I wrote this short letter to the Daily News based on an email I sent to my sister-in-law, Jodi, in which I commented on the passing of singer Amy Winehouse. It was published on July 26, 2011.

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It is with great sadness that we witness a talent like Amy Winehouse lose her way and her life to the complexities of fame and constant attention. The grief is made more poignant when no one seems surprised.

I wrote a letter to Metro in response to an article about the Westboro Baptist Church, known for their anti-gay activities and penchant to picket. Metro published my response (thankfully unedited) on July 25, 2011.

Occasionally, I have had some responses to my letters printed the next day. In some cases (very rare) that letter results in yet another published response. It's like skipping stones across the letters page. The published letter is the first skip and each letter in response is a skip. The letter I had printed in Metro had four skips.

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It is no surprise that the Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting gay weddings on the first day of marriage equality in New York. Frankly, same-sex marriage is the kind of activity that should rile up small minded, sanctimonious and bigoted people. That is how we know that justice has prevailed.

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That letter was printed on a Monday. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, these letters ran in response:

I was very pleased that the Marriage Equality Act passed in New York State on June 24, 2011 and proud that my letters to newspapers and state senators supporting gay marriage were part of the actions of many others to achieve this civil rights victory. Still, it was not a complete victory, and I expressed that in a letter published in Metro on June 28, 2011:

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The passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York State is a significant civil rights triumph and merits jubilation and gratitude. However, true victory can only be claimed when the federal Defense of Marriage Act is eliminated and marriage equality is passed in every state. But thanks to the growing chorus of voices supporting the rights of gay Americans, it may not be long until we celebrate as a nation our commitment to equality.

"Rep. Anthony Weiner's humiliated wife was still wearing her wedding ring yesterday when she was spotted for the first time since her husband 'fessed to a sext scandal. Huma Abeldin appeared cheerful as she accompanied her boss and close friend, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on a diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi." - News writer Corky Siemaszko

This letter was published in Metro on June 15, 2011:

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I was surprised to hear that Anthony Weiner is afraid of what Hillary Clinton may be saying to his wife, Huma Abedin, as she and the Secretary of State travel in Africa. Having managed to uphold her dignity while supporting her husband, Clinton's refusal to let being the victim of a cheating spouse define her future contributed to Clinton becoming a senator and a member of the president's cabinet. If Sec. Clinton is offering any advice to Ms. Abedin, Rep. Weiner better hope she listens.