Puddles

     I spotted these two kids today in front of a shul splashing around in a puddle . It gave me the biggest chuckle that I had to photograph it. Leave it to a child to find one of the few remaining puddles and jump in it. They will never know how much they brightened my day.

Shades of Gray

     As a kid in school I had a teacher who always used to point out that things aren't always black and white and that there are often shades of gray. Now that I am no longer a kid I have found this to be true. Now  that the idealism of youth has waned I have  realized that though there is still right and wrong it is not always so simple to identify one from the other.

Humans of New York

Humans of New York. The title alone makes me take pause. Having lived in New York for many years I am not always sure that  all of the  people here are humans . Anyways, Brandon Stanton started taking portraits of random New Yorkers in 2010 and  posted them on a blog. Now he has a book of the portraits he has taken. Yesterday I flipped through the book when I was at Urban Outfitters in Manhattan. I had seen some of his photos that some of my friends posted on facebook, but flipping through his book it was almost startling. In a good way. I often see the tough personas in the faces of people in New York. Brandon Stanton captures the vulnerability of the people in his photos. It is almost jarring. It is not the New York captured in 1970's photos. 

     I admire his ability to get strangers to pose for his photos. . It is worthy of checking out. Or at least check out his blog humans of new york. It will give you a more positive view of the people in this city. His photos truly are of humans in New York.

Snobbery

     Ever talk to someone at a party and realize that they think they are doing you a favor by speaking to them because they think they are G-d's gift ?  It used to make me feel a little bad until I realized that I don't like them as well and would rather not hang with them either. They think they are snubbig me ? Oh no. I reject the first. I mean really . 

Comparing

      Don't compare yourself to what you used to be, compare yourself to what you are now. That is a tough one. Circumstances in life change and you can morn what was or you can move on. The worst part is that sometimes one's goals have to change because one's circumstances have changed . I guess its all a part of growing up...
     
      

Smart Kids

      I wonder what its like to be the parent of very intelligent kids. It must be quite a challenge, even a bit intimidating. I guess every parent wants intelligent kids, but when one can tell that their child is  brighter than they are I bet it might be hard . It is a great honor to have such a challenge. Intelligent children deserve worthy parents who will  guide them toward their potential while still allowing them to be children.

The Malaysian Flight 370

     I am very happy that the man who did  not board the Malaysian flight 370 because his travel agent did not want him to fly on  shabbos did not do so. That said I am also very upset about the disappearance of flight 370 and am not so happy with the publicizing of the story of the man who did not board the flight. I feel as though it is dancing on the fate of those who did board that plane. As I write this the plane is still missing.  There were little children on that flight . These people have friends and families who are very distraught over what has happened. I myself am disturbed that this flight is still missing.
     To be fair, the media always interviews some blessed soul who fortuitously did not board a plane that crashed , etc, but there is also a time to be quiet about one's fortune in the face of another's misfortune. Of course those who have escaped harm's way should be very grateful , but perhaps their voice should not let us forget to have compassion for those who are grieving.