Apologies for the radio silence. The internet connection at Downton Shabby has been intermittent at best and nonexistent at worst for the past three months. Recently, I tried to write a blog post on my mobile phone. This exercise was beyond cumbersome and quickly ended in frustration. So now, while the connection is holding, if … More The Old Money Book…Now in Polish!
As the new year begins, we inevitably consider changes we can make in order to improve our lives in the 12 months that follow. One strategy I’d like to introduce is one of ‘participation’. If we choose, we can consciously elect to participate in something…or not participate in something. The subjects of such contemplation can … More Participation
Happy New Year to everyone who follows the blog and contributes to our community here. As world affairs go, it has been an eventful 2023 to say the least. With wars in Gaza and Ukraine, indictments, plea deals, trials and elections aplenty here in the US, the coming year promises no shortage of surprises and … More Happy New Year
My apologies. A family situation is keeping me occupied at present. I have not posted as regularly as I would have liked. A few weeks ago (!) I came across the following article which addresses India’s future in particular, but can be applied to any person, community, or country. It explores culture, the work ethic, … More The Work Ethic
It’s a grammatically butchered term, and I’m sure sociologist and psychologists have a more technical or clinical label for it. However, regardless of what we call it, it’s a behavior pattern that is easy to recognize: acting out in public like a teenager. Like someone who’s in high school. Like someone who is probably old … More The High-Schoolization of Society
In the introduction of The Old Money Book, I talk about the scenario of two people who receive a financial windfall. One person handles the inheritance poorly. The other person handles the inheritance well. It may surprise you to know that many people, not just the wealthy, are going to receive an inheritance or some … More Anatomy of a Windfall
We usually associate bravery and courage with specific acts of physical prowess involving danger and risk. The person involved could be injured or killed. The consequences of failure are definitive and real. Success is victory. Little lies in the space between. But there’s another less acknowledged kind of courage. It’s the courage to examine certain … More A Special Kind of Courage
After what seems like years living in the French countryside (it’s been a scant 8 months), I can more fully appreciate the contrasts between this and my time living in Paris (which lasted 6 years). At the risk of repeating myself–I discussed this subject briefly in a previous post, I believe–I wanted to provide a … More A Man In Between
In addition to being stunningly beautiful tokens of love, diamonds have enjoyed an enduring reputation as being a highly portable, highly liquid, and highly desirable asset. While not as predictable as gold or real estate as a hedge against inflation or as a safe haven for wealth, they nevertheless gave a sense of security to … More Diamonds Are Not Forever
As many of you already know, I write nonfiction books (The Old Money Book et al,) screenplays, this blog, and songs (a new addition, The Brooklyn Side of Town, has just been uploaded. Enjoy!) And like most everyone else, I write emails and texts regularly. So I have a little experience and a lot of … More The Medium and The Message