When I was a kid, I used to have a puzzle of the United States.  I learned so much from repeatedly solving that puzzle, that when I saw a similar product in a store, I bought it for my children. So many kids have no idea where on the planet they live.  If you asked my six-year old where he lives, he’d tell you, “In a house.”  Well… that narrows it down considerably. I always ... [full story]

Valentine's day 2008 is history. The red roses have wilted. The last heart-shaped nougat is now firmly affixed to my thighs. And here I am - just discovering a timely e-press release from those hopeless romantics at InterviewStream.com. "Valentines Dating Tips Help You Land a Dream Job" is the subject line of this massive missive from Conshohocken, Penn., the bucolic hamlet where Shawn Graham, author of "Courting Your Career," and Randy Bitting, InterviewStream honcho, have ... [full story]

When can you retire? Where should you retire? Can you afford to retire? What will you do after you retire? Have you noticed, friend, that everyone is talking about the R-word - retirement? Frankly, I retired about 30 years ago. I kept working, of course, but I totally gave up any idea of getting ahead at my company or advancing my career. As long as I could do nothing and get paid for it, I ... [full story]

The Law of Gravity ought to be repealed.  Yeah, I know it keeps things attached to solid ground so we’re not all flailing fruitlessly in space, but other than that, gravity serves no useful purpose at all. Other than a bag of Oreos, gravity is a woman’s worst enemy.  Around middle age, everything starts sagging like a slow-moving mudslide.  We know that eventually our breasts are going to blend into our stomachs and no one will ... [full story]

Here's a radical idea - instead of marinating your brain in the same old miserable job and complaining constantly, why not recycle your employer and start enjoying your work instead of hating it? I know. It's tough to make a change when you're really good at something. Let's face it; you are really good at whining. In fact, if whining and moaning were Olympic events, you'd win a gold metal (but you wouldn't enjoy it, ... [full story]

My little boy is growing up.  It’s sad and exciting all at the same time. Before he was born, so many years ago, I bought a baby blanket at a garage sale.  It was brand new; still in the packaging.  It was made of white flannel with blue satin trim around the sides and a little blue teddy bear embroidered on one corner.  I didn’t know, at the time, how much this little garage sale purchase ... [full story]

Are you a shy guy or a bashful babe? At parties, would you rather talk to another guest or network with a potted plant? Do you cringe at confrontation and run away from run-ins? If so, you may be an introvert. You may also be wondering how and where in the world you can get work that works with your particular personality profile. Well, it's a happy day for introverts. The extroverts at JIST Publishing ... [full story]

I looked at myself in the mirror.  Passable, I thought, but I wish I looked a little more…something.  Maybe I should change my clothes again.  No, this is crazy.  I’ve already changed three times. Am I wearing too much make-up?  Not enough?  Heels or flats?  Do I look intelligent?  After all, aren’t my brains more important that my looks?  No, I don’t have a date.  I have a parent-teacher conference today.  Why am I so ... [full story]

Have you watched the hot new TV show, "Gossip Girl"? I haven't watched it, but I am living it. Ask me what the most important product our company produces and I will tell you flat-out - it's gossip. Our services are slack and our merchandise is morbid, but when it comes to turning out high-grade, A-plus No. 1 gossip, no one can touch us. If you also work for a company that is the Tiffany's ... [full story]

You might say that I like to err on the side of caution.  Sometimes I might even be too cautious.  This comes from being the recipient of so many “I told you so!”s in my youth. My personal maxim since the time of so many “I told you so!”s has been asking myself, “What if I’m wrong?” If the answer to that question isn’t too severe then I know that I can go ahead with ... [full story]

In the not-so-good old days, I lived in the mirror. Couldn’t go ten minutes without a peek. You’d think I was afraid of disappearing. It wasn’t vanity so much as the impulse to fix myself. Some people call it retarded.  Sunup to sundown, I probed myself for flaws. Weeks were lost to the idea that one eye was bigger than the other. My shrink, Dr. Dan, called it “body dysmorphic disorder”—seeing a monster in the ... [full story]

You're not going to believe this, but there are people who actually look forward to the day when they won't have to go to work. That's right. Instead of cracking at the wake of dawn; brushing your teeth and flossing the dog; popping down a Pop-Tart and starting the agonizing commute to the workplace for a day of tedium and torture, these whackos actually imagine themselves spending Monday through Friday riding racing bikes, carving duck ... [full story]

What's the worst part of getting sick? It isn't the aches from the fever, or the pains of a needle prick, or the nausea from the anesthesia, or the news that surgeon has left the keys to his Bentley Continental GT in your rib cage. No, the worst part of getting sick is dealing with your health insurance company. As Michael Moore points out in "Sicko," even people who have health insurance are not immune ... [full story]