My best friend is named Bob Boden. He has been since a fateful September 9, 1974 when your author was stumped on a tough mixed-up word in the daily newspaper Jumble game that to this day occupies several minutes of my time to solve every morning. A few weeks ago I couldn’t honestly write those … Read more
Today is Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. I will spend the majority of it at my newly chosen temple, praying for the opportunity to maximize what bodes to be the most challenging year of my life to date. One of the most powerful prayers on today’s docket is the Unataneh Tokef, which … Read more
As I write this, there are memorial services ongoing in New York, Washington, Pennsylvania and elsewhere commemorating the somber 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center. As a native New Yorker, I took these attacks emotionally and personally. While I did not personally lose anyone close to me in the buildings or … Read more
If it’s the week after Labor Day, then it must be time for a great new buzzworthy drama on FX. This year’s entry, the latest “American Crime Story” season, a scathing retelling of the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinskyscandal called “Impeachment”, is already off a stellar start, garnering significant favorable social traction. As someone who visioned this … Read more
Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue the road was full of mud I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form Come in, she said I’ll give ya shelter from the storm I survived the remnants of Hurricane Ida physically this week. My biggest loss … Read more
Here’s what else youneedtoknowtoday. If like me you’re a devotee of The Daily, the Michael Barbaro-fronted weekday podcast from The New York Times, you know why the last five words are without separation. That phrase is the semi-colon between the podcast’s signature main story, an extended interview or series of sound bites that delves into … Read more
So with Jeopardy-gate in a temporary (?) lull your author can tend to his own life again, and once again Leblang Across America is in airplane mode, this time the destination being his roots in New York. Once again we are meeting the confluence of exciting present and troubling past, simply letting the fact we … Read more
After a one-year hiatus my favorite weekend of the summer is here. The New York Mets are finally back in Los Angeles, this time for a four-game series which I will be fortunate enough to be attending at least three of them in person. Some of the best days of my life have been spent … Read more
A report from The Week (https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/jeopardy-s-dual-hosting-plan-reportedly-came-about-because-mayim-bialik-was-too-busy-for-the-main-gig/ar-AANibW4?ocid=msedgntp )emerged this morning that Sony TV executives actually wanted Mayim Bialik as the new host if the daily version of Jeopardy!, citing focus group testing that confirmed that audiences thought her performance was best. This new tidbit emerged in light on the ongoing criticism of their choice of executive … Read more
There was breaking news yesterday morning in the Van Nuys East Courthouse, Department P. The plaintiff is yours truly. I used to enjoy The People’s Court, particularly the OG version with Judge Joseph Wapner. A clever way to turn small claims courts into a game show-like environment, cases like mine agreed to binding arbitration that … Read more