Inspirations can come from the strangest places.  I was out for breakfast a while ago with some friends from University that I hadn’t seen in years.  The “all day breakfast” place we’d selected was the epitome of “cheap and cheerful” – home style cooking and poster-adorned walls that made the establishment look more like a frat house than a self respecting restaurant.  The one next to our booth was a dated promotional poster for the clothing brand Zoo York, adorned with the New York State motto, “Excelsior: To forever move upwards.  To always keep going and strive for the best.”   Inspiring words for a $3.99 breakfast.  You wonder who pulled the trigger on that quote.  What politician decided that those words would represent the State of New York.  And when?  Was New York already the influential powerhouse that we know it as today, or is it possible that this slogan was a precursor to the global influencer that ...

At the end of the day, I like to spend half an hour or so on my balcony.  Just sitting, really, a glass of wine occasionally, and the freedom to reflect on the day and plan for the next; 20 stories up from the street.  There's a small covered pavilion about a block from my apartment, in perfect eyeline from the chair I like to occupy during these times of reflection and planning.  Recently though, a small group of teenager have given me added reason for wanting to sit in that particular location.  They breakdance.  And they're pretty good too.  What impresses me most though is not the dancing itself, but rather the passion and dedication that these teens show for their dancing.  Every night for the last week, rain or shine, they're out there for a solid 2 or 3 hours – dancing, falling down, failing and getting back up again – working hard and having fun.  Even from 20 stories up, it's easy to see how much they enjoy what they're ...