Saturday, April 18, 2026
Up until recently, it was conventional wisdom to promote college attendance. Health, wealth and happiness seemed to be linked to higher education. Now, at least in the United States, the value of college is being questioned especially as the job market twists and turns in response to technology and geopolitics. https://www.nbcnews.com/
Here is where the college graduates are worldwide.
U.S.A. is only tenth, a bit of a surprise. We do a little better when looking at the overall level of education in the population.
Of course, not every successful venture requires a college degree. For instance, there’s the guy who figured out that a package of dry macaroni sounds like a box of Legos.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
President Trump claims that the word affordability has just been made up by the Democrats.
Fortunately, he is not replacing Noah Webster as Lexicographer-in-Chief. Few of us have failed to notice price rises almost everywhere we turn and politicians are wielding the term effectively. "From a democratic socialist in New York to moderates in Virginia and New Jersey, Democrats found success by focusing on the cost of living — not culture wars." Affordability, affordability, affordability: Democrats’ new winning formula - POLITICO
Monday, April 20, 2026
While not quite the disruptive effect of the Iran War, we have news that could seriously disorient our local population. Pastrami Queen, 138 West 72nd Street, the only Kosher delicatessen on the West Side of Manhattan above 38th Street, and one of the scant handful on the entire island, appears to have closed, Steve Goldfarb informs us. A sign in the window says "Deli Chin - Home of the Pastrami Egg Roll." Mind you, I have nothing against a good pastrami egg roll, it's the rest of the cuisine that concerns me -- corned beef, tongue, kasha knish, kishke and, of course, Dr. Brown's. The exact direction of Deli Chin is unknown at this point.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Besides Deli Chin, I am worried about The Corner, 698 Ninth Avenue, a restaurant that I have enjoyed several times in the past. While Michael Ratner, Terrific Tom and I had a good lunch today, there were some notable gaps. No ribs, no spare ribs, bones or boneless. Even a bigger existential crisis was the absence of tea! No tea in a Chinese restaurant? How can that be? Yet, it was. Remember when “All the tea in China” was a unit of measure?
There was still plenty of food for us. We shared a scallion pancake ($8.24), 2 filet mignon egg rolls ($6.16 each), crispy shredded beef ($18.54), orange peel chicken with brown rice ($19.57) and beef chow fun ($16.48). Prices are for credit card purchases. Note that a Groupon coupon will round the prices down considerably.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
British politicians are taking a considerable risk. A law pending would ban cigarette smoking for people born after 2008, those under 18 today.
"An estimated 28.6 billion cigarettes are smoked in Britain each year, equating to 78 million every day." Britons still smoke an astonishing number of cigarettes every year | The Independent
While adults smoke most of these cigarettes, the tobacco industry must fear that any change to consumer habits might snowball with significant economic consequences. Let the lobbying begin.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
The Upper West Side's Power Couple took to the highway heading East to a weekend of celebration of our granddaughter's Bat Mitzvah. Highlights to follow.
. . .
Above, I mentioned a couple of worrisome items for the local dining scene. Now, a positive just popped up. A sign has appeared on empty space at 208 West 70th Street (between Amsterdam and West End Avenues) announcing a "Cantonese Dim Sum Restaurant." I am only partially enthused by this news. This location, right next door to the very successful Cafe Luxembourg, 200 West 70th Street, has been ill-fated. While Luxembourg has thrived since 1983, its neighbor has turned over 5, 6, 7? times. In recent years, there was Compass, then a steakhouse, then an Italian restaurant that opened weeks before Covid hit the Holy Land. I hope the spell is broken, but I'll keep my chopsticks crossed.
Friday, April 24, 2026
Tonight, family members from near and far went to synagogue services and then dined together. We heard about recent adventures and repeated old favorite stories. It was a great start to the weekend.
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