A few weeks ago, August 26 to be exact, we dropped my oldest son off at college—a milestone perhaps as momentous for parents as it is for the ascending freshman, an indelible mark in the passage of time, a step closer to retirement, hair loss, grandchildren, senior living communities.
Read MoreAs an aspiring author, I made a resolution at the start of this year to read more. In particular, I wanted to read more fiction, having overdosed in the non-fiction political aisle over the previous four years. Emboldened by my additional free time during COVID, I set a fairly ambitious goal I call “52 in 21”—to read 52 novels, one per week, in 2021.
Read MoreWe decided to spend our summer vacation this year someplace we don’t normal visit as residents of California. Still smarting from our mostly nonrefundable vacation that was scuttled by COVID last summer, we opted for a destination we thought had a lower likelihood of getting shutdown if cases picked up again: Florida and Georgia.
Read MoreOne of the great advantages of technology is that it moves faster than regulatory bodies, or most average human beings for that matter, can keep up. That Wild West window of time, when there is rapid growth and, essentially, no rules, is when fortunes are made—and when bad actors can exploit the chaos for their personal gain.
Read MoreAs the economy bounces back from COVID, supply is having a difficult time keeping up with surging demand. Shortages are rampant in every sector. These dynamics are making another shortage apparent: a shortage of civility.
Read MoreThe 4th of July has always been among my favorite holidays. Uniquely American in every respect, Independence Day not only commemorates the birth of our nation but celebrates the heart of summer with family, friends, and fireworks (except in drought-stricken California, of course).
Read MoreAs an entrepreneur, I look for market opportunities. As an author, I’ve often heard the advice to “write what you know.” So, naturally, when I decided to write my first novel, I chose contemporary Silicon Valley.
Read MoreJune is commencement season. From grade schools to graduate programs, these rites of passage commemorate achievement and mark the start of new beginnings. Careers to embark on. This year, coming out of the pandemic, the concept of commencement seems to hold broader appeal.
Read MoreThe COVID pandemic that has taken over half a million American lives overshadowed what had previously been the largest public health crisis in our country. An epidemic of self-inflicted deaths.
Read MoreI and everyone in my extended family who is eligible are now vaccinated from COVID-19. Unfortunately, that statement can't be made for about half the country.
Read MoreThe Oscars last night commemorated Hollywood's annual celebration of itself. Over the last year, the entertainment industry has faced an implosion of its traditional distribution model, an 80% plunge in box office revenue to its lowest level in 40 years, and persistent criticism for its lack of diversity. The industry's apparent answer to these woes? STREAMING!!
Read MoreWith the election over and Donald Trump out of office, one might have hoped for a more civil, conciliatory tone in the media. So much for that idea.
Read MoreUnlike September 11 or Pearl Harbor, the date the COVID-19 pandemic started is imprecise. For me, the “start” of the pandemic was March 17, 2020, one year ago today.
Read MoreThe high-end art world has officially taken notice of Beeple. With the sale this week of one of his works at Christie’s for $69 million, the digital artist, whose real name is Mike Winkelmann of my home state of Wisconsin, earned the third-highest auction price ever paid for a living artist's work. Furthermore, it was accomplished using a relatively new technology called “non-fungible tokens,” or NFTs.
Read MoreThe unfolding disaster in Texas over recent weeks highlights a topic that has been ignored for too long: America needs a major infrastructure upgrade.
Read MoreOn December 22, 2001, a radicalized British citizen named Richard Reid boarded American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami wearing a shoe packed with explosives. Twenty years later, removing shoes to get through airport security remains a standard procedure.
Read MoreThe Reddit-fueled hype cycle around GameStop (GME) has moved at such a rapid pace that it’s difficult to write about the phenomenon. Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last week, you know the basics of what happened.
Read MoreAmong the traditions of our uniquely American peaceful transition of power is the introspection of the outgoing political party. Just as Democrats wrung their hands four years ago and analyzed why they lost and how they could win again, Republicans are doing the same after Joe Biden’s inauguration today — even more so after the events of January 6.
Read MoreLast week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol laid bare the root of our political dysfunction that has escalated to unimaginable heights: we have a disinformation problem. From the most peaceful protestors to the most aggressively violent rioters, everyone who turned out in support of Trump on January 6 shares one thing in common -- they believe they are right.
Read MoreThe last five years have been a continuous downward spiral in our politics and civility. Every step of the way, as Trump and his supporters have pushed an increasingly extreme, vindictive and paranoid alternate reality, every Republican has had to decide: what is the line I will not cross?
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