Passing Over

Saturday, April 4, 2026

For many Jews and Christians this is a time of refreshing and renewal, comporting with the change of seasons. Unfortunately, I failed to get the message and am still displaying bad conduct. It would seem at my age that I would know better.

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I find it interesting to put these two maps together. The first shows obesity by state and the second shows relative prosperity, the percentage of households earning over $200,000 annually. 

There appears to be a correlation, although not a perfect one. Living high on the hog does not seem to lead to eating like one. 

Monday, April 7, 2026

For better or worse, I am willing to court controversy. The supposed newspaper of record has updated its list of New York City's best bagels.  https://www.nytimes.com/article/best-bagels-nyc.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

While I have enjoyed some of their choices, omitting Zucker's Bagels & Smoked Fish, multiple locations, is unforgivable. Not only does Zucker's bake excellent bagels all day long, its whitefish salad is unchallenged. Check it out for yourself.

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It is far too early to be worried about Hanukkah gifts. Certainly, getting bagels now would be a bad idea unless you are building up an inventory of hockey pucks. However, I did come across an item that might fill many of your gift giving needs.

This would demonstrate adherence to the Second Amendment discreetly.

Tuesday, April 8, 2026

We have one high school senior in the family who has chosen another path rather than the Ivy League. While I have complete confidence that he would have been welcomed at any one of those venerable institutions, he avoided the angst associated with their admissions process. "Yale admitted a record-low 2.9% of regular decision applicants from a pool of nearly 55,000 students, the second-largest in the school's history. Columbia  received 61,031 applications — the largest pool in its history — and admitted just 4.23%. Brown admitted 5.35% from a record pool of nearly 48,000 applicants. Harvard and Princeton withheld their official data, but estimates place their acceptance rates at approximately 3.7% and 3.9%, respectively." 

https://share.google/a1WeeA0CHSYoLS2LH

Wednesday, April 9, 2026

I spend a lot of time on the Internet, as you can probably tell. Lately, two hustles have been taking up a lot of space — lose 20 pounds in two weeks with a diet based on Jello or ward off dementia by drinking honey daily. You will just need one little ingredient sold by our on-line advertiser. In each case, Big Pharma is allegedly trying to squelch the news which threatens its profits. Hurry up and get skinny and stay sharp.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Phil Ochs committed suicide 50 years ago today.

Cut and paste this into your browser and play the whole album.  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7zIecZopiQMeHuuXLgCzAg4Ot7v6FVJ4&si=e4zAeSnM0irY8Rlz

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Herring in wine sauce, gefilte fish from a jar; not even a piece of matzoh. That lunch was my last Passover meal this year. I’ll wait until sundown approaches to resume my heathen ways. Since my return from physical therapy sessions takes me within one block of Zabar’s, 2245 Broadway, the transition will be easy.

I’m sure there a few of you who have never set foot on Manhattan Island and know not from Zabar’s. This 92-year old food store excels in cheese, coffee, smoked fish, knishes, crumb cake, egg salad, chocolate bobka and a housewares department on the second floor where senior citizens sometimes get a discount. It's a Jewish oasis. 

Friday, April 10, 2026

Today’s Headline:

Swalwell Faces Sex Assault Accusation as He Runs for California Governor

Tomorrow’s Headline:

Swalwell Becomes Republican, Charges Dropped