A veritable tinge of excitement runs through us when we hear the words “and the Oscar goes to . . .” or when we await the results of a close Olympic track event. Yet we need to take a closer look at these “competitions” and question whether they make any sense. In...
1979 was a heady year for those with an interest in the People’s Republic of China. After decades of enmity, including as combatants in the Korean War, the United States and the People’s Republic of China opened diplomatic relations in that year. I remembered...
I am surprised from time to time by how many people I encounter who are not in a romantic relationship. I am not talking just about marriage, but rather am referring to a romantic relationship of any sort. (The Pew Research Center reports that some 31% of American...
America is quick to criticize other nations whose political systems do not live up to what it considers to be democratic standards. Of course, countries should take to task other countries that depart from democratic norms. But if it is to have any credibility on the...
The sitcom Friends, which aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004, was and remains a cultural phenomenon. Over the course of ten seasons, it took us through the lives of six young New Yorkers, garnering huge audiences during its initial run, as well as its continuing...
I have a problem, though not one that most people would consider as such. No matter how much I try, I cannot seem to look away from the British royal family. This is a bit puzzling to me, because wealth and power do not really impress me much, certainly not in the...