Almost every time we go to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, we visit Capri. And every time we make that voyage, we regret it.
Job openings are everywhere. One cannot drive down a street without seeing “Help Wanted” signs in front of most businesses. Anyone who goes to a bar, restaurant or other commercial establishment is likely to encounter slow, short-staffed service.
Above our heads, an epic chase ensues. According to Greek mythology, Laelaps was a dog without an equal. It always caught whatever it hunted and was among the most reliable beings on Earth. The wily Teumessian fox, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. Sly and conniving, it caused all sorts of mischief on Earth and Olympus and it seemed that nothing could catch it. Zeus, finally fed up with the fox’s antics, called on Laelaps to put an end to the chicanery. The hunt began in earnest with Laelaps nipping at the fox’s heels immediately; but the fox continued to stay out of his reach. The chase continued for years until Zeus realized that they both would be doomed for eternity to be hunter and hunted, so he turned them both to stone and placed them in the sky as the constellations known as Canis Major (Laelaps) and Canis Minor (the Teumessian fox). The chase continues through today, as Canis Minor rises in the winter sky approximately one hour before Canis Major each night.
So, as the title says, I wanna know what YOU are watching on TV. Why? Because while I work, I always have a show or movie playing in the background. It’s mostly for white noise, I suppose, but sometimes a movie or show will catch my eye enough that I will watch it with full attention.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy the summer sun? What I like best is spending time at my favorite cottage on the shores of Lake Huron in Oscoda. It was a family tradition for many years, starting when my kids were little. We would spend an entire week relaxing on the white, sandy beach, building sand castles, swimming in the lake and watching the campfire glow late into the night – a much needed break from our busy lifestyle.
A few weeks ago, I read in an article online that Italy would be reopening to American travelers. No surprise – there were hoops to jump through, none insurmountable as far as I could tell. A COVID test to take pre-flight, the now ubiquitous mask that must be worn at-all-times, and of course the vaccine and proof thereof, which we had crushed enthusiastically into our passport wallets the very moment we received our second doses.
Nutritious, colorful and satisfying, a grain salad is one of the easiest make-ahead summer meals. Boiling a batch of quinoa, farro or millet in the morning when the weather is cooler and then adding fresh or roasted vegetables, herbs and a salad dressing at dinner time is easy to fit into a busy schedule. Even the finished salad is versatile – it can be added to a leafy-green salad, wrapped in a tortilla or lettuce cups for a quick and delicious meal.
The iconic 1969 hit by Crosby, Stills & Nash could never be more applicable than it is today. The song’s lyrics can be especially applied when speaking of finances – passing on the lessons you’ve learned and teaching kids to make the right decisions that will allow them to achieve their dreams. July 7 is designated as national “Take Your Daughter for a Walk” Day. While I think that the “national day of” thing has started to get a little out of hand, this one strikes straight to my heart as the father of two daughters (Jaren and Jade) who are 17 and 15 years old. This week, the elder is moving to Nashville to chase her dream of being a Christian music artist!
The idea behind Keynesian economics, as purported by the late British economist John Maynard Keynes and his followers, is that when the economy is in a recession, taxes should be cut and/or government spending increased to stimulate the economy and end the recession. Tax cuts give people more money to spend. Government spending creates jobs in the sectors of the economy that receives this spending. All this spending generates further income as the money is spent and re-spent. The stimulus thus ripples through the economy creating jobs, income, and promoting economic recovery. At least, that is the idea. Reality turns out to be quite a bit different.
When I was about 27 years old, I decided I wanted to write a book.
When my two sisters and I were kids, our parents took a trip to Europe for a few weeks one summer. We could not go with them and were farmed out – literally – to the biggest farm I have ever seen. It belonged to the family of my older sister’s good friend.
In the beginning of 1951, GM’s Chevrolet arm was floundering. Sales were dropping and consumers were losing interest. At the suggestion of a friend, GM Design Chief Harley Earl changed his focus. Sports cars were all the rage in Europe and Earl wanted a part of the excitement. Later that year, he assigned a small team of GM designers to work on a Eurostyle two-seater, bringing in a Jaguar XK120 for study. Dubbed “Project Opel,” the team worked on a multitude of designs.
