2015 went by like a speed bump. Is it that I just turned 57, so every year races by faster than the one before it? Is it the dense time suck of social media and the phone addiction I share with millions? The sense that I fell short of the goals I set for myself? Or that, once again, I’m at a crossroads; an odd stasis awaiting the next creative … [Read more...]
For The Love Of Pets
Recently, the Examiner reported the heartbreaking story of a ten year old pet lab that a family surrendered to a shelter. Thankfully, the press he got meant that a rescue organization took him for placement in a forever home. Many dogs will have anywhere from three to five owners in their lifetimes. Having a pet is a huge responsibility requiring … [Read more...]
The Lure of Comic-Con
Out of my element at Comic-Con 2015, where 250,000 movie fans, comic devotees and techno geeks gather, I had an expectation of being trampled in a sea of humanity. Instead, I found enthusiastic, welcoming people whose entry badges were like a symbol of solidarity. It’s like we were all part of some giant, secret club. Women and men of every age … [Read more...]
Working Too Hard May Be Hurting the Economy
The long-term dangers of over-demanding jobs aren't just to employees. Working too hard maybe hurting the employers too. Americans are working longer hours with fewer vacations and greater stress, but employees are not the only ones who may suffer from those habits. A study examined in the New York Times shows that companies are also hurting … [Read more...]
Some College Professors Among the Working Poor
It was horrifying to learn some college professors among the working poor -- approximately 25% of part-time college faculty receives one or more types of public assistance (Medicaid/CHIP, TANF, EITC, and/or SNAP) programs. I have long had a stereotyped view of affluent college professors living in relative comfort, but in a trend reflective of … [Read more...]
DARE WE SAY Cyber Conversations
Cyber conversations seem like a rarity these days. Despite our claims of staying connected on-line, too much of what we say on the internet is targeted at others. We command, demand and cajole. We make statements expressing our own views and calling out opposing views. All the while, we talk over, past and around each other. A conversation … [Read more...]