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A stylish solution

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes. And, what can be more necessary than a haircut to make you feel well-groomed and presentable during times like the COVID lockdown. And, voila, from the inventive mind of barber Edwin Ramirez in Union City, NJ comes what may be a pretty inventive solution to the dilemma of how to get your hair cut and styled at a socially safe distance, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. His contraption may just fit the bill. It’s a portable Plexiglas shield that lets stylists get up close and personal so they can safely coif away by putting their combs and scissors through generous portals. Ramirez has faith in his patent-pending invention; he’s putting together 30 of his shields a day so he can supply salons far and wide.

Time Machine

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Joe King Presents Graduate Recital At Ft. Worth

Creating a life: Challenge to the Class of 2020

I don’t believe all the confident bluster for one minute. Beneath it all, a primal truth remains: Graduation from high school then leaving the family home is one of the scariest times in a young person’s life. I rank it right up there with being abandoned on the first day of school at age five or six, knowing you were going to have to fight a neighborhood bully who was going to cream you (boys), or being stood up for a prom date (girls). Actually, it’s scarier than all of those combined.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

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This week I do not have a clever opening. America is in pain and especially our black brothers and sisters. This is an understandable pain, especially when seen through the lens of American history. Their pain goes back over the past four centuries, but if we focus on just the last one, maybe we can learn a lesson from the past and also try to understand the reaction.

Paycheck protection program

The coronavirus pandemic has laid much of the American economy on its back—but a bright spot has made the disaster less crippling than it might have been. That is the Paycheck Protection Program, which funneled money back to workers through small businesses.

“A Little Awkward”

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It’s harder to keep in touch with people these days. Things are opening up but it’s going to be a while before we hop in a car and visit people the way we used to.

Social Security Matters

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Dear Rusty: I am 64 years old and would like advice on how to move forward to apply for Social Security now instead of waiting until I am the “magic” age of 66.5 years. Signed: Ready for Retirement

Time Machine

60 years ago, March 21, 1960

Memorial Day...in the words of The American Legion

Every crisis has new heroes. During the 9/11 attacks, they were the first responders running into burning and crumbling buildings as others ran out. Now, during the Coronavirus pandemic, the most visible heroes are the health care professionals, who are saving others and risking their own lives while doing so.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING - current events through a historical lens

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Today, it seems that the worst possible label you can give a political leader is “fascist.” Traditionally this is a term reserved for far right leaders and has been applied by many towards President Trump. Yet recently I have seen it used against liberal governors of states who are keeping quarantines in place. Calling a liberal a fascist seems odd, but, historically speaking, it may be understandable.