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.

How Much Harder Is It to Communicate in Today’s World?

By Mitchell Slepian

In today’s world, we have so many tools to communicate with each other. Does it make life easier? Yes. Does it make life tougher? Yes. Let’s sit back and think for a minute. We now communicate in person, by phone, text, chat, social media, and other ways. It’s not unusual to be sitting at your desk, whether it is in your kitchen or an office somewhere in the city, focusing on your assignment, as emails fly across your screen, your phone buzzes with countless texts, and people are contacting you on Facebook’s and LinkedIn’s messaging services. Does it make it easier? It can. Does it make it rougher? It can.

Many people get jittery as they enter the final stages of a project. As you’re launching it on your website, social media feeds, and to the media, you want it to be perfect. Once it’s been decided that the documents, graphics, etc., are final, the push begins. As you’re uploading to your project management software to start the distribution process, it’s often when it can get chaotic.

I like to remain focused, sit at my laptop, plug away, and be zoned in only on the project at hand. Too many times, it’s at that time when everyone decides to weigh in once again. My Outlook account is full of emails. Thanks to today’s technology, you can see them jumping out at you. My phone goes crazy with countless texts. Then there are the people who decide to message you on LinkedIn or Facebook. Or use Slack or Snap. Does this help you? Yes and No. But in many cases, that’s what creates confusion and leads to mistakes. I have been telling people at the final stages of the project, let’s use one stage of communication. I prefer email. I make sure to tell people to remember to hit reply all. Most of the time, this works. It keeps people focused.

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.

Marc and Alana React

By Mitchell Slepian

The new parents took their children home. Alana fed them. Marc was pondering. On the ride home, the two discussed what they created. They knew their offspring would have powers. But never in their wildest dreams did they think their powers would be off the charts. Marc watched Alana’s video again. He was concerned about what would happen when the kids were playing with other children and might get annoyed, or if a kid picked on them. Would they be like Dr. Robert Bruce Banner and Hulk out? How would they teach them to use their powers only when needed? Marc and Alana never used theirs unless necessary. Anat did when she first became powerful and was evil. Once she turned, she was low-key. The twins could be a problem.

Alana put the kids in their respective cribs and sat on Marc’s lap. She brought him a glass of Chenin Blanc. She had her own glass. This was from a bottle she purchased at City Winery. It was not from her superpowers. She usually fought with red wine. But mixed things up to make it interesting. The two started kissing. The kids started to cry, and they got up to see why.

They were relaxed when they saw the babies were just being kids. They should be full. A quick diaper check said all was clean. In their minds, the two children were plotting their next episodes. They had no idea how strong they were. They thought what they did to Jay was normal. It was self-defense. Jay did attack them and tried to hurt their parents. In their young minds everyone was like them. Sadly, that’s not the case.

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.