Are there any home products out there that really work?
We all get swept up in advertising, buying things because they promise to be the best or at least better than everything else out there. Most of the time our…
Do you act your age? Stop, now.
An acquaintance recently turned 55 and was bemoaning his advanced age. Trying to cheer him up, I asked, “But how old do you feel?” I expected something like, “Oh, about…
What Are 7 Reasons Why I Hate Numbered Lists?
You see them everywhere. “6 Best Places to Eat in New York.” “8 Clever Gifts for Teens.” “18 Worst Cars Ever Made.” In print media. On the Web. Even on…
Can you do just one push-up?
Like millions of people everywhere, I struggle with a debilitating anchor that holds back my productivity and causes me no end of distress. As I’ve confirmed to myself and confided…
Should we take the “Christ” out of Christmas?
Ask any average American, at any time of the year, what the word “Christmas” brings to mind. An honest answer will include snow, Christmas trees, lights, gifts, Santa Claus, reindeer,…
What are idiosyncrasy credits and why should you collect them?
You’ve probably never heard of idiosyncrasy credits and have no clue how important they are. Sure, you can Google them and get a fairly thorough Wikipedia definition that will leave…
Are you using all your crayons? Every day?
In kindergarten I was given a box of eight crayons, large ones with one flat side to keep them from rolling off the table. I had little problem making the…
Is the Virtual Key to Success on your keychain?
I had the pleasure of tackling a fairly Major project recently, one involving a good amount of research, organization, the shuffling of papers and filling out of tedious forms. As…
Do you ever feel sorry for a coffee stirrer?
I was stirring my morning coffee, that deliberate motion that is part necessity and part subconscious effort to delay the start of another arduous day, if only by a few…
Remember the marketing geniuses who cleaned car windows in New York?
Every product or service worth shilling has a hook, a punch line to draw you in and separate you from your hard-earned scratch. Marketing is definitely the Word on Wall…
Trigger warning: Read this post and you’ll never play the lottery again.
We all have a bit of Walter Mitty in us. It’s human nature, irresistible. And nothing brings out the dreamer in us more than playing the lottery, be it scratch-off…
Did you just call me a dog owner?
The “D” word is not allowed in our home. We have two puppies, as the fur on our furniture attests, and they’ve witnessed their share of changing seasons: Archie is…
Subway Wars: Those Within and Those Without
A boy stands on an elevated subway platform in New York City. At the Castle Hill Avenue station in the Bronx, to be precise. He’s about 15 years old, young…
Are you still stuck on the overrated grammar of the 19th Century?
Three bottles of Châteaux Lafite-Rothschild 1869 were sold at auction by Sotheby’s in 2010 for a staggering $232,692 each. What completely boggles my mind is not the price—much more is…