Archives in Category: Personal Pleas

Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

Scary

Posted on February 23, 2024

Years ago, before the infamous Wall came down, I was invited to visit Berlin. It didn’t take long to decline the invitation, as I was concerned about my safety. I had a vision of being in a café with a

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One Day

Posted on February 14, 2018

Today Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day coincided. It’s the first time in over seventy years. The New York Times noted this with great hyperbole, as if you must celebrate one event by ignoring the other. I disagree. Why not celebrate

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Dorping Out

Posted on November 22, 2016

No that’s not a typo; I’m inventing a new word that means “taking a break to ponder what to do next.”

Three weeks ago the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years. It was euphoric. Two weeks

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Slugdom Persists

Posted on October 1, 2016

On September 20, I wrote about becoming an athletic slug. No, it’s not an oxymoron; what I mean was that my former interest is staying fit had all but abandoned me and I was giving up exercise.

But now it’s

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Please Reimburse

Posted on March 7, 2016

Dear Governor Snyder: Enclosed is a bill for $130.54, which is the cost of a new tire for my car. I’m submitting it as a credit on my state income tax, since a giant Michigan pothole is responsible for ruining the

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Hate Has No Business Here

Posted on December 23, 2015

On this eve of Christmas Eve, I read a story about a couple of small business owners in Minnesota who are standing up against the current spike in xenophobia. Their names are Elana and Danny Schwartzman, and they own the

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Pre

Posted on September 23, 2015

I’m clear that the prefix ‘pre’ indicates something that goes before something else.  For instance, a pre-nup is an agreement between two parties that is signed before the nuptial day. Pre-meditated murder is one that is planned in advance. Pre-existing

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Bad Idea

Posted on August 1, 2011

“You don’t have to sign; it’s under twenty-five dollars,” the supermarket check-out clerk said chirpily. It was as if she were waving me through a border check-point because I looked honest, so she didn’t ask for my passport. Believe me,

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Uncle Sam Wants Your Gift Cards

Posted on July 23, 2010

You can’t help knowing that many states in this country are verging on bankruptcy and are searching relentlessly for creative ways to offset their red ink. What you might not know is that there are rules on many states’ books

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Y2K Meets DST 2007

Posted on February 17, 2007

Remember the hue and cry over New Year’s Eve 1999, when government and corporations went to great lengths to make sure their computers could make the switch from 1999 to 2000 without crashing and burning? People everywhere spent hours and

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