The March to April

Spring has sprung here in New York as the March continues on into April 2009 for the festive month of Passover and Easter. Some of us will feast in the holy city of Jerusalem; others will enjoy the picturesque scenery of stunning Sydney whilst others will brave it out in the temperamental weather of Toronto. Of course, there is one man who will celebrate Passover from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan as he awaits sentencing for his involvement in a mass Ponzi scheme.  Surely, he will be asking, ‘why is this night different from all other nights’?

Life is grand, I have made some progress in gaining employment and things look bright. The economic instability and rough market have made things tougher but one must hustle and scurry about in order to attain ones dreams.

The month of March has come and gone, but not without joyous times and celebrations. I wish my cousin Daniel congratulations on his recent engagement to Elana. May your lives be filled with much joy, love and happiness. I wish the families the same. Once again, my lovely sister Fraydie visited me from Aspen for the engagement party and we had a lovely time celebrating with the present and new families.

Idan Raichel, the eclectic Israeli musician visited New York and we danced and sang in unity. With a range of musicians from around the world including Israel, Morocco, Uruguay and an Ethiopian born in a Sudan refugee camp they played some melodious and richly infused music in Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish and Amharic.

Over March, facebook, the networking site got a facelift and now has a new appearance. This I believe is not one of Obama’s new changes. Time will tell.  I have read that a new Bill is to be introduced into the senate to allow for travel to Cuba. It is 47 years since diplomatic relations were severed between Communist Cuba and Opportunist America. This may be one of Obama’s new changes.

Finally the weather has improved and warmer temperatures greet the Wall Street financier in Manhattan and the artist in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The outdoor gardens are being opened, as the spring sun is slowly unleashed from its cage.  Moods changes with seasons, we live in hope that somehow some of the promised changes will also be evident.

I travel to Israel for Passover to celebrate the liberation of the Israelites from oppressive slavery in Egypt. I bless one and all with a happy, healthy and peaceful festival, wherever you find yourself. If you happen to find yourself in Israel, be no stranger and contact me. As some of you may know, I like to indulge in more than 4 cups of wine.

This is not an April Fools joke.

Peace out

Shlomy

Glass shops and coffee

I stumbled across a great little coffee house in Crown Heights/Prospect Heights in Brooklyn. 

Additionally they make a great coffee. 

766 Classon Avenue near Sterling Place 'Glass Shop' near the 2,3 subway at Eastern Parkway Brooklyn Museum. 

Truth

Truth is an important aspect of life. It is human nature and a part of mankind. We are not perfect beings, so does this mean we should not strive for perfection, if it is not obtainable? 

I  am not sure. What I do know is that today I witnessed a high profile member of a community punished for not disclosing the truth over a petty matter. It was the lies he told that brought his undoing and jail sentence. High ranking officials are meant to be role models for the community and when their role is abused and disgraced even by some misdemeanor, they must suffer the consequences. 

No one escapes justice.

He made-off with money.

Judge Chin asked Mr Madoff, “How do you now plead,” guilty or not guilty? “Guilty,” Mr. Madoff responded. Bernard Madoff, the disgraced Wall St financier has done the right thing at last, and has spared time, effort and money by pleading guilty to 11 counts of mass fraud, thereby proceeding directly to sentencing in June later this year. Today, the 12^th of March 2009, Bernie Madoff confirmed his contrition and remorse as he established and admitted to orchestrating a large ponzi scheme. The scheme targeted a range of innocent investors, resulting in theft and money laundering.

I thought it only would be reasonable, to raise issue and discuss the wrongdoing of Madoff, once he was either convicted of the crime or his admission to it. The latter prevailed and the public need not endure a costly and complex criminal trial.

I am no expert as to the technicalities, illegalities and particularity of the scheme that Madoff created, developed and operated. Therefore, I will not discuss the specifics involved within the scheme. However, it would be remiss of me not to mention the disgrace, deceit and pure evil caused by the scheme. Madoff preyed upon the private investor, the public and those charitable organizations. He led a life of greed and unjustified material pursuit. Ethics and morals were not a part of his vocabulary. He maimed and injured many investors. He crippled the soul of Wall Street. The once highly regarded esteemed financier has turned villain.

There are lessons and important messages that should be disseminated so as to act as a deterrent for any future ‘someone’ who intends on using dishonesty, deceit and falsehood as tools in their life. Madoff has ruined his personal life, his family’s and the countless investors who were convinced into investing. A large prison sentence seems most probable, and questions arise as to how effective life incarceration will be. But let this be a clear message that life is to be lived by the law and not vicariously through it. Morality and ethics are of vital importance in ensuring stability and security in the world. Trust and honesty rather than fabrication and lies are most important for preserving human relationships and subsequently, in all that life has to offer.

Bernard made-off with a vast amount of money, trust and respect. We have to ensure that it does not occur again. Respect life and abide by the law, respect the world and share your righteousness.

Please feel free to suggest anything or opine on the unfolding events. 

Happy Purim

Happy Purim

People

As we March on .... we meet people, greet them and sometimes it all ends there, at times the relationship ends at that. Then there are the moments which float by like that pleasant dove that glides through the sky, but

these moments can seem temporal and of impermanent nature, 

and only later, with growth and maturity of some kind, things are put into perspective.

and then after that, who really remembers You? Someone always does.

People write obituaries for other people, and people read obituaries about other people. So people actually live vicariously through people.

And people hope .....

And a friend of mine always announces, 'that people are just people'.

March and onwards 09

So March 09 is in existence. It is almost a whole 24 hours of age. It is being distilled in the casket called 'life'. I watched a very funny yet serious take on life today in a youtube clip which a friend of mine sent me. It is titled "everything's amazing, nobody's happy", it sums up the present situation of the current surroundings. I'm no parent, but I know a few and it is in times like this that simple directions and instructions are to be instilled and imbued in the younger folk to appreciate the goodness of existence. 

Give Obama a chance. 

Whilst we watch his change(s).

They have given Netanyahu another stint.

And Fidel is eating mints.

Get inspired. 

Become someone's muse.

Don't get jaded.

Here is the clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus

Sunday with MoMA

Hi , I met up with MoMA my old friend today. It was a grand day. I saw Maxim Gorky, Gustav Klimt, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol amongst others. 

Additionally, we went to one of my more preferred bookstores and I acquired Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' for $5. A super buy!!

Peace for the new week