Here are some of the most important reasons to not vote Democrat in November.

A change in congressional leadership would be detrimental to the war effort against Iran. The most important thing that needs to be accomplished is the elimination of any possibility that Iran develops or buys a nuclear weapon. During the early days of the war, American bombers destroyed Iran’s nuclear arsenal. We must be sure that everything that remains cannot be used by Iran to build a bomb or a makeshift device that would likely be used in military action against the US or Israel. The Trump administration has been actively negotiating with Iran, under very difficult conditions. It would be wrong to inject new ideas and players at this time.

The current administration has done a yeoman’s job in stemming the flow of illegals into the US. It is astounding that the previous administration allowed 10 [or 20 million] undocumented people into the country without vetting anyone. Recently, illegal entrants are zero; the present administration has completely stopped illegal immigration. The number of criminals in the illegal group on American soil is remarkably large. The number of crimes perpetrated by illegal aliens has decreased dramatically because of efforts to capture and deport the worst violent individuals. Imigration officials have done a great job rooting out violent offenders.

The US cannot be responsible for providing food, medicine, shelter, jobs, to anyone who illegally crosses the border. The previous administration has created a gigantic social, financial and legal catastrophe. It will take years to work out all of the problems affiliated with the Biden open door immigration policy.

The current administration has fostered a productive alliance with Israel. It’s ridiculous to think that the current political relationship with Israel could be changed without consequences. When you consider Israel’s role in the Middle East, you should remember that it has always been the tip of the spear for the US. Our intelligence is remarkable and the willingness of Israelis to risk so much every day in support of US diplomatic policy is noteworthy. The US and Israel currently stand alone against the entire Islamic world along with developing nations.

The most astounding phenomenon is the number of young people who are  supportive of communistic and socialistic dogma (even though many scholars are not sure that these people are versed in the ramifications of communism and socialism). I, for one, am 100% against the likes of several lawmakers who think that governments like Russia or China or North Korea would make our lives better. As has been said many times no communist or socialist government has been successful in history.

Political advertisement by left wing communists and socialists are massive giveaways that the federal government cannot afford. Every time there are assurances that cheap housing will be available, food will be less expensive, medical assistance will assure that everyone will be free from disease, the proponents of left wing politics back track on their promises. These are giveaways that cost billions of dollars that municipal governments across the country can not afford. We can look forward to the horrible conditions in California if we vote for radical politicians.

The current administration has called the bluff of other governments. Many foreign governments have been caught with their pants down. They have taken advantage of the generosity of our government and refused to participate in the Iran struggle.

The current administration should be allowed to finish the job and make the world a safer and more prosperous place. It would be unwise to paralyze the government during an off-year election.

Here are some of the most important reasons to not vote Democrat in November.

A change in congressional leadership would be detrimental to the war effort against Iran. The most important thing that needs to be accomplished is the elimination of any possibility that Iran develops or buys a nuclear weapon. During the early days of the war, American bombers destroyed Iran’s nuclear arsenal. We must be sure that everything that remains cannot be used by Iran to build a bomb or a makeshift device that would likely be used in military action against the US or Israel. The Trump administration has been actively negotiating with Iran, under very difficult conditions. It would be wrong to inject new ideas and players at this time.

The current administration has done a yeoman’s job in stemming the flow of illegals into the US. It is astounding that the previous administration allowed 10 [or 20 million] undocumented people into the country without vetting anyone. Recently, illegal entrants are zero; the present administration has completely stopped illegal immigration. The number of criminals in the illegal group on American soil is remarkably large. The number of crimes perpetrated by illegal aliens has decreased dramatically because of efforts to capture and deport the worst violent individuals. Imigration officials have done a great job rooting out violent offenders.

The US cannot be responsible for providing food, medicine, shelter, jobs, to anyone who illegally crosses the border. The previous administration has created a gigantic social, financial and legal catastrophe. It will take years to work out all of the problems affiliated with the Biden open door immigration policy.

The current administration has fostered a productive alliance with Israel. It’s ridiculous to think that the current political relationship with Israel could be changed without consequences. When you consider Israel’s role in the Middle East, you should remember that it has always been the tip of the spear for the US. Our intelligence is remarkable and the willingness of Israelis to risk so much every day in support of US diplomatic policy is noteworthy. The US and Israel currently stand alone against the entire Islamic world along with developing nations.

The most astounding phenomenon is the number of young people who are  supportive of communistic and socialistic dogma (even though many scholars are not sure that these people are versed in the ramifications of communism and socialism). I, for one, am 100% against the likes of several lawmakers who think that governments like Russia or China or North Korea would make our lives better. As has been said many times no communist or socialist government has been successful in history.

Political advertisement by left wing communists and socialists are massive giveaways that the federal government cannot afford. Every time there are assurances that cheap housing will be available, food will be less expensive, medical assistance will assure that everyone will be free from disease, the proponents of left wing politics back track on their promises. These are giveaways that cost billions of dollars that municipal governments across the country can not afford. We can look forward to the horrible conditions in California if we vote for radical politicians.

The current administration has called the bluff of other governments. Many foreign governments have been caught with their pants down. They have taken advantage of the generosity of our government and refused to participate in the Iran struggle.

The current administration should be allowed to finish the job and make the world a safer and more prosperous place. It would be unwise to paralyze the government during an off-year election.

A few days ago, a great man passed away. He was a living and breathing miracle having survived for 99 1/2 years in very good health. The man I refer to is Marvin A. Mass, my father-in-law. 

Marvin, or Pop-pop, wanted to live for his wife and children. It was like a game, how long could this wonderful man survive and amaze his doctors? His medical advisors were astounded by his lifestyle and how he enjoyed his daily routine. They said he was a role model for people his age with his great attitude and the fearless way he faced advanced age.

Years earlier his closet friends began to pass away. But during this time, Pop-pop continued his inevitable confrontation with growing old. His final days consisted of meetings with members of his huge family at his Fifth Avenue apartment. 

During his advanced years, he frequented the ballet, Yankee games and ate at his favorite restaurants for dinner two or three times a week. I was happy to share my season baseball tickets with Marvin.

To celebrate his long life, Pop-pop wore a baseball cap that showcased his age. The latest cap had 99 printed on it. The family hoped he would survive to his next birthday and looked forward to the arrival of the 100- year hats.

Marvin had a gigantic life populated by six children, 17 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Some of the greatest moments over the years were the trips we took together as a family to Anguilla and upstate New York. These trips were massive logistical endeavors orchestrated by the women of the family. Pop-pop loved to be surrounded by his family, especially the little ones.

When he was a younger man, Marvin ruled his business and household with an iron fist. He insisted that everyone attend Sunday night dinners, high holiday services, Bar Mitzvahs and birthdays. I joked that I wake up every morning to see which of the family’s children was having a birthday. It is mandatory that a phone call be made to congratulate the birthday person. To not do so would be a grave mistake.

There are more than 40 individuals in the immediate family group. It would be impossible for Pop-pop to spend meaningful time with all of his children. Family parties entailed buying out restaurants and quaint inns in upstate NY. Slowly but surely, Marvin would work the gathering and give tender advise to members of his tribe.

Marvin hosted a holiday party for his employees and clients every year. He made everyone comfortable in his home. I attended these affairs and was totally impressed by the affection Pop had for these people. His parties were a precursor to the business he managed. I heard numerous stories of Marvin stepping into difficult situations and diplomatically patching up misunderstandings and potential bad feelings. He was an expert at not losing business.

Pop’s family Is very well educated as most of the children have gone to college. It should be noted, the second generation includes a lawyer, an engineer who runs the business of his father, one investment banker, and a real estate maven. The schools attended include Dartmouth, Harvard, Brown University of Pennsylvania, Chicago, Michigan, Duke and NYU.

What does it mean to have a close relative pass away? It is a time to celebrate great accomplishments and remember the good times shared with the deceased.

As far as his friends were concerned, he outlived many of them. However, the turn out for his funeral proved that he still is beloved by many people who worked for him and his family.

The funeral was the best service I ever attended. Several family members made beautiful speeches and then the Rabbi sang “That’s Life” which was one of Marvin’s favorite songs.

The death of Pop-pop had a tremendous impact on his family. Everyone knew that his time was short and all of his family members spent as much time as they could with him during his last days. They gave him a beautiful send-off.

Rest in peace Marvin Mass.

I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to determine whether announcements and signals by politicians, important people and talking heads are worth acting upon or worrying about. I’m not saying what we hear on TV is inaccurate, but it pays to dig deep when trying to decipher the words of slick media and public relations people.

Rather than examining grand announcements in the abstract, why not take a peek at recent announcements and decide whether they are helpful or troublesome. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Situation #1: Iran negotitions with the US. The leaders of the Iranian government are insisting they will never give up the fight against the US and will counter punch all actions by the US and its allies. Are these people serious about challenging the US military? Every time Iran launches missiles or drones that have very little effect, mostly they are shot down by defensive systems, the US then strikes back and damages important strategic assets of Iran. The tradeoffs are not equal.

It’s crazy. When Iran misbehaves, the US spanks the Iran regime. As time goes by, the targets of the US will become more infrastructural and will cost billions of dollars to replace. Before long the Iranian government will not have enough resources to feed its citizens. The attitude and actions of Iran’s leaders are incredibly short sighted. Iran is making poor decisions for the long term benefit of their people. Of course, if Iran surrenders who knows what the new government will do to former government officials. They will likely hang them upside down.

Situation #2: The Maine Senatorial Campaign. Graham Platner was running as a Democrat against Susan Collins for a Senate seat. A barrage of sexual activity and commentary have plagued Platner and caused him to give up his efforts to win the Senate seat. Nevertheless, Maine Democrats supported this man until just recently. The last straw was an allegation of sexual misconduct of a woman five years ago.

How incompetent were the Maine Democrats for supporting Platner even before the latest assault accusation? Democrats need to have more sensitivity when it comes to candidate shortcomings and misbehavior of their candidates and supporters.

The seat is critical because a good candidate would probably defeat Susan Collins. The Senate is very close in terms of its split between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats should have chosen a squeaky clean candidate to run against Collins.

Situation #3: Neverending support of non-government agencies. Democrats have used money as a conduit to voters. In essence, liberals seek out causes that need money and ask the beneficiaries for a vote later on. They buy votes. There is no accounting for these funds, and they continue to cash in endlessly.

Too often a social cause for urban daycare, new lunch programs, etc., continue to fund after the need has subsided. Who is receiving all the money if not needy people?

This is a perfect example of pork barrel politics. Billions of dollars are frittered away each year.

Situation #4: Democratic support of unpopular social programs. It seems that every day Democrats propose support for outrageous organizations or causes. One of the most ridiculous ones is the proposed ability of men to play on teams of women. There are many reasons why this is unfair and dangerous. As an example, a man who participates in woman’s basketball would have both height and strength advantages over women.

Another proposal is to allow men to use women’s lavatories. There is far and wide debate and disagreement with this proposal.

And finally, there are ultra-liberal individuals who seek to make sex changing information available to children who are very young without approval of parents.

Situation #5: Calling for the reduction of law enforcement. The nationwide demand to decrease law enforcement is something we hear about on a daily basis. In fact, the people we hear this from are participants in the protests that are occurring throughout the US.

All you need to do is watch TV and you can understand why the country has become much more dangerous, and decreasing police coverage would be foolish.

There are several million people in the country without permission. They are illegal immigrants and include many criminals and troublemakers. It is in the best interest of our country to find these criminals and to send them back to their home countries.

By allowing these criminals to roam throughout the country only causes them to be more troublesome and violent against law abiding citizens. When I see people fighting with police officers, I scratch my head and wonder how our country would suffer without any of these soldiers to protect us.

Situation #6: Ensuring a legitimate voting process. It’s true that Donald Trump has spent a lot of time whining about unfair elections, and elections that were rigged. I have mixed feelings about Trump’s obsession with voting in the US.

But he’s right to fight for elections without any interference from other countries. Americans depend upon a fair vote and should accept nothing short of it.

Most of the new features of voting systems are risky, fraught with problems relating to handling and counting of ballots. It’s hard to believe that voting is so antiquated in the US. Electronic voting is vulnerable as well. For a country as advanced as the US it is sad and dangerous that safer methods are not used.

Generally speaking, most of the voting innovations have been provided by Democrats. It seems like Democrats are prepared to accept unqualified voters with the expectation that these people become citizens and vote for liberal causes.

Situation #7: Support of the Iran war. It is disappointing that Americans are not 100% supportive of the Iran war. The Iranians have initiated a very rocky relationship with the US since the ayatollahs took over. Iran has fomented trouble by using proxies. It encourages bloodshed and never lives up to treaties it signs with other countries.

This would not be a problem if Iran was not trying to build a nuclear arsenal. If Iran developed a bomb and used it against Israel, which it has threatened to do, it would turn the region and the whole world upside down.

It is righteous that the US has demanded an end to Iran’s nuclear program. So why don’t all Americans support a strong response to Iran even if it results in a conventional war with Iran. It one of the few times since the Civil War that all Americans we’re not supportive of the government.

Donald Trump continues to congratulate himself for ending the Iranian war. Most people in the know have already branded the ceasefire a short-term peace arrangement. Experts are saying that the deal will have a long-term impact on Middle East diplomacy along with huge military expenditures for the foreseeable future.

What the US negotiators should never lose sight of is that Iran has violated every peace treaty it signed since the ayatollahs took control of the country several decades ago. What does this mean for the current negotiations?

It means that Iran is ruled by a pack of liars who have no desire to live in peace with other Arab countries. The government is a theocracy in which all men other than Iranians are sinners and do not have the right to a peaceful existence.

The minute that Iran has any cash it will use it to fund its proxies that have done Iran’s dirty work for years. So, if Iran turns a profit from drilling, from processing oil or transporting oil, it will use the money for evil intents.

How will the US be able to monitor all the different sources of cash that Iran will soon be tapping? The answer is that the US will have no idea how much cash Iran has. Will Iran allow US forensic analysts entree into the country to measure cash flow? I doubt it.

Even worse, Iran will surely get back to building a nuclear weapon as soon as possible. Just like in the past, Iran nuclear scientists will not give US analysts the free reign they need to predict whether a nuclear weapon is a feasible objective for the Iranians. Will the US start bombing Iran once again if the US or Israel receives evidence that Iran is busy building a nuclear weapon? Keep in mind, there is no telling what Iran would do with a nuclear weapon if they can successfully build it. The ayatollahs are likely to support use of weapons of mass destruction to increase their regime’s longevity.

I can see it now. The next U.S. President receives intel that Iran has a secret site that is being used to build a nuclear weapon. Will the president unleash another series of strikes that target weapons and the leaders that supported the action? Will the US be perpetually at war with Iran?

The only feasible fix to the Iranian situation is to bomb Iran out of existence and support a regime change that includes leaders that will agree not to build a nuclear weapon.

In the meantime, the US military will be on high alert as the situation unfolds. This will be a costly effort equal to using ground troops to enforce a mandate to keep Iran without a nuclear weapon.

I detect a growing level of consternation among Americans regarding the war between the United States and Iran. When my aides and I first considered an invasion of Iran, we did not expect the enemy would hold out as long as Iran has done.

Our first targets were missiles and bombs that were called on to decimate Iran’s command and control, destroy its Air Force and naval weapons, and intercept missiles that were launched into neighboring countries. I was led to believe this harsh assault would completely discourage any further military action by our enemy. I was further heartened that the deaths of two generations of political and military leaders would hasten the end to the conflict.

You must understand that the US strives to avoid unnecessary death and destruction, including collateral damage, when it uses its armed forces in a conflict. We try very hard to only destroy military assets and kill soldiers, not ordinary citizens. It would not be difficult to kill a huge portion of Iran’s population of about 100 million people. There are many millions of innocent people in Iran.

Naturally, if the US levelled the whole country the war would be over in a week or so. But since our foe knows we limit our targets to military assets, the enemy falsely hopes they could rebound if the negotiators stalled the peace process.

I’m telling you this because Americans are getting impatient about how long the Iran war is dragging on. If we attack civilian targets such as residential buildings and infrastructure complexes, the Iranians would suffer much greater hardship, and they would call for an end to the hostilities. America has a responsibility to save lives and facilities if it is possible.

We are intentionally not using ground troops to minimize American fatalities.

Negotiating with Iran’s leadership is very frustrating. One politician may say yes and another says no. History tells us that the agreements ultimately signed by Iran aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. They have a history of violating former agreements. That brings us to monitoring Iran compliance.

For years the Iranians ignored former agreements. They did not allow inspectors to evaluate their compliance. This time will be different. We will have automatic sanctions against noncompliance. The details have not been worked out, but it will subject the Iranians who violate the agreement with monetary penalties.

I have assured the American people that Iran will not be able to build a nuclear weapon even in the distant future. This does not mean five years, or 10 years, or 20 years. It’s forever. Inspectors are the key element to keep the nukes off the table.

I want to remind you all that I’m the only president that has stepped up and bombed Iran since the ayatollahs took control a quarter century ago. I’m prepared to start military hostilities once again if Iran lies or cheats in the future.

In summary:

• The US will not permit Iran to build nuclear weapons.
• The US will not grant unrestricted access to the locations of nuclear material.
• The US will monitor the handling of nuclear material.
• The US will guarantee a safe journey for all ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The US will not reimburse Iran for damage it created, or money absconded since the war began.
• The US will act to stop any violence initiated by proxies of Iran.
• The Iran army will stand down and surrender all missile armaments.

I hope the Iran crisis ends without further bloodshed.

Throughout the world, there is a growing schism between nations and religious groups. Additionally, people of different colors and economic status are also creating significant turmoil in nations on every continent.

There is a growing tendency in the US to protest every new action by the government. This has made it difficult for our leaders and lawmakers to effectively deal with new ideas and issues that arise. There is little incentive to effectively deal with new and old problems.

Actions by President Trump are immediately shot down by the radical left fueled by a strong desire to make the Trump administration seem ineffective. It is particularly disappointing that all Americans are not supporting the president in a time of war.

The most visible and dangerous confrontation is the one between the US and Iran. It is astonishing that many Americans are against the military actions directed by the president. The abhorrent behavior of Iran during the past half century is not enough for some people to support the dismantling of the world’s most despicable nation.

Iran has for years been a supporter of terrorist activities directed at Israel, the US and Sunni led countries domiciled near Iran. It is responsible for the deaths of thousands or people in their region and a growing number of Americans.

By financing proxies across the region, Iran has upset all people who are not Islamic and those that support Israel. Until now, there could be no peace in the region without bowing to the ayatollahs.

For the first time in almost 50 years a US president has had the courage to address the Iranian menace. Iranian politicians are evil and control their own people with a harsh code of conduct. It is likely that a great majority exists in Iran that would support a peaceful and productive Iran with new leaders.

Next, we should consider the growing animosity between conservatives and liberals in our country. I.C.E. is very much in the news. Trump has been adamant that the US should send illegal aliens back to their home countries. A countless number of aliens are in the US illegally. At first, he said illegals that are criminals should be the first target. Of course, this has now expanded to every illegal person.

In New Jersey, protesters and troublemakers are battling with I.C.E. about the occupancy of an illegal immigrant detention center and whether the living conditions are humane. As usual, conservatives and liberals have different perspectives about the living quarters.

Why wouldn’t every American want to deport criminals at the NJ facility and every other location across the country? They are known to be a dangerous group. If they were set free, they would hit the streets and make trouble? How do the liberals in Congress plan to deal with these people if they were released. It must be true that liberals are depending upon illegals to eventually become voters supporting Democratic candidates.

And finally, there are the very important problems relating to oil and shipment of it from the Near East to purchasers around the world. The Strait of Hormuz is a shipping passage that is used extensively by the Gulf States. Millions of people around the world are dependent upon oil from this area. For years there have been very few problems relating to rogue countries pirating in the Strait.

The Iranian government has decided to claim the Strait of Hormoz. This action has had an incredibly large impact on world economies and frankly millions of people. It was perfectly righteous for the US to stop Iran from causing delays which now are as long as several months.

There are some people who protest the aggressive actions of the US in bringing the Strait back to where it was. The US is likely going to attack Iranian facilities that line the Strait to encourage Iran to sign a peace treaty.

How can protestors object to actions by the US? Iran is weaponizing the oil industry which keeps transportation around the world moving.

Every day there are comments around the world suggesting that Trump has gone too far. I have documented three situations which totally give the US free rein to stop actions by Iran that affect the national security of most countries in the world.

President Trump has taken on a tremendous task in dealing with the rogue state of Iran. The US has unleashed the full power of its military, excluding its nuclear capabilities. The taxpayers in the US are funding the expenses that deal with military activities. And still, the Europeans and some Asian countries have declined to join the US.

It could be the fear of reprisals from immigrants living in these countries that makes these nations balk at joining the fray. The NATO alliance calls for the support of many of the countries that have refused to help.

US negotiators have made a minimal amount of progress in their meetings with Iran’s negotiators. After the elimination of two sets of potential leaders, it is no wonder little progress has been made.

It was hurtful to read Brett Stephen’s op-ed piece today. The point of the essay was one sided. Stephens says Israel is too aggressive, combative, competitive and so self-centered that it deserves the denunciation it receives from others.  Critics include Jews in Israel, Jews in the US, students and people around the world that had/have a dislike for Jews since 1500BCE. At the UN it is commonplace for the US and Israel to vote against every other member of the organization.

I hasten to remind Stephens that Jews have been around for nearly 4,000 years. During that time, they have been murdered, raped and pillaged by virtually every group throughout the world. It is telling  19that there are only 17 million Jews throughout the world while Islam worshippers have a population of about 1.7 billion. The reason for the discrepancy is that Jews are frequently targeted by people who are under duress. In 1938 there were 16.6 million Jews and by 1945 the number decreased to about 11 million as Germans and others directed their venom against Jews for bad economic conditions. The population of Jews today would have been significantly higher if there was no Holocaust. The point is that Anti-Semitic groups have killed off millions of Jews in the course of history. This is the reason why Jews are taught to look over the shoulder.

Jews have joined forces with the US to deal with combative Arabs, specifically Iran. Iran has funded terrorist attacks on Jews ever since the founding of Israel. Israel has taken the brunt of anti-Semitic fervor. With the US at its side, it can now respond to radicals who have assaulted and killed Israelis as part of a murderous spree and be close to shutting down Iran’s nuclear project. Be sure, Israel would be the first country to experience a nuclear attack by Iran. 

I wrote an essay about the Rolling Stones on June 13, 2024. I thought my readers would like to read this blog after such an enthusiastic response to my blog about meeting Mick Jagger..

Some things never get old. For me, attending Rolling Stones’ concerts is an experience I have enjoyed over and over for 55 years. I attended my first concert in 1969 where I witnessed Mick Jagger for the first time. I was blown away as Jagger strutted across the stage in his Omega Man outfit. I’ve lost count, but I believe I’ve gone to about 14 more concerts since my first.

The Stones personify rock and roll around the world. They are the recognized royalty of rock. Their performances have been lauded by fans for over 60 years. That’s a long time for anyone to listen to Gimme Shelter and Satisfaction over and over again.

What makes The Rolling Stones so special? For one thing their longevity is remarkable. No singer or band has entertained the masses for the length of time that the Stones have. No musicians have dared to perform so many different music sub-genres as the Stones- hard rock, country, country rock, ballads, soul, dancing tunes, etc. The band has captured the interest of billions of people worldwide.

Keep in mind, the critical band members are now 80 years old, and Charlie Watts is now gone. Jagger still dances, teases and sexualizes Stones’ music. Richards is the person who provides the tempo and leads the band. He is a maestro rhythm guitar player.

The diversity of the Stones has enabled them to create a truly iconic portfolio of songs that concert attendees have enjoyed for so long. The old songs are so good that new tracks created by Jagger and Richards have no chance of replacing them.

The Stones play their new music, and the audience patiently waits for Jagger to sing the old favorites, Honky Tonk Woman, Gimme Shelter, Start Me Up, She’s a Rainbow and Satisfaction.

I attended two Stones’ concerts in the past month and will attend another one in July. I’m distraught that the band may be reaching a point where they cannot or will not play any longer be it because of death, old age or just being tired of playing the same songs over and over. It brings a tear to my eye that this miraculous career of the Stones must end.

As I watched Jagger perform with so much energy, I sometimes wish the Stones could play forever. Stones’ music reflects my younger days; I’m a child of the 60s. Protest, war, social injustice, contempt for authority and all the things that young people want to stress in this day and age are issues I experienced 50+ years ago. Unfortunately, there are two problems with this observation. The issues of 2024 are not as striking as those of 1965 to 1975 (Vietnam- 50,000 dead soldiers and serious civil rights abuses), and the music industry does not have any leaders of the same stature as Mick Jagger who can still evoke the strong feelings reminiscent of 1970.

Gimme Shelter is a plea for peace and tranquility. The feelings that it stirs are horrifying. The plethora of females who have sung the song with Jagger reflect the trouble of the 60s and 70s. When Jagger’s partners take the stage during Gimme Shelter it’s a sad and wondrous moment.

I would like to be asked to eulogize Jagger when his time passes. Corresponding, I would like him to sing at my funeral, when I’m gone. Not sure which song I would select, probably Gimme Shelter or Satisfaction.

Long live the Stones. Long live their music. Long live rock and roll.

My wife and I attended the New York City Ballet Spring Gala last night. Mick Jagger, the superstar lead singer of the Rolling Stones, made a cameo appearance to kick off the affair.

The guests were guided into the second-floor area where the tables were already set for dinner. My wife said Mick was only a few tables away from us, and that I should go meet him.

I made a bee line to Mick and introduced myself. I tried to tell him that I’m his greatest fan and grabbed his hand to shake it. I told him to keep singing and dancing.

What a moment! I finally got a chance to meet my rock and roll idol. It was the thrill of my life.

A few years ago, I met Ronnie Wood at a hotel in NY and chatted with him. I’ll be looking to meet Keith Richards next.

I’m the guy with the gray hair.