerry back from Anat. That wasn’t going to happen. Jerry was getting powerful and is now old enough to really understand how he wound up with Anat. He’s a happy kid. He enjoys doing all the things little boys do and cannot wait to be old enough to ride the Cyclone. He loves the Wonder Wheel and the kiddie rides at Denos and Luna Park.

Christy was going after the little kids who were waiting in line with their parents at Nathan’s. The NYPD tried to stop her. But she moved fast. They had no intention of opening fire. But knew if she didn’t stop, they might have to fire warning shots. Or fire at her.

She was firing off bread like the world’s best reliever was able to fire off his cutter. She wound up hitting the wrong person – Jerry, who was there with Anat. Suddenly, she was splattered with olives. Anat watched. She didn’t want to hit a teenage girl. But if she had to, she would. Jerry launched olives as if they were being fired out of an Uzi. Olive oil followed his shots, making her slip. He tried to run over to her. But Anat held him back. She thought he did what he had to do. Christy got up and started firing at Jerry. He fired back. Anat’s watchful eyes didn’t move. People were running away from Nathan’s. No one wanted to get hurt.

Christy kept firing. Jerry got nailed in the head. He stumbled. But regained his footing. Anat had had enough. She launched apricots, dates, and raisins. She was ready to fire off prunes. But Christy started running to the beach. Jerry looked at Anat and started to run after Christy. Again, Anat pulled him back. Christy reached the beach and jumped into the magical waters of Coney Island. She did a few laps and went under. She came up firing soggy bread at those walking around.

Jerry aimed from the edge of the boardwalk and nailed her in the chest. She went down in the water. But bounced up. Jerry fired away. Anat was shooting a video and sending it to Alana and Marc.

Do We Really Need All the Memorials and Monuments We Have?

A few days ago, I was meeting my mother for dinner near the World Trade Center Memorial. As usual, I was at the restaurant early. They were getting ready to open. I wandered around. I passed the Anne Frank Tree, a sapling descendant of the original horse chestnut tree outside her secret annex, which brought her peace while she was hiding. I have a copy of her diary sitting on my living room table. Last year, I attended a few events about her and the diary.

After walking by her tree, I ventured over to the World Trade Center Memorial. I saw flowers stuck into the grooves near the names of some of the victims of this tragedy. The museum is next to it.

I have spent time in Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, and have been to countless memorials for the Shoah. When you travel to Washington, DC, you can visit the Jefferson, Vietnam Veterans Memorials and World War II memorials, as well as the Lincoln and Washington Monuments. Every city is chock full of memorials and monuments.

The question is: Do we need them? Are there too many? Yes, I think we need the ones for Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington. Their presidencies shaped our nation. Do we need the ones for the Holocaust and others who have been memorialized? That’s the bigger question. If Anne Frank had lived the normal life she should have, we wouldn’t be planting trees cloned from the one in front of the annex where she hid. If 9/11 had never happened, those working in the World Trade Center (WTC) would still be here and maybe still be working in the WTC. Same with the memorials for all the slain police officers and firefighters who we lost in the line of duty.

We would not need these memorials if we lived more intelligently.

Remember to Flush

And Wash Your Hands

By Mitchell Slepian

Auto-flush toilets came out in the mid-80s. They became common in many restrooms in the 1990s. Here we are in 2026. Are they everywhere? No.

Before these types of toilets became available in entertainment, offices, restaurants, and sports venues, you had to flush. The flush toilet was invented in 1596 by Sir John Harrington, godson of Queen Elizabeth I. In camp during the 80s, we had latrines. Some were two-seater pit latrines, while others were five-seater tip pan latrines. A pit latrine was cleaned out using a pipe that sucks waste into a tanker. A tip pan latrine is cleaned when the pan tips, and the waste product is directed into a pit.

These days, many people are so used to automatic flush toilets that they take care of their business and walk away. Behold, not every toilet is an automatic flush. Certainly not in city venues, such as Central and Union Square Parks, the Staten Island Ferry, and its terminals. Many religious organizations haven’t upgraded. Nothing is more disgusting than when you walk into a train station’s bathroom and see the toilet overloaded with waste products. People are getting so used to auto flush that they forget to flush. Sadly, many forget to wash their hands after using the bathroom. In most cases, the sinks have automatic faucets. and soap dispensers. This helps with cleanliness, as you don’t have to touch the faucets.

At times, the automatic faucets, flushing mechanisms, and soap dispensers fail to work. You might have trouble getting soap and water. But usually, you can find a flush button on the toilet. You can always carry Purell packets. So, let’s keep things clean: flush and wash your hands.

Dan’s Attacked With Moldy Bread

Jerry and Gili were playing quietly. Gili was getting bigger. Jerry watched over her. She was strong. She still loved her milk. Sarah and David Benjamin were eating their baby food. Anat was briefed on their superpowers. She was ready. She expected her day with the twins and her kids to be relaxed.

The Drop on the Cyclone, Luna Park, Brooklyn, NY

She played Bauhaus the Cure in the background. She understood the kids would listen to whatever they wanted when they got older and developed an appreciation for music. But she wanted to push them towards goth. Who wouldn’t?

Anat was working on her taxes. In a switch from his usual beat of Staten Island’s south shore, Dan was out in the frigid weather patrolling Coney Island undercover. His expertise was required. Nothing unusual was happening. The Coney Island Polar Bears were in the water. People were eating hot dogs in Nathan’s, and parents took their bundled-up kids to the NY Aquarium. It seemed like a normal winter day at the beach. He texted Anat he’d be home in about two or three hours and asked if she wanted him to pick up pizza from L&B Spumoni Gardens. Of course, she said yes. Saying no would be criminal.

The polars bears were exiting the water. Near the Cyclone, some kids were goofing off. But nothing Dan had to address. As he walked back to his car, he noticed a tall girl, about 18 or 19, wearing a stained blue sweatshirt with the name “Christy A.” running down both sleeves. She was taunting some of the other kids. Dan figured it was just a group of kids goofing off. He didn’t see it as a threat. Until he saw moldy, stale bread flying at some of the kids. One piece clocked a girl in the head. She fell. He raced over to her to see if she needed help. Bread with larvae was flying everywhere. He saw Christy A. shooting it out of her mouth and hands. He yelled at her to stop. She started to jump up and down. Pieces of bread almost nailed him in the throat. Christy’s hair was fire red, as was her face. He pulled out his weapon and fired three shots. All were knocked down by bread.

Christy raced toward the subway station. Dan chased her. She nailed him in the eyes. He temporarily lost his vision. She hopped on the F line. She did tap her OMNY card. At least she didn’t jump the fare.

Dan immediately texted Anat. You’d think he would have texted the Coney Island Precinct that is in the subway station at Stillwell Avenue. He knew this was something that Anat and her “family” would handle better.

Does Constantly Checking Your Email Give You Peace of Mind?

Or Does it Drive You Crazy?

By Mitchell Slepian

I remember back in the day, when you couldn’t check your email on your phone or by logging in on another computer. You had to check it on the computer you normally used. Years ago, my sister and I shared an email address. I figured out how to check it from other computers. I would log on and email her. She got a little nervous and scared. She had no idea how I was doing this. Of course, I explained everything. But I had fun for a day or two.

I remember when I was at a PR firm and on a Friday, booked the CEO (Scott D. Cook) of the company I was representing (Intuit) onto CNBC. He was supposed to be on the following Monday. I was in NYC, and Cook was in Mountain View, Calif. The producers were working out the final details. They, a coworker, and I left each other voicemails all weekend. We were checking nonstop. Monday came around, and we worked everything out with Cook’s executive assistant and he did a great interview.

These days, all we would have to do is send a few emails or texts, and everything would be set. In some jobs, you need to constantly check your email. But the question I would like to raise is: how much checking is too much? Do you check immediately before going to bed and as soon as you wake up? Does it kill when you need to turn your phone off during Broadway shows, the New York Philharmonic, and operas? When is checking excessive? Can you sit through dinner with family and friends without logging on?

The best part is that most of the time, all your emails come from your project management applications, such as Basecamp or monday.com, letting you know the web update is live or that edits have been made to a document. Oh, and there are sales pitches for things your company will never need. Or people reaching out to you to forward their resumes to HR. These people are not people you know. They are just spamming everyone they can secure an email address for.

For the record, before I sat down to write this, I was at the gym. My workday was over. I was doing some core work and checked my email. On the super-long train ride into work that morning (due to a stalled train at a major station), I held back from checking and kept reading “Remain in Light” by Chris Frantz. I tried my best to stick with the book on my Kindle and not try to live that wildlife by checking my office’s email. I even skipped checking my personal email accounts. I have too many of those.

Bottom line, I think it’s fine to check it in moderation. But I always remember that the email you’re waiting for, or think is coming will probably come in due time.

Never Turn Away a Volunteer

Always Make Sure You Have Work to Give Them

By Mitchell Slepian

I have been volunteering since I was very young. Work includes community groups, political campaigns, religious institutions, and my building’s board. I am still involved with a few groups. I chair one.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of organizations. Volunteers come in all shapes and forms. Some have limited time. Some have lots of it. Sometimes some have too much time. But we make sure we use all these people.

I remember working on political campaigns, and the so-called experts come in, volunteer, and tell you how they are running for political office and plan to start with the U.S. Senate. Sure, things like that can happen. But realistically, it does not. Volunteer coordinators sit and listen to all of this. We do our best to build a rapport with all our helpers. Some give money besides their time. Some are only in play because of how much money they can give.

No matter what, all these people are important. They have something to give. These folks all want to give back. The most important thing is to recognize that and make sure you have work to do. I remember days in volunteer offices when people would come in after we just wrapped up sorting out a big mailing. We had everything ready to go to the post office. We were almost done for the day. But people came when they had time. So, we found work for them to do. Sometimes it was as simple as asking them to check the mailing project we sorted or double-check the alphabetizing of lists.

The people were giving back, and we saw the smiles on their faces. They felt they were contributing. Several people thanked me when they left for giving them the time to help the organization. It feels great to see people wanting to contribute and enjoying themselves. Some of the groups I used to help regularly aren’t as interested in having people work for them anymore. It is a turnoff.

Bottom line, never turn away a volunteer and always make sure you have something for them to do.

Respect – Has it Changed? Does it Still Exist?

By Mitchell Slepian

No, I am not talking about Aretha Franklin’s tune. Years ago, I worked for someone who, when it came to politeness and respect for others, had it down to a science. I remember in elevators, he would always wait for everyone to exit, especially the women. He held the doors for everyone and helped people with their coats and into their chairs.

I haven’t heard from him in a few years. But I doubt things have changed. His dad, who is long gone, was similar. There was a great scout leader who passed away a few years ago; he was an example of respect, particularly toward our campgrounds. We’d walk around the camps, and whenever he saw garbage, he’d pick it up off the trails. He’d be upset it was there. He taught us to keep our sites clean, and when we saw trash, we cleaned it up and disposed of it properly.

I try to follow their steps. But I have found that in today’s world, simple respect is gone. A few weeks ago, I was entering the gym. It was pouring outside. I saw a person dragging their heavy gym bag at the door and trying to exit. I held the door for her. She stood there for the next several minutes texting away. This has happened a few times—the same thing in elevators and at the doors of our office buildings.

Cell phone addiction has cramped respect. People are too interested in seeing their friends’ latest memes or social media posts. But I think it was happening slightly before people’s best friends became their iPhones. The trails of the places I hike are getting dirtier, and less people are wiping down machines in the gym after they finish using them. The list goes on.

More respect equals better productivity. People will likely be more motivated and happier.

When a Tour Group Becomes a Family

By Mitchell Slepian

About a month ago, I came back from a tour of Sicily. I was there for about two weeks. I did start my tour solo, as I arrived a few days before the tour officially kicked off. I saw a lot before I met my new “family.”

I went to the conference room in my Palermo hotel, and we walked over to a nice restaurant. I sat with some people that I wound up eating with several more times. I was solo. There was one other solo traveler. I was the tour photographer. I wasn’t hired for it. It’s just that I was one of only two out of 45 people shooting with a traditional camera v. a mobile device. I was using a Nikon Mirrorless 7.

Sicily is beautiful, I became friends with nearly everyone. Of course, the people originally from Brooklyn and the Bronx were the best. Most people recognized I was from Brooklyn as soon as I started talking. That makes me proud. No other place has the Cyclone, the original Nathan’s, the Brooklyn Museum, and fantastic pizza. Sicily’s pizza is better. Way better. For the record, so is Milan’s.

Everyone on the tour was excellent. Yeah, we had some people that I thought were children of the corn. But we all got along and had a great time. We had a WhatsApp group during the tour run by our guide. She was the only one allowed to post.

Most people wanted to see each other’s photos. Someone made a WhatsApp group for us to use once we got home and went through our shots. It took me a few days to edit with Photoshop. But I posted as I edited. For the next few weeks, we swapped our photos and memories. We all commented. I am happy to say people loved my images. We are in a new year and still chatting.

I look forward to my next tour. I hope I can make a new family.

What’s the Best Way to Communicate: email, social media or texting?

By Mitchell Slepian

Email has been mainstream in business since the 1990s. As we know, we now have too many other ways to communicate, including but not limited to social media and texting. Remember faxing? Or snail mail? Both are still in play.

As a chair of a community organization and a volunteer in a few others, we generally communicate our business via email. Several of us who are friends often have our own discussions via chat. But all official business is done via email.

We have members who do not have email. They do not have computers. Some are senior citizens. But before we toss in the age factor, I have worked with people in their early 90s to create PowerPoints and run podcasts. They had no issues. Yes, I worked with people much younger who had no clue how to use email or other communication methods. So, age is just a number.

About two weeks ago, it snowed in New York City. It hampered some events. One started at 7:30 a.m. ET. The other was supposed to begin at 9 a.m. ET. We wound up combining our groups. This recent storm was not the first time we have had to take that course of action. It will not be the last. We early birds sat around, and the folks from the later-starting group wandered in. Both groups have their latecomers. Snow delayed some of them even further. A day or two later, I suggested that when we know the weather will not be good, we send an email and make a robocall to let people know we are combining. Several people blasted this idea, saying some people don’t have email, and others don’t want to be bothered by a robocall. I made the case that email has been in play for a long time and that the call was coming from a number we all know. It should not register as a potential spam call, as carriers like to say.

I know people who text to landlines. I still have one. The texts usually arrive in gibberish. As chair of my group, generally start meetings (which are traditionally on Zoom, that’s another issue), reminding people you need to text their cell phones. Some folks love Facebook Messenger. Unfortunately, they do not realize Messenger works on Facebook. Many don’t know that you cannot email Gmail or send SMS messages from Messenger. Don’t get me started on WhatsApp. I think it works great and has its place.

Before I was chair, I was corresponding secretary. I created a form for people to send me via email when they donate. I can take their contact information off it and generate thank-you notes to distribute via email and traditional mail. It is still lovely to receive a personal, warm thank-you note in the mail. One of my chairs used to mail me handwritten notes with donor information. Sometimes he would wait weeks, and I’d get an envelope with 30 or 40 scraps of paper with contact information. This issue severely hampered our program.

The question has always lingered in my mind: What to do? I continue to use email and will call people. But the question will always linger on how to reach everyone.