This winter, Americans will file their Income Tax returns and eagerly await their refunds. According to the IRS, the average tax refund is $3,120. Rather than do something “fun” with that money, Americans should use their refunds to save or pay down debt. The annual personal savings rate in the U.S. is only 6%, which
If you’ve ever watched film footage of a Beatles concert – and, once the Fab Four began to hurtle toward legend, there weren’t really all that many – you’ll notice that what you see and hear are out of sync. There are four young men mouthing words and playing on stage, but why is it
I have been to California a few times – San Francisco, Napa, lots of wine country gallivanting and Bay Area exploring. But visiting Los Angeles always seemed, to be honest, a little daunting. We’ve all seen the pictures of celebrities around L.A. and on the red carpet, the images of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive.
Roughly two months have passed since the election, and things appear to have calmed down. The chance for an overturn of the voting results looks very minimal with the inauguration of President Elect Trump around the corner. Agree with him or not, the stock market has made a move higher, as assumed economic growth policies
Something I know how to do very well is spin my wheels. I’ve analyzed it every-which-way, and I think I finally figured out why I can get stuck or fail at a goal, or a New Year’s Resolution, for that matter. The revelation occurred after our most recent pre-Christmas snow storm. I was trying to
At this time of year, I often hear people say, “I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions because I never know what resolutions to make.” People, you can’t be serious! I encounter many of you each and every day, and let me assure you that you are, as columnist Dave Barry once wrote, “huge, teeming flaw
Goodbye, 2016. Hello, 2017! It’s a brand new year, and I’ve already made up my mind: this is going to be a very good one. I made a few resolutions; but before I do that, I always take some time to reflect on what happened in my life in the last year. I then decide
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Martin Luther King Day January 16
Dear Santa, It’s been two years, and a lot of the lead pipes are still here. Could you please give a dictionary to our state and national elected officials with the word “crisis” highlighted in yellow? We’re starting to think they don’t quite get it. Sincerely, The People of Flint Dear Santa, Can
I’ve have spent most of my life writing about movies – and much of that time, lately, writing books about musical movies – so you’ll have to forgive my excitement for La La Land. I’m referring to the film coming to commercial theaters this month under the direction of Damien Chazelle – maker of the
We’re all familiar with the American version of Santa Claus – a fat, jolly old man in a red suit, who delivers presents to good children and coal to naughty children all around the world in one night. Realistically, Santa can’t get around the world in one night, even with the help of Rudolph and
With the election recently behind us, there are those still saddened by the results and those who are elated. I am hoping we’ll all find common ground as Americans and move forward together. Like it or not, we now have what I consider a Quasi Republican President, a Republican-controlled Senate, and a Republican-controlled House of
