For those of us who avoid small talk like the plague, new research offers good cause to at least try opening our minds and mouths. Recent studies highlighted in “Science of Us,” the online compiler of such things, suggests that…
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What do retirement planners and fortune tellers have in common? One takes advantage of naïve or desperate clients and the other pretends not to. Truth is, the most sophisticated retirement calculations, algorithms, simulations, scenario plans, even crystal balls cannot determine…
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Today’s essay is short. But it serves an important purpose. It keeps alive my streak of never missing a deadline. Which tees up this humblebrag: During 40 years of publishing, editing, writing and designing for two dozen print publications and…
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The cumulative effect of the recent rash of horrific mass murders – in Paris, San Bernardino, Orlando, Dallas, Turkey, Nice, Japan, among too many other places -- appears to be causing one of two reactions with the public. We are…
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Filmmakers are incredibly creative, except for when it comes to bad remakes, lazy sequels and incredulous clichés. Regarding the latter, here are a dozen lame things we see way too often. A character enters or exits a house and doesn’t…
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MAKE BELIEVE NEWS: BROOKLYN -- A 76-year-old Brooklyn native ignited a cultural firestorm by proclaiming, “I am not old.” The self-referential comment by Vernon Bakersfeld, made at a family gathering this past weekend, was recorded by several relatives whose Facebook…
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MAKE BELIEVE NEWS: PITTSBURGH, PA – What is being called the greatest discovery of its kind may provide unique insight into an age-old archeological mystery that has forever frustrated humankind. The historic find uncovered a trove of little items dropped…
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MAKE BELIEVE NEWS: FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Dogs and cats do it, birds and fish, certainly humans do it: travel extraordinary distances persevering seemingly insurmountable obstacles of pain, time and distance to reunite with a loved one. But a sock?…
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MAKE BELIEVE NEWS: BUFFALO, NY – News of the construction anomaly spread faster than a roofer with his nail gun. The Buffalo resident’s bathroom remodel was satisfactorily completed on schedule and on budget. The contractor and homeowner were delighted and…
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MAKE BELIEVE NEWS: NEW YORK CITY – In news certain to knock the publishing world off its celebrated axis, Kim Kardashian West’s Selfish has been bumped from atop The New York Times bestsellers list for “Celebrity Vanity Projects.” Leslie Stahl’s…
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