Related links
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Jim Shea's blog
Even Nursery-School Grads Need a Good Commencement Speech
May 18, 2013
The-shining-beacon-on-the-hill season, also known as commencement, is upon us again, and this year I thought I would share my sage advice with graduates of all educational levels.
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Are More 150-Year-Olds On The Horizon?
May 15, 2013
When it comes to life expectancy, baby boomers sentiments might best be captured in the song lyric from Fame: "I want to live forever."
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Dining With Mayor Champagne Wishes And Caviar Dreams
May 12, 2013
So, on New Year's Eve Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and spouse, his chief of staff Jared Kupiec and guest, two city cops, Chief Operating Officer Saundra Kee Borges, and an eighth person (Jay Gatsby, perhaps?) ran up a $700-plus tab at Max Downtown, which was partially charged to a city credit card.
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When You Have A Good Hair Day, Ride That Lucky Streak
May 11, 2013
I almost had a good hair day last week.
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Boomers Should Exercise To Handle Driving Tasks? Really?
May 8, 2013
You know that the times they are a changing, and not for the good, when you start seeing articles advising baby boomers on what exercises they should be doing so they can drive.
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Malloy Pays Price For D.C. Hobnob
May 5, 2013
Last weekend, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy tried to give Connecticut the slip to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
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Living Life Under Constant Camera Surveillance Could Pay With Stardom
May 4, 2013
Are you ready for your close up?
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Liberals Keep Sex Engine Running Longer Than Conservatives
May 1, 2013
Politically conservative men stop having sex at age 68 on average, while men with more liberal political views continue to engage in sex into their 80s.
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Newspaper Reporter Is America's Worst Job? Hardly
April 27, 2013
I refuse to believe that newspaper reporter is the worst job in America … um, at least I do right at this exact moment.
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Baseball and Baby Boomers A Perfect Match
April 24, 2013
One of the reasons baby boomers are drawn to baseball, I think, is because the game is not governed by a clock, and boomers are getting increasingly sensitive about clocks, especially if they are ticking.
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Just a Bad, Sad Week
April 21, 2013
It was not a good week:
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Let's Clutch Our Chests And Give Stress Its Due
April 20, 2013
April is National Stress Awareness Month, a designation that almost makes it sound like stress is a bad thing.
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The Art Of Waiting Out The Fashion Police
April 17, 2013
As every baby boomer knows, you never discard clothes just because they have gone out of style. Nor, if you are not particularly concerned about keeping with the latest fashions, do you ever stop wearing clothes just because they are no longer in.
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An Iconic Figure Passes – No, Not Thatcher
April 14, 2013
This past week saw the passing of an iconic figure, one whose power and influence was unparalleled during the height of her popularity.
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When Naming Your Dog, Make Sure It's Something You Want To Shout Out The Back Door
April 13, 2013
Naming a dog is proof that anything can be over thunk.
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Boomers Loosen Up On Pot Once Kids Leave The Nest
April 10, 2013
Thanks to a significant attitude adjustment on the part of baby boomers, a majority of Americans (52 percent) now support the legalization of marijuana.
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Dear Fashion Police, We Need Some Rules About Wearing Shorts
April 6, 2013
We need to talk about shorts.
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Clothing You Can Sweat In (And Not Sweat It)
March 30, 2013
A clothing manufacturer from Great Britain has come out with a light-weight suit it promises will not smell even if you sweat in it all summer long and never have it cleaned.
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The Telltale Signs That You Are Not Interesting
March 27, 2013
I was recently going through our piles of review-copy books when I came across one called "How to Be Interesting" by Jessica Hagy.
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Republicans Embarked On Navel Gazing
March 24, 2013
The Republican Party has not been on a roll.
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Snow Is Now a Four-Letter Word In Connecticut
March 23, 2013
Let me just say this about snow !!%$#@**&. There, I think that pretty much captures everyone's feelings on the subject.
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The Ideal Age Gap For May-December Couples: 52 Months
March 20, 2013
If a woman is considering a relationship with an older man, the ideal age gap is four years and four months, according to a survey I was just reading.
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Recent Obsessions: The Pope's Shoes, Stress And Cheese Puffys
March 16, 2013
Not that anybody asked me but …
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Manopause Is Male Menopause, Without The Hot Flashes
March 13, 2013
Menopause, from a male perspective, is when a woman undergoes a change of life during which she experiences flashes that are often warm but not particularly fuzzy.
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Yahoo Chief Believes Cubicles and Creativity Go Together. Wrong!
March 9, 2013
Marissa Mayer, the new chief yahoo at Yahoo, recently decreed that employees could no longer work from home.
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Baby Boomers Drowning In Advice — Most Of It About Face Creams
March 6, 2013
Advice.
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Sequestration? Not Scary. Try Fiscal Death Match
March 3, 2013
I'm trying really hard to get all worked up over sequestration, but it ain't taking.
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Daylight Saving Time Is Still A Dumb Idea
March 2, 2013
All my internal clocks, and biological workings, and circadian rhythms and stuff get way out of whack this time of the year.
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Oh, How I Miss Joan Rivers' Bad Manners On The Red Carpet
February 27, 2013
I attended the Academy Awards this year, as I usually do.
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Airlines: Move First Class 'Privileged' To Back Of Plane
February 23, 2013
Some advice for airlines:
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Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Spending Spree
February 22, 2013
Say what you will about Jesse Jackson Jr., but I'll tell you this. He's the guy you want waiting across the street in the car for your tag sale to begin. I mean, the man will buy anything.
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Meet Florida's Newest Snowbird Convert
February 20, 2013
A few columns ago I wrote about an upcoming five-day trip to Florida, my first mid-winter escape to a warm climate ever.
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The 10 Characters You Will See At The Gym
February 9, 2013
You always hear people talking about going to the gym.
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Jim Shea: Remembering the Blizzard of 1978
February 7, 2013
You want to talk blizzards then you want to talk The Great Blizzard of 1888.
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Are Boomers Dropping The Middle Finger And Mellowing With Age?
February 6, 2013
I think it is well documented, perhaps unfortunately, that I have a problem with people in the supermarket Express Lane who have more than 12 items in their cart.
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Taking The Offensive On 'Mansplaining' Before Game Day
February 3, 2013
Super Bowl Sunday is the World Series, Stanley Cup, Final Four, and Indy 500 of "mansplaining."
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A Snowbird Feeling Guilty About A Florida Vacation
January 30, 2013
I'm worried.
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What Got Into John Rowland?
January 27, 2013
What got into John Rowland, everyone was asking after the former governor and now WTIC-AM 1080 talk show host hammered former Republican Attorney General Nominee Martha Dean over her views on the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
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Cold Weather Wimps Love Their Layers
January 26, 2013
People turn wimpy when it gets cold.
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A Bucket List Of Absolute Don'ts And Won'ts
January 23, 2013
Many baby boomers reach a point in their lives where they feel the need to create bucket lists.
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Sandy Relief Vote And Sally Field
January 20, 2013
The $50 billion Sandy relief package to aid people and communities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut devastated by the super storm finally passed the House last week.
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Drinking While Grocery Shopping Perhaps Not Such A Good Idea
January 19, 2013
A supermarket in Washington is allowing customers to drink while they shop. You can grab a beer or glass of wine at their in-store bar and then take it with you as you forage.
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Forget The Botox: Embrace Your Wrinkles!
January 16, 2013
I have to say I am encouraged, as all baby boomers should be, about a new study touting the benefits of wrinkles.
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AIG Nearly Bites The Hand That Fed It
January 12, 2013
Sometimes you don't know where to begin.
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If My Dog Has Fleas, Why Am I Scratching?
January 12, 2013
My dog has fleas.
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It's Not Just Age Making Baby Boomers Crave Sleep
January 9, 2013
Before getting to today's topic, bedtime, let me just say this about the first episode of Downton Abbey:
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Everyone Hates Congress
January 6, 2013
I think if there is one thing we can all agree on is that we hate Congress.
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New Year's Resolutions Are Little More Than Crazy Promises
January 5, 2013
When I hear people making resolutions on New Year's Eve, I always have the same two thoughts:
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In Connecticut Shock Ebbs, Pain Remains
December 22, 2012
The shock is wearing off. The horror never will. The ache remains.
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Yahoo! 2012 Top Searches Prove Kim Kardashian Rules
December 22, 2012
I've been going over Yahoo's! lists of the year's top stories and trends as determined by the search habits of its users. I don't want to brag, but I am almost 100 percent out of sync with the Yahoo! results.
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School Shooting Reminds Us Of How Much Our Aging Eyes Have Seen
December 19, 2012
Maybe the reason your vision tends to go as you get older is because you have seen too much.
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Our Obligation To 20 First-Graders: Get Guns Under Control
December 15, 2012
First-graders are artworks taped to the refrigerator door, bouncing bodies on a crowded school bus, holiday cards that say Love You Mommy and Best Dad.
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Tide New Ads Aimed At Men Could Endanger Household Laundry
December 14, 2012
When men think tide, they think high and low, or maybe University of Alabama Crimson Tide, "Roll Tide." I think it is safe to say the last thing they think is laundry detergent.
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Jim Shea: On 12-12-12, Nothing Big Has Happened, So Far
December 12, 2012
Today's date is 12-12-12.
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A Workplace Will Determines Who Gets That Plant If You're Laid Off
December 12, 2012
Do you have a will?
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Bacon Is Getting Its Own TV Series
December 11, 2012
It's not like there weren't big things going on in politics this past week, what with the fiscal cliff looming and the state deficit seemingly growing by the minute. Oh, and tea party honcho Jim DeMint leaving the Senate.
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My Power Ball Spending Plan For The Next Big Pot
December 8, 2012
I'm still disappointed that I didn't win Power Ball.
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Oh, Christmas Tree: Let's Hear It For Real Or Fake?
December 5, 2012
There are essentially two ways to get a Christmas tree:
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Men, Women Differ On The Value Of Dusting
December 1, 2012
I don't understand dusting.
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Obama Gloating, Biden Buffing, Fiscal Cliff Looming, And So Much More
November 30, 2012
It's been a busy few weeks, what with the election, the Petraeus scandal, the Thanksgiving holiday, and UConn being dissed yet again by the ACC, so I thought I might provide a quick rundown of what's been going on with some of the major players.
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How About A Federal Bailout For Twinkies?
November 28, 2012
I had the same thought as George Will the other day.
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Title Aside, 'Scared ----Less' More Fun Than Frightening
November 24, 2012
I've been thumbing through a book that claims to contain 1,003 facts that will scare the you know what out of you.
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Jim Shea: To Shop or Nap After Thanksgiving Dinner?
November 22, 2012
From a tradition standpoint, I can see why people might not like the idea of major retailers kicking off the Christmas shopping season on Thanksgiving Day.
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This Thanksgiving Cries Out For A Twinkie Stuffing
November 21, 2012
Thanksgiving is about tradition.
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Choice: Fiscal Cliff Talk Or Petraeus Scandal
November 18, 2012
I think I speak for most everyone when I say, thank you Peaches, Paula, and the entire cast of "All In" for saving us.
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What Do Leaves And Donald Trump Have In Common?
November 17, 2012
I was going to write about how the leaf gods turned on me this year.
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Choosing Healthcare Options Will Ruin Your Mental Health
November 14, 2012
This is the time of year when many people have to make their healthcare choices for 2013.
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Political Punditry Is Appealing Profession
November 10, 2012
If you are looking for something to be when you grow up, you might want to consider political punditry.
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Post-Election Agenda: Limit NFL Pregame Shows, Men In Lycra
November 10, 2012
The election is over, and before going any farther can I have a show of hands from everyone in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would ban the use of the phrase "and I approve this message."
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Jim Shea: Election Ads, Sandy, Nor'easter — I Mean, What's Up With Our Karma?
November 8, 2012
I'm of two minds this week.
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Every Generation Seems To Have A Weather Tale To Tell
November 7, 2012
No matter how severe the weather event, you have always been able to count on the older generation being quick to pooh pooh it:
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When Life's A Beach
November 4, 2012
Things I am learning about living on the shore:
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Election Day Can't Come Soon Enough
November 4, 2012
Like everyone else, I really want this election to be over.
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Men Better Than Women at Locating The Car In A Mall Parking Lot
November 3, 2012
Did you ever park your car at the mall and then had a hard time finding it when you came out?
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Jim Shea: Life In AL (After Linda)
October 26, 2012
What will local television be like AL (After Linda)?
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So You're Working From Home? (Snicker, Snicker)
October 26, 2012
I work from home two days a week.
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Boomer Men Can Have Work Done As Long As No One Notices
October 23, 2012
When it comes to appearance, women have more tools to work with as they age.
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Debating Linda McMahon's Debating Style
October 13, 2012
Debates are not Linda McMahon's strong point.
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With iPhone And Siri, Who Needs College?
October 13, 2012
What does it take to get us excited anymore?
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Are You Honest With Your Spouse About Household Finances?
October 10, 2012
When it comes to household finances, how honest are you with your spouse?
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Blame A Bacon Explosion For The Near 'Aporkalypse'
October 6, 2012
My column options this week came down to the bacon shortage or butt chugging.
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Big Bird Responds To Romney
October 5, 2012
Hello, my name is Big Bird and I approved this message.
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Beware Of The Magazines In Your Mailbox: A Sign Of Things To Come?
October 2, 2012
I am currently reading the October/November issue of AARP The Magazine.
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McMahon Living Large At Trump Parc Stamford
September 30, 2012
I have to say I'm skeptical about Linda's being "just folks."
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Everybody's Sneaking Snacks Into the Movies
September 28, 2012
Sneaking food into the movies starts off small but quickly escalates:
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Can You Imagine The Perks, Headaches Being Married To Jesus?
September 25, 2012
Was Jesus married?
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Connecticut Politics: It Was Crowded Under The Bus
September 23, 2012
It was not a good week to be near a bus.
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One-Stop Healthcare Shopping At Walmart
September 22, 2012
Once Obamacare fully rolls out in 2014, some 30 million people are going to be looking for primary care, which is why Walmart is thinking about getting into the healthcare business big time.
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What's a Furry? Do You Really Want To Know?
September 19, 2012
Like most baby boomers, I have friends who have no use for computers and see no need to be connected online … whatever that is.
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McMahon Pummeling Murphy With WWE Wealth
September 16, 2012
To this point, the steel cage U.S. Senate match between Chris (Middle Class) Murphy and Linda (Queen of Means) McMahon has been pretty one-sided.
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Adulterers, Stand Up: Your Cheatin' Hearts Are Getting Their Due
September 15, 2012
September is Infidelity Month.
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Finding The Right Mindset Before Talking To Twentysomethings
September 12, 2012
Every year before the start of the fall semester, the faculty at Beloit College in Wisconsin is presented with what has become known as the "Mindset List."
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Paul Ryan's Marathon Fib A Pair Of Empty Running Shoes Explains Implications
September 8, 2012
After Clint Eastwood's back and forth with an empty chair at the Republican National Convention, I was thinking about doing a Q & A about Paul Ryan with my sofa.
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How Can Summer Be Over Already?
September 8, 2012
How was my summer?
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Oh, Irene, You Taught Us Well
August 29, 2012
As you get older, time tends to get away from you.
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In Hotel Hell, From Beginning To End
August 25, 2012
I hate staying in hotels.
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'Weak' In Review: The Science Behind Todd Akin's Rape, Pregnancy Claims
August 24, 2012
Congressman Todd Akin, the Republican nominee in Missouri for U.S. Senate, created quite a stir a week ago with his claim that women have biological defenses to prevent pregnancy in cases of "legitimate" rape.
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Boston Highways Defeat GPS Dominatrix
August 22, 2012
There are three general driving regions in Massachusetts:
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The Coveted Weak In Review Endorsements
August 12, 2012
Because Tuesday is primary day in Connecticut, The Weak in Review is departing from its usual Weak format to offer endorsements of candidates seeking party nominations for Congress and the Senate. The Weak urges all voters, eligible or otherwise, to go to the polls and exercise their Constitutional right to get even with those whose distorted campaign commercials have annoyed them the most.
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Men Wearing Makeup A Disturbing Trend
August 11, 2012
Unless he is an ESPN anchor or a Navy Seal, there are only three skin products a man should ever voluntarily put on his face:
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Boomers, Don't Let Calhoun's Spill Scare You Off Your Bike
August 8, 2012
Cycling is a great sport for baby boomers.
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Rafalca Romney Tweets From The Olympics
August 4, 2012
Rafalca, the horse co-owned by Ann Romney and ignored by Mitt, is in London competing in the Olympic event called dressage.
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Supermarket Aisles For Men Only? Nah. But A Checkout Lane? Now You're Talking
August 4, 2012
Supermarkets are not arranged logically.
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An Alternative Name For 'Senior' Discounts That Boomers Will Love
August 1, 2012
Baby boomers like the discount, but they don't care for the "senior" that goes with it. They feel the same way about the "senior" center.
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Gun Debate Over — The Guns Won
July 29, 2012
The question is: Why would anyone need an assault rifle?
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What's With All The Manly Men Walking Lap Dogs?
July 28, 2012
Is it just me, or do you see a lot more men walking little dogs these days?
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In The Market For A Hat To Do Double Duty
July 25, 2012
For a long time when I would see a male baby boomer in a wide-brimmed hat of leather, suede, or floppy canvas, I would think middle-age crisis.
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Apparently We Won't Be Getting $6,000 Linda Promised
July 22, 2012
So I guess we're not going to be getting that $500 a month Linda's been promising in her campaign ads. Brandi from Naugatuck must be devastated.
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Is Possible TV Remotes Are Breeding?
July 21, 2012
The television remote was invented in 1955.
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How About A College Course On How To Survive In The Cubicle?
July 13, 2012
I'm just tossing this out, but what if colleges offered more courses geared toward actual life?
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Perhaps It's Time To Give Golf Another Go
July 11, 2012
I've pretty much avoided golf my entire life.
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Are You Ready For A World Without Toilet Paper?
June 27, 2012
There are a lot of everyday things destined to disappear in the coming years, like land phones and camera film.
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Raise Your Finger If You Didn't Know Commuting Causes Stress
June 23, 2012
Commuting can be bad for your health.
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My Two Bits On Women Shaving Their Faces
June 16, 2012
I've been reading where more women are removing hair from their faces by shaving.
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Older Drivers Vs. Teen Drivers, Or Texting Vs. Senior Moments
June 13, 2012
At the ends of the driving spectrum you have your seniors, and you have your teens.
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A Few Ideas For Manly Scents That Yankee Candle Might Want To Try Out
June 8, 2012
When it comes to shopping with my wife, my level of voluntary participation can be summed up in the old Meat Loaf song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)"
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Retire? Sure, As Soon As I Hit The Lottery
May 23, 2012
Baby boomers have never been shy, and as we are now finding out, they aren't retiring, either.
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'The Scream'? Painting By Numbers Seems Harder
May 12, 2012
So I'm looking at a painting called "The Scream," which just sold for $119.9 million, when it occurs to me: I could have done that.
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My Pill-Popping, Vitamin-Junkie Past Is Over
May 2, 2012
I take just five pills a day now.
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What To Call Aging Boomers? A Geezer By Any Other Name Is Still A Geezer
April 25, 2012
When you are born you are a baby, and then you are a kid, a teen, a young adult, a something, and at some point — usually around "the big four oh" — middle-aged.
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Getting Into Kindergarten Ain't What It Used To Be
April 21, 2012
I've been trying to remember kindergarten.
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This New Groundskeeper Stumped, But Not Beaten
April 14, 2012
You think you know what you are getting into before you get into it, but until you actually do, you don't really know what you are in for.
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Boomers Not Sitting Still For Retirement
April 11, 2012
Aging in America used to be a pretty straight forward, Point A to Point B kind of thing.
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The Mild Winter Has Bugs Singing Barry White Songs
March 24, 2012
Spring officially sprung Tuesday.
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Do Real Men Wear Girdles? Unfortunately, The Answer May Be Yes
March 10, 2012
If you watch sports on television you have no doubt seen the series of Miller Lite commercials in which men are called out for such unmanly acts as:
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The UPS And Fed Ex Guys And I Are Buds (Most Of The Time)
March 7, 2012
I'm waiting for a friend.
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Dog Shows Should Adopt 'American Idol' Format: Here's How 'Top Dog' Would Work
March 3, 2012
I was watching "American Idol" the other night when I started thinking about the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
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Monkees Songs: No So Much A Fan
March 1, 2012
I was never a big fan of The Monkees. They always reminded me of the Three Stooges set to music. If they were on "The Last Train to Clarksville," I would have walked. And I was never the "Daydream Believer" type. As for their theme song, I still get hives when exposed to "Hey, Hey We're The Monkees." I was reading some college professor's blog in which he credited The Monkees' TV show with paving the way for such future offerings as "The Partridge Family." If anything, this information has hardened my view. That said, RIP Davy Jones.
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Sex Facts That Leave You Lusting For More
February 18, 2012
While doing some, ahem, research for a Valentine's Day column, I stumbled upon a website called Lustability.
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Whoops, It's Valentine's Day, Guys. But Be Careful How You Rebound
February 14, 2012
OK, guys, so you were brushing your teeth this morning when all of a sudden you realized … OMG its Valentine's Day!
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Women's Intuition Vs. Men's Gut Feelings — Which Is Better?
February 11, 2012
I don't do intuitive.
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Can You Pronounce Hydrochlorothiazide?
February 8, 2012
You get a bunch of baby boomers together and inevitably the conversation turns to aches and pains.
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Shakespeare Would Have Had A Field Day With Our Narcissism
February 1, 2012
If Shakespeare were alive today and banging out plays on his laptop he would probably have had a different view of mankind.
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Explaining The Inexplicable: How Men Think
January 28, 2012
I just finished reading a book called "How Do Men Think?"
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Apparently This Boomer Skipped The Midlife Crisis
January 25, 2012
I was going to write about baby boomers and the midlife crisis, but then I realized two things:
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Fortunately For Me, Old Is The New Young
January 18, 2012
There are now more people age 65 and over in the United States than ever before, and this group is increasing at a faster rate (10,000 per day) than the general population.
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Does Your Co-Worker Have Power?
November 3, 2011
Ten Ways To Tell Your Co-worker Has No Power
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Politicians' Tucson Answer: More Guns
January 15, 2011
I don't think there is much question:
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A Man's Take On Romance
February 8, 2003
I am reading "The 2003 Harlequin Romance Report." (The only word to describe some of the things they make me do around here is - unspeakable.)
