I love coffee. That is to say, I love espresso. Unfortunately, since getting my cholesterol count, I discovered that coffee raises your "bad" cholesterol. Tea is okay. Sometimes its more than okay.

Two months ago, my wife and I (plus her siblings, cousins and their spouses) went to Amsterdam at the invitation of the Royal House of Orange.  It seems that a painting that had belonged to my wife's paternal grandparents was stolen from them (by the Nazis) and it somehow found its way into the Royal Collection in about 1960.  It isn't worth a whole lot of money, so the family decided to tell the House of Orange to keep the thing.  As a result of the famliy's generosity, we were given a lovely lunch aboard a royal yacht through the canals, then a private tour of the Royal Pal

  As I have said so many times, I am not a sports fan. I have, however, recently  begun to appreciate how sports can bring people together.  

I can't believe I am writing about Kim Kardashian. I must have a fever, or restricted blood flow to my head. But when I was browsing new biographies in the bookstore yesterday, there was a new book about her life. I picked it up, I don't know why, and then quickly put it down and rubbed my hands clean on my shirt.  

I finally found one. It's tough being a guy who wants to drive a manual shift car (aka stick). A lot of manufacturers stopped making them and the new ones that are available are expensive.   But that didn't stop your intrepid "wheelman." I found a used 2011 BMW 328i xdrive with only 30k miles for a very reasonable price so I bought it. You can ask the members of the Traveling Wilburys how the ride is.  

During the recent exciting run for the Pennant by the Mets I posted the above photo and caption on the Gotham Sports Talk listserve and on Facebook. Inasmuch as most everyone knows me as a Yankee fan who proudly wears a Yankee hat it may have appeared to be hypocritical or front running, but, as they say, not at all.I was there as a fan at the Mets 1962 birth as an expansion team and I suffered along with former Yankee Manager Casey Stangel in their 120 game loss rookie year. 

One of the aspects of watching the Mets on TV is that, in addition to watching the action on the field, you get to watch the fans in the stands watching the game. When the Mets are away, watching fans takes on an especially heightened level of aggravation, annoyance, empathy or joy.

  I live in East Harlem, on E 120th Street. While still stereotypical, a sad & decidedly atypical incident took place down the block last night. It hits home on many levels.