Previous post on food and weight: No sugar cravings. Apparently each type of cell has its own life cycle with certain kinds cells lasting a few days (colon, sperm) and others lasting weeks (skin), months (red blood) or years (white blood). This means the body is...
Also: How to make friends, part 1 How to make friends, part 2 How to make friends, part 3 How to maintain a friendship Sometimes -- even if you've been good friends in the past -- it's time to end a friendship. On TV friendships often end because one person stole...
Also: How to make friends, part 1 How to make friends, part 2 How to make friends, part 3 How to end a friendship Have you ever had a friend you felt great about, but then they stopped responding to your texts or other messages? Don't be that person. Ever. Keep...
Also: How to make friends, part 1 How to make friends, part 2 How to maintain a friendship How to end a friendship You've overcome the initial fear of rejection and have the contact info of someone you'd like to make friends with. Here's what I've learned to do...
Also: How to make friends, part 1 How to make friends, part 3 How to maintain a friendship How to end a friendship You've wrestled with your fear of rejection, decided to be braver and less lonely, and are ready to make some new friends. Now do this. 1. Carry...
Americans are bad at making friends. As children we make friends with the kids in our class or whoever lives near us. In college we're friends with any of the thousands of people on our campus. But as grown-ups outside of those friendship-petri-dishes, too many of us...
Jane Sun of Sunnyvale, CA asked me for a list of things that cost $3, so here goes. Jane, I’ve modified your request so it’s about Chicago-specific things you can buy for $3. Obviously you can get a Starbucks cup of regular drip coffee for $3, etc. Things you can get...
Karen in Chicago asks "How do you start a conversation with someone about their nationality without offending them? For example, a Lyft or Uber driver. And, if that is possible, what should you ask them?" I love this question because I blogged Stop asking: Where are...
For those who didn't grow up in the U.S. (and many who did) I was in a restaurant with a friend who ordered a beer and then didn’t drink much of it. I gestured at it and said, “So, you’re really not a big drinker.” She said, “It just doesn’t taste right to me.” I...
Inspired by the final blog post of Obesio the Loser, a former online-friend, here's a list of stuff I've noticed over the decades. 1. Sometimes it gets better. Sometimes it doesn't. 2. No two people are exactly alike, but few people are genuinely special. 3. I still...
A Paris film maker and illustrator who goes by Maeril created these graphics so we'll know what to do the next time we see someone harassing someone else for appearing to be Muslim. The strategy is to create a safe space for the person being harassed and...
Do you know someone who needs a lesson on how to give a true apology? We hear a lot of false ones in public life. Here's how to say "I'm sorry" properly.
Today's post is a straight rant. Feel free to stop reading if you're one of those "look on the bright side" people. I'm currently feeling exasperated with the way too many of my American friends and colleagues often receive a text or email and don't respond to it...
I have friends who won't invite anyone over because their place is a mess. As a big party hostess, I know the joy they're missing out on by never having people over, plus living with the anxiety that someone might just stop by unannounced (horror). No one should let...
Most Americans know the proper amount to tip on a restaurant food bill. It's 20% and anything less looks cheap and mean. That's because service industry workers in the U.S. are paid about $2.18 to $5 an hour from their employers and that's it. That's right: American...