The legend of Santa Claus, the jolly fat man who visits good little children on Christmas Eve, has its basis in reality.  Saint Nicholas lived in the fourth century AD in the town of Myra in Asia Minor, now known as Turkey.  As a child, he grew up impoverished; later in life, he inherited wealth […]

You never know when disaster will strike.  I learned this in July of 2005, when Hurricane Dennis hit my area.  The aftermath meant more than replacing furniture and major appliances; the aftermath demanded structural restoration. I hired a well-recommended firm to remove drywall and flooring down to the substrate and to dehumidify the affected areas […]

When I was a child, my dad had a habit of conscripting me into small conspiracies that always put a smile on my face.  The fact that he always left my sister and mother out of the equation made every secret rendezvous all the more thrilling. Before I’d entered the first grade, I’d developed a […]

In the late 1950’s, the phrase “subliminal advertising” was coined and popularized by market researcher James Vicary.  Vicary claimed that by quickly flashing messages on a screen at a Fort Lee, New Jersey movie theater, he had influenced people to purchase more food and beverage items from its concession area.  His assertion, later recanted, was […]

Given the stress of everyday life, it’s good to know that there’s a place you can go to kick back, relax, and have a good shot at making some money while doing so.  And, you don’t have to travel any farther than your own living room, or wherever you’ve set up your PC or Mac. […]

As we rapidly approach May 21, 2011, the word is spreading regarding Jesus’ imminent return and the commencement of Judgment Day – not via the mainstream media, but through the efforts of individuals who are heralding the date on their own time and at their own expense.  A case in point is Edwin Ramos, a […]

Credit cards are the horns of the proverbial dilemma, particularly during the holidays.  You are sorely tempted to cut up your credit cards because of their exorbitant interest fees.  At the same time, you need those cards to buy presents for everyone on your list.  Happily, there is a solution to this dilemma.  It can […]

It appears that Christmas has come a week early for Philadelphia Phillies’ fans, who this year will find under their collective tree a 6’3” lefthander who represents the most prized catch in this year’s free agent sweepstakes.  Pending physical examination, Cliff Lee has agreed to rejoin the Phillies. Lee, courted heavily by the New York […]

’tis the season to be jolly!   You’ll trim your tree, bake some cookies, wrap presents, and invite your loved ones over for a little holiday cheer.  Whether you’re serving mulled red wine or a crisp white, your stemware is an essential part of your holiday.  It scintillates and reflects the shining baubles on your Christmas […]

This is the time of year when broadcast television – both network and cable – besieges its viewers with sentimental Holiday movies.  During this season, many people – myself included – look forward to watching classic Christmas films, films like A Christmas Carole, Miracle on 34th Street, and It’s a Wonderful Life. All of these […]