Tom Purcell stories, Page 11

Prom season is upon us. We all know what that means: More American adults are doing their proms all over again. A New York Times headline about a growing number of adults says they are taking “A second shot to have the best night of their lives.” And carrying on...

I hope to be just like my mother one day. Now in her eighth decade, my ma has arrived at a coveted place: Her “filter” is pretty much gone, and she has no problem telling anyone what’s on her mind. “Ma, please don’t tell us any more details,” my five...

Boy, is our political discourse going to the dogs. The Washington Post reports Donald Trump is the first U.S. president in 100-plus years not to have a dog — though others, including Ronald Reagan, didn’t have dogs until their second terms. During a February rally, reports The Post, Trump said...

This Thursday is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, the one day every year when young people can learn — in person — about the work world of their parents or mentor. This year, more young people are showing interest in the trades — with good reason. According...

Boy, do I feel sorry for Lori Loughlin’s daughters. It’s been all over the news that Loughlin and her husband allegedly paid $500,000 in bribes to get their two girls into the University of Southern California. The fellow they allegedly bribed is said to have helped them falsely identify the...

Spring has finally arrived in all its glory. In Pittsburgh, the weather has warmed, the trees are blossoming and the birds are singing cheerfully. Sure, we Pittsburghers get plenty of rain this time of year, but as English poet Thomas Tusser reminds us, “Sweet April showers do spring May flowers.”...

With America’s national debt surpassing a frightening $22 trillion, it makes sense that fewer people are volunteering their hard-earned dough to help reduce it. Since 1961, the Bureau of the Public Debt has allowed Americans to “gift” money to the Treasury Department — on the condition that the money be...

I’m so unhappy with my cable TV and internet services that I’m going to do what I’ve long dreamed of doing: Cancel my subscription! I’m not alone in my unhappiness. Consumer Reports says cable providers “have consistently rated below average among services we cover.” A 2014 Consumer Reports survey of...

In these heated, divisive times, all of us sure could use more kindness. This coming Sunday, Feb. 17, offers us a reminder to embrace kindness. Feb. 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day 2019. It’s a day when humans around the world pay homage to the simple art of being...

My Uncle Jimmy would’ve hated the late-model SUV I rented for a recent trip to New Jersey. I sure did. You see, this modern SUV boasted “smart” technologies designed to keep me safe and happy. It made me miserable. Every time I switched lanes, the white stripes on the pavement...

Just as my annual diet has begun showing promise, my greatest obstacle to success is upon me: Girl Scout cookie season has begun. My problem with Girl Scout cookies is personal. But, like everything else in our culture, some people have moral or political problems with them. Some nutritionists say...

We’ll celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and legacy next week. In these angry and divisive times, we all could benefit by reminding ourselves of his words’ truth, civility and wisdom. Too many of us are consumed with hatred and anger, which have reared their ugly heads in our...

Is technology innovation doing us more harm than good? My family offers proof that it is. My parents recently got Amazon’s supposedly “intelligent” personal assistant, Alexa. Ask Alexa to play a song and she will (through her speaker). Ask her to turn the lights on or off, and, if they’re...