Impressive Brightline

Just wanted to say how impressed I was with the new Brightline train system in Florida. 

Right now it goes from Miami straight to Fort Lauderdale and then to Palm Beach. 

I took it between Fort Lauderdale and Miami and it was a quick 30 minute ride–no traffic yay!

The trains are modern and sleek, and the stations were automated, clean, secured with guards and scanners, and had a beautiful lounge waiting area (and they announce the train arrival like 10 minutes before it arrives).

Also, the staff was friendly and helpful, and they even came around with a food cart. 

I understand they are adding additional stops for Aventura and Boca Raton. 

I would definitely take this train again–way to go! 😉

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Graffiti Art

I really love Graffiti Art!

Went to Wynwood Walls in Miami. 

The art is just fantastic. 

Better than the typical museum.

So creative. 

So big.

So colorful. 

So full of life. 

They took a whole rundown neighborhood and made it cool and great. 

On December 5, they will be opening  the Museum of Graffiti.

Can’t wait to go back and immerse myself in it! 😉

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

G-d Is Good

What a cool barber shop in downtown Miami called, The Spot Barbershop.

When you are lying back in the chair, look what you see on the ceiling:

G-d Is Good.

The other day we went out to eat with some folks. 

And the question came up whether you think most people are good or bad. 

Interestingly, most of the people at the table thought either they are predominantly good or at least that they have the potential for good. 

Really, it is G-d that is the ultimate good. 

And to the extent that we are created in His image and have the opportunity to choose good from evil, then we too can be good. 

G-d is inherently good, but man is a toss up based on which direction he goes. 😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shabbat Shalom Baby!

Shabbat Shalom Baby!

(Source Graphic: Adapted by Andy Blumenthal from Miami Neo-Pop Artist, Mr. Babes)

@Miami Design District

(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Miami Blue Porsche

Wow, I fell in love with this Porsche 718 Cayman. 

Blue like the sky and ocean in Miami.

I got my eye on this one!

Now if only my wife would see the wisdom in why I absolutely need this!

Anyway, I can enjoy the photo and dream for now. 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

^^^To The Six Million^^^

I am dedicating my 2001st blog post to my 6 million! Jewish brothers and sisters who were murdered in the Holocaust. 

May G-d have mercy on their souls and in their name bless us, the survivors, to do his holy bidding and good deeds. 

Thank you G-d for bringing me to this time and for all your enduring kindness. 

May you give me the strength and inspiration to carry on as a hopefully positive influence in this world. 

(Source Photo of Miami Holocaust Memorial: Andy Blumenthal)

Flower Car

I like this flower car in Washington, D.C.

Different, happy, sort of stylish…

Well it’s not sunny Miami, but at least it’s interesting here. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Rise Oceans Rise

The polar ice caps are melting–does anyone believe it or care?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Antarctica alone holds 60% of the world’s fresh water “locked into millions of cubic miles of polar ice.”

NASA glaciologists states: “Ice is going to retreat in this sector for decades and centuries to come and we can’t stop it.”

In other words, we may have “reached the point of no return.”

Sea levels are seen rising 10 to 12 feet–that’s almost 1.8 x Magic Johnson across all our oceans!

The New York Times says that just a four foot rise would inundate cities like New York, Boston, Miami, and New Orleans.

WTOP reports that the impact will not just be in low-lying cities but even Washington, DC along the Chesapeake Bay is at great risk.

And while over time barriers may be able to be built up around DC to protect it, other areas like New York City is “almost unenclosable.”

Global warming has is changing our earth’s ecosystems, and like the National Deficit, we can try to prove it false, ignore it, or hope for a technological breakthrough or miracle to save us.

Yes, there are lot’s of doom and gloom scenarios, and it’s hard to know when to take catastrophe seriously and when it is Chicken Little.

While I wouldn’t go looking for high ground just yet, maybe that Miami oceanfront–as much as I love it–may not be the best long-long term investment around. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Helicopter Over Miami Beach

We went on a awesome excursion today…a helicopter ride over Miami Beach.

We got picked up and taken to the air strip in Pembroke Pines.

Then, in a $450,000 helicopter traveling at 115 miles per hour, we got the ride of our lives.

With the sky clear blue, the sun shining bright, and the air cool and refreshing–what a great experience!

I put this in my memory bucket along with the jet skiing we did last year.

I thank G-d for the amazing opportunities and to experience this with my family.

Probably the funniest thing was when our pilot Jason asked “do you want to have a nice ride or a crazy time?”

I didn’t know we had to choose…especially after signing the waiver. 😉

(Source Video: Andy Blumenthal)