New year goal setting is a common idea. Taking steps necessary to achieve that goal is a lot less common. This writing is intended for at least these three delightful pairs I met on a recent trip: A friend and his grandson, a niece and her daughter, and a nephew…

Food insecurity is a worldwide problem. Simultaneously, food waste is also a worldwide problem by individuals and businesses. The amount and the extent of food waste are difficult to comprehend. According to one estimate, about 10% of greenhouse emissions may result from methane emission from food that is produced but…

Holidays bring sweetness to some and sadness to others. The sadness may be personal as in my writing from last year or in the collective as in what Thanksgiving means for Native Americans. The focus of this writing is on the sweet. I start with the sweet smell of flowers…

Elsewhere you can read my views on the practice of justifying lower wages for essential workers by making tips an essential part of their livelihood. The capricious nature of tips is the topic today. I tipped a sum total of $20 — all with a face mask — on my…

Fall is here. Conditions are perfect for running. Apparently, many of you enjoyed my writing about buying running shoes about a year ago. I loved the pair I bought. So, I bought more of them this year. I was shocked to learn at the checkout counter that the delightful and…

In the elections on November 8, 2022, about a third of the 100 US Senate seats and all 435 seats in the US Congress will be decided. The way American political institutions — Democratic and Republican parties — have protected their interests ensures that most of the races will not…

Serena Williams has announced that she will be evolving into a new phase of her life after playing the 2022 US Open, likely her last. I will be rooting for her like most everyone. …

What connection could that possibly have? So read on. One year ago America left Afghanistan, leaving it in shambles after nearly 20 years of occupation. There was no graceful way out for Americans, no matter what the prevailing wisdom was. Worse, there is no way out for Afghan women from…

The torrid summer is reminding us of the perils of the slow but steady climate change on the planet. Cities across the world are being engulfed by a heat wave, and records are getting set in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. It is no longer someone else’s problem. While…