September 11, 2001--Lest we forget

Dick Wolf's first novel, The Intercept, is a winner

Two points worth noting, dear reader.

First, this book captivated me from the start and I could not put it down, literally 'consuming' it in two sittings.

Secondly, though I have not met Dick Wolf--as I read his first novel and followed his detailed descriptions of Manhattan's Chelsea district, midtown  and East Sides --I kept telling myself here's a guy I am going to have to meet sometime, someplace, somehow...

I felt he's sharing a part of me that I already know.

This book won't disappoint you.

It begins with an attempted hijack of a NYC bound flight by a bungling true believer and his subjugation by a group of six passengers, who become national heroes.

It is the week of July 4th and NYC is getting ready to celebrate the dedication of the World Trade Center's Ground Zero Memorial where the Six are to be honored.

Enter the book's hero Jeremy Fisk an NYPD detective who is recruited into the JTTF (joint terrorism task force) investigation.

Without disclosing the plot,  I'll only mention that Fisk and his female assistant Krina Gersten smell a rat and dedicate their energies to tracking down a Saudi passenger (one of the Six) who they implicate in a terrorist attack to sabotage the July 4th celebration at Ground Zero.

How they use one of  the latest techniques --steganography--(see page 72)--to track down one man in over 10 million residents of the city is fascinating; I won't spoil the fun.

This book is guaranteed to keep you on edge and you will have vignettes that feature Osama bin Laden , NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, President Obama and even NBC's Matt Lauer.

So enjoy the fun and let me hear your description of the experience.

Meanwhile, welcome Dick Wolf to the art of spinning a great tale!

I look forward to your next novel in the Fisk series.

Why I Blog? Serendipity, of course, from September Fashion Magazines to Taschen's Gustav Klimt edited by Tobias G. Natter

Front Cover of Taschen's book:  Gustav Klimt, The Complete Paintings 

Here is the exciting part of blogging--the serendipity of discovering one's passions, one's  likes and dislikes.

It is early on a Monday morning and I begin my day first with some tea --a perfect blend of raspberry and green teas.

 I have at least  FIVE  blogging subjects--PRIORITIZED-- that are beckoning me.

I begin with the first one, a discussion of the September phenomenon in the women's fashion world that begins with the ad-laden issues of Vogue, Elle, InStyle, Harper's Bazaar, WSJ., (The Wall Street Journal Magazine) and The New York Times Style Magazine.

(My daughter is interning for a PR firm that is covering Fashion Week and she is  is texting --several times daily -- photos of herself  'modeling' different outfits-- though ostensibly she was 'hired' to supervise other interns and write press releases. Maya also appeared on front covers of Brooklyn's Communty Magazine--a hint to my fascination with style as well as content in print media.)

I am not that thrilled by the task ahead: it's easy, but dull to find online the number of ad pages in the top finishers: Vogue at 663 and  Elle at 442.  Combined that's well over 1,000 pages.

Thus, one could conclude emphatically that print is not dead.

 Without much enthusiasm, I then apply myself to the rather mundane task of counting the number of ad pages in WSJ. (78) and skim over the articles. 

To break the boredom, I head into the kitchen to brew a cup of java--and while there, I espy an XL format (11.5 x 15.5 in., 659 pp.) Taschen release of Gustav Klimt edited by Tobias Natter.

The book is captivating to the eye and senses- a rare treasure of 659 pages weighing over 20 pounds.

The tome is the strongest comment on the enduring power of  a monumental Austrian artist (Gustav Klimt 1862-1918) who knew how to paint the most sensuous portraits of beautiful Viennese aristocratic ladies.

One such lady was Adele Bloch Bauer. whose  portrait graces the walls of the Neue Galerie in New York City.

So, to my amazement, I am sidetracked  by the Klimt book whose praises I would love to sing in a blog: its many full page plates, foldouts and blowups found throughout.

Hallelujah for blogging by an acolyte. 

Record number of comments on New York Times article about the N.S.A foiling safeguards of privacy on web

One day after the New York Times published a front page lead story on abuses of privacy on the web by the N.S.A., 1466 readers have weighed in on this breaking story.

Commenting on the Snowdon documents supplied to the Times by Britain's Guardian newspaper, Jill Abramson executive editor of the Times said that "our default position  is to inform the public." 

What is your position on the balance between national security versus personal privacy?

What role does the Fourth Amendment (provides protection against unreasonable searches and seizures) play in the mix of arguments?

Are you outaraged by the N.S.A's methods to access information, or do you think this modus operandi is to be expected in a culture that relies so heavily on internet communication?

(After all wasn't the internet created  by the US Government exclusively for its own top secret military communications? )

Read the stories and comments (as I have done) and decide for yourself.

Does Obama have the power to declare war? Highlights from the Senate Hearing on limited US military force in Syria

First kudos to C-SPAN for covering live the entire 3.5 hours of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing yesterday and then repeating it again in the early morning hours.

All the senators are to applauded for asking the three Obama officials Secretary of State Kerry, Chairman of  the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel-- all the right questions.

One of the key issues discussed is: does Obama have the power to authorize a limited military action with no American boots on Syrian soil-- under the constitution's War Powers Clause of Article I, Section 8 --which specifically grants Congress the power to declare war.

Here is the link to the 10 minute exchange between Senator Ron Paul and Secretary of State John Kerry recorded on youtube which explores the issue.

You decide for yourself.

To view the entire first session click here.

The hearings continue today on C-SPAN with Kerry, Hegel and Dempsey appearing in front of the House Foreign Affairs Committee at noon.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee could vote on the resolution as early as today!

Stamford's collection of permanent outdoor art: J. Seward Johnson's Unwanted Advice

Good morning Stamford,  J. Seward Johnson's Uninvited Advice sculpture, a part of the permanent sculptures in Stamford Downtown, is featured in this slide show.

About 20 years ago, when I was working in Henderson, Nevada, I fell in love with 6 of Johnson's outdoor sculptures, which are permanently displayed in their downtown.

It's a fascinating and inspiring piece and I promise to elaborate and expand this brief blog shortly-so tune back in .

Meanwhile, enjoy.....

Former Rabbi of Berlin and civil rights activist speaks eloquently at the 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom

 Rabbi Joachim Prinz (1902-1988) speaking at

The March for Jobs and Freedom August 28, 1963

He was the renowned Rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime.

He was often arrested and jailed by the Gestapo and each time released.

He urged his fellow Jews to escape.  Some listened to him and those that did owe their lives to him. 

His name was Rabbi Joachim Prinz. 

In this speech at the 1963 March for jobs and freedom, he eloquently speaks for just over six minutes. 

He emphasizes that "bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence. A great people which created a great civilization had become a nation of silent onlookers."

His speech preceded that of Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Here is an audio link to his six minute and 34 second speech.

A documentary film on his life has just aired and here is a link to an extensive interview with the two producers on New Jersey TV News.  http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/film-about-rabbi-prinz-is-made/

Here is the official  trailer to the film, Joachim Prinz: I Shall Not be Silent. (click here)