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I hate bullies. Anything that eliminates a bully makes me very happy. Of course, I’m not talking physical harm. Just a simple nudge to remind them that they will not be tolerated is good enough for me.

Natalie Hampton, an 11th grade student from Sherman Oaks, CA, took it upon herself to come up with a solution to stop bullying in high school cafeterias across America during lunch time. I first heard about this app from NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. I taped it for you. 

Natalie created a new app called “Sit With Us.” In an NPR interview Natalie said, “At my old school, I was completely ostracized by all of my classmates, and so I had to eat lunch alone every day. 

“When you walk into the lunch room and you see all the tables of everyone sitting there and you know that going up to them would only end in rejection, you feel extremely alone and extremely isolated, and your stomach drops. 

“And you are searching for a place to eat, but you know that if you sit by yourself, there’ll be so much embarrassment that comes with it because people will know and they’ll see you as the girl who has nowhere to sit. So there’s so many awful feelings that come along with it.”

“Sit With Us” is a free lunch-planning app where students can easily find friendly classmates who want to dine with them. It’s an open invitation that acts like an Evite. Each school has volunteer ambassadors who make sure everyone is being treated fairly.

Natalie is one special teenager. We need more like her. Tell your kids and grandkids about “Sit With Us.” 
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If you have ever visited an art gallery, you know immediately if you like the art. A few of us went to the opening for Mano at the Williams McCall Gallery@Frameworks in Coconut Grove, Fl Saturday night. The minute we walked in, we scattered in all directions checking out the amazing looking women who adorned the walls. 

The postive energy in the room from the colors on the paintings lifted everyone’s spirits. I watched all the guests. Everyone was staring at the paintings. From my experience, that is very unusual. People are usually engrossed in conversation and give the artwork an obligatory look. Not in this case. Bravo to you, Mano!  Bio below.

I really wanted the second painting posted here, but we’re on artwork overload. We have paintings in our condo, hanging in the homes of family and friends, and in storage. We are out of space.  We have rotated our artwork so many times that our walls are screaming “enough.” 

I found out that my favorite lady was sold to a good friend. At least I have a photo. 

Mano’s bio taken from his website

Cuban-born MANO came to the United States as part of Operation Pedro Pan* at the age of twelve, with his older brother. For the next five years he lived in Westfield, New Jersey with family friends until he was reunited with his parents.

Although MANO graduated as an electrical engineer and successfully practiced his profession for more than twenty years, he always felt the need to express himself artistically and beyond the design concepts of engineering. MANO has now traded components and electronics for a new career in art. 

He is a self-taught artist who has developed a unique expressionist-style dominated by faces and the female form. Usually his faces are merely a point of departure for MANO to explore the interplay of contrasting colors on a myriad of surfaces. When asked what inspires him, MANO says “Everything…people, music, nature all lead me on journey’s through the imagination where images converge and forms and color captivate me. Observation of the mind’s creation allows me to assimilate and recreate, in my own style, the shades of color and images of form.”

MANO has been recognized by Miami Mayor Alex Pinellas and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz for his contribution to Miami’s cultural community. MANO has been featured in numerous publications among them; The Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, South Miami Times, The Sun Post, Miami Art Guide and the Pittsburgh Tribune. MANO has been recognized by the art and cultural community in South Florida with special recognition by the Arts & Cultural Council of Miami, Miami-Dade County ‘s Hispanic Expressions, Naples Art Festival and Sister Cities International Art Exhibition. 

MANO is a true advocate of charitable causes and donates his time and talent regularly to support countless organizations each year through the donation of his art, lectures and workshops. Ultimately, MANO believes that we should help however we can and give back to the community. It gives him great satisfaction to know that his art provides an opportunity for him to support so many worthwhile causes.

Today, MANO’s art hangs in private and corporate collections throughout the world. He exhibits regularly in galleries, universities and juried art shows throughout the United States and welcomes visits to his studio in Miami by appointment.

MANO lives in Coral Gables, Florida with his wife, their dog and his many canvases and paints.

*Operation Pedro Pan was the largest recorded exodus of unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. From December 1960 to October 1962, more than fourteen thousand Cuban children arrived alone in the United States. Read more about Operation Pedro Pan 

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92nd Street Y 

Dip Your Apple – Fountainheads Rosh Hashanah—Thank you, Dick Krain, for sharing ..

A Boating Accident In The Marina 
It was 11:45pm Sunday night when Eliot and I heard strange noises outside our windows. An out-of-control yacht was smashing into other boats in the Miami/South Beach Marina,  36 stories below our window. I heard people yelling “Help,” “Help.” I called police and Eliot shot the first photos. Five minutes later police, helicopters, coast guard, fire engines,and ambulances showed up. This happened just down the waterway from where Jose Fernandes died last week. A helicopter has a search light on entire area. Scuba divers are looking for something. Very scary to watch a sizable yacht, out-of-control, and bashing into others at least six times. More when I find out what actually happened. 

When In Doubt, Throw Out

That used to be one of my mother’s favorite expressions. She always made sure our food was fresh. She didn’t want to take any chances . 

She must have had some friends who suffered from spoiled food. The World Health Organization recently reported that there are 76 million cases of foodborne illness (resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths) in the United States each year.

I always wanted some sort of a food analyzer  that would tell me if the food I was about to eat was fresh. Guess what? I found such a product. It’s called the FOODsniffer, the world’s first portable “electronic nose.”It’s a  device and mobile application which will enable you to determine the quality and freshness of: beef, pork, poultry and fish. 

FOODsniffer has four types of sensors: temperature, humidity, ammonia and volatile organic compounds sensors. All you have to do is direct the device towardq the food product and then click a button. 

The company’s website said, “the device uses Bluetooth technology to transmit data to the user’s smartphone or tablet, which displays a detailed result with recommendations regarding the safety of the product.”

The FOODsniffer retails for $120. You can buy it here. 
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Photo: The Compleat Traveller

I always feel like I am the only one that complains about things. When there was no Internet in my New York coop, I was the only one who complained to the doorman. When we had no hot water, I was the only to call the super. When there was no heat, I was the only to call the handyman. I often wondered if the people in my building took showers, used computers, and wore their winter coats inside. 

Why was I the only one complaining? After 40 years, I never got the answer.

The same thing is happening to me in the world of restaurants. Why am I the only one complaining about busboy service? I wrote about this a year ago, and here I go again.

Every time we go out to eat, the bus boys are removing plates from our table before we finish eating. They pop out of nowhere. If you are three quarters of the way through your meal, you’d better stay alert. The minute the busboys appear, put up your hand and say “no.” If you don’t, they will clear the table before you get a chance to finish.

This has happened to us in every restaurant, and in every city. This is not an isolated situation. It’s as if there was a nationwide edict that said, “Grab those dishes as fast as possible because we are running short in the kitchen.” 

This is not my imagination. I have literally seen wait staff prematurely take plates, glasses and silverware from other patrons as well. They scream “stop,” and it ends there.  No one seems to be taking this situation up with higher authorities, like restaurant owners or associations.

This week we went to Prime Fish and Smith and Wollensky on Miami Beach. It happened at these establishments as well.  Last night the bread was removed before the dinner was over, and tonight they wanted to take away the side dishes before we completed our meal. 

 
I am not sure what is going on, but I would like some answers. Does anyone have a clue? 
 

I spend a good part of my day trying to get rid of ads that pop up on my iPhone screen while I am trying to read an online newspaper or magazine article. Yes, it happens on Internet sites as well. 

I can’t stand it anymore. I see a news or feature headline that interests me, I click on it, and before you know it, an advertisement pops up. I spend the next 20 seconds trying to get rid of it. I pound away on the screen trying to activate the X.

I complain about it to Eliot who wonders why I get so agitated by pop-up ads. He says commercials on TV bother him way more. I don’t mind TV advertisements. You know they are coming, and you use it to your advantage. You can go to the bathroom, get something to eat, or check out another channel.

Internet ads are much more annoying. You have to exert energy to get rid of them. To be honest, they are counter-productive. More often than not, I close the article and move on to another online activity. 

If you agree with me, let me know. I will send our comments to Advertising Age or Ad Week.