Morning rituals, learned by watching, carried forward long after the reasons have changed. I’ve been thinking a lot about socks; not wearing them that is. Now that my coat and tie, 8 to 5 days are gone, I am looking to simplify?  Letting-go, however, of this article is easier said than done.   From the Latin  soccus , meaning a light, low heeled foot covering; socks have been around since the Stone age, 5000 BC. Animal skin and plants, or straw were first used as functionarie

A casual coffee conversation turns uneasy when a friend warns, “You better watch out—they’ll cancel you.” What begins as offhand advice opens into a deeper anxiety shared by writers, podcasters, and anyone who speaks publicly today. This essay reflects on free speech, platform power, and the quiet fear that saying the wrong thing—however thoughtfully—may carry unseen consequences.

A children’s book and an old Boy Scout compass become unlikely guides, reminding me that kindness, once given, has a way of pointing us home.

What are we fighting for?” Country Joe’s Vietnam-era protest anthem echoes into the present as the U.S. edges closer to another Middle East war. From Vietnam to Gaza to Iran, the justifications change but the logic remains—fear, honor, revenge, and national ego. An essay on how old wars never really end; they just find new names.

From the ruins of ancient Greece to the rubble of modern wars, the hubris–nemesis complex still haunts us. When pride hardens into certainty and power silences doubt, downfall follows. This essay explores how arrogance becomes pathology—and why humility remains humanity’s last defense against self-destruction.

Why does your brain cling to bad news? Why do worries feel so real—even when nothing's happening? This new post explains how our minds evolved to protect us, but sometimes go into overdrive. Understanding this is the first step toward peace.

David McCullough He squeezed through the line and said with a gentle smile, “Excuse me,” sterling blues looking up an inch or so at me. Well-coiffed white hair, thick arched eyebrows, wearing a blue sportscoat, his wife followed him, also well-coiffed and in a simple classic gray dress. The crowd, bending around the corner and down the block had come to see him talk. It was October 2015. He and his wife disappeared into the foyer of the small college town theater. In minutes

U.S. leaders are doubling down on secrecy after war plans were leaked via a Signal chat. A look at the fallout, denial, and blurred lines of power.

Trump’s fearless, unfiltered leadership was on full display in the Oval Office showdown with Zelensky. Bold or reckless? You decide.

Democrats struggle for substance and direction, contrasting classic liberalism and progressivism at a political crossroads.

Shakendra stuck her hand out to shake, all 5 foot 2 of her and said, “Mr. Gee, you been the best white teacher I ever had. Sorry I been so  bad this year. But… you been real.”  We both chuckled at the inside joke of being real. During the course of the long school year and in my class made up of adolescents, whenever I’d get too wordy, someone would suggest to, Keep it real.  Wally Gable, the class loudmouth, would say, “Mr. McGee there you go again talking college. We are ba

A mystery writer reflects on lost flags, a cryptic bird sighting, and the thrill of chasing clues—both in fiction and real life.

My friend Jimmy was fond of saying when asked about his week, “I’m still extracting a living out of the ground.”  Most days after my duty as a public school teacher, I’d meet up with him for coffee. He’d usually be waiting for me at our favorite watering hole, sorting through paperwork, his stack of business cards and cell phone nearby, always dressed to the nines in a sport coat, a fashionable tie and polished shoes.  He was portly, jet black hair and the heir to a family re

A wise mentor’s bicycle wheel analogy reveals how core values anchor us amid life’s chaos, offering profound insights and unexpected clarity

A mother can have a great impact on what makes a young man tick. Hannah Spenner, a mental health writer, says a mother influences a person's attachment style, their emotional regulation, empathy, cognitive development and social skills. There is the helicopter mom, the cool mom, the crunchy mom, the workout mom, the absent mom, the zen mom to name a few according to a google search about mom types. How a mom impacts a son might be different than how a mom impacts a daughter.

Mark Halperin, the creator of the political streaming show, ‘Two Way’ didn’t predict the outcome of this country’s 60th quadrennial presidential election, but posited that when the election is over, be warned, a mental health crisis could happen.   In the wee hours of November 5th the howlings and histrionics began, How can this be? Not again! November 6th, women, who were Harris supporters, began protesting on YouTube, swearing off sex. Leave your husband, they jeered if he

The essay examines anti-Trump sentiment, political division, and the psychological impact of Trump's bold, unconventional leadership style.

My Uncle Bill stretched back in his recliner, eyes closed, a Budda smile, headphones were slightly askew over his full head of gray hair. He was in his late 80’s. I knew he was listening to the Mets and that night they were struggling with the Cardinals.  I’d tuned in the game on the TV across from him. My Aunt  Alberta, his wife, my dad’s sister, was somewhere nearby in their Larchmont home, leaving us alone to watch sports and catch up on news.  I’d only visited him several

Donald J. Trump embodies a modern cowboy spirit with resilience and determination. Will America embrace this ethos in their leader again?

I was at a party decades ago with my then girlfriend to welcome home a friend upon his return to town.  I’d introduced the crowd to my date. Cordialities were exchanged by all. Beers and a pizza were consumed and afterwards the men sequestered themselves away from the women folk for talk.  “Boy!” one of the more bellicose boys of the group shouted about my date, “That… is way too nice for me. I couldn’t stand that!”  I said nothing. Was that a sling? Kind of. I was at a loss