Archive for December 2020

I received criticism from a reader in response to my recent humor column in Seasons magazine. You can read my column here if you’d like. Page 81. Though the critic acknowledged that the column was written with a tongue-in-cheek sensibility, they still thought I was “annoying” and “elitist.” I don’t agree. I can certainly be…

In the event you could use a little schadenfreude joy on this Sunday before Christmas, I offer you this gem: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo invited more than 900 people to the State Department for a holiday party last week. A party of this size not only ignored CDC guidelines, but it also violated current…

Critic Kyle Smith, doubling down on the recent, ridiculous criticism of Dr. Jill Biden for using the title of doctor in her name, wrote in the National Review: “As for Biden, she has spent a lot of time teaching remedial English to slow learners in community colleges. Which is like being a rock musician who’s…

With two weeks left in 2020, it’s time for me to plan my goals for 2021. It’s a process I’ve been doing since 2010, and though I’ve only managed to complete about 55% of my goals over the last decade, the selection of goals, monthly evaluation of progress, and public accountability has contributed significantly to…

I’m constantly counseling people to say yes to every opportunity. Shut no doors. Be open to doing the things that scare you most. The hard thing and the right thing are often the same thing. All of this is true. Except when it comes to iron crotch kung fu. Iron crotch kung fu is a…

Here’s a crazy thing that once happened to me: A person who I once worked with told a story about himself except the story wasn’t about himself. It was a story about me. It was my story. It was something that had happened to me. It was a story that I had once told him.…

Elysha Dicks is a big fan of the high-five. At various points in the past, she has claimed to be attempting to “bring back the high-five.” Not surprising, her efforts have been severely curtailed by the pandemic. When handshaking, fist bumping, and even elbow tapping genuinely frighten people, the possibility of slapping palms with someone…

Joseph Epstein argued in the Wall Street Journal that Jill Biden should not refer to herself as Dr. Jill Biden when she becomes First Lady. As crazy as it may seem, these actual words comprised the first paragraph of his argument: “Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo: a bit of advice on what may seem like a…

Dear McDonalds: I love your Egg McMuffins, and I’m thrilled about the return of the McRib. Also, when I needed a job after being kicked out of my home following high school, you were there for me. When I needed a job that allowed me to attend college full time while still working full time,…

Thursday night was the first night of Hanukkah. The menorah was lit. The first night of gifts had been opened. The children were vibrating with excitement. Vibrating too much, perhaps. While working together to open a gift, Clara cut Charlie’s thumb open with scissors. A deep, bloody cut that had him gushing blood and screaming.…