When I moved to my retirement center, I soon became aware that a pecking order existed between those who live on the lower floors of the building and those who live on the higher ones.  In fact, “What floor do you live on,” is the question most asked after an introduction.  High

Many years ago, when I headed a teachers’ union, I took on as my responsibilities not only the handling of members’ grievances but, where I could, I addressed their well-being, too. On one occasion I made grocery deliveries once a week to a single woman who was confined to her bed

Recently, a reader shared an article with me by Gail Collins from the New York Times. (Click)  Collins was ranting about the plight of working women who are pregnant.  In one case, a female employee working at Wal-Mart’s was fired for carrying a bottle of water on the job in an ef

Recently, I arranged for a taxi to take me to an evening event.  Having called early in the morning, I didn’t anticipate any problems, but when the time set for my pick up passed and no cab was in sight, I dialed the company’s number to see what had gone wrong.  The reply I rece

“Fastidious distaste for the roughness and meanness of political life may work in a seminar room, but it’s fatal on the campaign trail.” So writes Michael Ignatieff who teaches at the Harvard Kennedy School and had a brief career as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. (�

One of my readers sent me a blog written by Charlotte Iserbyt, who served in the U. S. Department of Education during the Reagan Administration.  Her remarks offered strong words about Charter Schools and H-1B visas which allow these schools to hire teachers from abroad while qualifi

Despite the increased number of women on the Supreme Court and one black and one Latin jurist, there is a remarkable sameness in the backgrounds of the members.  So writes, Dahlia Lithwick in a recent essay. (“Nine of a Kind,” by Dahlia Ltihwick, New Republic, Nov/Dec 2014, pgs.

Some people may not know that Margaret Sanger, champion of a woman’s right to choose in the early 20th century, was opposed to abortion.  She felt the procedure too much endangered the life of the woman so she promoted contraception instead. (“Women Before Fetuses” by Rebecca T

I wonder how long I can go on being amazed at the way our wealthiest citizens collect paintings without regard for whether or not the work and its price have any direct relationship.   How valuable can a canvass covered with paint be?  All things being relative, I admit an object�