Trying to find the real effectiveness of unions. — There’s perhaps no one issue I’ve waffled on throughout the years than unions. On one hand, I grew up in a union household. My father was not just a member, either — he served in leadership positions in both the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association (the crime shows’ perennial favorite “PBA”) and…

How deep does the rabbit hole go? — There’s a good chance that the fastest-growing career field over the next twenty years will be cult deprogramming. On a percentage basis, at least. We are, after all, living in a conspiracy-laden society. In a sense, we always have been. But now, those theories are getting louder. They’re starting to…

That cracking sound is piggy banks shattering all across the nation. — There was once a show called The Suite Life of Zach & Cody. I never watched it, but I vaguely remember advertisements for it. It appeared to be about two kids having a fantastic time and getting up to all sorts of sitcom-type shenanigans while living in a hotel. I…

Our system is working exactly as it should in some ways while falling far short in others. — When I was just starting my career, I once overheard a senior director laying into my boss a bit while we were all outside smoking. I can’t remember all of the conversation, but I do remember one line: “You’re not happy with the way the place is running? …

Looking back on one of the overlooked gems of the “Platinum Age” of Television. — “Good cop and bad cop have left for the day. I’m a different kind of cop.” — Vic Mackey, The Shield And with that, we’re off. Ironically, the above line — spoken in the pilot by our main character — is, in my opinion, one of the worst of the…

Time to embrace individuality, at last. — I worked with a lot of miserable people. Not miserable in the sense that they were a net negative for society or had some fundamental character flaws, or anything. I just mean miserable in the sense that their perpetual state was one of, well, misery. They were, like many others…

Statistics and figures can be useful. So are the stories inside of them. — Cable news is a nightmare. I found myself reminded of this recently when I checked into a hotel that (gasp) lacked the option for me to sign into my various subscription services in the room. …

With costs still at a crisis point in many developed nations, solutions still seem far away. — My favorite apartment ever belonged to a friend of mine in Brooklyn. It had to have been — at most — 550 square feet, but it was decorated in such a clean, modern way and laid out perfectly. …

For now. — AI will change our world. On that, we seem to have a general agreement. We diverge when it comes to the threat AI poses to the structure of our society, work lives, and other items. Some say that the technology is bland, lifeless, and limited in application. Others say that…