Steven Levy, Wired Senior Writer, and recent author of In The Plex How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives, spoke at the Roeliff Jansen Library in Hillsdale, NY. Many in the audience were concerned about privacy issues, and when they use gmail, ads on the side of the page would reflect their email content. But is Google the Orwellian Big Brother that tracks your inner thoughts and will soon rob you of your soul? Many beg to differ. Highlights from the talk include Google‘s foray into China, Steve Jobs, and a short video interview on what surprised Levy most about Google. Continue reading “Wired Senior Writer, Steven Levy, On His Latest Book About Google”
Leon Smith: A Life Of Art
Bright pink trees, a floating birthday cake in a pond and a shingled Studebaker are just three of the many memorable visions created by sculptor, Leon Smith, 78, of Ancramdale, NY.

A sensibility somewhere between Willy Wonka meets David Lynch, Smith has created a mind-altering dream world enjoyed by all ages. Smith Hill, his brain child he created with his muse and wife, Elaine, has about 100 sculptures spread over more than 100 acres.
New Yorkers on Gay Marriage
Less than two days after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo legalized gay marriage, New Yorkers took to the streets to celebrate the annual gay pride parade in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Continue reading “New Yorkers on Gay Marriage”
End of School Year Reflections
The kids talk about what they learned from making a documentary, three hours a week, for one-school year.
Apple Screens Films By Gateway Kids
After working for one-school year as a part-time teacher for seven, wildly smart and creative middle school kids, Apple hosted a screening of our 30-minute documentary to parents, friends and the public on Wednesday.
Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School Addresses “Toughing It Out in Afghanistan”
Should the US start pulling their troops out of Afghanistan in 2011 leaving only a small peace-keeping force of 20,000 in 2014? Or should we stay in Afghanistan providing assistance until the Afghans don’t need us anymore? By setting a time line do the U.S. and NATO signal to the Afghan people that we are not committed to their development or security? If that is the case, are we creating an opportunity for the insurgency to wait patiently to once again, continue to wreak havoc on the war-ravaged country?
Continue reading “Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School Addresses “Toughing It Out in Afghanistan””
Nor’easter, Ancram, New York
The day after Christmas almost two feet of snow hit certain parts of the Northeast, shuttering major airports in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Boston. The storm threw a wrench in millions of travel plans across the globe, and let’s face it, a lot of people, especially in New York City, were bummed, big time.
But not in Ancram, New York.
Ralph Lauren Introduces NYC to “4-D”
Walking home from work tonight, just before 8 p.m., a throng of hundreds gather behind police barriers on Madison between 71st and 72nd Streets.. Bomb scare? But who would bother to blow up the neighborhood Presbyterian Church? Continue reading “Ralph Lauren Introduces NYC to “4-D””
Nancy Hatch Dupree on a Life of Service Amidst War
We followed Afghan Scholar and Founder of the Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University, Nancy Hatch Dupree, when she was 82-years-old, for one week in 2009. Born October 3, 1927 Dupree died September 10, 2017.
We had a couple of questions for the Cooperstown, New York native.
Continue reading “Nancy Hatch Dupree on a Life of Service Amidst War”
Abida Parveen Featured at the New York Sufi Festival
Highlights from the New York Sufi Festival at New York’s Asia Society.
Continue reading “Abida Parveen Featured at the New York Sufi Festival”